The sitcom formula
Interesting Wall Street Journal story (subscription required) about the formula for network TV sitcoms...and how one new sitcom, Happy Family, is trying to modify it just a little:
The set has a living room with a sofa in the center and a staircase behind it, an arrangement that dates back to "Father Knows Best" and has been used countless times since. But the creators of "Happy Family," David Guarascio and Moses Port, wanted a way to assert their independence over the form. Adding a space off the living room with a dining table "was a big one," says Mr. Guarascio.
Thus the alcove. Sitcom producers discovered long ago that living rooms offer a ready excuse for characters to gather, and the staircase lets characters enter and exit while talking. Writers are loath to monkey with what works: This fall, 67% of sitcoms on ABC, CBS and NBC feature a living room with a sofa and staircase.