TELEVISION HUMOR
In the 1950s, many people purchased TV sets just so as not to be left out of the fun of the sit-coms on television. Water pressure in New York City was influenced by when the advertising breaks came on I Love Lucy because that’s when everyone got up to the bathroom. Several of today’s sitcoms get more viewers than did the early “classics,” but they aren’t as influential because there are now so many more choices.
Sitcoms were developed first for radio and then moved to television. They replaced the old jokes that were part of vaudeville and travelling shows because: Old jokes could become funny when tied to individuals that viewers already “knew” and “liked.” New situations supplied the element of surprise that is necessary for jokes to succeed. Stories could move faster because script writers did not have to set the scene or introduce characters for each episode. Also, they served as zeitgeists, i.e. they reflected the spirit of the times by focusing attention on whatever issues viewers were most interested in.
Late-night talk shows are also very influential. More than one person has said, “I get my comedy from Fox News, and my news from The Daily Show. Greg Beato wrote in an article, “Amusing Us to Depth,” that multiple surveys by the Pew Research Center and the Annenberg Public Policy Center have found that viewers of The Daily Show and The Colbert Report are among America’s most informed citizens.
Radio and television sit-coms can reveal the zeitgeist (spirit of the times) of each decade to a certain extent. For example, in the 1950s, many people purchased TV sets just so as not to be left out of the fun of the sit-coms on television ¹. Sitcoms were developed first for radio and then moved to television. They replaced the old jokes that were part of vaudeville and travelling shows because they could become funny when tied to individuals that viewers already “knew” and “liked” ¹. They also served as zeitgeists by focusing attention on whatever issues viewers were most interested in ¹.
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Source: Conversation with Bing, 5/18/2023
(1) To what extent do radio and television sit-coms reveal the zeitgeist .... https://www.researchgate.net/post/To_what_extent_do_radio_and_television_sit-coms_reveal_the_zeitgeist_spirit_of_the_times_of_each_decade.
(2) SiriusXM Captures the Cultural Zeitgeist of the Year and Decade Across .... https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/siriusxm-captures-the-cultural-zeitgeist-of-the-year-and-decade-across-music-talk-entertainment-comedy-and-sports-300976118.html.
(3) PowerPoint Presentation. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Don-Nilsen/post/To_what_extent_do_radio_and_television_sit-coms_reveal_the_zeitgeist_spirit_of_the_times_of_each_decade/attachment/645e751d28b5df6cef137649/AS%3A11431281157769893%401683911962183/download/18.+TV+humor.ppt.
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Radio and television sitcoms can be powerful reflections of the zeitgeist (spirit of the times) of each decade, offering insights into cultural norms, societal attitudes, and the prevailing mood. The extent to which sitcoms reveal the zeitgeist depends on various factors, including the writing, production, and reception of the shows. Here are some ways in which sitcoms can provide a window into the spirit of their respective decades:
While sitcoms can be valuable cultural artifacts, it's essential to note that they are also forms of entertainment created for mass consumption. They may simplify or exaggerate certain aspects of society for comedic effect, and individual shows may not capture the full complexity of a decade's zeitgeist. Nonetheless, they remain influential in shaping and reflecting cultural narratives.
Indresh: This is a superb answer. I love the details. I'm recommending it to other humor scholars.
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