Sitcoms Are Dying Because Of A Much Better Modern Genre

Combining comedy and drama isn’t new in television, with some classic sitcoms managing to combine the two worlds to great effect. MASH is a beloved comedy that explores heavy themes like war, trauma, and the ethics of the draft while consistently delivering genuine laughs. However, with its laugh track and wacky characters it utilized the aesthetics of traditional TV comedies even if it pushed the genre in a new direction. 

The modern dramedy, the specific type of show leading to sitcoms dying, took form in the 1980s. The word dramedy emerged in 1987 to describe the show Hooperman, a half-hour police procedural with comedic elements starring John Ritter. The term then spread to describe the late 80s trend of similar shows that meshed drama sub-genres with comedy, with The Wonder Years and Doogie Howser, M.D. being the most notable examples. 

We are living through another boom in the dramedy genre, with shows like The Bear, Succession, and Ted Lasso killing the traditional sitcom. Like the shows of the 80s, they infuse traditional dramatic subjects with a strong comedic voice. But unlike earlier versions, the modern dramedy comes with a higher budget and quality synonymous with prestige TV, which is why I think sitcoms are dying.

The prestige of these shows is evident in the last two years Emmy’s, in which dramedies won both the Best Comedy and Best Drama categories. Social media latched onto this detail during the 2023 Emmys when Succession won Best Drama and The Bear won Best Comedy, causing a minor controversy. The previous year Succession won Best Drama and Ted Lasso won Best Comedy, though more traditional sitcoms were nominated in that awards season.

Coupled with the undeniable popularity of these shows, it’s easy to see why sitcoms are dying. The dramedy isn’t just beating out traditional comedies, they’re dominating all of television in terms of both awards and audience attention. I think IP-based dramas like The Last of Us have kept pure dramas popular, but pure comedies don’t have that advantage which has contributed to their decline.

Whether it’s Succession or Ted Lasso, dramedies are seen as the best of both worlds, giving audiences touching emotional moments and laughs, all with near movie-level visual quality. Jerry Seinfeld’s claim that comedies aren’t being made anymore is wrong, they just don’t look like Seinfeld anymore. Sitcoms are dying not because modern audiences are too sensitive, but because they want their comedy within beautifully crafted, emotionally rich stories. 

I don’t know if the current dramedy craze will be a lasting shift in tastes or if it will be a fad. If the hybrid style remains popular traditional sitcoms will have to adjust if they’re going to avoid dying out altogether. But even if dramedies become the new norm, it’s important to note that comedy itself isn’t going anywhere; it’s just being delivered in a new and more polished way.