TV programs are normally grouped into two categories: episodic and serial. In serial programs, the plot continues from one episode to the next with more complex characters and a more intricate storyline. Sitcoms, which are usually episodic, are less intricate, with problems and resolutions within each episode but little transferred from one episode to the next. Because of this, sitcoms are written with short story arcs and a viewer can watch any single episode without requiring much if any background from previous episodes.
The episodic nature of sitcoms functions within the genre by influencing the structure and the nature of each program’s episodes. Because people are believed to have a limited attention span for comedy, TV producers make sitcoms a half hour long instead of a full hour as dramas are. In addition, as sitcoms contain a complete story in each program, every episode is organized into a modified three-act structure. These qualities and structures limit the possibility for character development and growth within the program since all must be explained within the half-hour episode.
A prime example of the effects of the episodic structure on sitcoms is the show “Everybody Loves Raymond”. This program includes a host of caricatured characters common in middle class America, such as the intrusive mother, nagging wife, lazy husband, and jealous brother. These characters are immediately evident even to someone new to the program based solely on the context in which they are placed. Most of the humor in the show is easily understood and built upon simple situations requiring little explanation. While the characters may change in small ways over long periods of time, for the most part they do not grow and tend to fulfill the same roles in every episode. As a result, “Everybody Loves Raymond” is a perfect example of the episodic sitcom structure, providing simple, light humor in a complete story within a half hour. 
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