He makes them feel guilty about taking the neighbor's money. Wally and Beav look at each other, shrug their shoulders in unison and gratefully give their father the dollar. Beav hugs his Dad and says thanks. Other program formats come and go from the TV Guide listings. But every fall there is a fresh supply of family situation comedies.
Sitcoms are the re-run favorites for cable broadcasters and local TV stations.
Sitcoms are so successful they remain a constant formula even though time has changed their appearance and content over the last 50 years. A generation courted, captured and sold by commercial television to the highest bidder. The queen of sitcoms, Lucille Ball , started her career as a comedic supporting actress for MGM Studios where she became famous for her flaming red hair that photographed so beautifully in Technicolor screen spectaculars. In 1951, she and husband Desi Arnaz made television history by starring in the first regularly scheduled sitcom filmed before a live audience with multiple cameras. The form allowed her to excel and show off her comedic talents.