The Uncomfortable Comfort of Classic Sitcoms

Julie Klausner’s impassioned plea at a recent live episode of “It Happened in Hollywood” has sparked a welcome conversation about the state of comedy today. Her lament for the loss of traditional sitcoms, built around tightly constructed jokes and communal laughter, resonates deeply with fans who yearn for a return to a more innocent era of comedy.

Klausner’s nostalgia is rooted in her own experiences as a creator and performer. She fondly remembers the multicamera format, laugh tracks, and camaraderie that came with being part of an ensemble cast. But what she misses most is the emotional function of these shows – their ability to connect audiences on a deeper level through shared laughter.

The comedy landscape has changed dramatically since the heyday of sitcoms like “Friends” and “Seinfeld”. The rise of social media, streaming services, and vertical video has given comedians new platforms to experiment with formats and styles that are often more self-indulgent than audience-friendly. Klausner’s advocacy for traditional sitcoms is not just about nostalgia; it’s also about recognizing the importance of community in comedy.

Great comedy writing now resides in dramas like “Succession”, but this trend has come at a cost: the loss of communal laughter and shared experience that sitcoms provided. As Klausner pointed out, even her own show, “Difficult People”, which premiered in 2015, was ahead of its time when it focused on tightly constructed jokes and ensemble cast dynamics.

The decision to create this type of comedy was a deliberate choice to counter the increasingly isolating nature of online comedy. While Klausner may be nostalgic for the traditional sitcom format, she’s also recognized that the best comedies are those that push boundaries and subvert expectations.

A promising route back to “Difficult People” is Universal’s commissioning of a feature screenplay from Klausner and Alex Scordelis in 2022. This project will stage as a reading on election night, featuring cameos from Christopher Meloni, Cecily Strong, and Michael Urie. The comedy has all the hallmarks of a caper comedy.

Klausner’s plea highlights the enduring appeal of classic sitcoms in an era of increasingly absurd and isolating comedy. We may live in a world where “vertical video” and “nepo babies” dominate our screens, but we still crave the comforting rhythms of traditional sitcoms. Klausner’s optimism about revisiting “Difficult People” is not just about reviving her own creation; it’s also about tapping into the timeless appeal of classic sitcoms.

There’s a reason why audiences continue to watch reruns of “Friends”, “Seinfeld”, and “Golden Girls”. These shows may be relics of another era, but they still speak to our deep-seated desire for connection, community, and shared laughter. Klausner is right: we’ve never needed Difficult People more.

We need the unapologetic humor, the communal energy, and tightly constructed jokes that defined classic sitcoms. And if Klausner’s plea can help revive this beloved format, then it will be a comedy miracle – one that might just bring us back from the brink of isolation and into the warm glow of shared laughter.