Laughter In The Living Room - Television Comedy And The American Home Audience (Popular Culture and Everyday Life).

For more than fifty years some very funny people have been entering American homes through television's big picture window. From Lucy and Uncle Miltie, to Archie Bunker and Marge Simpson, certain comic stars of television history have become not just cultural icons, but friends of the family. This comprehensive study of the most successful television comedies - including domestic sitcoms, workplace comedies, variety shows, late-night comedy, animated comedy, and more - reveals that, unlike the comedy found in film, on stage, in comedy clubs and concert halls, television's presentation of comic characters and stories must negotiate a relationship with the more privatized and value-laden environment of each American home that it enters.. This Comprehensive Study Of The Most Successful Television Comedies - Including Domestic Sitcoms, Workplace Comedies, Variety Shows, Late-night Comedy, Animated Comedy And Others - Reveals That, Unlike The Comedy Found In Firm On Stage, In Comedy Clubs And Concert Halls, Television's Presentation Of Comic Characters And Stories Must Negotiate A Relationship With The More Privatized And Value-laden Environment Of The American Home That It Enters.--jacket. They Also Serve Who Only Sit And Watch -- A Night On The Town-at Home? -- Survival Of The Nicest -- ... As Long As We Both Shall Laugh -- Ozzie And Harriet And Rock And Roll -- Looking Out The Picture Window -- Keeping It In The Family -- There's No Place Like Work -- Playtime For The Grown-ups -- Movin' On Up? -- Fun City -- Back To The Drawing Board -- . Breaking And Entering. Michael Tueth. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [229]-233) And Index.