The Sitcom Study

Doogie Howser portrays a zombie, Ben Seaver adds a touch of eroticism to the killer alligator genre, and the It's Always Sunny gang fail to make an impression on fellow Philadelphian M. Night Shyamalan... This week's trope is Making a Movie! Here's what we're watching: Growing Pains S5 E25 "Ben's Movie" Doogie Howser S2 E8 "Revenge of the Teenage Dead" Community S1 E3 "Introduction to Film" It's A...

Punky Brewster unpacks the Challenger explosion, Murphy Brown takes on Dan Quayle (in real life, somehow) and Brooklyn 99 tackles the many societal woes of 2020 New York City... This week we're talking Ripped From the Headlines Sitcoms with Eric Paul of Everything is a Primary Source! Here's what we're watching: WKRP in Cincinatti S2 E19 "In Concert" Punky Brewster S2 E22 "Accidents Happen" Murphy...

Mary Tyler Moore loses control of the guest list, George Jefferson busts out a new tuxedo, and the Michael Scott / Jan Levinson household serves up a feast of delicious cringe (it must marinate for at least 3 hours)... This week's trope is Dinner Parties! Here's what we're watching: The Mary Tyler Moore Show S4 E10 "The Dinner Party" The Jeffersons S2 E1 "A Dinner for Harry" The Wonder Years S4 E1...

Frasier is driven to madness by his dad's effortless victories, Bernie Mac delivers age-old wisdom in metaphors of knights and bishops, and Felix Unger falls back into the depths of his childhood obsession... This week's trope is CHESS! Here's what we're watching: The Danny Thomas Show S5 E13 "The Chess Game" Frasier S3 E18 "Chess Pains" The Bernie Mac Show S2 E16 "Chess Wars" The Odd Couple S2 E9...

Alex P. Keaton, Zack Morris and Will Smith all make spectacularly bad first impressions on their professors, and the Hogan Family faces an angry wolverine in a typical freshman prank gone wrong... This week's trope is Going to College and we're joined by college professor and fellow podcaster Doug McCambridge of Good Times Great Movies  and Schitts and Giggles ! Here's what we're watching: The Hog...

This week we're going deep on the Winslows and their clumsy, catch-phrase prone neighbor by revisiting four of the times we've covered Family Matters on the podcast so far: S1 E16 "The Party" from our Party When the Parents Are Away podcast S2 E7 "Dog Day Halloween" from Held Hostage in a Bank S7 E14 "Life in the Fast Lane" from Hooked on Pills S1 E1 "The Mama Who Came to Dinner" from The Very Fir...

Bob Newhart returns to primetime for his least essential sitcom, The Simpsons anticipates the superhero movie craze, and the ladies of Big Bang Theory visit the comic shop and debate the subtleties of Thor's hammer... This week we're discussing comic books in sitcoms with Marvel Comics senior editor Jordan D. White! Here's what we're watching: Bob S1 E1 "Mad Dog Returns" The Simpsons S7 E2 "Radioa...

Benson takes the stage, Gomer Pyle makes a grown man cry, and the town of Schitt's Creek witnesses the open mic of a lifetime... This week's trope is Hidden Musical Talents, and we are joined by the sweeniest todd in the greater Tampa area, actor/musician/chum Dave Russell! Here's what we're watching: Gomer Pyle S3 E25 "Sing a Song of Papa" Benson S6 E17 "Solid Gold" Martin S4 E3 "Blow, Baby, Blow...

Joannie Cunningham takes a ride with Fonzie's mini-me, the Bosom Buddies come to blows, and Alex P. Keaton is up all night worried sick, young lady... We're back for YEAR TWO of The Sitcom Study and this week's trope is Don't Date My Sister! Here's what we're watching: Happy Days S2 E8 "Not With My Sister You Don't" Bosom Buddies S2 E17 "Not With My Sister You Pig" Family Ties S1 E2 "Not With My S...

This week we're chillin' out maxin' relaxin' all cool and revisiting the three Fresh Prince of Bel-Air episodes we've covered so far: S4 E5 "It's Better to Have Loved and Lost It" from our Losing Virginity podcast S4 E7 "Hex and the Single Guy" from Halloween Séances S2 E11 "The Butler Did It" from Early 90s Hip Hop Guest Stars It's not a clip show... It's a mixtape! Plus we'll test our knowledge...

This week we're celebrating the finest ladies to ever slice a cheesecake by revisiting the three Golden Girls episodes we've covered so far: S2 E26 "Empty Nests" from our Backdoor Pilots podcast S3 E6 "Letter to Mr Gorbachev" from Sitcoms Tackle the Cold War  S3 E5 "Nothing to Fear But Fear Itself" from Fear of Public Speaking It's not a clip show... It's a mixtape! Plus, we'll take an online quiz...

M*A*S*H gets existential, How I Met Your Mother leans into romantic psychosis, and Living Single and Brooklyn 99 both go out with an unexpected bang... To celebrate a full year of the Sitcom Study podcast, we're talking Season One Finales! Here's what we're watching: MASH S1 E24 "Showtime" Living Single S1 E27 "What's Next?" How I Met Your Mother S1 E22 "Come On" Brooklyn 99 S1 E22 "Charges and Sp...

Murphy Brown plays hardball, Benson saves the city, and Mr Cooper must find a new workplace in which to hang... This week's trope is going on strike! Here's what we're watching: Benson S1 E13 "One Strike You're Out" Murphy Browns S3 E4 "Strike Two" Hangin' with Mr Cooper S1 E14 "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" Workaholics S1 E6 "The Strike"

Sam and Diane gaze into the future, Jim and Pam finally take the plunge, and Ross pulls an airport love confession for the ages... Our epic Will They / Won't They case study concludes with ACT FIVE: Happily Ever After(?)... Here are SOME of the episodes we're watching... Cheers S5 E26 "I Do, Adieu" Friends S10 E17 "The Last One" The Office S5 E1-2 "Weight Loss" New Girls S6 E22 "Five Stars for Bee...

Donna Reed dishes out sage advice, Parker Lewis riles up the student body, and Punky Brewster dodges the advances of another young sociopath... This week's trope is Sadie Hawkins Dances! Here's what we're watching: The Donna Reed Show S4 E37 "The Man in the Mask" Punky Brewster S3 E16 "This Spud's For You" Parker Lewis Can't Lose S1 E6 "G.A.G. Dance" Strangers with Candy S1 E5 "Bogie Nights"

Bobby Brown stops by 227, Kriss Kross jump-jumps their way into a Different World, and the Bell Biv Devoe boys never trust a big butt and a Carlton... This week's trope is early 90s Hip Hop Star Guest Spots! Here's what we're watching: 227 S5 E7 "Video Activity" The Fresh Prince of Bel Air S2 E11 "The Butler Did It" Drexell's Class S1 E17 "Cruisin" A Different World S6 E11 "Original Teacher"

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 "Beaut...

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 D...

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 c...

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!...

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...

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"

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 Tee...

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 O...

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"