Blog Post 7-Episodic Sitcoms

There are three types of TV Sitcoms: serial, series, and episodic. Episodic sitcoms usually have a lesson of some sort and minimal character arc. They are usually predictable and viewers know the typical plot of the show. In episodic sitcoms, each episode is different. Something major or little can happen in one episode and then never be mentioned again in the whole season or entire show. Lecturer Colin Tain described this as "limited sitcom memory".

Episodic sitcoms are more popular within the comedic genre. Golden Girls would be an example of an episodic sitcom. Each episode has a new story and lesson that a particular woman in the group learns. In each episode, the four women (Blanche, Dorothy, Rose, and Sophia) each go through something that teaches the individual, as well as the group, a lesson in life. Even though the issues are dramatic, the characters bring an excellent form of comedy to the show. For example, Blanche is made out to be the "promiscuous" one in the group, Rose is the "dumb" one, Sophia is the old, "wise" one, and Dorothy is the more serious, literal one. Each of these women deal with issues such as work and dating, and each of them bring lots of comic relief to each others' different situations each episode.

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6th Blog Post-Long, Medium, and Close Up Shots

Long Shot-

This far away scene introduces the characters, known as the "Plastics". Notice everyone in the hallway moving out of the way and looking at the characters because they are "the" girls of the school. This scene shows that they are the dominant group of the school.

Medium Shot-

This medium shot shows more of the relationship between the main characters. In this scene, the characters on the right (Gretchen & Karen), are expressing their confusion of Cady's Halloween costume choice. You can see all of the characters and get a better look at their expressions, rather than you would in a long shot.

Close-Up Shot-

This close-up shot is of one of the other main characters, Regina. In this scene she is "supposedly"talking to the boy Cady likes, when really she is flirting with him for herself. The close-up scene is meant to show a more in-depth look at the characters and their emotions, as in this one Regina George is trying to be somewhat seductive.












**Images from Google**

Post 5-Studios & Stars

The old Hollywood Studio system was set up to where the whole movie-making process was in one place. This made it very convenient for everyone involved from the directors, to producers, and to the cast and crews. One important factor of the Studio System was the star system. This was the system that had certain actors always reperesenting the same studio. The actors/actresses who did this were usually "discovered" by the studio they represented and tended to asssociate with a specific genre. An example would be Humphrey Bogart. He was always depicted as the handsome,detective/war hero who always saved the day and lived up to this role most of his career. Eventually people began to watch movies just because he was in them which is what the star system inteded for, which is to have a certain famous actor/actress give them publicity and make their studio look well represented.

4th Blog Post-"All In The Family"

The sitcom "All in The Family" is both similar and different than a contemporary family-based TV situation comedy. They are alike in the fact that they are a close family but have conflict throughout the show, just like every other show as well in real-life. They also share the common set up of a family with a working father who likes to spend time with the guys and drink, and a mother who stays home and takes care of the family. A difference is that the issues in "All in The Family", such as the ones faced in the episode we saw, aren't really faced in today's shows. You might see them in some, but the degree which it is brought out is not the same. Back when this epsiode was aired, it was probably viewed as being a little to vulgar about the situation because homosexuality was most likely not talked about openly like it is now and more accepted these days. The different issues between "All in the Family" and a show would be things such as dealing with homosexuality, disagreements between parents and their kids, and accepting others as they are which was one of the main points of the "All in The Family" episode we watched.