The Sitcom Study

Betty White makes merriment mandatory, Scott Baio orchestrates Christmas a la The Shining, and from a relentless snowstorm "Balki Clause" is born.... This week's trope is getting snowed in for Christmas! Here's what we're watching:
The Mary Tyler Moore Show S5 E9 "Not a Christmas Story"
Perfect Strangers S2 E11 "A Christmas Story"
Charles in Charge S3 E1 "Yule Laff"
Roseanne S5 E12 "No Place Like Home for the Holidays"

Bob Newhart proceeds with caution, Coach gets a blast from the past, and Tim the Toolman Taylor may have invented "ghosting!" This week's trope is getting a visit from the ex! Here's what we're watching:
The Bob Newhart Show S1 E5 "Goodnight Nancy"
Coach S1 E8 "Parents Weekend"
Home Improvement S2 E22 "Ex Marks the Spot"
My Name is Earl S1 E21 "The Bounty Hunter"

Martin and Gina head to "Chilligan's Isle," Kate and Allie lay low in a cabin in the woods, and Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore match wits with a hotel bathtub... This week's trope is romantic getaways gone wrong! Here's the lineup:
The Dick Van Dyke Show S4 S27 "Never Bathe On A Saturday"
Kate & Allie S5 E15 "Almost Married" / "And Then There Were None"
Mad About You S1 E14 "Weekend Getaway"
Martin S3 E24 "The Romantic Weekend"

Alex P. Keaton is strung out on speed, Jessie Spanno has descended into drug-fueled madness, and both Urkel and Horshack are high as a kite on "vitamins!" This week's trope is sitcom characters hooked on pills...Here's the lineup:
Welcome Back Kotter S3 E22 "What Goes Up"
Family Ties E2 E6 "Speed Trap"
Saved by the Bell S2 E9 "Jessie's Song"
Family Matters S7 E14 "Life in the Fast Lane"

As God is our witness, we thought turkeys could fly... We're watching classic Thanksgiving episodes from the seventies to the aughties! Here's the lineup:
WKRP in Cincinnati S1 E7 "Turkeys Away"
Seinfeld S6 E8 "The Mom and Pop Store"
King of Queens S6 E9 "Thanks, Man"
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia S9 E10 "the Gang Squashes Their Beefs"

George Jefferson and Charlie Sheen look for lost mojos, Major Dad gets major joint pains, and Andy Dick goes goth... This week's trope is Midlife crises! Here's what we're watching:
The Jeffersons S8 E5 "I've Still Got It"
Major Dad S1 E11 "See the Hill, Over the Hill"
NewsRadio S5 E13 "Towers"
Two and a Half Men S4 E16 "Young People Have Phlegm Too"

Sarah Jessica Parker and friends march to their own drum, Tom Arnold installs himself as leading man, and stars from Mean Girls, Modern Family and The Walking Dead cross paths on a sitcom not long for this world... We're talking One-Season Wonders!
Here's what we're watching:
Square Pegs S1 E1 "Pilot"
The Jackie Thomas Show S1 E1 "Pilot"
The Class S1 E1 "Pilot"
Trophy Wife S1 E1 "Pilot"

Ray Romano defends the school bus, Hannah Montana wages psychological warfare, and Mr T makes the classroom safe for democracy. Plus, JJ Walker shows off his dyn-o-mite karate moves... This week's trope is confronting bullies!
Here's what we're watching:
Good Times S2 E24 "The Lunch Money Ripoff"
Silver Spoons S1 E4 "Me and Mr. T"
Everybody Loves Raymond S4 E13 "Bully on the Bus"
Hannah Montana S1 E23 "Schooly Bully"

Jim and Pam share a clandestine moment, Sam and Diane enrage each other to arousal, and Rachel discovers secrets from Ross's curly-haired past- It's part three of our ongoing chronicle of the most iconic sitcom maybe-lovers of all time, and there's no going back after this...
Here's what we're watching:
Cheers S1 E21-22 "Showdown"
Friends S2 E14 "The One With the Prom Video"
The Office S2 E22 "Casino Night"
New Girl S2 E15 "Cooler"

Laverne is possessed by a disgruntled Olympian, Reba busts out the Ouija board, and the Fresh Prince angers the spirits while Carlton sports the world's worst Macaulay Culkin costumes... This week's trope is communing with dead on Halloween!
Here's what we're watching:
Laverne & Shirley S8 E17 "The Ghost Story"
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air S4 E7 "Hex and the Single Guy"
Reba S3 E7 "The Ghost and Mrs. Hart"
The Middle S5 E5 Halloween IV: The Ghost Story