A sitcom by definition is a "situation comedy". Most will make you laugh at some point and some will draw you in with well written characters. However, most are just fluff. But once in a while a sitcom can have a "moment", a moment when everything is firing on all cylinders and the show changes from just really good fluff to something you want to devote a half hour of your life to whenever its on. Either you love it because you can relate to it or you love it because you want your life to be like this. Here are my top four sitcom "moments" in reverse order, countdown to greatness (be warned I am an extreme TV dork):
4. Saved by the Bell: Okay, I know this show is ridiculous but you rarely meet someone in their 20s - 30s who doesnt know this show and who can't name at least one thing that happened on it. The "moment" for me was "Zack and Kelly's Prom" night. At this point in the series they were a little older and Zack and Kelly had been together for what seemed like ever. In this episode, Zack is doing everything he can to make Kelly's prom the best ever because her family cant afford for her to go to the actual one. So Zack sets it up outside the gym. However, Kelly is putting in extra hours at The Max and kisses the new manager. She tells Zack at the "prom" about it and that she can't be with him while Jesse and Slater are singing* "How am I supposed to live without you". This was a great moment, especially for when I saw it at 11/12 because break ups at that age are so BIG. Great moment because it changed the show from just saturday morning fluff to something i wanted to keep watching and I did all the way through the College Years.
*No one ever really sang on that show, they were always dubbed over, sorry to ruin the magic.
3. Sex and the City: I loved this show from the beginning. I couldnt really relate as I was in my late teens when it started but it was funny. The whole series had several mini-moments but it wasnt until the very last episode when Big comes after Carrie and they finally get together for good that it had a real "moment". The Carrie/Big relationship was one we've all either experienced or watched our friends experience, a lot of chemistry but very little future. At the end when Big is the one chasing after Carrie, you know that this time is different. And we all wish we could live happily ever after with them in TV history.
2. Friends: This show ran for ten years and while some people will say they "jumped the shark" in the 6th season, I will NEVER agree. I loved every episode and have every season on DVD (I told you I was a dork). The "moment" for this show is obvious to fans of the show but for me i couldnt decide between two great moments:
a.) The one where Ross and Rachel finally get together. They let this will they/wont they thing drag on for 2 seasons and at the very end of the 2nd season they finally kiss and you cant help but feel happy for them. Two kisses, one at the coffee shop with the awesome music and one at the door of Monica's apartment after they watch the Prom video. I really loved when they got together because I know that Ross really loved her and finally Rachel woke up and realized it too.
b.) The one where Ross and Rachel take a break. My heart broke when they broke up. It was one of the greatest break ups in sitcom history and provided some of the funniest lines in the show's run.
1. The Office: This show just made the list with the season finale. This is an AWESOME show and if you havent seen it then you are stupid and need to buy the dvds and get on the bandwagon or else we'll have an Arrested Development sized hole in our hearts. This show is hilarious and it characters are all unique and hysterical. However, its the dynamic between Jim and Pam that really tugs at your heart strings. No other couple in sitcom history has ever had as much spark and connection as these two have. They belong together. In the finale, when Jim utters "Just once" my heart melted and the tears would not stop. I'm looking forward to the next season already and thats always a good sign.
These sitcoms are all relative to me and my age, I'm sure there are many other "moments" but these are the one I can relate to and I think thats all that matters.
posted by Stephanie @ 4:04 AM
5 Comments:
I am totally with you on The Office. That show is just so well done. It is from a completely different part of comedy that Arrested Development, but it has such a heart (which was something that AD never was really going for).
I love it. Good call.
I only saw one episode. Now I'm kicking myself and thinking it's like when I missed the Arrested Development boat. I always miss the good boats.
I totally watched all of those. :D
Have you watched Coupling? I feel like I remember you saying you did, but now I can't recall for sure. I tell people it's like the best parts of Seinfeld, Sex & the City, and Friends, with great British humor thrown in.
OMG I so agree with everything you said! And Friends was awesome from Day One til the very end...And I'm OBVIOUSLY a SATC fan:)
Zach & Kelly 4 Eva!
I never saw the British Coupling but I caught the first episode of the American version and I hated it. But I heard that the british version was much much better, so I'll have to try it out when we finally get Netflix next month.
Yes, yes! Try it! Try the first two episodes. The first episode took a little getting used to, as the production values are soooo low, and it freaked me out that there was no audience laughter or a laughtrack at various times, but after that, it was hysterical laughter all the way.
I heard the U.S. one blew chunks. I never did see it though. My friend who saw both said that the U.S. one just didn't work.
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