American sitcoms: descriptions of the best films. "American Family" "The Big Bang Theory". "Sabrina the Teenage Witch"

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Sitcom is one of the most popular genres of television series. He is very loved by a large audience of viewers and has a pronounced social orientation. The creators of the most successful sitcoms release several seasons of the series. That is why the audience does not part with their heroes for a long time, which can be several years.

The term "sitcom" was coined by the fusion of two words - "situational comedy". This concept refers to series that have their own differences from soap operas, as well as detective, women's and mystical films. It is worth recognizing that today sitcoms are very popular with viewers around the world. That is why the most successful of them often show in prime time.

A bit of history

The first semblance of a sitcom was created on one of the US radio stations in the 30s of the twentieth century. Of course, the work was presented in audio format. It washumorous production called "Sam and Henry", which was a huge success and was able to win the love of the audience.

However, officially the term "sitcom" began to be used only in the 60s of the last century. This happened with the release of the cult series, which was called "I love Lucy." This American sitcom has become a classic of the newly formed genre, winning many of the most prestigious awards and earning the sincere love of millions of viewers around the world.

Features

Sitcom is a genre characterized by the presence of an almost unchanged cast. And only in its various series, episodic characters may appear.

Another feature of the sitcom is the tendency to cast pop, television and film stars. They star in separate episodes, usually playing themselves.

The peculiarity of the sitcom is that each episode tells its own story. But there is also a main plot line. She slowly but steadily develops throughout the season of the television series. It can be, for example, a love story of the main characters.

And the last feature, the difference between sitcoms and all other genres of television series, is the presence of off-screen laughter that accompanies especially successful, according to the scriptwriter, comedic scenes. This can be explained by the fact that the first such films in the United States were shot in studios where the audience was present. The off-screen laugh in this case waspeople's natural response to what is happening. New American sitcoms that are being produced today sometimes also have this feature.

Ranking of the best situational comedies

Which of the American sitcoms is considered the best? When analyzing all kinds of sources, you can compile a list of the most popular television series of this genre. Let's get acquainted with those comedies that are most often found in top reviews and have earned the love of the audience, which has not dried up for years. What are the most popular American sitcoms? They will be presented below.

Friends

The list of the best American sitcoms opens with a television series that appeared on TV screens in 1994. It was then that Martha Kouffman and David Crane filmed the first season of a story about the life and adventures of six friends.

This American sitcom is mostly set in Manhattan. The plot tells about the same time when the series was filmed, and this is the period from 1994 to 2004

The television series Friends introduces viewers to spoiled "daddy's girl" Rachel Green, played by Jennifer Aniston, tidy chef Monica Geler (Courtney Cox), complex wit and office worker Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry); driving and sex-obsessed rustic actor eager to get his part, Joey Tribbiani, played by Matt Leblanc, as well as with divorced paleontologist Ross Geller (David Schwimmer) and singer-and-hippie masseuse, Phoebe Buffay (her roleperformed by Lisa Kudrow).

At the very beginning of the series, viewers get acquainted with the history of a failed marriage. Rachel broke up with her fiancé, leaving him right at the altar, and moved in with Monica, her school friend. Opposite their apartment live Joey and Chandler, with whom they met and became friends. Their company includes Monica's brother Ross, as well as Phoebe, her former neighbor.

After breaking up with her fiance, Rachel decides to start an independent life. She refuses her father's money and gets a job in a coffee shop as an ordinary waitress. After that, she switches to the world of fashion, where she has a successful career, going from junior assistant to the head of department in a department store to head of merchandising in a large company.

Monika's business is not so successful. During the first few seasons, she has to overcome great difficulties, not achieving career growth. But as a result of hard efforts, she becomes a chef in a prestigious restaurant.

Chandler, originally a member of the statistics department, masters the advertising business by the end of the sitcom.

Joe's story tells the viewer about his gradual ascent to the top of his career. After starring in commercials and various films, he got one of the main roles in the popular TV series.

As for paleontologist Ross, he changed his job as a museum employee to a university lecturer.

Phoebe earns her living by giving massages, as well as playing songs that she composed herself with the guitar.

This American sitcom is based onromantic relationship between Rachel and Ross. Young people throughout the television series either part, then reunite. Their relationship runs the full spectrum from tender and passionate love to outright hostility. They have a daughter, and the couple decides never to part again.

From the fifth season, the authors of the sitcom have connected another storyline of the film. This is the relationship between Monica and Chandler. The rest of the friends from their company continue to look for life partners. By the end of the series, only Joey remains free of all.

The overall plot of the sitcom develops gradually. Moreover, each series contains its own logically completed story.

TV series "Friends" viewers fell in love with the first season. They immediately liked this life-affirming, sincere and kind story about true love and friendship.

The television series has become a real champion in the number of awards and awards. He has a US Television Emmy Award for Best Comedy and Best Supporting Actress in his arsenal.

Won a TV series and a Guild Award. It was awarded for the best cast. In 2000, Lisa Kudrow was recognized as the best actress. In 2003, Jennifer Aniston received a Golden Globe Award for her excellent performance as Racher.

The Big Bang Theory

Let's continue our acquaintance with popular American sitcoms. The TV series The Big Bang Theory, created by Bill Prady and Chuck Poroi, premiered in September 2007. Interestingly, this sitcom was filmed directly in front of an audience.

The TV series "The Big Bang Theory" tells about the life of two talented physicists - Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper. These young people are brilliant, and each of them has already managed to achieve a doctoral degree. However, all these merits to science do not help them in simple communication with others.

But now a new neighbor has appeared in their lives - the blonde Penny. Young people willy-nilly have to communicate with her. One of the guys even develops a romantic relationship with this pretty girl.

The twelfth and final season premiered in September 2018. The show will end in May 2019

Modern Family

This television comedy series was created from a script by Steven Levitan and Christopher Lloyd. The sitcom "Modern Family" tells about the lives of three completely different families. The audience saw the first season in September 2009

Almost every episode of Modern Family sitcom begins with one of the family members asking a question. He searches for the answer to it throughout the episode. After that, the creators of the sitcom show the concrete life of families with their problems and adventures, antics and failures that are present on a daily basis.

Some episodes focus the viewer's attention on children, the role of a father, etc. As a rule, at the end of each episode, one of the family members expresses his opinion. His voice is definitely heard behind the scenes. This popular sitcom also has such series where the world of anyseparate family.

This television series almost immediately became one of the most popular shows in the US. This happened after the experimental release of one of his episodes. As a result, the ABC channel introduced the sitcom to its list of shows for 2009-2010. and ordered 13 more episodes.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch

This American television series is based on the comics of the same name by Archie Comics. The first four of the seven seasons were broadcast by ABC. After his withdrawal from the series, viewers could see the sitcom on The WB. However, even here the rating of the series "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" began to fall. That is why the seventh season was his last filming.

The plot of this comedy tells the viewer about Sabrina Spellman. This young girl lives with her aunts Zelda and Hilda. At 16, Sabrina learns that, like most of her relatives, she is a witch with magical powers.

Somewhat later it turned out that her cat was a world invader in the past. The Council of Mages turned him into an animal for a long hundred years.

In the plot of each episode, Sabrina uses her magic to achieve selfish goals. At the same time, she finds herself in uncomfortable, but comical situations. From everything that happens, the girl draws a moral lesson.

Henry Danger

This comedy series premiered in the US in July 2014. The Russian audience saw the sitcom for the first time in January 2015

The plot of this fascinating comedy tells us from a 13-year-old teenagerHenry. The boy became an assistant to a superhero named Captain Man. But Henry must not tell anyone about this. He should keep a secret even from his friends and relatives. One day the Captain leaves and a brave boy takes his place.

The second season of "Henry Danger" was shown to viewers in September 2015. In March 2016, the sitcom was extended, starting filming the third season. It came out in September of the same year. In November 2016, Henry Danger was decided to continue filming. The fourth season premiered in October 2017. The same year, the TV series won the American Film Award for Best Cable Film.

The third planet from the Sun

This sitcom was introduced to viewers on the ABC channel between 1996 and 2001. The main characters of the film are a group of aliens. They came to Earth to observe people. To solve the task assigned to them, the aliens took on the appearance of an ordinary human family. Over time, the aliens settle into a new place. Gradually, they begin to focus on their personal lives more than completing the task.

So, the commander-in-chief of the expedition, Dick Solomon, became the breadwinner of the family and got a job as a physics teacher at the university. The information officer Tommy moved into the body of a teenager. He started going to school, and a little later he moved on to college. Communications officers Harry and security Sally are given the opportunity to spend all the time at home. Earning a livelihood, they are interrupted by odd jobs.

According to the plot of the TV series"The third planet from the Sun" aliens often contacted their boss. His name was Big Giant Head. This boss is usually behind the scenes. He passes all the tasks through Harry. And he has to suddenly freeze and raise his arms as antennas, often in inappropriate circumstances.

Many of the jokes in the sitcom 3rd Planet from the Sun are based on the inconsistency that the new appearance of the aliens and their customs have. So, Dick does not at all look like a wise head of the family. He is arrogant, eccentric and quarrelsome. Sally, despite her irresistible appearance, is aggressive and rude. Tommy, who is the oldest in the group, cannot come to terms with the humiliating role of a teenager for him. And only Harry feels great on Earth.

Greater Georgia

This sitcom was created by Jeff Greenstein and Jennifer Weiner. The series "Big Georgia" was broadcast on ABC from 2011-29-06 to 2011-17-08

The start of this sitcom was quite successful. Watching its first episode gathered 1 million 317 thousand viewers. However, then the ratings, unfortunately for the creators of this project, began to plummet. That is why in September 2011 the channel announced the closure of the series.

The plot of the sitcom introduces the viewer to the aspiring actress Georgia Chamberlain. She was played by Raven-Simone. This girl, who was born in the south of the country, dreams of becoming famous. To achieve her goal, she travels to New York with Joe (Mahandra Delfino), her best friend.

As Jim said

Broadcast thisThe sitcom was produced by the ABC channel from October 2001 to June 2009. What does the plot of the American television series “As Jim Said” tell its viewer?

While watching the sitcom, we get to know the spouses. This is Jim and Cheryl. They live in Chicago, in a country house. They have two daughters, Gracie and Ruby, and a son, Kype. The seventh season was marked by the replenishment of the family. The couple have twins Gordon and Jonathan. Jim runs a small construction firm. Cheryl is a housewife.

The head of the family, Jim, loves his wife and children. However, it is not without its shortcomings. Jim is stingy, lazy, funny, prefers to eat well and does not tolerate anyone interrupting him.

The plot of the TV series tells the viewer about the problems that the family faces. All events unfold in the house of the spouses or not far from it.

The New Addams Family

This series is a US-Canadian collaboration. It is based on the comics by Charles Addams. The sitcom is a remake of the television series The Addams Family, filmed between 1964 and 1966

The sitcom was broadcast from 1996-19-10 to 1999-28-08 in the US and Canada on Fox Family and YTV respectively. The Russian viewer saw this work in the period 2003-2004

The TV series "The New Addams Family" introduces us to a strange house, near which there is practically no sun. And the house itself, which belongs to an unusual family, is shrouded in a dark secret.

He constantly runs around the houseThing. And it is nothing more than a severed hand. Causes surprise and the butler Larch growth to the ceiling with a rough voice. You can also meet Cousin Itta in this house. He is small, wearing a hat and glasses, covered in hair, and speaks a language known only to this family. Among the characters and a strange grandmother. This is a witch with hair that constantly stands on end. Husband Gomez and wife Martysha are also here. The Addams children are a son and a daughter. Another relative is a bald uncle named Fester, who attracts attention with his pale skin.

Unusual and even creepy is the very atmosphere of this house. Somewhere you can see a guillotine, and somewhere there are walking ghosts. And every day something strange happens in this house.

But sometimes ordinary people come here too. They are completely unfamiliar to the Addams, but the family receives their guests very good-naturedly. Those who come do not even guess what the owners are and what is happening in their house. The series was remembered by the audience for its unusual plot, interesting acting and high-quality humor.