Sitcom Formulas

Was sick at home yesterday so spent the day resting and watching my new favourite sitcom “How I Met Your Mother”.

 

I couldn’t help but realize that the general idea of sitcom is very very familiar with a previous hit sitcom “Friends” and hence I’ve come up with my own winning formula that I’ll be glad to share with future producers on what makes a successful sitcom.  

 

1. Group of friends, preferably 2 girls and 3 guys so that the third guy can be the said playboy who dates outside of the circle, or if you add a 3^rd girl, she will also be said playgirl who dates outside of the circle
2. Within the group of friends you need a nerd (Ross / Marshall), a playboy (Joey / Barney), and a guy with a sharp tongue (Chandler/ Ted)
3. Of the girls one of them is token beauty (Rachel / Robin) and the other a more homebody (Monica / Lily). A third is sometimes not necessary if you mix in eccentricity into one of the two girls (Phoebe’s ditziness versus Robin being Canadian) so that the eccentric point will always be pointed out and become a topic in itself
4.  You need inter-relationships between the group including a triangle (Rachel-Ross-Joey / Robin-Barney-Ted) and a steady couple who has never dated the others in the group (Chandler-Monica / Marshall-Lily)
5. You must have an apartment setting where somehow the entire cast and crew and fit into it
6. You must also have a hangout place like the café or the bar where the cast will always have the same seats no matter what happens.
7. Lots of guest stars who date the cast.

 

Ok so I’m now starting season 4….anyone has season 5-6 dvds to lend?