Now, like a stale sitcom formula, the tax-cut scenario is everywhere.

It doesn't matter that their sitcom formulas have contemporary window dressing, focusing on families reshaped by divorce, careerism or sexual preference.

-Comedian Jerry Seinfeld's self-titled show mastered the successful sitcom formula.

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld's self-titled show mastered the successful sitcom formula and was also launched in 1989.

A similar dynamic is used in Peep Show in which the characters of Mitchell and Webb were adapted for the sitcom formula.

Nevertheless, sketch comedy rather than the sitcom formula has been a popular stalwart of Australian television.

Other series haven't broken out of the pack, perhaps because they veer away from the hokey sitcom formula.

"Friends" remained more cozily mainstream, adding a hip, modern tone to the classic sitcom formula.

One reason is that the job doesn't fit into the simple sitcom formula necessary to attract TV news coverage in Washington.

It does fit sort of a sitcom formula.