I largely do agree. I certainly don't disparage gag-driven shows, and very often gags (where they are integrated in the way you describe) drive character as well as being funny in their own right. As I was saying over on LJ, sitcoms are usually hybrid, and Friends is a particularly hybrid example, where situation, gags and character are all important, and in varying proportions at different times.
I'd still say, though, that gags are major landmarks in most scenes in that show, in a way that isn't true for a lot of British sitcoms, which may not have many jokes at all.
(no subject)
Date: 2012-09-23 09:41 pm (UTC)I'd still say, though, that gags are major landmarks in most scenes in that show, in a way that isn't true for a lot of British sitcoms, which may not have many jokes at all.