Comedic Tropes in 1980s Sitcoms, and in CPH's TARTUFFE: Formulaic Chaos

Scott Baio and the cast of "Charles in Charge"

"Tartuffe in Charge"

Audiences love formula, whether they admit it or not. Hallmark holiday movies, James Bond adventures, and 1980s family sitcoms all rely on formulaic storytelling, and audiences keep returning again and again for their comforting and predictable experiences.

The traditional structure for this type of comedy extends all the way back to Roman times (316 B.C., to be exact) as “new comedy” featured situational comedy. The premise is simple: an orderly life (or family) suddenly endures upheaval when a new (exterior) element is introduced to their environment. The rest of the comedy is spent trying to return to the status quo which also serves as a confirmation of the values of society.

Consider 1980s television sitcom: the first few minutes depict the standard family routine and then bam! Trouble arrives: the son is bullied at school, the daughter finds a joint in her locker (and swears it isn’t hers—"sure, Jan”), someone’s favorite restaurant may be shut down if money isn’t raised quickly, etc. The kids debate the issue, culminating in a family heart-to-heart . Twenty-two-minutes later they decide to do the right thing, society has returned to normal, and everyone is just a little bit smarter than they were before the story started.

Molière’s Tartuffe deviates from the formula slightly in that the audience is thrown into the middle of the problem—the title character has already forced his way into the family and caused chaos. It’s messy, immediate, and absolutely hilarious.

For its complicated production history, Tartuffe still satisfies the comedic formula but also reflects Molière’s political adroitness by finding a solution that will appease both society and those in positions of power. Basically, it’s like a sitcom that also happens to be a masterclass in courtly diplomacy—chaos, laughs, and clever scheming all in one.

by Jeffrey Ullom, Dramaturg, Tartuffe

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