The way that camera angles and shots are used has also changed. For example in ‘Fawlty Towers’ we need long shots to see physical humour as we need to see the whole body. In ‘Peep Show’ high and low angle shots are used to show the point of view of characters. This makes us, the audience, feel in the middle of things.
However, there are some similarities between ‘Fawlty Towers’ and ‘Peep Show’. These similarities are between both the main characters in the two sitcoms; Basil and Mark who are both misfits and weak. When it comes down to women they both have bad relationships and don’t know how to get on.
Looking at the representation of gender in an early ‘90s sitcom called ‘Men Behaving Badly’, I can see that women are put into more mature characters. They act smart and look after the men. They are also independent up to a point. I know this because Dorothy doesn’t leave Gary; this is only because she feels sorry for him. This is a positive reputation of women because these characteristics are what women should hold. However, men are the immature characters who would do anything to sleep with women.
However, looking at another sitcom from the early 2000s I can see that women have changed. In ‘Scrubs’ the women are more independent and strong. On the other hand, they’re immature at times but are still smart. Another thing is if they feel sorry for their partner but don’t have feelings for him they’d still leave him. I think women now still have a positive reputation even though they have changed. One the other hand, men are still the same and I think this would always be the case.
There are some differences between ‘Men Behaving Badly’ and ‘Scrubs’. These differences are that women in ‘Men Behaving Badly’ are more sophisticated and mature. However, in ‘Scrubs’ the women are smart but at the same time act like the men. Another difference is the women in ‘Scrubs’ are more independent and don’t feel sorry for the men whereas in ‘Men Behaving Badly’ the women feel sorry for the men therefore staying with him.
The difference between BBC1 and Channel 4 is BBC1 is funded by a public service broadcaster whereas Channel 4 is funded by selling advertising space. Another difference is BBC1 makes programmes that are of interest and value to society. Channel 4 however shows programmes catering for a wide range of tastes and niche audiences.
In 1968 ‘Dad’s Army’ was broadcast as well as the sitcom ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’. The difference between the two are ‘Dad’s Army’ is a British sitcom where as the other is an American sitcom. ‘The Beverly Hillbillies’ was a very popular sitcom and was number one in the U.S. ‘Dad’s Army’ was also popular and had 18.5 million viewers.
When ‘Dad’s Army’ was broadcast back in 1968 there wasn’t much choice for television viewers, now there is a huge amount of choice. Channels attract viewers to sitcoms such as ‘Friends’ and ‘Peep Show’ by showing them at times when people would watch television. Also by making it appeal to the target audience by putting in the right type of humour to make it laughable.
