Codes and Conventions of a British Sitcom.

	Codes and Conventions
	Limited Characters – There will be only a few main characters in the sitcom.
	Limited Sets – In most sitcoms there are limited sets that are used, for example in Mrs Browns Boys they have 3 main sets which is the kitchen, living room and the pub. In every episode they are always in 1 of the 3 rooms. Using limited sets makes the sitcom seem more homely.
	Catchy theme tune – Sitcoms always start with an opening theme tune, bread uses a catchy theme tune at the beginning which would get into your head and would help the audience recognise the program.
	Canned Laughter - Canned laughter is where something is done purposely to make the audience laugh, for example in bottom when he gets the turkey out of the oven and it has shrunken and when he says ‘Eddie turn out the lights’ then falls this has been done intentionally to make the audience laugh.
	Use of Catchphrases – Use of catch phrases is where in the sitcom there is a catch phrase that is used over and over again in each episode where the audience will start to recognise it, for example in On the Buses Blakely has the saying ‘I’ll get you Butler’ and on Fiends Joey has the catchphrase ‘ how you doin’.
	Linear narrative that uses equilibrium, disruption – Linear narrative is where it is about everyday life then something happens which they have to solve to change the equilibrium and then the problem is sorted but it isn’t the same.
	Use of Small social groups, e.g. family, friends, work – The Inbetweeners is an example of a small social group for example the program is about a small group of friends. Each character would have a distinct personality from each other which would show throughout the sitcom.
	One Liner – A one liner is usually a throw away remark which is mainly used in a modern sitcom. The one liner joke is made in one sentence and is often observational to an event that has just happened for example in the Simpsons when Homer does something wrong he would use the one liner ‘D’oh!’
	Situation – In sitcoms there is sometimes a situation not in the location but in the sense of being trapped for example in Porridge they are trapped in prison, My Family they are trapped by the family, in Only Fools and Horses they are trapped in Peckham and in Red Dwarf they are trapped in space.
	Storylines – Storylines are rarely on-going and always come to a resolution in the in a sitcom for example there is always closures at the end of them however Friends sometimes carry the series on as they end it on a cliff-hanger.