my life in an eighties sitcom (continued)

I live in a moderately sized house located on a picturesque street in the suburbs. Oak trees line the streets and we only have one set of neighbors (so as not to confuse the audience). The summers seem to only last a few episodes and the winters even less (we save those for the Christmas Eve show). Inside the stairs are always the same as every other sitcom along with the kitchen and living room.

My mom works and so does my Dad. We are upper middle class, yet everyone can identify with our life style. My Dad is really relaxed yet stern, while my mom is uptight yet loving. A few seasons in one of my parents will get laid off from their job and become a stay at home mom or dad, probably causing some sort of conflict with my younger sister. Did I mention her? Well she’s only a year or two younger than me and, man, do we not get along at all. She’s the most popular girl in her grade. A bit stuck up but every now and then there will be a heartwarming episode where we somehow become closer through some sort of conflict, somehow allowing our real personalities to shine. Who could have guessed she wouldn’t rat me out when I skipped school that one time?

Of course I have a younger brother and maybe an older one that’s off at college that we only see once or twice a season. My younger one is named some simple name like Billy or Timmy; always ending in a “y”. I’m closer with him than I am with my sister. Every now and then I’ll be seen teaching him how to play a sport, teaching him some trick that only older brothers know. He’d say something funny, probably beginning with the phrase “Well gee whiz…” then I’d smile and brush his hair with a wink.

What about me? I’d probably wear some sort of brown faded leather jacket. I’d come across as the semi popular, rebellious kid, but the audience knows that I’m secretly not. I’ll have a loveable best friend who’s pretty dumb and would act as the comic relief guaranteed to say something stupid in a bad situation.

In class I’d sit in the back, always slouching and a smirk across my face. My teachers all pretend to not like me but they all secretly love me. One episode I’ll fall asleep awkwardly on my book when I should have been studying for a huge test the next morning. I’d wake up and figure out my only option is to cheat. I stupidly write all of the answers on my arm and get caught in class. I’d get sent to the principal’s office and get a punishment no wear near as harsh at it should be. That’s not the point though; the audience learns a lesson about cheating, while being entertained at the same time.

A new situation is waiting in every episode; a new adventure that is never really that plausible. Everyone will be able to identify with at least one character so much so that they secretly think to themselves that if they were in this fictional universe that they would be that character.

The audience laughs loudly at funny situations and “aw’s” at the sentimental and no matter what everything turns out alright in the end.

*cue laugh track*

While the credits run the name of the show appears as the cast of characters take a picture and the screen freezes. Our theme song dwindles to a fade out ending.

FILMED IN FRONT OF A LIVE STUDIO AUDIENCE.