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The Comic Flaw of Derek Trotter
A sitcom character could be many things. They could be short or tall, charming or repulsive, industrious or lazy. They might work as a copper or a priest or a shop owner. They might live…
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Red Dwarf’s Rocky Launch
Last week I discussed a show that was as simple and gimmick-free as a sitcom could be. This time we’re going right the other way and entering rather specialised territory, a science fiction comedy with…
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The Golden Girls – No Gimmicks (Part 2)
In the last article, I described how a simple skit had evolved into a pitch for a sitcom. The setup was simplicity itself: four women all over the age of fifty sharing a house in…
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The Golden Girls – No Gimmicks (Part 1)
The world of sitcom is big and filled with a diverse range of shows. Writers and producers can be forgiven for wanting to stand out from the crowd and coming up with original situations, unexplored…
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A Funny Sort of History
Stories from the history of comedy