> When asked if the sitcom genre is evolving or dying, Kurdrow said, “I wish they were evolving. ‘30 Rock’ and ‘Seinfeld’ and ‘Friends’ were really funny and really well written. But I’m not drawn to new sitcoms that are multi-camera in front of an audience because I’m not buying it. I don’t know if that’s just because I’ve seen too many single-camera sitcoms—I think we need to get back to being able to tell jokes. I feel like we’ve been too afraid to make jokes that might make people uncomfortable.”
> She added, “But the really good ones, they’re not tame jokes. They’re jokes that are kind of, ‘I can’t believe you just said that.’ Comedy is about surprise. You need things you didn’t see coming.”
BB808BB on
People are offended about absolutely everything now that’s why.
For example the trailer for Scary Movie has people already whining that it hurts their feelings.
AudienceOk3406 on
Absolutely 💯 agree with her. Everything is average or not funny
Comrade-Conquistador on
There’s a way to do that without punching down. Friends pretty consistently punched down and that’s why I never bought it, Lisa.
The_Dark_Vampire on
Friends was as tame as you could get.
Why is she trying to pretend Friends of all shows was edgy and offensive
Left_Apparently on
People forget about Always Sunny.
Piglet-Witty on
I’ve only heard comedians that are not very good without insulting someone say that.
Optimal_Whiner on
They supported cancel culture but hate it at the same time… Uh huh… Yeah that doesn’t work.
Fluid-Cranberry1755 on
If friends was that bar, thank goodness sitcoms aren’t like that anymore. Friends was horribly unfunny
MediaLongjumping9910 on
The Office has had multiple scenes removed from TV because it was too offensive.
No-Judge-621 on
bring back shows like eastbound and down
SMC_4_Life on
And it’s harder to find an audience when sitcoms are 8 episodes every 2-3 years
SkeazyG on
For anyone looking for a laugh out loud comedy show that doesn’t care who it offends….you should watch Ted. Funniest show I’ve watched in ages
Mental-Currency-4494 on
Oh yeah, networks used to run hardcore edgy shows like… Friends?
Seriously? I think Seinfeld said the same thing about his show.
CrasVox on
So new sitcoms are too much like Friends?
bascule on
[Jerry Seinfeld said the same thing](https://www.today.com/popculture/news/jerry-seinfeld-comedy-pc-culture-rcna150140). Like Friends, I would also consider Seinfeld (and pretty much any sitcom on network TV) incredibly normie compared to sitcoms that followed it, like say… Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. Or IASIP. Or if you count cartoons, South Park. Or Fleabag. Or Kevin Can Fuck Himself, which deconstructs the whole sitcom genre.
Cable and the Internet are what unlocked the potential for truly subversive sitcoms, so what are these people who made normie network TV sitcoms smoking?
marlinspike on
Eh, TV isn’t where you see good sitcoms anymore. It’s the bland shit that won’t offend anyone with a penchant for being offended. Great comedy is on streaming now.
Gamestonkape on
Is this why “comedies” have one joke every ten minutes and everyone’s always crying?
Upset-Builder on
She clearly hasn’t seen Righteous Gemstones
FantasyBaseballChamp on
About five years late for “you can’t say anything anymore.” Go make whatever jokes she’s talking about. No one’s stopping you.
wonbuddhist on
a very natural 90s nostalgic response from one white lady who never been powerless voiceless underrepresented minorities being constantly culturally harassed mocked bullied laughed at in the name of joke and fun. 90s was the horribly insensitive time period for many non white peoples with self esteem and self respect to endure in the united states , aka the false land of freedom where freedom doesn’t really exist without proper representation.
21 Comments
> When asked if the sitcom genre is evolving or dying, Kurdrow said, “I wish they were evolving. ‘30 Rock’ and ‘Seinfeld’ and ‘Friends’ were really funny and really well written. But I’m not drawn to new sitcoms that are multi-camera in front of an audience because I’m not buying it. I don’t know if that’s just because I’ve seen too many single-camera sitcoms—I think we need to get back to being able to tell jokes. I feel like we’ve been too afraid to make jokes that might make people uncomfortable.”
> She added, “But the really good ones, they’re not tame jokes. They’re jokes that are kind of, ‘I can’t believe you just said that.’ Comedy is about surprise. You need things you didn’t see coming.”
People are offended about absolutely everything now that’s why.
For example the trailer for Scary Movie has people already whining that it hurts their feelings.
Absolutely 💯 agree with her. Everything is average or not funny
There’s a way to do that without punching down. Friends pretty consistently punched down and that’s why I never bought it, Lisa.
Friends was as tame as you could get.
Why is she trying to pretend Friends of all shows was edgy and offensive
People forget about Always Sunny.
I’ve only heard comedians that are not very good without insulting someone say that.
They supported cancel culture but hate it at the same time… Uh huh… Yeah that doesn’t work.
If friends was that bar, thank goodness sitcoms aren’t like that anymore. Friends was horribly unfunny
The Office has had multiple scenes removed from TV because it was too offensive.
bring back shows like eastbound and down
And it’s harder to find an audience when sitcoms are 8 episodes every 2-3 years
For anyone looking for a laugh out loud comedy show that doesn’t care who it offends….you should watch Ted. Funniest show I’ve watched in ages
Oh yeah, networks used to run hardcore edgy shows like… Friends?
Seriously? I think Seinfeld said the same thing about his show.
So new sitcoms are too much like Friends?
[Jerry Seinfeld said the same thing](https://www.today.com/popculture/news/jerry-seinfeld-comedy-pc-culture-rcna150140). Like Friends, I would also consider Seinfeld (and pretty much any sitcom on network TV) incredibly normie compared to sitcoms that followed it, like say… Larry David’s Curb Your Enthusiasm. Or IASIP. Or if you count cartoons, South Park. Or Fleabag. Or Kevin Can Fuck Himself, which deconstructs the whole sitcom genre.
Cable and the Internet are what unlocked the potential for truly subversive sitcoms, so what are these people who made normie network TV sitcoms smoking?
Eh, TV isn’t where you see good sitcoms anymore. It’s the bland shit that won’t offend anyone with a penchant for being offended. Great comedy is on streaming now.
Is this why “comedies” have one joke every ten minutes and everyone’s always crying?
She clearly hasn’t seen Righteous Gemstones
About five years late for “you can’t say anything anymore.” Go make whatever jokes she’s talking about. No one’s stopping you.
a very natural 90s nostalgic response from one white lady who never been powerless voiceless underrepresented minorities being constantly culturally harassed mocked bullied laughed at in the name of joke and fun. 90s was the horribly insensitive time period for many non white peoples with self esteem and self respect to endure in the united states , aka the false land of freedom where freedom doesn’t really exist without proper representation.