Situation comedy | Television, Humor, Comedy | Britannica (original) (raw)

situation comedy, radio or television comedy series that involves a continuing cast of characters in a succession of episodes. Often the characters are markedly different types thrown together by circumstance and occupying a shared environment such as an apartment building or workplace. Sitcoms are typically half an hour in length; they are either taped in front of a studio audience or employ canned applause, and they are marked by verbal sparring and rapidly resolved conflicts.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Amy Tikkanen.