When writing this, I had a lengthy part about how I disliked the format and "each episode an island unto itself" philosophy. However, it started ballooning to be longer than what I actually wanted to talk about, so I took it out. I'll venture that if sitcoms can't let us guess at plot progression by context clues, then they're making the same mistake by thinking viewers are too stupid to know when to laugh at something.

We all know my ideal half-hour show would be like "The IT Crowd," except less British, and actually funny. However, its penchant for slapstick, dripping awkwardness, and stereotype don't really sit well.

What they need is a show like "Iron Chef," except for "Iron Programmers" (or a hopefully more marketable title). Tempers rise as Google engineers challenge N brilliant computer programmers to make what can't be made, to prove their worth to the world. If they win, they get a job working at one of the greatest software companies in the world. If they lose, they go back to their mother's basement. The stakes are high! The drama! The intrigue!

Ok, I'm done.