Situation comedy

A sitcom or situation comedy is a genre of comedy performance originally devised for radio but today typically found on television. Sitcoms usually consist of recurring characters in a format in which there are one or more humorous story lines centred on a common environment, such as a family home or workplace.

History

The situation comedy format originated on radio in the 1920s. The first situation comedy is often said to be Sam and Henry which debuted on the Chicago, Illinois clear-channel station WGN in 1926, and was partially inspired by the notion of bringing the mix of humor and continuity found in comic strips to the young medium of radio. The first network situation comedy was Amos & Andy which debuted on CBS in 1928, and was one of the most popular sitcoms through the 1930s.

Related Topics:
1920s - Sam and Henry - Chicago - Illinois - Clear-channel - WGN - 1926 - Comic strip - Amos & Andy - CBS - 1928 - 1930s

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According to the 11th edition of the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, the term sitcom was coined in 1951, making I Love Lucy the first sitcom to be called a sitcom.

Related Topics:
Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - 1951 - I Love Lucy

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Situation comedies have been a part of the landscape of broadcast television since its early days. The first was probably Mary Kay and Johnny, a fifteen minute sitcom which debuted on the DuMont Television Network in November of 1947.

Related Topics:
Mary Kay and Johnny - DuMont Television Network - 1947

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This type of entertainment seemed to originate in the United States, which continues to be a leading producer of the genre, but soon spread to other nations.

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