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History of The Sitcom

Exploring a groundbreaking genre that’s kept us laughing since the dawn of television, History of the Sitcom reunites audiences with their favourite sitcom families, friends, and co-workers.

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Episodes Season 1

  • Trailer

    Exploring a groundbreaking genre that’s kept us laughing since the dawn of television, History of the Sitcom reunites audiences with their favourite sitcom families, friends, and co-workers.

  • 1. A Family Matter

    Every sitcom is, at its heart, a reflection of America’s core social situation—the family. This episode explores how sitcoms evolve to reflect the changing face of this most fundamental social unit.

  • 2. Working for Laughs

    This episode explores work families and how the endless array of wacky sitcom characters on the job offers hilarious insights into the state of the American workplace.

  • 3. Just Friends

    This episode explores the “hanging out with friends” sitcom and how it hilariously redefines the genre while also revealing television’s challenging quest for inclusivity and authentic representation.

  • 4. Facing Race

    This episode explores how pioneering creators and sitcom stars have helped open generations of American minds to the intractable problems of racial injustice and representation.

  • 5. Sex & The Sitcom

    This episode explores the revolution of sex in sitcoms. Since America has long found it easier to laugh, sitcom humor has had a critical role ushering in a new era of openness.

  • 6. Freaks, Geeks & Outsiders

    This episode explores how aliens, geeks, monsters, immigrants, and witches allowed for a fresh perspective of fish-out-of-water sitcoms.

  • 7. Escaping Reality

    This episode explores sitcoms as the ultimate comedy comfort food. But what sitcoms offer escape from—and what they offer escape to—reveal a lot about the state of the American mind.

  • 8. Movin’ On

    This episode explores “class” struggles and the upward mobility to achieve the American dream.

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