From some examples in recent history I have concluded that sitcoms work well only with ensemble casts, and have a tendency to not hold their own with one or two guys running the show.

Seinfeld is the biggest example proving my theory. Each character was funny, but only in conjunction with the rest of the crew. George saying ‘She showed me the finger’ would not be funny if he was not talking to Elaine and Jerry. Kramer’s wild ideas would have no bearing if George and/or Newman were not listening to him.

Friends is another good example. Joey on the other hand proves that a single funny guy cannot run the show.

I thought about this when I was thinking about what I really liked about Raymond. And it was truly the interactions among the different characters. Ray and Debra, Debra and Marie, Marie and Frank, Ray and Rob, Ray and his friends, all of those made it so funny.

Scrubs is another ensemble cast sitcom which is quite funny, but is not getting the exposure it deserves.

Wonder what’s next in the line to keep me interested…