Case Study: Sitcom Analysis of Cougar Town

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Cougar Town 

IMDB Rating: 7.0/10
Creator: Kevin Biegel and Bill Lawrence
Brief Synopsis: Follows the escapades and relationships of a group of neighbours living in Florida.

How are characters introduced (Pilot Episode)?
The first character we are introduced to is Jules as she come out of the shower and checks her reflection in the mirror and plays with the 'flabby' bits on her body. Next we are introduced to her friend Laurie who is portrayed as her younger tart of a friend, where they play a game judging people, whilst Jules son, Travis keeps track of their score. The next character that is introduced is Grayson who in the beginning is portrayed as your typical playboy but by the end of the season is perceived as a sweet, guitar playing man. Next is Jules best friend, Ellie, who is her neighbour. Ellie and her husband, Andy, are going to have sex and Ellie is acting mean and lazy while Andy is over excited. The last main character introduced is Bobby, who is Jules ex-husband, where he is asking Jules for money because he doesn't have any. 

 What is the style of humour? 
The humour focuses on middle age jokes about sex, love and body image. The sitcom mixes zany comic misadventures with low key character work. It involves the cast goofiness, ranging from the hangs long running in joke to meta gags, mixed with genuine emotional and sentimentality. 

 Why? Because with this technique it allows the audience to feel like they are part of the gang, which makes for a very successful sitcom like Friends and Scrubs. 

 Another different technique used is with another neighbour who is obsessed with the group and he displays knowledge of the more formulaic aspects of their adventures without breaking the fourth wall. Yet, it allows the sitcom to maintain its self-deprecating tone, which feeds in nicely to its more general, easygoing tone. Meaning the show can be serious but not too serious.  

 How many stories in an episode? 
There is always only one major story line followed and that is Jules, she is in the majority of the scenes. Except for her neighbours Ellie and Andy who we also gets to see glimpses of their personal lives. 

What is the layout of the sitcom? 
The style of the show, after the first few episodes, evolves into a dysfunctional family show. 

Locations used: house (garden, street, living room, kitchen and bedroom), neighbours house, Jules work. 

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