The Sitcom Studies Podcast

SEASON TWO! New season, new sitcom, same scintillating conversations! We’re stepping into our virtual time machine and tackling one of the most influential sitcoms of all time: Norman Lear’s classic All in the Family. Pull up a chair for this trip back to 1970s Queens, NY with us—and don’t be a “Meathead.”    Interview with Jean Stapleton and Carroll O'Connor: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LAXWlvAfTs

As part of our Frasier wrap up, we tackle some over-arching questions about the series - is Frasier a good person? Which couples do we ship? What enneagram type is Frasier? And of course, we rank our favorite episodes of Season 6. We begin a new season and sitcom next week!   "For an entire season of this podcast you have heard us say, 'we're listening.' Well, you were listening too. And for that we are eternally grateful."    https://sitcomstudies.wordpress.com/2018/09/16/25-essential-episodes-of-frasier-for-its-25th-anniversary/ https://www.enneagraminstitute.com/how-the-enneagram-system-works/  

We have officially reached the end of Season 6, and there's a whole lot to discuss. We say goodbye (sort of) to Bulldog and consider where the finale leaves each of our beloved Crane trio. Have we come full circle? History Highlights: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goldfinger_(Shirley_Bassey_song) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Barry_(composer)    

The lovely Lucas and Leila from The Frasier Department podcast join us to discuss the penultimate pair of episodes of this season! Even with two additional contributors to this week's debates, we are still all on the same page re: the Faye vs. Cassandra question...   History Highlights: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pagliacci https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franco_Zeffirelli https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commedia_dell%27arte   Tune in to Lucas and Leila's podcast here - https://thefrasierdepartment.com/

This week, we tackle a classic Crane brothers rivalry episode and a Frasier vs. his own ego storyline. And let’s not forget; Niles also grows a dashing mustache!   History Highlights: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Mallon

We weren’t ready to move on from dinner parties quite yet - so please enjoy our first ever SIDE QUEST episode! We talk all things related to the dinner parties that feature in some of the most well-known and renowned episodes of our chosen series: the good, the bad, the awkward. Some darker themes are discussed as well, but we feel confident that good food and even better “company” will get us through.  Marlessa’s Picks: Cheers 5.20 Dinner at Eight-ish Everybody Loves Raymond 8.4 Misery Loves Company The Office 4.13 Dinner Party Katie’s Picks The Big Bang Theory 6.19 The Closet Reconfiguration All in the Family 1.13 The First and Last Supper Seinfeld 5.13 The Dinner Party  

We're discussing not one but TWO dinner parties this week! Lots of questions to ask, especially when it is so important that these event goes well. When to have the party? Who to invite? What to do when the hors d'oeuvres might be tainted? In short, what could possibly go wrong? Please read Marlessa's blog post on sitcom bottle episodes here: https://sitcomstudies.wordpress.com/tag/bottle-episodes/ History Highlights: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collyer_brothers

This week, we debate doing the “moral” thing vs the “right” thing; Frasier attempts hunting; Niles flushes out Maris’ family secret; and we have some classic Frasier farcical fun. Oh, and we meet Donny Douglas … History Highlights: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Streetcar_Named_Desire https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Streetcar_Named_Desire_(1951_film)  

Marlessa's Dad joins us this week to offer his expert insights about these two iconic episodes! We discuss growing apart from old friends; connections with Cheers as Woody Harrelson enters the chat; and of course why over-preparing for a date might cause the whole evening to go up in flames (literally). Oh, and here's hoping ALL of your red flags go up if you need to call a friend during a date to find out if you are in fact on said date...    History Highlights: https://www.historynewsnetwork.org/article/who-was-st-valentine

Today we have not one but TWO episodes where Frasier's inclination to help others backfires. "So are [we] saying you shouldn't help people?" Join us to discuss whether no good deed does in fact go unpunished. We also dive into how to let someone down after a date that goes wrong; healthy levels of cynicism; and Super Bowl parties.  History Highlights: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothy_Parker