Although the writers need to conjure up an array of characters, each of whom must have their own individual quirks, and have to produce many comedic situations that will get viewers laughing off their seats, there is another important factor that sitcom writers have to take into account: the setting or settings of a sitcom.

Though the viewer may not be consciously aware of it, the setting of a sitcom is hugely important, and is one of that main factors that contribute to a sitcom's ability to allow the viewer to relate to it. Whether the setting be a home, at school or a place of work, we all have our own favourite settings.

Many can relate to the brilliant bar setting in Cheers. I can recall the guys shouting "Norm!" when Norm Peterson entered the bar, and also the usual friendly banter that he and Cliff had, the way Carla settled things with her outright speech, and how Sam would tend the bar, aside from his usual womanising hyjinks. We all loved the bar, and the natural atmosphere that it allowed the sitcom to portray. Anywhere else than a bar, and the sitcom just wouldn't have been the same. The spin off of this show, Frasier, also had the memorable setting of Dr. Frasier's apartment, which was good in portraying the errors of his bachelor life.

Contrast this to the family home, and the Banks' residence from The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air, Mr. Drummond's Penthouse suite in Diff'rent Strokes, and ,of course, 10 Stigwood Avenue, home of the Cosby Family in The Cosby Show. The home in these sitcoms provides a reconciliation point for the humour, as is seen in The Fresh Prince. Even in the latter seasons, when the members in the family were gradually branching out as characters with their own lives, the Banks' residence still remained the main feature of the situations that the characters faced. As regards The Cosby Show, and Diff'rent Strokes, I don't recall a single episode not featuring the family home. Also the school environment made for memorable humour. Santo Domingo High in Parker Lewis Can't Lose, Bayside High School in Saved by the Bell will be remembered fondly by those who watched these shows.

My favourite setting of all time, though, isn't a home, a school, or even the average place of work. It's a show, Tool Time to be precise. This show within a show produced some of the funniest moments in Home Improvement. Just thinking of all the ways that Tim made jokes at Al's expense about his bachelor life. I also remember the time when Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor built the Bathroom for Men, equipped with a refrigerator, football shaped soap, and reclining toilet seat. Genius.

Moving into our modern sitcom era, and writers are still coming up with fantastic settings. Sacred Heart Hospital in Scrubs, Ray and Deborah's home in Everybody Loves Raymond, the Wernham Hogg paper company in The Office (UK), and the ridiculous James K. Polk Middle School in Ned's Declasified School Survival Guide, are all uniquely wonderful, and evidence that the setting is usually a foundation for a sitcom.

The most outstanding settings currently, in my opinion now, are The Tipton hotel in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody, and The Whitehouse, as portrayed in Cory in the House. Setting a sitcom, whether teen or not, is a hugely clever idea. The success is seen in the high standard of comedy in this sitcom. Setting a sitcom in The Whitehouse is a truly remarkable idea. This is clear to see in Cory in the House, as this setting allows for the interesting and intelligent plots, that the show needs in order to keep that shark from jumping too early!

So, in conclusion, a sitcom's setting is very important. It provides a firm, solid foundation for good writing, good characters, and a good, and possibly long running show. Here have been some memorable settings in the past, and there are memorable settings now. It is great to see that writers are still providing viewers with fresh, and new settings for characters to live in, to make us laugh for years to come.