Media critisism

Running head : FRIENDS : AN ANALYSIS

Friends

An Analysis of a Modern ' Sitcom

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Friends

An Analysis of a Modern ' Sitcom

In his Sitcom : What It Is , How It Works , Richard F . Taflinger (1996 )outlines not only what makes a television program comedic but more specifically what points to its being a situational comedy (or simply sitcom . Examining a random sample of programs from 1950 to 1993 Taflinger identified three types of sitcom : actcom , domcom , and dramedy But the scope of the studies were sitcoms that are now almost

unknown to the modern viewers . Taking one of the most popular sitcoms of this generation - Friends - will Taflinger 's theories still hold water

Warner Bros . Television 's hit comedy show Friends started airing on 22 September 1994 and went on to span 10 seasons , ending only last 2004 The show has become sort of a cult following , which made big bucks not only for creators David Crane and Martha Kauffman , but also for the stars (Internet Movie Database Inc , 2005 ) Being a sitcom , Friends is episodic in nature - meaning , there is a definite set of character setting , and a plot for each episode (Taflinger , 1996 . Friends fans have come to get acquainted with the six major characters in the series Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston , Monica Geller (Courtney Cox-Arquette Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow , Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc , Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry , and Dr . Ross Geller (David Schwimmer . And in the ten years that fans have let the six friends into their living rooms they have come to know each corner and nook of the characters ' apartment and their favorite hangout place , the Central Park Coffee Shop (Internet Movie Database Inc , 2005

But unlike the sitcoms mentioned in Taflinger 's study , Friends does not strictly fall under the three sitcom categories named . In fact , this popular sitcom seesaws between being an actcom and a domcom . The series pretty much started as an actcom , with emphasis on the actions rather than the characterization . Parallel to Taflinger 's (1996 ) of an actcom , the earlier series of Friends mostly featured Rachel , Monica Phoebe , Joey , Chandler , and Ross as shallow and superficial ' and adhering to a certain societal stereotype . Phoebe was the ditzy , blonde female who always seems to be confused . Joey , who is her male counterpart , represents the struggling vainglorious actor . Ross is the geek , Rachel the heartthrob , Monica the know-it-all , and Chandler the all-around typical American guy . During this time , most of the characters ' problems revolve around mistakes , misunderstandings attempts to influence the behavior of others , or unforeseen circumstances (Taflinger , 1996 ) Take for example Rachel 's realization that she likes Ross and , thinking that Ross likes her back (as touted by Chandler , she meets him at the airport only to be surprised that Ross arrived with a date named Janice . Also in line with actcoms , Friends 's situations during the first few seasons are complicated by flaws in the plan to solve the problems (Taflinger , 1996 ) A classic example is episode 5 of Season...