Quote:
Originally Posted by Ro
Do we absolutely need a definition?
Is objecting to an overly questionable pick placement an option? IE/ if enough people complain, you gotta change the category?
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To me, the easiest way to avoid arguments is to have a set definition. Otherwise, every person has their own interpretations of what does and doesn't qualify.
Is Corner Gas a sitcom? Is Trailer Park Boys? Some would say yes to both, some would say no to both, and some would say yes to CG and no to TPB (I doubt anyone would say the opposite).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Eastern Girl
If people are annoyed by my putting AD in the open category, I will switch it to sitcom. It just didn't seem to fit in that category to me, is all. If it's gonna cause this much discussion...
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I think the point was bound to come up at some point, so don't take it as an attack or anything.
I think the problem is that the sitcom genre has changed over the last few years, as shows are starting to get away from the traditional "three cameras and a laugh track" style of production, so people don't know if they're still really sitcoms.
If you look at the Emmy Awards in the year 2000, 4 of the 5 shows nominated for best comedy were traditional sitcoms. For the last 3 years, only one of the nominated shows has been a traditional sitcom.
I would prefer the rule to be that Comedy (open) can be any comedy, including sitcoms, but Comedy (sitcom) can only be a sitcom, then the debate over shows like Arrested Development (or any of NBC's current comedies) will be up to the person making the pick.
If we don't want Open to include sitcoms, then we do need a definition of "sitcom". I'm fine with saying that in order to qualify, a sitcom must have these four things:
- Half hour long and live action
- The cast plays the same recurring characters every episode
- Comedic "everyday" situations with a full episode storyline
- Live audience and/or laugh track
The last point would mean that Arrested Development, Larry Sanders (live audience was for the show within the show), and Corner Gas, among others, would not qualify, but tv history is full of enough shows that do qualify that it shouldn't be an issue.
Any comedy that doesn't fit those criteria can go into Open, Wildcard, or any other category in which it would fit, except Sitcom.
That's my two cents.