A recent article in the New York Times caught our attention:

"He Found Big Laughs By Looking At The Small Stuff"
-- Bill Carter, New York Times (10/28/06)

After reading the article, we're left wondering, "What has happened to the great TV Sitcom"?

Since Seinfeld, Friends, and Everybody Love’s Raymond ruled the ratings, the American television networks have failed to launch a new top-rated comedy series.

In his new book “You’re Lucky, You’re Funny”, Phil Rosenthal, writer and producer of “Everybody Loves Raymond”, shares the simple secret to the show’s success:

SPECIFICITY

What made Raymond work was not simply a great cast headed by Ray Romano, or a strong staff, or experienced copy writers, though it all helped, of course. What really made the show standout, was faithful reliance on truly specific – sometimes minutely so – details of married life. The details were that specific because they almost always came directly from Rosenthal’s life, or Ray Ramano’s, or from any of the show’s married writers.”

Rosenthal says he had confidence in the material because he was writing about his actual family.

The problem with most comedies today is “A lot of these shows will go for generalities, thinking that’s the way to get everybody, but that’s the only sure fire way to miss everybody”.

Seinfeld was a TV comedy about NOTHING. Nothing except a focus on the simple “specific” trials and tribulations we all face in daily life. Seinfeld’s simple formula earned its place as one of the most successful TV sitcoms of all-time.

So what is your Morning Show talking about? Generalities or Specifics.

Are they going for the easy laugh or are they telling a great story and sharing real life experiences every listener can relate to?

Ken Benson, VP/International
Pinnacle Media Worldwide
+1.360.883.0092

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