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Making Sitcoms Scary

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SharkToast Since: Mar, 2013
#1: Jul 15th 2019 at 1:00:04 PM

I have this idea for a short horror story: It will be about characters living in a sitcom, whose world runs on sitcom rules. I plan on taking sitcom conventions and putting a horror twist on them. One trope I'm thinking of using is Adults Are Useless. The protagonists will be a group of kids/teenagers who run around doing whatever they want, because their parents are neglectful. What are your thoughts and do you have any ideas?

DeMarquis (4 Score & 7 Years Ago)
#2: Jul 16th 2019 at 1:43:42 PM

There are so many works where sadistic or sociopathic humor is in full effect, that this practically writes itself. Take any show from the Disney channel and apply happens in a real world setting- even iCarly becomes a horrifying dystopia.

I'm done trying to sound smart. "Clear" is the new smart.
SharkToast Since: Mar, 2013
#3: Jul 16th 2019 at 2:19:44 PM

Well I will try to homage/barrow elements from as many sitcoms as possible, including the Disney and Nickelodeon Kid Coms. Though I probably won't homage adult animation like The Simpsons and Family Guy, because those shows tend to acknowledge their disturbing implications. There's not much I can comment on.

SharkToast Since: Mar, 2013
#4: Jul 16th 2019 at 7:35:03 PM

Something that just occurred to me: A world run on sitcom conventions would be a very apathetic one. Otherwise, characters wouldn't be able to get away with Comedic Sociopathy.

LostinLitigation from Behind you Since: May, 2019 Relationship Status: If the gov't can read my mind, they know I'm thinking of you
#5: Jul 19th 2019 at 1:08:52 PM

It sounds like you're looking for the inverse of the Series/Supernatural episode "Changing Channels"?

The Munsters and The Addams Family both took a sitcom approach to the horror genre, so they might also be worth looking into.

Protagonist506 from Oregon Since: Dec, 2013 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
#6: Jul 21st 2019 at 4:10:39 PM

Typically these genres are combined by taking tropes from more "classic" sitcoms and making them into Stepford Suburbia. Though I think looking into modern sitcoms would be interesting, as comedic sociopathy is pretty common these days.

I suspect one issue would probably be a sort of...Poe's Law? Essentially, with old sitcoms that tended to be cheery, that cheeriness could make things creepy. Problem is that the sort of Comedic Sociopathy is, well, already sociopathic.

Leviticus 19:34
WarJay77 It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (8,356/50,000) from My Writing Cave (Troper Knight) Relationship Status: Armed with the Power of Love
It's NaNo, Bay-beeee! (8,356/50,000)
#7: Jul 22nd 2019 at 11:11:59 AM

Ooh, okay. Well there's the aformentioned sociopathy of the characters, and I still think Stepford Suburbia could work since everything would look happy and cheery until you really dig-in and realize everyone is a horrible person living in a nightmarescape. Ok, maybe the better term is Crapsaccharine World.

If there's a laugh-track, have it play at really inappropriate moments. It'll be really unsettling for the characters if they're aware of it and it goes off while some horrible stuff is happening.

You may also find inspiration watching Too Many Cooks.

Edited by WarJay77 on Jul 22nd 2019 at 2:13:37 PM

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