The Sitcom Study

Mar 05 2025 92 ep. 96 mins 24
The Sitcom Study Podcast artwork

Welcome to the Sitcom Study, where we contemplate the TV shows we grew up with and search for the truth and wisdom amidst the tropes and clichés. Each week we’ll compare and contrast several TV episodes that share a common theme, be it characters plagued by amnesia, pop star guest spots, jump-the-shark moments, or women giving birth in elevators. It happens more than you think...

  TV & Film
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Fear of Public Speaking! [rerun]

Mar 05 2025 92 mins  
Sheldon takes the stage, Blossom masters debate club, and the Golden Girls conquer terrors at 20,000 feet... This week's trope is fear of public speaking! Here's what we're watching: Golden Girls S3 E5 "Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself" Blossom S2 E17 "Losers Win" Herman's Head S2 E12 "Feardom of Speech" Big Bang Theory S3 E18 "The Pants Alternative" This is a good old fashioned R

Save Our Hangout!

Feb 26 2025 103 mins  
Zack and friends take to the airwaves, Charles wades into the muck of schoolboard corruption, and Webster harnesses the power of his own cuteness, all to avoid their favorite businesses becoming parking lots! This week's trope is SAVE OUR HANGOUT! Here's what we're watching: Webster S2 E12 "Katherine Fights City Hall" Charles in Charge S2 E9 "Pizza Parlor Protest" Saved by the Bel

The Many Sitcoms of Ted Danson

Feb 19 2025 104 mins  
From womanizing bartender to heavenly architect to inept mayor, we're examining the roles of sitcom legend Ted Danson! What is the secret to his charm, which show used him best, and most importantly, can a relationship survive if only one person likes "The Good Place?" The answers to all this and more in the Dansonest deep dive in town... Here's what we're watching: Cheers S6 E1 "

Valentine's Day Gone Awry!

Feb 12 2025 103 mins  
Fran the Nanny risks life and limb for love, Nell Carter dishes out highly questionable romantic advice, and Mike and Molly's plans are derailed by baker-related jealousy... this week's trope is Valentine's Day Gone Awry! Here's what we're watching: Gimme a Break S3 E16 "Valentine" Wings S2 E17 "Looking for Love in All the Wrong Places" The Nanny S3 E19 "Love is a Many Blundered T

I.Q. Tests!

Feb 05 2025 96 mins  
Night Court gets brainy, Good Times tackles racial bias, and Seinfeld presents a testing "caper" for the ages... This week's trope is I.Q. Tests! Here's what we're watching: Good Times S2 E7 "IQ Test" Night Court S6 E10 "Mental Giant" Seinfeld S3 E7 "The Cafe" Keenan & Kel S3 E7 "IQ Can Do Better"

Road Trips!

Jan 29 2025 92 mins  
Bart Simpson takes the wheel, Grace heads for Memphis, and Joey takes his ill fated spin-off on the open road... this week's trope is Road Trips! Here's what we're watching: Grace Under Fire S2 E21 "Memphis Bound" The Simpsons S7 E20 "Bart on the Road" Joey S1 E11 "Joey and the Road Trip" Parks & Recreation S3 E14 "Road Trip"

Crossovers!

Jan 22 2025 97 mins  
Ricky Schroder and Arnold Drummond join forces for the scoop of the century, Urkel drops by the Tanner house, and Lucille Ball crosses paths with the man of steel himself... This week's trope is Crossover episodes! Here's what we're watching: I Love Lucy S6 E13 "Lucy and Superman" Silver Spoons S1 E7 "The Great Computer Caper" Full House S4 E16 "Stephanie Gets Framed" Abbott Eleme

Going to Jail!

Jan 15 2025 99 mins  
The Golden Girls are mistaken for sex workers, Mary Tyler Moore refuses to name names, and Ellen's antics fail to amuse the penitentiary crowd... This week's trope is Going to Jail! Here's what we're watching... The Mary Tyler Moore Show S5 E1 "Will Mary Hart Go to Jail?" Golden Girls S2 E2 "Ladies of the Evening" Ellen S2 E21 "Three Strikes" Everybody Loves Raymond S7 E21 "The Sh

"A Christmas Carol" Episodes!

Dec 18 2024 98 mins  
Sanford and Son bring Dickens to the junkyard, Sophia makes the perfect Tiny Tim, and Mr. Belvedere gets a lot of use out of the old-timey sleeping cap and night gown that he already owned... This week's trope is episodes that spoof "A Christmas Carol!" Here's what we're watching: The Odd Couple S1 E12 "Scrooge Gets an Oscar" Sandford & Son S5 E12 "Ebenezer Sanford" Mr Belvede

The New Sitcoms of 2024!

Dec 11 2024 114 mins  
Damon Wayans and Reba McEntire triumphantly(?) return to prime time, an Oregon hospital becomes the setting for the latest "Office"-style mockumentary, and we boldly attempt to watch a second-degree Big Bang Theory spinoff while skipping Young Sheldon entirely... This week we're casting nostalgia aside and talking about the new sitcoms of 2024! Here's what we're watching: Georgie