Sitcom Tropes

TV situation comedy (sitcom) shows often use plots that have become
familiar to viewers over the years, especially when the shows extend into
many seasons and many episodes. (Quite often these plots can be traced back to
some of television's earliest series, or even to radio or vaudeville/music hall.)
Some of these 'tropes' - such as growing boys shaving for the first time,
or pretending to shave while their fathers or other admired men are
doing it for real; or cross-dressing for some devious purpose (almost always
boys); or wearing turkeys on one's head (that list on this page has pictures!) -
are dealt with in other lists in this collection. A few more
are now being listed here.
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I Love You (aka The 'L' Bomb)

One partner in a romantic relationship says "I love you", often before
thinking about the implications, but the other one doesn't say it back, leading to
much conversation, misunderstanding, and, usually, reconciliation.
 
The Golden Girls (NBC, 1985-1992), "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun . . . Before They Die", 24 November 1990
          Sophia (Estelle Getty) is falling for Tony Delvecchio (Cesar Romero), and in an intimate moment,
          says, "I love you." When he doesn't respond, she repeats herself, and he responds, "Thank you."
          Sophia puts him on the spot, asking "And you?" He says, "I care for you."
          Sophia feels insulted, and leaves.

That '70s Show (FOX, 1998-2006), "I Love Cake", 9 November 1999

The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 2007-2019), "The Wheaton Recurrence", 12 April 2010
          Leonard (Johnny Galecki) says "I love you" to Penny (Kaley Cuoco); she responds, "Thank you."
         "The 43 Peculiarity", 15 November 2012
          In the heat of an argument with Leonard (Johnny Galecki), Penny (Kaley Cuoco) says,
          "You know I love you," then leaves before they both start crying.

Bowling

Brothers (SHOwtime, 1984-1989), "The Point After Bowling Team", 20 January 1989

Family Matters (ABC, 1989-1998), ""Bowl Me Over", 20 April 1990
          Men against the Women. (Due to a power outage on the last roll, no-one knows who won.)

Almost Home [The Torkelsons] (NBC, 1991-1993), "Bowling for Daddies", 12 June 1993

Will & Grace (NBC, 1998-2020), "Alley Cats", 6 May 1999

That '70s Show (FOX, 1998-2006), "The Third Wheel", 11 December 2001

Malcolm in the Middle (Fox, 2000-2006), "Bowling", 1 April 2001
          The entire show centers on a comparison of what would happen if Lois (Jane Kaczmarek) took the boys
          bowling, as compared with Hal (Bryan Cranston) taking them.

The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 2007-2019), "The Wheaton Recurrence", 12 April 2010

Heartstopper (Netflix, 2021-), "Friend", 22 April 2022

Buying/Trying on Clothes - in and out of the dressing room - with a Friend who is a harsh critic



My Secret Identity (CTV, 1988-1991), "Don't Look Down", 4 December 1989
          Erin (Marsha Moreau) and her friend (Gillian Steeve) go shopping for an outfit she can wear
          to her Mom's Real Estate Agents dinner.

That '70s Show (FOX, 1998-2006), "The Forgotten Son", 21 November 2001
          Leo (Tommy Chong) thinks he's inherited lotsa money, so he takes Fez (Wilmer Valderrama)
          and Hyde (Danny Masterson) shopping at a department store, where they try on new clothes.

Two and a Half Men (CBS, 2003-2015), "Alan Harper, Frontier Chiropractor", 15 December 2003
          Alan reluctantly accepts that his marriage is over, and to get back into the dating scene
          he's going to have to change his image. He and Charlie (Charlie Sheen) go shopping.

          Hilarity ensues.

Grounded for Life (FOX/WB, 2001-2005), "I Think We're Alone Now", 6 February 2004
          Lily (Lynsey Bartilson) takes Brad (Bret Harrison) to get a tux for the school dance.

Oliver Beene (Fox, 2003-2004), "Daughter for a Day", 14 February 2004
          Michael (Taylor Emerson) brings his gay sensibility along to help Ted (Andrew Lawrence)
          choose clothes for an important date

Everybody Hates Chris (UPN/CW, 2005-2009), "Everybody Hates Picture Day", 2 February 2006
          Chris (Tyler James Williams) and his Mom (Tichina Arnold) go shopping for a new outfit for his school picture.


The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 2007-2019), "The Pants Alternative", 22 March 2010
          Penny (Kaley Cuoco) helps Sheldon (Jim Parsons) pick out a suit for his speech at an awards dinner.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine (CBS, 2007-2019), "Old School", 22 March 2010
          Jeffords (Terry Crews) and Boyle (Joe LoTruglio) insist that Diaz (Stephanie Beatriz) improve
          her 'courtroom demeanor', including dressing in something other than her all-black usual. They
          take her into the Ladies' Room (!) and she tries on various outfits until everyone agrees on one
          that would be most appropriate for the courtroom.

Adolescents being reluctant to have parents drop them off at [new] school

The usual script line is something like, "Right here [a block away from the school] will be fine."
Changing Ends (ITVX, 2023-PR), "Big League Player", 1 June 2023
          Alan Carr (Oliver Savell) begins a life of growing apprehension on his first day in "big school" - where
          one of the horrors is taking communal showers after P.E.

Round the Twist (Australian Children's Television Foundation, 1989-2001), "A Good Tip for Ghosts", 18 April 1989
          At the beginning of the series, as the family have just moved into the Lighthouse as their
          new home, the kids must now start at their new school and meet all the bullies.

Cheating (or being falsely accused, or incorrectly graded) on a School Test



Leave It To Beaver (CBS/ABC, 1957-1963), "Wally's Test", 23 January 1960

Oliver Beene (Fox, 2003-2004), "Lord of the Bees", 13 April 2003

The War at Home (CBS, 2005-2007), "Be Careful What You Ask For", 12 November 2006


Dancing - and 'Leading'

Gender-role variations have always been a common subject for sitcom humour. One sure-fire
reference to role-reversal was the practice of 'leading' while dancing, a technique learned
at cotillions and dance studios in the early- and mid-XXth century. For standard ballroom
dancing, the dancers would position themselves with one arm around each other's bodies,
and their other arm extended with hands clasped. With the extended arm, the boy (or man)
would 'lead' the girl (woman) around the dance floor. It was seen as humourous if a sitcom
writer would suggest that the female would 'lead', or even better, if two of the same gender
were going to a dance together, without escorts, the inevitable line would be, "I hope one of you
knows how to lead." Despite the demise of ballroom-type dancing after the 1950s, the joke
has remained in standard sitcom fare well into the XXIst century.
 
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (ABC, 1952-1966)

Brothers (SHOwtime, 1984-1989)
          The through-line of this show was the story of three brothers, the youngest of whom, Cliffie
          (Paul Regina) is gay. The oldest of the brothers, Lou (Brandon Maggart), gradually accepts
          Cliffie's gay friends, especailly Donald (Philip Charles Mackenzie), who is unabashedly
          flamboyant, but often cannot resist making jokes about their lifestyle. On several occasions,
          he asks various gay characters questions such as, "When you fight, who sleeps on the couch?",
          or "When you dance, who leads?"

The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 2007-2019), "The Pulled Groin Extrapolation", 29 September 2011
          Amy (Mayim Bialik) invites Leonard (Johnny Galecki) to accompany her to the wedding of one
          of her relatives. Before the wedding, Amy reveals to her friends that she is hoping the
          evening will go smoothly, and just in case, she has drawn a mustache on her finger (which she
          holds up just under her nose), "as a conversation starter." At the wedding, when
          everyone is dancing, Amy invites Leonard to dance, and he declines, claiming he is "not much
          of a dancer." Amy holds up her mustachioed finger,
          and says, "That's OK. I'll lead."

Junior High Marriage Project

Very common between the 1980s and early 2000s, not seen much after that. Characters who are of
Junior-High age (12-15 or so) are paired up at school with other-sex classmate to behave as if
they're married, thought to be a preparation for adulthood - in effect, an exercise in service
of social conformity. The comic premise is based on the usual: one kid - inevitably the
girl - finds a particular boy creepy, and either by chance or by devious design, is paired
with him for the marriage experiment. In a variant, the participants are sometimes
given a raw egg to take care of for a period of time, imagining it to be a child.
 
Family Matters (ABC, 1989-1998), "Marriage 101", 28 September 1990
          Nearly every scene or situation in this series is derivative - a re-hash
          of what has been done, sometimes countless times, on other sitcoms. This show is no exception
          to the rule of being derivative, beginning with the title: "Marriage 101."
          Here, it's Laura Winslow (Kellie Shanygne Williams) and the redoubtable Steve Urkel
          (Jaleel White). The rest is, well, predictable. It should be mentioned that this sitcom premise is
          always - always - heterosexual. Perhaps that someday will change. Don't hold your breath.

Clarissa Explains It All (Nickelodeon, 1991-1995), "Brain Drain", 18 May 1991
          The Project in this show is limited to the egg as a symbol for the responsibility of caring for
          a baby, not the whole marriage routine, and only Sam's class is participating; moreover, the egg
          is a minor part of the show's story, limited to a 'running gag' of Sam forgetting the egg every
          time he leave's Clarissa's room.

The Torkelsons (NBC, 1991-1992), "The Egg and I", 23 May 1992
          Dorothy Jane (Olivia Burnette) is delighted in her teacher's choice for her practice husband,
          a football star who gets injured in the next game and cannot fulfil his marital duties. Of course,
          the backup 'bachelor' is Kirby Scroggins (Paige Gosney), who had been wanting Dorothy Jane
          for his own long before any school assignment would make it semi-official. The rest is, again,
          predictable: Kirby goes whole-hog, while Dorothy Jane tries (in vain) to keep her distance.

Everybody Hates Chris (UPN/CW, 2005-2009), "Everybody Hates Eggs", 22 January 2007
          The assignment is the usual for this sitcom premise, and Greg (Vincent Martella) takes it
          very seriously, while Chris (Tyler James Williams) goes along with it just for the grade - and
          then loses the egg. His schemes to replace the lost egg are not destined to end well.

Party at the House when Parents are Away

This scenario is seen in almost every sitcom where teens are part of the family,
and is so similar from show to show that it almost seems like there is one template
script that all the writers have been sharing since the 1950s. Here's how it goes:
parents go away for a weekend or longer, leaving teens at home taking care of
themselves - often being trusted for the first time without babysitters. Teens
promise either to have no guests in the house, or restrict any visitors to a
minimum of highly trusted friends. Once the teens are on their own, visitors
begin arriving - sometimes invited, sometimes just because they've heard there's
a party. The gathering quickly gets out of control, the house is trashed (or worse),
and there is a mad scramble to get things back in order before the parents' return.
 
Growing Pains (ABC, 1985-1992), "Be a Man", 11 March 1986
          The responsible teen at home here is Michael Seaver (Kirk Cameron).

My Secret Identity (CTV [Canada], 1988-1991), "Moving Out", 1 December 1990
          In a variation, Andrew Clements (Jerry O'Connell) is entrusted with housesitting an apartment for one of
          Mom's (Wanda Cannon) friends. Andrew foolishly gives his best friend Kirk (Christopher Bolton) a key.
          The rest is, well, as you might expect.

Malcolm in the Middle (Fox, 2000-2006), "Reese's Party", 27 April 2003
          The kid watching the chaos unfold here is Reese (Justin Berfield).

Lovers in bed, out of breath when scene begins (usually after a commercial)

This is a particular 'signature' of sitcoms written/produced by Chuck Lorre,
though seen elsewhere as well.
 
Two and a Half Men (CBS, 2003-2015), [many, many episodes]

The Big Bang Theory (CBS, 2007-2019), [many episodes]

The School Picture

No-one is ever satisfied, and the 'comedy' often is based on pranks or jokes played by boys.
 
Leave it to Beaver (CBS/ABC, 1957-1963), "The School Picture" 22 April 1961
          Beaver (Jerry Mathers) and Gilbert (Stephen Talbot) agree to make ugly faces for their school pictures,
          but (of course) only Beaver goes through with it.

Clarissa Explains It All (Nickelodeon, 1991-1994), "School Picture" 4 May 1991
          The usual: Clarissa (Melissa Joan Hart) feels the need to rebel, while her parents want her to look her best
          (i.e., conform). She starts with her "tribute to world leaders" outfit - Mao collar, Gandhi pants, &c.

The Zack Files (YTV [Canada], 2001-2002), "Photo Double" 8 January 2001
          On the very day he is to have his first 'real' date with Rita (Taylor Pettit), the school picture
          photographer uses long-outdated film she once picked up in Nepal, and Zack Greenburg (Robert Clark)
          gets trapped inside his laminated school I.D. card, while his body is reduced to a drooling zombie.


Even Stevens (Disney, 2000-2003), "Shutterbugged" 22 June 2001
          Ren (Christy Carlson Romano) gets her braces removed on school picture day, unaware that there will be
          side effects. Her attempts to get the photographer to re-shoot her picture are pointless, until
          Louis (Shia LaBeouf) gets involved.

South Park (Comedy Central, followed by many others, 1997-present), "How to Eat With Your Butt" 14 November 2001
          Butters gets grounded because his Mom thinks he spoiled his school picture. (He informs her
          that it's just the way he looks; "I hate my stupid face," he moans.) Kenny gets into
          his parka backwards, so that his butt shows through the hoodie instead of his face. His buddies
          send the picture to the Missing Children people, so it will appear on milk cartons.

Grounded for Life (FOX/WB, 2001-2005), "Baby Come Back" 14 November 2003
          Lily (Lynsey Bartilson) hates her yearbook picture.

Oliver Beene (FOX, 2003-2004), "Superhero" 8 August 2004
          Oliver (Grant Rosenmeyer) is convinced that pictures of him are always terrible, so he decides
          to show up for school picture day wearing a superhero costume.

Malcolm in the Middle (FOX, 2000-2006), "Malcolm's Money" 6 January 2006
          Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) dresses 'casual' (i.e., sloppy) for his yearbook picture, then changes his
          mind and tries to convince the photographer to give him a re-shoot.

Everybody Hates Chris (UPN/CW, 2005-2009), "Everybody Hates Picture Day", 2 February 2006
          Chris (Tyler James Williams) gets an expensive new shirt for his school picture, only to have it
          stolen from his gym locker just before the photo session. He searches the Lost and Found for
          something to wear. The outfit he ends up wearing in the photo is, to say the least,
          not acceptable to Mom (Tichina Arnold).

The School Play (almost always Romeo and Juliet)

It's almost always Romeo and Juliet because American sitcoms are almost always obsessed with
heterosexuality. Often, another level of 'comedy' is added when someone's girlfriend gets cast
as the lead, while the boy gets the job of stage manager, or similar. His jealousy then threatens
to ruin the production or the relationship . . . or both. He just can't let that other 'Romeo'
kiss his girl. The other standard plot device is that the boy feels he is too young, or for some
other reason simply must avoid the kissing at all costs.
 
Family Matters (ABC, 1989-1998), "The Show Must Go On", 4 October 1991
          Steve Urkel (Jaleel White) makes it all worthwhile, even with every other detail so predictable,
          as is always the case with this show.

The Torkelsons (ABC, 1991-1992), "Swear Not by the Moon", 19 January 1998
          Dorothy Jane (Olivia Burnette) gets the part of Juliet when she learns that her as-yet
          unattainable love interest Riley Roberts (Michael Landes) has been cast as Romeo, and she
          will be able to kiss him (not to mention the bedroom scene) without her mother,
          Millicent (Connie Ray) objecting because Riley (18) is four years older than Dorothy Jane (14).

Lockie Leonard (Australian Children's Television Foundation, 2007-2010), "A Musical Moment", 14 July 2010
          Egg (Clarence Ryan) is painfully shy with girls, while his Drama teacher (Monica Main as Ms Twaddle)
          decides he is ideal to play the romantic lead in her updated version of Shakespeare, namely "Robiot and Juliet".
          Ms Twaddle explains to Egg that he, as the Robot version of Romeo, will speak of his commitment, then "move in
          for the first kiss." "There's more than one??!?" he exclaims in a panic. Then leaves to give the situation a
          good think.

Malcolm in the Middle (FOX, 2000-2006), "High School Play", 10 December 2000
          Malcolm (Frankie Muniz) plays Puck, because his reading at an audition blows away the teacher.

Changing Ends (ITVX, 2023-PR), "Man On", 1 June 2023
          Young Alan Carr (Oliver Savell) is fascinated with the new drama teacher, so he signs up for the school play.
          He has second thoughts (to say the least) when he learns that he, as Romeo, must kiss his classmate
          as Juliet. (NOTE: this series is a semi-autobiographical romp through real-life Alan Carr's adolescence.
          As we know he is gay as an adult, we also know - though young Alan may not quite understand - why his
          young self recoils at the idea of locking lips with anyone playing Juliet. Frankly, we saw this one
          coming up Regent Street a mile away.)

Wondering

Some tropes are so ubiquitous, so dependable, that no examples are needed - they appear in every
sitcom in which adolescents are primary characters. The awkwardness of the 'first date'
(first ever, or first with a particular person) is exploited at some point, whether the
sitcom is cancelled after 13 episodes or runs for 9 years. Every time - and I mean every
time - a preteen or teen male asks a female for a date, he begins the conversation with
the words, "I was wondering . . ." Due to old social conventions - which
themselves are comedy gold, or so Hollywood writers think - it is almost always the
insecure male asking the (seemingly) self-assured female to go out with him.
For the few occasions when the female asks the male, you can bet the same words will be
heard. "I was wondering . . ." Old stereotypes sure die hard.

Boys Referred to as 'Girls' or 'Ladies' (as a presumed insult)

Another reference in sitcoms, as well as films, that has reached cliché status is
when men, or sometimes other boys, refer to boys as "ladies" or "girls".
This happens typically in the context of a gym class or sports team, when the
coach - apparently trying to shame the boys into performing "like men" - says
something like, "All right, ladies, take ten laps around the field."
The notion that this is sexist, not to mention pointless in a world in which women and
girls are routinely portrayed as strong and self-assured, does not deter most sitcom
or cinema writers. Apparently they are blinded by the all-consuming need to humiliate,
not realising that more and more boys may prefer being treated like a lady.
The times, they are a-changin'.

Boys Dressed as 'Girls'

Dressing up boys in girls (or women's) clothing is so effective that it is found in XIXth
century literature, for example in Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn, and likely even
earlier. It's humour probably is related to a common 'secret activity' of preadolescent
boys to try on their mother's or sister's clothes for play purposes. These images in film
and television are so numerous that I keep a separate list posted online that lists the
ones I've encountered. See: exitinterview.biz/lists/sexswtch.htm
[Note that this is not the same as transvestite or transsexual behaviour, which are increasingly
recognised and accepted gender variations.]

Bullies

No more need be said. This script device is an absolute requirement for approval by Network
of any sitcom in which adolescent boys are characters.

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