17 Sitcoms That Perfectly Parody Sitcom Cliches

Sitcoms often recast roles. Fresh Prince famously switched actresses playing Aunt Viv between seasons 3 and 4, moving from Janet Hubert to Daphne Maxwell Reid. Shows usually pretend nothing changed and let characters act like the new actress has always been there, but Fresh Prince was not that kind of show.Fresh PrinceFresh Prince famously switched actresses playing Aunt Viv between seasons 3 and 4, from Janet Hubert to Daphne Maxwell Reid. Shows try to act like nothing happened and have all characters treat the new actress like they've been there the whole time, but Fresh Prince wasn't the type of show to just.Fresh PrinceFresh Prince wasn't the type of show to justtotallyWill's friend Jazz stares at the new Aunt Vivian with curiosity. Jazz notices something different about her. Will then looks straight at the camera for a second. All the characters then move on.

In one season ofThe Nanny, Lauren Lane, theactress who playsC.C. was pregnant in real life. Instead of trying to hide it awkwardly like many shows do when a pregnant actress plays a non-pregnant character,The NannyC.C. called out the trope. An obviously pregnant C.C. walks into Mr. Sheffield's office carrying a big bag in front of her belly. She talks about watching a recentSeinfeldepisode where the show hid Elaine's baby bump behind big props. She picks up a large fern and exclaims, “This needs water,” then leaves the room holding the plant.

In theFresh Princeepisode “The Philadelphia Story,” Will returns to his hometown to face one of the bullies who made him leave. When Carlton asks about the bully, Will says he is the one who spins him over in the opening credits, and Carlton nods.

Also, in the episode “Will Goes a Courtin',” Will starts an opening statement to a judge: “Your honor, I'm from West Philadelphia, born and raised. On the playground is where I spent most of my days.” The show includes small asides where characters know about the show's theme song.

FriendsFriends was a huge hit. It spawned a million imitation sitcoms about young friends in the city. The show mocked this trope in one episode. During a regular scene at the coffee shop, Joey points out it is 11:30 on a Wednesday, and the characters suddenly remember they have jobs and must go to work.

Fresh PrinceFresh Prince broke the fourth wall—or the ceiling. In an opening scene, after the Banks family fights about money, Will asks if their house doesn't have a ceiling if they are so rich. The camera pans up, showing the Banks house is a soundstage, then the show cuts to the opening credits and never mentions it again. This is a small reminder of the lights, cameras, and audience members out of frame of every sitcom family's living room.justout of frame of every sitcom family's living room.

FromSaved by the BelltoBoy Meets WorldHigh school shows often feature one teacher or principal. Sometimes, it's a common trope.SoProminently, you wonder if they teach other students. In the Boy Meets World finale, the situation is clear.Boy Meets WorldCorey states what everyone thinks: Has Mr. Feeny talked to another student for seven years?Corey saidCorey jokes Feeny hasn’t spoken to another student for seven years.

Bob Newhart starred in two major shows.The Bob Newhart ShowIt ran from 1972 to 1978.NewhartIt ran from 1982 to 1990. A famous series finale shows this.NewhartBob Newhart's character gets hit in the head with a golf ball, then wakes up in his bedroom set from the original Bob Newhart Show.Bob Newhart ShowHe tells his wife from that show, Suzanne Pleshette, that the whole series was a weird dream.NewhartIt was a weird dream.

The original cast of Fuller House makes a clear reference to a character who will not return for the reboot.Full HouseThe cast returned for the Netflix sequel series, Fuller House.Fuller HouseThe cast made an obvious reference to a character who would not return for the reboot, with two exceptions: Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen did not reprise their dual role as Michelle. They did not try to avoid this issue like some shows do when actors leave.Fuller HouseThe cast just called out the fact that the Olsens were not there.

The classic 60s sitcomGreen AcresLater seasons of Green Acres turned 'meta' before breaking the fourth wall became popular. Characters noticed the theme song and saw giant floating names during opening credits.

30 Rock30 Rock featured jokes about the TV industry. Tina Fey's work on a sketch show for NBC/Universal sparked this. Characters argued about product placement and made obvious compliments about Snapple.

SeinfeldSeinfeld had a season-long meta-arc. Jerry and George pitched their own TV show to NBC, just like they did in real life. The episodes feature jokes mirroring Jerry Seinfeld's and Larry David's real-life pitching experiences. When the characters face network resistance, George rants about how every time you turn on TV now, “all you see is four morons sitting around an apartment whining about their dates!”Georgecould be referring to…

Fox's sitcomArrested DevelopmentThe show got high praise and a fan base, yet it never achieved big network ratings. In its third season, the characters throw a party. They try to boost their family's low popularity. The event turns into a jab at shows adding guest stars just to chase ratings.

Coach asks Nick why he always starts conversations in the middle of the list '17 Sitcoms That Perfectly Parody Sitcom Cliches' in 'New Girl'.A subtle moment skewers every sitcom scene. Nick and Coach start a scene mid-sentence. Nick seems to deliver the punchline. Coach stops him, telling him not to act like they are in a real talk. This small joke sums up every sitcom scene that starts abruptly in the middle of talking.

The gang visits the mainstream 'popular bar' in 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia' and gets hooked on the will-they/won't-they drama in the list '17 Sitcoms That Perfectly Parody Sitcom Cliches'.The episode “The Gang Tries Desperately to Win an Award” uses meta-humor. The characters cannot accept their bar’s lack of awards. They visit the town's most popular bar. It offers sitcom clichés: bright colors, everyone laughing together, and a will-they/won't-they between two attractive, flirting bartenders. The gang initially hates it, then gets hooked and wants to return next week.

The show 'Community' features Abed spelling out the direction he wants the show to move in in the list '17 Sitcoms That Perfectly Parody Sitcom Cliches'.Abed spells out the direction he wants the show to move in in 'Community' for the list '17 Sitcoms That Perfectly Parody Sitcom Cliches'.The show changed formats a lot. Abed sometimes broke the fourth wall, becoming aware of the show's reality. In one episode, he told the group his plan for the year. He directly stated where the show actually went.

The characters in 'I Married Dora' scrap any sentimental finale and straight-up admit, 'We’ve Been Canceled' in the list '17 Sitcoms That Perfectly Parody Sitcom Cliches'.This ABC sitcom ran only one season, 1987-88. People mostly forget it now, though Juliette Lewis starred in it. The final episode has a funny ending. The characters announce the series is canceled mid-scene, then wave goodbye to the studio audience as the camera pulls back, and it just The characters in 'I Married Dora' end the show by admitting, 'We’ve Been Canceled' in the list '17 Sitcoms That Perfectly Parody Sitcom Cliches'.. This ending avoids any sad, sentimental sitcom finish.

Three network exec-bots in 'Futurama' make fun of the annoying notes shows get from networks in the list '17 Sitcoms That Perfectly Parody Sitcom Cliches'.Futurama broke the fourth wall. It mocked the TV business by introducing three “Network Execu-bots.” These robots control all television. One likes what it has seen. Another picks the Fall schedule by rolling dice. The third aims to underestimate Middle America. This shows the daily annoyances creators faced making a network comedy succeed.