Sitcom Character Archetypes: Difference between revisions

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{{trope}}
{{trope}}
Like the [[Five-Man Band]], there are certain character archetypes who just seem to fit together, a sort of [[Commedia Dell Arte Troupe]], if you will. In any given [[Sitcom]] (especially an ensemble), you are likely to find at least two of the archetypes listed below.
Like the [[Five-Man Band]], there are certain character archetypes who just seem to fit together, a sort of [[Commedia Dell Arte Troupe]], if you will. In any given [[Sitcom]] (especially an ensemble), you are likely to find at least two of the archetypes listed below.


As an example of how these characters mesh, consider the following sample, from ''[[Commedia Dell'Arte]]'':
As an example of how these characters mesh, consider the following sample, from ''[[Commedia Dell'Arte]]'':
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* '''The Square:''' Columbina
* '''The Square:''' Columbina
* '''The Dork:''' Il Dottore
* '''The Dork:''' Il Dottore
* '''The Goofball:''' Scaramuccia, sometimes Pulcinella
* '''The Goofball:''' Scaramuccia, sometimes Pulcinella


These archetypes generally work best when the characters have no familial relationships, as in a [[Dom Com]]; Dom Com characters, being family, tend to have a completely different dynamic to their relationships. On the other hand, nothing could (nor, really, ''should'') prevent a Dom Com from utilizing any, or all, of these character types.
These archetypes generally work best when the characters have no familial relationships, as in a [[Dom Com]]; Dom Com characters, being family, tend to have a completely different dynamic to their relationships. On the other hand, nothing could (nor, really, ''should'') prevent a Dom Com from utilizing any, or all, of these character types.


It is important to note that, unlike the [[Five-Man Band]], it isn't strictly necessary for each show to have a representative member for each archetype. Keep in mind that, just as in [[Real Life]], the world of Sit Coms is awash in many various and diverse personalities, of which this is hardly an exhaustive list; so there's no need to shoehorn characters into these categories. Some shows will utilize certain archetypes and leave out others, or may have characters who don't fit into ''any'' of the listed types.
It is important to note that, unlike the [[Five-Man Band]], it isn't strictly necessary for each show to have a representative member for each archetype. Keep in mind that, just as in [[Real Life]], the world of Sit Coms is awash in many various and diverse personalities, of which this is hardly an exhaustive list; so there's no need to shoehorn characters into these categories. Some shows will utilize certain archetypes and leave out others, or may have characters who don't fit into ''any'' of the listed types.


And, of course, there's always plenty of room for overlap.
And, of course, there's always plenty of room for overlap.
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* Greg in ''[[Dharma and Greg]]''.
* Greg in ''[[Dharma and Greg]]''.
* Debra in ''[[Everybody Loves Raymond]]''.
* Debra in ''[[Everybody Loves Raymond]]''.
* Will the [[Straight Gay]] in ''[[Will and Grace]]''.
* Will the [[Invisible to Gaydar]] in ''[[Will and Grace]]''.
* Maxwell Sheffield in ''[[The Nanny]]''.
* Maxwell Sheffield in ''[[The Nanny]]''.
* Carly and Freddie in ''[[iCarly]]''.
* Carly and Freddie in ''[[iCarly]]''.
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* Bart from ''[[The Simpsons]]''.
* Bart from ''[[The Simpsons]]''.
* Konata in ''[[Lucky Star]]''.
* Konata in ''[[Lucky Star]]''.
* Hawkeye Pierce in ''[[M*A*S*H|Mash]]''.
* Hawkeye Pierce in ''[[M*A*S*H (television)|Mash]]''.
* Dr. Cox in ''[[Scrubs]]''.
* Dr. Cox in ''[[Scrubs]]''.
* Kyon in ''[[Suzumiya Haruhi]]''.
* Kyon in ''[[Suzumiya Haruhi]]''.
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** Homer often fills this role as well, especially during his [[Jerkass]] period.
** Homer often fills this role as well, especially during his [[Jerkass]] period.
* Archie Bunker in ''[[All in The Family]]''.
* Archie Bunker in ''[[All in The Family]]''.
* Frank Burns in ''[[M*A*S*H|Mash]]''.
* Frank Burns in ''[[M*A*S*H (television)|Mash]]''.
* Bill McNeal from ''[[News Radio]]''.
* Bill McNeal from ''[[News Radio]]''.
* The Janitor in ''[[Scrubs]]''.
* The Janitor in ''[[Scrubs]]''.
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* Stan in ''[[American Dad]]''.
* Stan in ''[[American Dad]]''.
* Post-[[Flanderization]] Flanders in ''[[The Simpsons (animation)|The Simpsons]]''.
* Post-[[Flanderization]] Flanders in ''[[The Simpsons (animation)|The Simpsons]]''.
* Charles Emerson Winchester III in ''[[M*A*S*H|Mash]]''.
* Charles Emerson Winchester III in ''[[M*A*S*H (television)|Mash]]''.
* Dr. Kelso in ''[[Scrubs]]''.
* Dr. Kelso in ''[[Scrubs]]''.
* Bob in ''[[The Oblongs]]''.
* Bob in ''[[The Oblongs]]''.
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* Peggy, Dale and, later, Kahn in ''[[King of the Hill]]''.
* Peggy, Dale and, later, Kahn in ''[[King of the Hill]]''.


'''The Precocious''' -- The (usually) youngest, cutest member of the cast (this character ''really'' flourishes in [[Dom Com|Dom Coms]]), this [[Tastes Like Diabetes|sweet, adorable little angel]]'s principal reason for existence is to make the audience go "awwwww" (not to imply the tyke doesn't deserve it, natch). Usually fulfills the [[Pollyanna]], [[Kawaiiko]] or [[Moe Moe]] role, but can get in a few [[Deadpan Snarker|sharp quips]] as well. Also, this [[Children Are Innocent|kid's pure innocence]] can bust through the toughest Aesops imaginable.
'''The Precocious''' -- The (usually) youngest, cutest member of the cast (this character ''really'' flourishes in [[Dom Com|Dom Coms]]), this [[Tastes Like Diabetes|sweet, adorable little angel]]'s principal reason for existence is to make the audience go "awwwww" (not to imply the tyke doesn't deserve it, natch). Usually fulfills the [[Pollyanna]], [[Kawaiiko]] or [[Moe Moe]] role, but can get in a few [[Deadpan Snarker|sharp quips]] as well. Also, this [[Children Are Innocent|kid's pure innocence]] can bust through the toughest Aesops imaginable.
* Rudy, and later Olivia, in ''[[The Cosby Show]]''.
* Rudy, and later Olivia, in ''[[The Cosby Show]]''.
* Tina in ''Still Standing''.
* Tina in ''Still Standing''.
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