A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue. Such programs originated in radio, but today, sitcoms are found almost exclusively on television as one of its dominant narrative forms, and art forms.
A situation comedy television program may be recorded in front of a studio audience. The effect of a live studio audience can be imitated by the use of a laugh track.
As opposed to stand up comedy and sketch comedy, a situation comedy has a storyline and ongoing characters in, essentially, a comedic drama. The situation is usually that of a family, workplace, or a group of friends through comedic sequences.
Traditionally comedy sketches were presented within a variety show and mixed with musical performances, as in vaudeville. The emerging mass medium of radio allowed audiences to regularly return to programs, so programs could feature the same characters and situations each episode and expect audiences to be familiar with them.
Everybody Loves Raymond is an American television sitcom, starring Ray Romano and Patricia Heaton. It originally ran on CBS from September 13, 1996 to May 16, 2005. Many of the situations from the show are based on the real-life experiences of Romano, creator/producer Phil Rosenthal and the show's writing staff. The main characters on the show are also loosely based on Romano's and Rosenthal's real-life family members.
The show reruns in syndication on different channels such as TBS, TV Land, and in most TV markets on local stations. From 2000 to 2007, KingWorld distributed the show for off-network syndication. In 2008, CBS Television Distribution took over King World's distribution, although its logo is retained on TBS. CBS only owns American syndication rights; ancillary rights are controlled by HBO and Warner Bros. Television (WBTV distributes the series outside the US in conjunction with HBO; while HBO Home Entertainment and Warner Home Video own DVD rights worldwide).
The show revolves around the life of Italian-American Raymond Barone, a newspaper sportswriter for Newsday living with his family in Lynbrook, Long Island, New York. Whiny and flippant, Raymond does not take many things seriously, making jokes in nearly every situation, no matter how troubling or problematic, and constantly avoiding any sort of real responsibility.
Is that like me
the last frustration you have saved
Is that like me
the degeneration of the brave
Is that like me
to treat my brother as a salve
Is that like me
the final reason to go away
Is that like me
to choose your heros and then decide
to shoot them down
and hold exhibits on their pyre
Is that like me
am I the cloth that wipes your smile
Is that me
or is it the images on your trial
Do you know the place I go to when the beatings arrive
Do you know the strengh I call on when they scream "crucify"
Do you need another reason to belittle my love
The Stigma you cast is really not enough
Is that like me
to put illusion in my veins
and shoot it down
before the Icons you portray
Is that like me
Another victim of decay
This room´s so cold
You kissed me twice and then betrayed
my only wish
To hold you near me in the night
Oh is that like me
Bim ar thoir an comhartha
Scaoileas m'anam saor
Caithfidh mo chroi a bheith glan
Roimh siochan theacht chum
Ni leanfaidh mo Bhrón
Is béim sasta le mo ghra
Guim comhartha chabhreoidh liom
Mé a chomhlionadh
Bim ar thoir an comhartha
Scaoileas m'anam saor
Caithfidh mo chroi a bheith glan
Roimh siochan theacht chum
Si an ghaoth do ghuth
Si an bhaisteach do dheora
Grian, do chroi ar las