Often used storylines in sitcoms. (1 Viewer)

[Jacinto]

Sorry, I just had to say that Andrew's post had me laughing harder than any sitcom has ever made me laugh.

 

[MarkHastings]

and don't forget that the homeless person teaches everyone a lesson about how much they take money for granted.

 

[John Kilduff]

I know of an oft-used sitcom stereotype (not storyline...stereotype)...

Everybody in the family is a smart person, except for the father/husband, who is a boor, a lush, a loser, an incompetent putz, a reject, a retard, a failure, a douchebag, a worthless scum-sucking worm who, according to the entendres of his wife, kids and parents, was an idiot growing up and was good only for 3 minutes of "Wham, Bam, Thank You, Ma'am".

Sincerely,

John Kilduff...

And I watched these shows...Until I woke up.

 

[Chucky P]

Some members of the family are trapped in their basement which causes them to have flashbacks of previous episodes.

 

[MarkHastings]

and remember...he used to play on the football team in high school...this is why the wife originally fell in love with him.

 

[dietcola]

was about to start a new thread on well-worn TV plots, then found this one from 20 years ago!

stuck between floors was used lots of times (edit: and already mentioned on page 1, *sigh*):

NIGHT COURT 2x10, homophobe dan is trapped in an elevator with a gay man (jack riley).
DICK VAN DYKE 4x07, laura & rob are held-up by petty thief (don rickles) when the lift fails...

 

[Wiseguy]

Ventriloquist who thinks dummy Is real on The Bob Newhart Show, Barney Miller and a recurring character on Soap all around 1977.

 

[dietcola]

abandoned baby -- in WKRP, one of johnny's listeners leaves a kid outside the station. also used in NIGHT COURT (again), and late in 227's run.

 

[Worth]

Some variation on A Christmas Carol.

 

[Kevin Hewell]

Ventriloquist who thinks dummy Is real on The Bob Newhart Show, Barney Miller and a recurring character on Soap all around 1977.

It was done much better on "Soap".

 

[dietcola]

saving a life -- ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, when andy wakes gomer before a fire breaks out at wally's & THE JEFFERSONS has tom save george from choking on popcorn in charlie's bar. both turn into "cancel the debt" scenarios.