Assignment Seven - TV Sitcoms

I want to focus on two of the aspects of the TV sitcom that I think are very important to the viewer’s relationship with the writers and the show, Campfire and Nation-Tribe.

                Campfire

·         The place where we have typically told our stories to one another

·         Something ancient and human

o   (Colin Tain TV sitcom lecture)

Campfire functions within the sitcom genre because it gives TV shows their roots, they provide a place for families and friends to gather around and spend time together. Gives people a sense of community and belongingness. There has always been throughout history something special that brings people together by telling stories, they bring people together and rally community within these people who share stories and hear them together.

                Nation-Tribe

·         TV contains national ritualistic features

·         Re-watching at certain times

·         Annual or weekly

·         Local

o   (Colin Tain TV sitcom lecture)

Nation-Tribe functions with sitcom genres because they give a time, place, and location to tell these stories and bring out emotion in the viewers. Nation-Tribe gives people a routine for different types of shows to be played at different times. For example dramas are played during the year, while lighter shows are generally played during the summer. Certain sitcoms are played on certain days of the week and annually, it makes the viewer’s feel like they are have a part in the drama or show by being there for each and every part of the story. The TV contains national ritualistic features to help the viewer’s connect with their community, learn and understand the way that the nation works.

“That 70’s Show” was a TV that came out about the 70’s and the everyday life of teenagers in America. In a part of the show the characters would all sit in the basement and tell each other stories which brought them close to each other displaying the campfire aspects of TV sitcoms. Nation-Tribe was also shown throughout this show. In each show they repeated some of the same aspects every time. The show was in a local setting in a small town in Wisconsin bringing out the small town life that many teenagers go through. The show played annually throughout the year on the same days and time each week, bringing a sense of community to the viewers.