Comedy Is Dying: Emmys Nominee Reflects Genre's Decline

The landscape of television comedy is undergoing a significant transformation, with the Emmy Awards' outstanding comedy series nominees reflecting this shift. While "Abbott Elementary" is recognized as a traditional, feel-good comedy, many other nominees lean towards dramedy or even mystery, often featuring darker themes and unresolved narratives.

This evolution is driven by the demands of streaming platforms, which prioritize binge-watching and viewer retention over episodic laughter. Unlike broadcast television's model of concluding stories within an episode, streamers seek to create "propulsive" content that compels viewers to continue watching. This approach has led to a dramatic decrease in the production of new sitcoms, which now constitute only 1.7% of new TV shows, down from 12% in the 1990s.

The author, a comedy writer, notes the industry's increasing preference for plot-driven narratives, even within comedies, deeming "propulsive enough" a key development buzzword. This contrasts sharply with classic sitcoms where character flaws and weekly resets were central to the humor, and character growth was minimal.

Furthermore, the sketch comedy genre, which also relies on resets, has similarly declined, with fewer shows being produced for broadcast. The article suggests that comedy, historically a less prestigious genre than drama, is facing an existential crisis in the current media environment.