January 30th 2019/Blog post #1

Waging Which Workplace sitcoms are still Worth Watching?

I am a fan of witty workplace sitcoms.  Since it is the year 2020, let’s look at the last 20 years and review the top five comedies, utilizing 2020 hindsight!  Our viewing time is valuable so why am I choosing this specific genre to review? At a basic level, a solid sitcom will provide entertainment and hopefully, some laugh out loud moments. But in addition to humor, media programming often reflects societal norms during their original time of airing. It is interesting to explore artistic expression as a reflection of cultural values during a specific period in our media history.  It is analogous to drivers looking in the rear-view mirror to see what is behind so they can move forward with broader understanding.

On a scale of one to five, with one being the #1 best sitcom, we can start this journey with #5.  Reflecting over two decades worth of shows, I would suggest the distinction of worthy #5 belongs to, (drum roll, please) “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”  This is a sitcom set around the workforce at a police precinct, Brooklyn’s 99^th.  The writing on the show is sharp and the humor has an authentic appeal.  A unique assortment of characters keeps the show fast paced and amusing.  This show stands out because the writers use humor as an effective mechanism to sometimes highlight serious issues.  There have been episodes that have explored important subject matters such as racism and homophobia.  The character of Captain Holt is a black gay man.  His sexuality is not used as a joke, just an accurate observation of diversity.  The cast itself is diverse which is always a plus.  When an episode does shine a light on a serious topic, the humor is weaved into the fabric of the show so it’s handled with expertise.  This show is funny, relevant, and relatable.  The show debuted in 2013 and is still going.  I think this sitcom reflects our hopes for a more unified, equitable society.  

Ben K.