The Sitcom Study

Old Friend, New Trouble!

Roseanne longs to ride again, Dick Van Dyke hires his hero, and the Scrubs gang gets a visit from Ryan Reynolds! This week's trope is Old friends showing up and the discord that ensues! Here's the lineup:
The Dick Van Dyke Show S1 E30 "The Return of Happy Spangler"
Roseanne S2 E16 "Born to be Wild"
Sister, Sister S4 E7 "Boy From the Hood"
Scrubs S2 E33 "My Dream Job"

Going on a Game Show!

Ralph Kramden draws a blank, Mr Belvedere gets slimed, and Michael J Fox proves to be the worst possible friend to "phone" on Millionaire... This week's trope is Going on a Game Show! Here's the lineup:
The Honeymooners S1 E18 "The $99,000 Answer"
Mr Belvedere S6 E2 "Brain Busters"
Caroline in the City S3 E14 "Caroline and the Quiz Show"
Spin City S4 E8 "How to Bury a Millionaire"

The Many Sitcoms of Julia Louis-Dreyfus

From the coffee shop with Jerry and George to the oval office, we're breaking down the career of the most spongeworthy comic actor in town and her four very distinct sitcoms!Here's the lineup:
Seinfeld S7 E9 "The Sponge"
Watching Ellie S1 E1 "Pilot"
New Adventures of Old Christine S1 E1 "Pilot"
Veep S1 E1 "Fundraiser"

Held Hostage in a Bank

Arnold and Willis keep their cool, Fran the nanny tries hostage negotiation, and Carl Winslow goes deep undercover as a Rastafarian pizza man... This week's trope is Bank Robberies!Today we're watching...
Diff'rent Strokes S3 E1-2 "The Bank Job"
Family Matters S2 E7 "Dog Day Halloween"
The Nanny S4 E16 "The Bank Robbery"
Bob's Burgers S2 E2 "Bob Day Afternoon"

Lets Start a Business!

Beaver cuts the grass, Screech disrupts the spaghetti sauce market, and iCarly disregards child labor laws... This week's trope is Kids starting a business! Here's the lineup:
Leave it to Beaver S4 E36 "Beaver Goes Into Business"
The Patty Duke Show S1 E18 "The Tycoons"
Saved by the Bell S4 E3 "Screech's Spaghetti Sauce"
iCarly S4 E4 "iSell Penny Tees"

Will They / Won’t They Romances - ACT ONE: MEET CUTE

Sam meets Diane, Ross rediscovers Rachel, and Jim lollygags around Pam's reception desk... Welcome to the first in our 5-part exploration of the most iconic will-they-won't-they romances in sitcom history! This week we're watching: 
Cheers S1 E1 "Give Me A Ring Sometime" 
Friends S1 E1 "The One Where Monica Gets a Roommate" 
The Office S1 E1 "Pilot"
New Girl S1 E1 "Pilot"

Dividing the Room In Half

Lucy strikes back, Herman Munster draws the line, and the Hey Dude gang learns to respect indigenous peoples... This week's trope is dividing the room in half! Here's the lineup:
I Love Lucy S1 E8 "Men Are Messy"
The Munsters S2 E29 "A House Divided"
The Addams Family S2 E17 "Morticia and Gomez v. Fester and Grandmama"
Hey Dude S2 E4 "Bunkmate Battle"

Class Reunions

Peg Bundy holds a grudge, Martin seeks vengeance, and Andy Griffith pines for a lost love... We're talking High school class reunions!  
This week we're watching: 
The Andy Griffith Show S3 E19 "Class Reunion"  
Married with Children S3 E17-18 "Married with Prom Queen"  
Martin S2 E2 "Really Gina's Not My Lover"  
30 Rock S3 E5 "Reunion"

Fear of Flying

Sanford and Son take flight, Carla faces her fears, and Jack Tripper soars to new (dance) heights... This week's trope is characters who are afraid of flying!  Here's the lineup:  
Sanford & Son S3 E8 "Super Flyer"  
Three's Company S6 E25 "Up in the Air"  
Cheers S6 E19 "Airport V"  
Blackish S2 E7 "Charlie in Charge"

Putting On a Play

Marge takes the stage, Moira brings the drama, and Andy Bernard neglects to silence his cellphone... This week's trope is Putting on a play! Today we're watching:  
The Brady Bunch S5 E3 "Snow White and the Seven Bradys"  
The Simpsons S4 E2 "A Streetcar Named Marge"  
The Office S7 E3 "Andy's Play"  
Schitt's Creek S5 E14 "Life is a Cabaret"