The Sitcom Study

Sitcom Thanksgivings!

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"

Midlife Crises!

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"

One Season Wonders

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"

Confronting Bullies!

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"

Will They / Won’t They Romances ACT THREE: Point of No Return!

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"

Halloween Séances!

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

Accidental Fires!

Webster plays with matches, Urkel gets things cooking, and Drew Carey passes down his "wood burning kit" to the next generation of pyros... This week's trope is Accidental fires!
Here's what we're watching:
Webster S2 E5 "Burn Out"
Family Matters S2 E1 "Rachel's Place"
Drew Carey Show S9 E19 "Burning Down the House"
Abbott Elementary S2 E15 "Fire"

Blind Dates!

My Three Sons get in over their heads, Will and Grace take drastic measures, and Al from Step by Step follows in the footsteps of Alex from Taxi... We're talking sitcom Blind Dates!
Here's what we're watching:
My Three Sons S2 E16 "Blind Date"
Taxi S1 E3 "Blind Date"
Step by Step S6 E13 "The Big Date"
Will and Grace S2 E17 "Advise and Resent"

Slumber Parties!

Uncle Joey bungles the high-heel fashion show, The Big Bang Theory gals play truth or dare (it gets weird) and Louise Belcher sabotages her own girls' night... This week's sitcom trope is Slumber Party episodes! Here's the lineup:
Full House S4 E4 "Slumber Party"
That 70s Show S5 E13 "Your Time is Gonna Come"
Big Bang Theory S4 E8 "The 21 Second Excitation"
Bob's Burgers S4 E9 "Slumber party"

Dream Episodes!

Frasier is stumped by his own homoerotic fantasies, Angela ponders the road not taken, and Punky Brewster ages 75 years in one night... This week's trope is Dream episodes!
Here's what we're watching:
Punky Brewster S1 E17 "My Aged Valentine"
Growing Pains S3 E10 "This Is Your Life"
Who's the Boss S6 E3 "In Your Dreams"
Frasier S4 E3 "The Impossible Dream"