Watching Sitcoms

I did a little investigating and came to the conclusion, probably way after the rest of the world, that the future of the sitcom is bleak. Maybe even the future of TV or mankind as we know, too.

First of all, there are only 8 new sitcoms green-lighted for this fall, which may sound like a lot, but when you put that number up against all the new dramas and reality shows (sigh) you’ll start to feel that little niggle of worry. Then, when you check out the premise for most of these new shows, it turns into a cold knot of fear. Or maybe that’s indigestion. Whatever, it’s not good.

In this post, I’m gonna list the new fall schedules, including the new sitcoms in the offing. I warn you, it’s not pretty, so if you’re squeamish, you may want someone else to read it to you.

ABC, which has 5 new dramas airing, is also giving us the most new sitcoms, 3, but nothing that sounds too interesting. Here is their Fall Schedule.

We’re looking at Samantha Who?, Cavemen and Carpoolers. I don’t get that one at all, by the way. Is it like an endless Grey Poupon commercial? Also, I’m finding their site a little confusing. As far as I can tell the only returning sitcom is Notes From the Underbelly.

Here’s NBC’s Fall Schedule. All we get is four new dramas and a new reality series. They do have four returning sitcoms, though, My Name Is Earl, 30 Rock, The Office and Scrubs. Honestly, I’ve never watched any of them, so I can’t really comment. I know The Office is supposed to be really funny, but something about it just turns me off.

As for CBS’s Fall Schedule, they are giving us three new dramas, one reality show and one new sitcom, The Big Bang Theory (which at first, from the title, I thought was another Cavemen type thing, but it’s actually a woman’s issues based comedy, cause that’s never been done before). The returning sitcoms are How I Met Your Mother, Two and a Half Men and Rules of Engagement. I did see HIMYM once or twice.

On to Fox. I actually have another whole issue with Fox, but I won’t get it to now. Wait for it, it’s time will come. Here’s the Fall Schedule.
Three new reality shows, six new dramas, one show that calls itself a “docu-soap” and 2 new comedies: Back to You and Unhitched. They both sound good, but since I have that issue . . . alright, fine, I’ll tell you. I don’t like to get too involved in a new show on Fox cause they have a habit of killing shows before giving them a chance. I can think of half a dozen shows off the top of my head. Shows I liked that got killed before their time. So I’ll have to see, but I don’t want to rush into anything, cause I’ve been hurt.

See, now I’m all sad. Also, I almost forgot the returning sitcoms on Fox: Til Death. That’s it, cause I don’t count cartoons. Sorry, I just don’t.

The CW Fall Schedule isn’t helping things, either. They have three dramas, two shows that are hard to classify (a news-like show called CW Now, and something called Online Nation), and one new sitcom, Aliens in America. It doesn’t look bad, but it basically looks like it will appeal to a much younger crowd. Like maybe 8-year olds. They have returning Everybody Hates Chris, Girlfriends and The Game. And yet no more Veronica Mars. It’s like they hate me.

Anyway, tomorrow, I’ll do some more indepth research (meaning aimless web surfing while I’m supposed to be working) and try to give you more info on each of these exciting new sitcoms. Um, yeah.