It seems obvious that the trend of network television comedy is toward single-camera shows (like 30 Rock and Modern Family) and away from multi-camera shows, where you only ever see three walls and there are always people laughing. That's why it seems so bizarre that NBC is converting its single-camera comedy Up All Night to a multi-camera show. That conversion seems to have inspired series-star Christina Applegate to leave the show.
I say the trend seems obvious in part because of critical reaction (the last multi-camera show to win an Emmy for best comedy was Everybody Loves Raymond in 2005) and in part because of what I like to watch. But what about what other people like to watch?
CBS dominates the primetime ratings, and last week the only comedies to break the top 20 were on CBS. These were The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men, both multi-camera shows.
Lorne Michaels is executive producer of Up All Night. He build a career on comedy in front of a live audience and it was his idea to convert Up All Night, based on his enthusiasm for the format. I have to think, also, that NBC -- which has difficulty cracking the top 20 with any of its shows -- might be especially willing to get ahold of what is happening at CBS.
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