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newspaper/tests/data/html/theatlantic.com1.html
codelucas e8c006b427 Refactor /tests to prep for mocking all HTML
2015-01-16 13:24:34 -08:00

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<!DOCTYPE html>
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"
xmlns:fb="http://ogp.me/ns#"
xmlns:og="http://ogp.me/ns#"
prefix="og: http://ogp.me/ns# fb: http://ogp.me/ns/fb# article: http://ogp.me/ns/article#">
<head>
<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge" />
<!-- for chartbeat -->
<script type="text/javascript">var _sf_startpt=(new Date()).getTime()</script>
<meta id="meta-viewport" name="viewport" content="width=1024" />
<!--[if lt IE 9]>
<script src="/static/front/js/svg/svg.js?v=1" data-path="/static/front/js/svg"></script>
<![endif]-->
<title>Cracking the Sitcom Code - The Atlantic</title>
<meta property="og:site_name" content="The Atlantic" />
<link rel="icon" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" href="//cdn.theatlantic.com/static/front/images/favicon.ico" />
<link rel="shortcut icon" href="//cdn.theatlantic.com/static/front/images/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" />
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="//cdn.theatlantic.com/static/front/images/apple-touch-icon-iphone.png">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="76x76" href="//cdn.theatlantic.com/static/front/images/apple-touch-icon-ipad.png">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="120x120" href="//cdn.theatlantic.com/static/front/images/apple-touch-icon-iphone-retina.png">
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="152x152" href="//cdn.theatlantic.com/static/front/images/apple-touch-icon-ipad-retina.png">
<link href="https://plus.google.com/+TheAtlantic/" rel="publisher" />
<meta property="fb:page_id" content="29259828486" />
<meta property="fb:app_id" content="100770816677686" />
<meta name="p:domain_verify" content="68e1a0361a557708fefc992f3309ed70" /> <!-- Pinterest -->
<meta name="twitter:card" content="summary" />
<meta name="twitter:site" content="@theatlantic" />
<meta name="twitter:domain" content="theatlantic.com" />
<meta name="description" content="After signing up to write a script for Croatian television, I learned that virtually all TV comedies, from Seinfeld to South Park, follow a simple formula." />
<meta property="og:description" content="After signing up to write a script for Croatian television, I learned that virtually all TV comedies, from Seinfeld to South Park, follow a simple formula." />
<meta itemprop="description" content="After signing up to write a script for Croatian television, I learned that virtually all TV comedies, from Seinfeld to South Park, follow a simple formula." />
<meta name="twitter:description" content="After signing up to write a script for Croatian television, I learned that virtually all TV comedies, from Seinfeld to South Park, follow a simple formula." />
<link rel="image_src" href="http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/newsroom/img/mt/2014/12/parks_and_rec/lead_large.jpg?nhb2wn" />
<meta name="twitter:image" content="http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/newsroom/img/mt/2014/12/parks_and_rec/lead_large.jpg?nhb2wn" />
<meta property="og:image" content="http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/newsroom/img/mt/2014/12/parks_and_rec/lead_large.jpg?nhb2wn" />
<meta itemprop="image" content="http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/newsroom/img/mt/2014/12/parks_and_rec/lead_large.jpg?nhb2wn" />
<meta property="og:type" content="article" />
<meta property="og:title" content="Cracking the Sitcom Code" />
<meta itemprop="name" content="Cracking the Sitcom Code" />
<meta name="twitter:title" content="Cracking the Sitcom Code" />
<meta property="og:url" content="http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/12/cracking-the-sitcom-code/384068/" />
<meta property="article:publisher" content="https://www.facebook.com/TheAtlantic" />
<link rel="canonical" href="http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/12/cracking-the-sitcom-code/384068/" />
<meta name="syndication-source" content="http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/12/cracking-the-sitcom-code/384068/" />
<link rel="next" href="http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/12/cracking-the-sitcom-code/384068/2/" />
<meta property="vr:canonical" content="http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/12/cracking-the-sitcom-code/384068/">
<meta name='parsely-page' content='{"author":"Noah Charney","pub_date":"2014-12-28T08:01:00-05:00","section":"Entertainment","post_id":"mt384068","image_url":"//cdn.theatlantic.com/static/newsroom/img/mt/2014/12/parks_and_rec/lead_large.jpg?nhb2wn","type":"post","link":"http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/12/cracking-the-sitcom-code/384068/","title":"Cracking the Sitcom Code"}'>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" />
<meta name="title" content="Cracking the Sitcom Code - The Atlantic" />
<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="The Atlantic" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheAtlantic" />
<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Best of The Atlantic" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/Best-Of-The-Atlantic" />
<link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Entertainment Channel" href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/AtlanticCulture" />
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="//cdn.theatlantic.com/static/assets/css/landing.css?v=83u8mf6mbn"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="//cdn.theatlantic.com/static/assets/css/article.css?v=pt9vj04v5b"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="//cdn.theatlantic.com/static/front/css/wire-notice.css?v=nhkkg1"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="//cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/static/theatlantic/common/css/registration/profiles.css?v=1412023576"/>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="//cdn.theatlantic.com/assets/static/theatlantic/common/css/registration/widgets.css?v=1412023576"/>
<script type="text/javascript" src="//cdn.theatlantic.com/static/front/js/ads/advertisement.js?v=nhkkg1"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="//cdn.theatlantic.com/static/assets/js/landing_top.js?v=dj7s1k3ei8"></script>
<!-- DFP Slot definitions. -->
<script type="text/javascript">
window.googletag = window.googletag || {};
googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || [];
Atlantic.Ad.manager = new Atlantic.Ad.Manager({
defs: {
"adTopleader1": {
"sizes": [
[
728,
90
],
[
970,
66
],
[
970,
90
],
[
970,
250
],
[
970,
252
]
],
"properties": {
"pos": "topleader",
"dcopt": "ist"
},
"zone": "\/4624\/TheAtlanticOnline\/channel_entertainment"
},
"adWelcometest1": {
"sizes": [
[
640,
480
],
[
300,
600
],
[
300,
250
]
],
"properties": {
"pos": "welcometest"
},
"zone": "\/4624\/TheAtlanticOnline\/channel_entertainment"
},
"adArticletools1": {
"sizes": [
[
88,
31
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[
120,
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"properties": {
"pos": "articletools"
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"zone": "\/4624\/TheAtlanticOnline\/channel_entertainment"
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"adBottomboxleft1": {
"sizes": [
[
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[
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[
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],
[
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]
],
"properties": {
"pos": "bottomboxleft"
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"zone": "\/4624\/TheAtlanticOnline\/channel_entertainment"
},
"adTopboxright1": {
"sizes": [
[
336,
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],
[
300,
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],
[
300,
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],
[
336,
1050
],
[
300,
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],
[
336,
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[
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"properties": {
"pos": "topboxright"
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"zone": "\/4624\/TheAtlanticOnline\/channel_entertainment"
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"adMidboxright1": {
"sizes": [
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[
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"properties": {
"pos": "midboxright"
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"zone": "\/4624\/TheAtlanticOnline\/channel_entertainment"
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"adBottomboxright1": {
"sizes": [
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],
[
336,
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[
300,
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],
[
300,
600
],
[
300,
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[
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],
"properties": {
"pos": "bottomboxright"
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"zone": "\/4624\/TheAtlanticOnline\/channel_entertainment"
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"adBottomleader1": {
"sizes": [
[
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"properties": {
"pos": "bottomleader"
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"zone": "\/4624\/TheAtlanticOnline\/channel_entertainment"
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"adNav1": {
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"properties": {
"pos": "nav"
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"zone": "\/4624\/TheAtlanticOnline\/channel_politics"
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"properties": {
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"zone": "\/4624\/TheAtlanticOnline\/channel_business"
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"adNav3": {
"sizes": [
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"properties": {
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"zone": "\/4624\/TheAtlanticOnline\/channel_technology"
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"adNav4": {
"sizes": [
[
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"properties": {
"pos": "nav"
},
"zone": "\/4624\/TheAtlanticOnline\/channel_entertainment"
},
"adNav5": {
"sizes": [
[
1,
2
]
],
"properties": {
"pos": "nav"
},
"zone": "\/4624\/TheAtlanticOnline\/channel_health"
},
"adNav6": {
"sizes": [
[
1,
2
]
],
"properties": {
"pos": "nav"
},
"zone": "\/4624\/TheAtlanticOnline\/channel_education"
},
"adNav7": {
"sizes": [
[
1,
2
]
],
"properties": {
"pos": "nav"
},
"zone": "\/4624\/TheAtlanticOnline\/channel_national"
}
},
globals: {
"src": "blog",
"by": [
"noah-charney"
],
"title": "cracking-the-sitcom-code"
},
mixins: {responsive: false, hasDeferredAds: true},
filter: function() {
this.filterMobileWelcomeScreenSizes(['adWelcometest1', 'adWelcometest2', 'adWelcometest3', 'adWelcometest4']);
this.filterByVisibility(true);
// Pushes the outofpage ad into the adslots so it render
// with the initialAds.
this.adSlots["outofpage"] = googletag.defineOutOfPageSlot("/4624/TheAtlanticOnline/channel_entertainment", "outofpage").addService(
googletag.pubads()).setTargeting("pos", "outofpage");
}
});
// Load any unloaded ads in nav on hover
$(document).ready(function(){
$('.nav-channel').on("hover", function(){
$('.channel-dropdown', this).find('.unloaded-ad').removeClass('unloaded-ad').find('.ad-inner').each(function (n, el) {
googletag.pubads().refresh([Atlantic.Ad.manager.adSlots[el.getAttribute('id')]]);
});
});
});
</script>
<!-- (Ads are initialized through Peer39 at the top of our footer scripts) -->
<!-- End DFP-->
<script>
window.Atlantic = window.Atlantic || {};
Atlantic.STATIC_PATH = "//cdn.theatlantic.com/static/front/";
</script>
<!--[if lt IE 8]>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="//cdn.theatlantic.com/static/front/css/ie.css?v=2.0" type="text/css" media="screen,projection" />
<![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 6]>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="//cdn.theatlantic.com/static/front/css/ie6.css?v=2.3" type="text/css" media="screen,projection" />
<![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 7]>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="//cdn.theatlantic.com/static/front/css/ie7.css?v=2.4" type="text/css" media="screen,projection" />
<![endif]-->
<!--[if IE 8]>
<link rel="stylesheet" href="//cdn.theatlantic.com/static/front/css/ie8.css?v=1.0" type="text/css" media="screen,projection" />
<![endif]-->
<!--[if lt IE 9]>
<script src="//html5shim.googlecode.com/svn/trunk/html5.js"></script>
<![endif]-->
<script>
//testing display of share counts
Atlantic.ab = new Atlantic.AB({
"cnt": {
"indv": 0.1, //individual
"agg": 0.1, //aggregate
"agg_lg": 0.1, //aggregate in large rectangles
"ctrl1": 0.35,
"ctrl2": 0.35
},
"riv": {
"ctrl1": 0.4, //head, dek, thumb
"ctrl2": 0.4,
"dek": 0.1, //head & dek
"thmb": 0.1 //head & thumb
}
});
</script>
<script src="http://siterecruit.comscore.com/sr/atlantic/broker.js"></script>
<!-- Begin comScore Tag -->
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
var _comscore = _comscore || [];
_comscore.push({ c1: "2", c2: "6463921" });
(function() {
var s = document.createElement("script"), el = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.async = true;
s.src = (document.location.protocol == "https:" ? "https://sb" : "http://b") + ".scorecardresearch.com/beacon.js";
el.parentNode.insertBefore(s, el);
})();
//]]>
</script>
<noscript>
<img src="http://b.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=6463921&cv=2.0&cj=1" alt="" />
</noscript>
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<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
/* You may give each page an identifying name, server, and channel on
the next lines. */
s.server = "www.theatlantic.com";
s.channel = "entertainment";
s.pageName = "cracking the sitcom code - entertainment - noah charney";
s.prop3 = "cracking the sitcom code - entertainment - noah charney";
s.prop4 = "\/entertainment\/archive\/2014\/12\/cracking-the-sitcom-code\/384068\/";
s.prop5 = "";
s.prop6 = "entertainment";
s.prop7 = "entertainment";
s.prop8 = "entertainment:entry";
s.prop9 = "";
s.prop10 = "writer";
s.prop15 = "noah charney";
s.prop16 = "the atlantic entertainment channel";
s.prop17 = "cracking the sitcom code";
s.prop18 = "december 28, 2014 8:01 am";
s.hier1 = "entertainment";
s.prop23="regular"
s.prop24="regular"
s.prop25="regular"
s.prop26="regular";
// AdBlock check. An advertisement.js file should set this value.
// If not, it's being blocked.
s.prop29 = (window.ads_enabled === undefined) ? "adblock": "has-ads";
s.prop38 = "5";
s.prop49 = "384068";
s.prop73 = "1";
(function() {
if (typeof Atlantic !== 'object' || typeof Atlantic.Utils !== 'object') {
return;
}
if (typeof Atlantic.Utils.readCookie !== 'function' ||
typeof Atlantic.Utils.eraseCookie !== 'function') {
return;
}
var linkTrack = Atlantic.Utils.readCookie('omni_click');
if (linkTrack !== null) {
s.prop27 = linkTrack;
Atlantic.Utils.eraseCookie('omni_click');
}
var testCookie = Atlantic.Utils.readCookie("atl_tests");
if (testCookie !== null) {
s.prop64 = testCookie;
}
})();
/************* DO NOT ALTER ANYTHING BELOW THIS LINE ! **************/
var s_code=s.t();if(s_code) document.write(s_code)
if(navigator.appVersion.indexOf('MSIE')>=0) document.write(unescape('%3C')+'\!-'+'-');
//]]>
</script>
<noscript><div><a href="http://www.omniture.com" title="Web Analytics" ><img
src="http://atlanticmedia.122.2o7.net/b/ss/atlanticprod/1/H.22--NS/0"
height="1" width="1" alt="" /></a></div></noscript><!--/DO NOT REMOVE/-->
<!-- End SiteCatalyst code version: H.22. -->
<script type="text/javascript">
// Duplicate a few existing s.props to be passed with linkTrackVars. If
// we just reused the existing s.props, data would be recorded twice.
s.prop65 = s.prop64; // AB Test cookie
s.prop66 = location.pathname;
s.prop67 = "entry";
s.prop68 = s.prop23; // Device type
s.linkTrackVars = "prop65,prop66,prop67,prop68";
(function() {
s.prop69 = "";
if (document.referrer !== "") {
var tmp = document.createElement("a");
tmp.href = document.referrer;
s.prop69 = tmp.hostname;
}
})();
s.linkTrackVars = "prop65,prop66,prop67,prop68,prop69";
</script>
<!-- google analytics -->
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-20189-19']);
_gaq.push(['_setDomainName', '.theatlantic.com']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);
(function() {
var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js';
var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s);
})();
//]]>
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">
//<![CDATA[
function cssFixes() {
$('.metadata .comments:last-child').addClass('last-child');
$('.metadata .authors:last-child').addClass('last-child');
$('.metadata .channel:last-child').addClass('last-child');
$('.metadata .date:last-child').addClass('last-child');
$('.rightContent .module:first-child').addClass('first-child');
$('.contentColumn hr:last-child').addClass('last-child');
$('#authorRiver .post:last-child').addClass('last-child');
$('#profile .bioTools li:last-child').addClass('last-child');
}
var debug = false;
var loadTimes = {
'js': {},
'ads': {}
};
//]]>
</script>
</head>
<body id="crackingTheSitcomCodePage" class="entertainment-channel article updated-right-rail">
<div id="outofpage" style="height: 0;">
<script type="text/javascript">
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("outofpage"); });
</script>
</div>
<!-- BEGIN: Welcome Screens -->
<div id="lightbox-welcometest" class="welcome-lightbox" style="display:none;">
<div class="welcome-lightbox-bg"></div>
<div class="welcome-lightbox-head">
<figure class="welcome-lightbox-logo">TheAtlantic.com</figure>
<div class="welcome-lightbox-right">
<div class="welcome-lightbox-continue">Continue (<span class="welcome-lightbox-count"></span>) &ensp; <span class="icon-right-arrow"></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<section class="welcome-lightbox-body">
<div class="welcome-lightbox-copy">Advertisement</div>
<div class="welcome-lightbox-ad">
<div class="ad adWelcometest" id="adWelcometest1-wrapper"><div class="ad-inner adWelcometest-inner" data-ad-starts-hidden="true" id="adWelcometest1"><script type="text/javascript">googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("adWelcometest1"); });</script><noscript><div><a href="http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?iu=%2F4624%2FTheAtlanticOnline%2Fchannel_entertainment&t=src%3Dblog%26by%3Dnoah-charney%26title%3Dcracking-the-sitcom-code%26pos%3Dwelcometest&sz=640x480%7C300x600%7C300x250&c=162504353&tile=1" title=""><img style="border:none;" src="http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ad?iu=%2F4624%2FTheAtlanticOnline%2Fchannel_entertainment&t=src%3Dblog%26by%3Dnoah-charney%26title%3Dcracking-the-sitcom-code%26pos%3Dwelcometest&sz=640x480%7C300x600%7C300x250&c=162504353&tile=1" alt="" /></a></div></noscript></div></div> </div>
</section>
</div>
<script type="text/javascript">
Atlantic.Ad.sizeListener("welcometest", function(pos, callback){
if (callback === false) {
return false;
}
var $lightbox = $('#lightbox-welcometest');
$lightbox.addClass("active format-" + callback.join("x"));
if (typeof window.welcomeScreen === 'undefined') {
window.welcomeScreen = new Atlantic.WelcomeScreen();
}
window.welcomeScreen.show();
});
</script>
<!-- END: Welcome Screens -->
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<div class="warning message">
<div class="container">
<strong>Your browser is no longer supported.</strong>
For maximum compatibility
we recommend upgrading to a <a href="http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/internet-explorer/download-ie">newer version of IE</a>,
or another browser such as <a href="http://www.google.com/chrome/">Chrome</a>
or <a href="http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/new/">Firefox</a>.
</div>
</div>
<![endif]-->
<span></span>
<div id="topAdsWrap">
<style type="text/css">
#topAds .adTopleader {
height:0px;
text-align:center;
width:100%;
}
</style>
<div id="topAds">
<script type="text/javascript">
Atlantic.Ad.sizeListener('topleader', function ($unit, size) {
if (size) {
$unit.css('height', 'auto');
$unit.css('min-height', (size[1] + 5) + "px");
$unit.css('padding-top', '5px');
$unit.parent('.ad').css('height', 'auto');
}
})
</script>
<div class="ad adTopleader" id="adTopleader1-wrapper"><div class="ad-inner adTopleader-inner" id="adTopleader1"><script type="text/javascript">googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display("adTopleader1"); });</script><noscript><div><a href="http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?iu=%2F4624%2FTheAtlanticOnline%2Fchannel_entertainment&t=src%3Dblog%26by%3Dnoah-charney%26title%3Dcracking-the-sitcom-code%26pos%3Dtopleader%26dcopt%3Dist&sz=728x90%7C970x66%7C970x90%7C970x250%7C970x252&c=440947551&tile=1" title=""><img style="border:none;" src="http://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/ad?iu=%2F4624%2FTheAtlanticOnline%2Fchannel_entertainment&t=src%3Dblog%26by%3Dnoah-charney%26title%3Dcracking-the-sitcom-code%26pos%3Dtopleader%26dcopt%3Dist&sz=728x90%7C970x66%7C970x90%7C970x250%7C970x252&c=440947551&tile=1" alt="" /></a></div></noscript></div></div> <div style="clear:both"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div id="container">
<div id="header" data-tmsp="1420285573">
<h1><a data-omni-click="r'logo',l.pathname" id="atlanticLogo" href="/" title="The Atlantic Home">The Atlantic</a></h1>
<div class="top-promo-box">
<div id="top-circ-promo">
<div class="circ-box-inner">
<div class="subscribe-now">
<a href="https://w1.buysub.com/servlet/OrdersGateway?cds_mag_code=ATL&amp;cds_page_id=172711&amp;cds_response_key=I14A2C"
data-omni-click="r'top-promo',r'circ',l.pathname" target="_blank">
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</a>
</div>
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<h1 class="headline" itemprop="name">Cracking the Sitcom Code</h1>
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After signing up to write a script for Croatian television, I learned that virtually all TV comedies, from <em>Seinfeld</em> to <em>South Park</em>, follow a simple formula. </div>
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<span class="authors"><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/noah-charney/" class="author" itemprop="author" itemtype="http://schema.org/Person" rel="author" >Noah Charney</a></span> <span class="date"><time datetime='2014-12-28T08:01:00-05:00' itemprop="datePublished" content="2014-12-28T08:01:00-05:00">Dec 28 2014, 8:01 AM ET</time></span>
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<p>As happens to so many of us, I was asked to write a sitcom for Croatian television. I’m an American ex-pat living in Slovenia, and I know next to nothing about Croatia, besides the fact that it’s Slovenia’s southern neighbor, a fellow ex-Yugoslav republic, and that the language resembles Slovene except with a lot more “js” in it. I am a writer of books and articles, and I used to write a lot of plays, but I’ve never written for television. So I immediately said, “Sure, of course I can do that,” before rushing off to Google “How to write a sitcom.”</p>
<p>In addition to much Googling, I spent a good deal of time watching sitcoms. I was after tips on how they are constructed, and watched actively, looking to crack open their laugh-tracked shiny exterior to get at the goopy mechanism within, to see how they functioned.  What I found out surprised me, and changed the way that I watch television.</p>
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<aside class="callout"><hr/><h4>Related Story</h4>
<div><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/11/jokes-per-minute-sitcom-ratings-link/382734/"><img alt="" src="http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/newsroom/img/mt/2014/11/30rock/lead.jpg?nfwmnx" width="242"/></a></div>
<p><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/11/jokes-per-minute-sitcom-ratings-link/382734/">The One Where I Counted the Jokes in Popular Sitcoms</a></p>
<hr/></aside><!-- END "MORE ON" SINGLE STORY BOX v. 2 --><p>From <em>The Simpsons</em> to <em>Seinfeld</em>, from <em>Everybody Loves Raymond</em> to <em>Everybody Hates Chris</em>, from <em>Taxi</em> to <em>Arrested Development</em> to <em>Parks &amp; Recreation</em>, there is a highly-specific, minute-by-minute recipe used to write the vast majority of sitcoms out there. And once you know the formula, it makes it much easier to write them, and much harder to watch them without seeing that formula—the “sitcom code”—everywhere you look.</p>
<p>My giddy-panicked Googling actually produced fruitful results. With little idea as to where I should begin, I turned to the confidence-inspiring blog, <a href="https://wisesloth.files.wordpress.com/2012/06/sitcom-analysis.pdf">Wise Sloth</a> (whose author, like me, has no TV writing experience), which provided a 15-page breakdown of sitcom formats that I used as a point of departure for my own study. And by study, I mean hopping into my pajamas, cuddling up to my Peruvian Hairless, and watching TV with a notebook in hand. Talib Visram recently wrote in <em>The Atlantic </em>about his experience <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/11/jokes-per-minute-sitcom-ratings-link/382734/">counting jokes per minute in popular TV shows</a>. My approach was more deconstructionist, and directly applicable to my new gig. I had to figure out how such shows were built, and fast.</p>
<!--INSERT IN_ARTICLE AD--><p>Fortunately, the answer presented itself very quickly.</p>
<p>First of all, word-processing programs often come with screenwriting templates. FinalDraft, the most popular software for those penning scripts, even has a Sitcom Template, which of course makes life much easier. But as for how to construct an episode, various bloggers, from the Wise Sloth to helpful folks at the BBC, noted a basic structure that I immediately recognized in <em>every </em>sitcom episode I tested. This structure is so formulaic that you’d think it would suck the fun out of writing and watching such shows, but it does nothing of the sort.  While knowing the code it changes the way I watch TV, it only increases my admiration for the good writers who do so much within relatively strict confines.</p>
<p>To demonstrate how this formula works, I’ve chosen an episode of a favorite show, somewhat at random, because it ideally exemplifies the template: episode 4 of season 1 of <em>Parks &amp; Recreation.</em></p>
<p>The Sitcom Code breaks down what needs to happen in each episode, by the minute. As Dan Richter of Demand Media notes, “Sitcoms, minus commercials, are typically 22 minutes long [with] a script of 25-40 pages. Every sitcom episode has a main plot (story A), as well as one or two subplots (stories B and C).”  There are three main acts, divided by two commercial breaks (in most American TV), with 3-5 scenes per act. One of the distinguishing characteristics of sitcoms, as opposed to other forms of television, is that the main protagonist(s) barely change from one episode to the next, let alone from season to season (Maggie Simpson has been sucking on a pacifier for nearly thirty years). Therefore whatever happens in the episode, the situation must end largely where it began. The Wise Sloth points out that 22 minutes is “not even really time enough to tell a full story.  The whole story has to be on fast-forward,” so simplification is key.</p>
<p>Poet Philip Larkin described all plots as “a beginning, a muddle, and an end,” which is as good a description as any. Each episode begins with the protagonist stating a goal or problem that must be solved, and which we understand will be solved by the end of the episode. If the problem is solved too quickly, then the episode won’t stretch out to 22 minutes, so the first attempt at reaching the goal or solving the problem must fail (“the muddle”), requiring a new approach, before the episode ends and the protagonist either does, or does not, achieve what they set out to do.  The goal might be Homer trying to make a fortune by selling recycled grease in <em>The Simpsons</em>, or Job Bluth setting out to sabotage the family’s banana stand in <em>Arrested Development</em>, or the <em>Seinfeld </em>crew looking for where they parked in a vast lot.  Another hallmark of sitcoms is that the protagonists frequently fail, and we often want them to, because we do not want our favorite characters to change too much.  If Leslie Knope ever left Pawnee for a career as a DC politician, we would be distraught.  If Kramer got married and moved to the suburbs—whoa, now!</p>
<p>When writers sit around and prepare a new episode, many literally map out what will happen, minute-by-minute, in the main storyline and sub-storylines, filling in jokes later.  Let’s see <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNLXfFHVays">how this played out</a> in the <em>Parks &amp; Recreation </em>episode, “<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VLXVB3HFRU">Boys' Club</a>.”</p>
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