ABSTRACT
This study was designed on A Comparative Analysis of the Relevance of Select Nigerian situations comedies to Socio-cultural Development. Comedies, which are associated with entertainment, humours and amusement are veritable tools for correction and evaluation of societal ills and serves as socio-cultural means for change and development. The study deployed Papa Ajasco and company, The Johnsons and My Mom and I as case study. However a cursory observation seems to suggest that the subject matter explored in many of the situation comedies lack effective conclusion or resolution of issues. In other words, the Sitcoms appear to inadequately reconcile the dominant issues and this could have some effects or impacts on how viewers perceive the Sitcoms. The objective of the study are, to determine the thematic focus of the series, determine if viewers are aware that the regular viewing of these situational comedies has an impact on them, to find out if the impact of situational comedies content are easily noticeable in the lifestyle of the viewers, to examine what motivates them to these situational comedies. Using the survey research method, the study distributed questionnaire to 100 respondent. The findings on the study noticed most situation comedies (Sitcoms) are excessively on humour and on serious tropical issues which seemingly may or may not contribute to socialization process of any society or provide a deliberate change or thought process in thee scheme of things and do not fall within the line hiterto on humour, sex, luxury and flashy life style. However respondents agreed that some select Sitcoms depict or pay little attention to serious issues such as greed, satire, political issues but mostly done on a mild texture. This findings disapproves Taflinger (1996) assertion when he described dramatic comedy to capture issues of war, racism, death, crime, this is contrast to the kind of Sitcoms common in Nigeria. Situation comedies are relevant to socio cultural development as they influence and affect the People's way of life morally and ethically. Hence, it is recommended that, Nigerian situation comedies should fully point out the ills of the society and proffer solution to them, Nigeria situation comedies should be innovative, adventurous, and insightful so that audience can get the messages they are passing across, Nigerian undergraduates should endeavor to imbibe the positive socio-cultural values portrayed in situation comedies.
