Comedy drama, also known by the portmanteau dramedy,[1][2][3] is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and drama. In films, serious dramatic themes (such as death, illness, etc.) are dealt with realism and subtlety, while preserving a humorous tenor.[4] In television, modern scripted comedy dramas tend to have more humour integrated into the story than the comic relief common in drama series but usually contain a lower joke rate than sitcoms.[citation needed][not verified in body]

History

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In the very influential Greek theatre, plays were considered comedies or tragedies. This concept even influenced Roman theatre and theatre of the Hellenistic period. Theatre of that era is thought to have long-lasting influence, even in modern narrative works.[5] Even today, works are often classified into two broad buckets, dramas and comedies. For instance, many awards that recognize achievements in film and television today, such as the Primetime Emmy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards segregate several award categories into these two classifications.

The 20th century saw a rise in film and television works that could be described as comedy-dramas. The term is a translation from the French "comédie dramatique". The portmanteau "dramedy" came to be in the 1980s.[3][6]

Characteristics

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In January 2022, Rafael Abreu, writing for the StudioBinder filmmaking blog, defined this genre as follows:[7]

A dramedy is a movie or program that balances the elements of a drama and a comedy. Also known as a comedy drama, this hybrid genre often deals with real life situations, grounded characters, and believable situations. The ratio between the drama and comedy can vary, but most of the time there is an equal measure of both, with neither side dominating.

Abreu also adds that dramedies often deal with relatable and serious topics such as divorce, illness, hardship, and heartache.

Notable examples

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Film

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Examples of comedy dramas in film include:

Name Year Country Notes
1963 Italy
Annie Hall 1977 United States
Forrest Gump 1994 United States
Trainspotting 1996 United Kingdom
The Celebration 1998 Denmark
The Royal Tenenbaums 2001 United States
Punch-Drunk Love 2002 United States
Garden State 2004 United States
Little Miss Sunshine 2006 United States also considered a tragicomedy
You, the Living 2007 Sweden
Juno 2007 United States
A Serious Man 2009 United States, United Kingdom
It's Such a Beautiful Day 2012 United States
The Grand Budapest Hotel 2014 United States, Germany
Lady Bird 2017 United States
Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood 2019 United States, United Kingdom
Everything Everywhere All at Once 2022 United States
Bardo, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths 2022 Mexico
White Noise 2022 United Kingdom, United States
Asteroid City 2023 United States

Television

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Examples of television comedy dramas include:

Name Year Country Notes
M*A*S*H 1972 United States
The Love Boat 1977 United States
Moonlighting 1985 United States
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd 1987 United States [8]
Frank's Place 1987 United States [9]
Hooperman 1987 United States [6]
The Wonder Years 1988 United States
Doogie Howser, M.D. 1989 United States
Northern Exposure 1990 United States
Ally McBeal 1997 United States
Sex and the City 1998 United States
Scrubs 2001 United States
Desperate Housewives 2004 United States [10]
BoJack Horseman 2014 United States
You’re the Worst 2014 United States
Hazbin Hotel 2024 United States

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Dramedy". Cambridge Dictionary. Cambridge University Press. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Dramedy". Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 26 September 2016. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  3. ^ a b Cathcart, Olivia (1 July 2021). "Rethinking the Dramedy: What Is It, Anyway?". Paste. Retrieved 11 April 2022.
  4. ^ Del Greco, Fabio (2023). "Dramatic Comedy Films to Watch". Indiecinema. Retrieved 26 November 2024.
  5. ^ Cartwright, Mark (14 July 2016). "Ancient Greek Theatre". World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
  6. ^ a b Kelley, Bill (23 September 1987). "The Best And The Brightest Abc's Hooperman – The Hands-down Winner Of The Best New Show Of The Year – Introduces A New Format, dramedy, While Slap Maxwell Reintroduces Dabney Coleman". Sun Sentinel. Archived from the original on 24 September 2017. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  7. ^ Abreu, Rafael (9 January 2022). "Dramedy Explained — A Study of the Comedy Drama Genre". StudioBinder. Retrieved 21 January 2024.
  8. ^ Brinkmoeller, Tom (3 September 2010). "Classic "Molly Dodd" Series Remains Locked Up, Awaiting 'Bail'". TV Worth Watching. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  9. ^ Hill, Michael (6 August 1989). "Bochco gives dramedy another go with 'Doogie Howser, M.D.'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  10. ^ Weiner, Allison Hope (20 December 2004). "Is 'Desperate Housewives' a comedy?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 20 November 2021.

Further reading

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