More than Comedy
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What is it like living in an apartment complex in downtown New York City with five of your closest friends in their twenties, sharing the twists and turns of life? In the fall of 1994 a new comedy hit the airwaves creating the reining number one show on television, "Friends." Now into its ninth season as the leadoff series on NBC Thursday nights. Friends have received more than forty-four Emmy Award nominations (TV Guide). The series centers around the friendship between three women and three men who frequently gather at each other's apartments, and share sofa space at the local "Central Perk" coffeehouse discussing issues that arise.
The key to any comedy series is of course, humor. But, simply telling jokes and illustrating pranks does not make a good comedy series. Drama, suspense, plot with climax, realism, and an understanding with the characters are a few of the criteria needed for a good comedy series. Kauffman, creator of Friends says, "You can't be afraid of drama in comedy. I don't think it can replace comedy, but I think it's really important to allow the characters to have feelings" (Owens)...