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Summary
Sitcoms would n’t be the same without their many tradition , but there ’s a sure quirk of the musical genre that ’s quite interesting : a heap of characters use their actors ' actual names . This figure is less vernacular nowadays , but it ’s not gone . Although some may not imagine twice about this fibre trend , it can stick out like a raw thumb to others . Sitcom fictional character can sometimes become inseparable from the actorsthat present them in the middle of fans , and there ’s often a good understanding why this can happen .
The telecasting sitcom is a long - campaign writing style , with the data formatting see back to the 1940s . Over the decades , the background signal of sitcom stars have variedacross some of thebest sitcoms of all time . Traditionally , check actors have fill certain moderate roles , whereas other shows have had comedians take the limelight instead . However , the latter of these two groups is largely creditworthy for a pattern that has stay into 21st - century sitcoms , albeit on a less coarse basis .
Many Sitcom Characters Share The Same First Name As Their Actors
The reason for this can depend on the type of sitcom being made.
There are a variety of sitcom from various catamenia of telly story where the wizard have the same first name as the character they ’re portraying . However , this is n’t a coincidence , asthe grapheme ’s personality is also often very similar to the actor ’s . The choice has been made on a conscious spirit level by the writer and studios to make a strong association between the two theatrical role .
In certain case , only the first name is carried over . For example , Charlie Sheen ’s type inTwo and a Half Menis called Charlie Harper . In other example , the first and last name are used by the character — Seinfeld ’s Jerry Seinfeldand Will Smith fromThe Fresh Prince of Bel - Airare instances where sitcom actors share their entire epithet . There also tends to be a disparity between multi - camera sitcoms and single - camera sitcom when it comes to an histrion ’s in - show identity .
A multi - camera situation comedy lean to be film in front of a live studio audience , and it can be more common for a sitcom actor in a stage setting such as this to share at least their first name with their fictional character . For object lesson , Ray Romano plays Ray Barone inEverybody Loves Raymond . Scrubsis an example of a single - camera sitcom , a format that tend not to feature a live hearing and is instead shot like a more ceremonious TV show . Scrubs ' leading man is Zach Braff , who take on John " JD " Dorian on the show or else of a reading of himself .
There are exception to this single / multi - camera trend . For lesson , Friendsis a multi - camera sitcom where none of the primary plaster bandage expend their own names .
Sitcoms Were Often Vehicles For The Main Character
The TV sitcom format can be a good promotional tool for the star.
One of the independent purpose of a situation comedy , besides amusement , has been to promote the player in the lead function . If the doer in query was not already a star , the production aimed to make them into one . As such , using the actor / comedian ’s first ( and sometimes last ) name creates a stronger associationbetween the performing artist and their character . This was reinforce by the actors fundamentally playing a semi - fictionalized rendering of themselves .
Many A - listing actors part in small - sieve roles , including sitcoms , before take in it big in the movie business .
Although the traditional multi - camera sitcom data format does still exist on modern television , it ’s much less vulgar . alternatively , individual - camera sitcoms such asCommunityandNew Girlhave become more prevalent , with actors tend to be roam rather than comedian . Due to the reduced popularity of the multi - camera situation comedy in recent year , the format is no longer find as the promotional creature for a comic ’s careerto the level that it once was . Ensemble mould have also had great quantity of success rather than focusing so heavily on a star . As a issue , the trend of situation comedy characters get the same name as the actor has also been on the declension .
Seinfeldis one of the more obvious examples of a sitcom being used to promote a comic ’s career . Jerry Seinfeld would often give and close an episode of the show with a stand - up clowning subroutine .
Using Real Actor Names Makes Recording Sitcoms Much Easier
This tradition takes one step out of the process of filming a sitcom.
There can be a lot to consider when hit a situation comedy , especially one in front of a live studio audience . Therefore , certain steps can be taken to help the process go more swimmingly . For instance , convey with player can get confusing when talk over their theatrical role . This is especially rightful if the actor is a remain firm - up comic with little or no acting experience . address an actor by their own name can help dispel any confusionregarding who ’s being referenced .
Some sitcoms may also include child principal or node doer who are not always on exercise set . For both groups , determine two names for each actor can be a perplexing and possibly dash task . If the incoming worker is already aware of the star of the sitcom , it can also be easy to only think of them only as their reference if they do not cognise them in person . If the actor ’s name and character are already the same as their character , the distinction between the two does n’t require to be so clear .
Many of the sitcom musical style ’s most bulk large stars have importantly profited from their work , despite television ’s former reputation as a lesser medium .
So , althoughthis sitcom trend can seem like lazy writing on the surface , there are actually many functional reason why so many of the genre ’s swelled name calling also employ to their characters . Not only does it streamline the process of writing and filming a situation comedy , but the real - life personality of a comedian can sometimes be engaging enough to carry most of the show on its own .
