The Sitcom Study

Beauty Pageants!

Dwayne Wayne brings a touch of congeniality, the Designing Women debate the politics of the pageant world, and Leslie Knope endeavors to make sure the best woman wins... this week's trope is Beauty Pageants! Here's what we're watching:
Designing Women S1 E2 "The Beauty Contest"
A Different World S1 E17 "Mr. Hillman"
Malcolm in the Middle S6 E22 "Mrs. Tri-County"
Parks & Recreation S2 E3 "Beauty Pageant"

Tempted by a Sexy Coworker!

Homer Simpson fends off seduction at the energy convention, Roc resists the wiles of a horny lady-garbage-collector, and The Seavers are steeped in marital strife and it's only their third episode! This week's trope is being Tempted by a sexy coworker! Here's what we're watching:
Growing Pains S1 E3 "Jealousy"
Roc S1 E 20 "A Piece of the Roc"
The Simpsons S5 E9 "The Last Temptation of Homer"
Til Death S1 E14 "The Colleague"

Run-ins with the Mafia!

ALF catches a backyard assassin, the bosom buddies land a client with connections, and Howard Hesseman attends a "family" wedding... This week's trope is run-ins with the mafia! Here's what we're watching:
Bosom Buddies S2 E12 "The Grandfather"
ALF S3 E13 "Hideaway"
Head of the Class S4 E25 "Cement High Tops"
Everybody Hates Chris S2 E19 "Everybody Hates Gambling"
Next week we're tempted by sexy coworkers! Let us know your sitcom trope ideas at sitcomstudypodcast@gmail.com!

Learning to Drive!

Tootie learns the facts of automatic transmission, Tia and Tamara light up the parking lot, and Reverend Jim gets his license by any means necessary... This week's trope is Learning to drive! Here's the lineup:
Taxi S2 E3 "Reverend Jim: A Space Oddysey"
The Facts of Life S7 E14 "Tootie Drives"
Sister, Sister S2 E9 "Two For the Road"
8 Simple Rules S1 E4 "Wings"
Next week is Run-ins with the Mafia! Let us know your sitcom trope ideas at sitcomstudypodcast@gmail.com!
 

The First Ever TGIF!

Full House goes to Hawaii, Family Matters debuts with a notable absence, and Larry and Balki strap on the roller-skates to start their fifth season... This week we're turning the clock back to the historic evening of September 22, 1989 and watching the first ever official TGIF lineup! Here it is:
Full House S3 E1 "Tanners Island"
Family Matters S1 E1 "The Mama Who Came to Dinner"
Perfect Strangers S5 E1 "Good Skates"
Free Spirit S1 E1 "Pilot"

Makeovers!

Green Acres goes glam, Scott Baio salvages a glow-up gone wrong, and iCarly reminds us that fighty gals can land a floppy-haired boy just as well as anyone else... This week's trope is Makeovers! Here's what we're watching:
Green Acres S2 E5 "The Ugly Duckling"
Charles in Charge S1 E8 "A Date with Enid"
iCarly S2 E14 "iMake Sam Girlier"
Rules of Engagement S6 E2 "Bros Before Nodes"

The Many Sitcoms of Melissa Joan Hart

She explained it all, wielded witchcraft with a talking cat, and employed Joey Lawrence for four seasons in a highly Charles-in-Charge-esque situation... This week we're tracking the career of Melissa Joan Hart from the early days of Nickelodeon to the cutthroat world of streaming and TV holiday movies and beyond! Here's what we're watching:
Clarissa Explains It All S1 E1 "Revenge"
Sabrina the Teenage Witch S1 E1 "Pilot"
Melissa & Joey S1 E1 "Pilot
No Good Nick S1 E1 "The Catfish"

Will They / Won’t They Romances ACT FOUR: The Breakups!

Ross and Rachel take a break, Sam and Diane come to slaps, and Jim and Pam just can't get on the same page (of Dunder-Mifflin paper)... We've reached ACT FOUR of our Will They - Won't They case study and dark days lie ahead... Here's what we're watching:
Cheers S3 E21-22 "I'll Be Seeing You"
Friends S3 E15-16 "The One Where Ross and Rachel Take a Break" & "The One With The Morning After"
The Office S3 E8 "The Merger"
New Girl S3 E20 "Mars Landing"
 
Have your own sitcom trope ideas? Let us know at sitcomstudypodcast@gmail.com or instagram.com/sitcomstudypodcast
 

Fear of Public Speaking!

Sheldon takes the stage, Blossom masters debate club, and the Golden Girls conquer terrors at 20,000 feet... This week's trope is fear of public speaking! Here's what we're watching:
Golden Girls S3 E5 "Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself"
Blossom S2 E17 "Losers Win"
Herman's Head S2 E12 "Feardom of Speech"
Big Bang Theory S3 E18 "The Pants Alternative"

Snowed In For Christmas!

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"