Economic strain: a foundational element of the American sitcom

“The Honeymooners” presents characters struggling to not be caricatures. Additionally, it laid the foundation for the economic purpose of the sitcom. Jackie Gleason—if he didn’t perfect the get-rich-quick scheme—used it in “The Honeymooners” in such a way that sitcoms, by their very nature, and because of him, will inevitably and always be grounded in problems about money. Punchlines from the show often arise out of economic strain. Ralph Kramden is literally “crammed in” as Alice would often remind us with her mantra of having to “stare at these four walls.” Additionally, repetition is key to a sitcom's use of humor. Kramden’s stock lines are comedic renditions of domestic sounds: yelling, arguing...

The get-rich-quick scheme goes hand in hand with the undo suffering of the characters (not getting to go on vacation; hocking a bowling ball for a gift, having to eat celery and pretend it’s a steak). The audience has an ironic relationship with the hero of the sitcom insofar as we do not want him to succeed and we laugh at his failure. Ralph Kramden is funny when he messes up. He’s funny when he’s wrong but thinks he’s right.