--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Sitcom characters, my writing partner Sam…" description: "\"Sitcom characters, my writing partner Sam Bain and I sometimes tell each other, are not normally self-conscious. Or not quite. The best sitcom characte..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/jesse-armstrong-5759_best_sitcom-characters-my-writing-partner-sam_2696620.jpg" --- # Sitcom characters, my writing partner Sam Bain and I… ![“Sitcom characters, my writing partner Sam Bain and I sometimes tell each other, are not normally self-conscious. Or not quite. The best sitcom characters are probably just a little self-conscious. Deep enough to feel pain and humiliation, but shallow enough that there are no hidden depths.” quote by Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/jesse-armstrong-5759_best_sitcom-characters-my-writing-partner-sam_2696620.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/jesse-armstrong-5759_best_sitcom-characters-my-writing-partner-sam_2696620.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e9d/jesse-armstrong-5759_best_sitcom-characters-my-writing-partner-sam_2696620.jpg) > “Sitcom characters, my writing partner Sam Bain and I sometimes tell each other, are not normally self-conscious. Or not quite. The best sitcom characters are probably just a little self-conscious. Deep enough to feel pain and humiliation, but shallow enough that there are no hidden depths.” [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Effective sitcom characters balance self‑awareness with shallow depth, allowing humor without heavy emotional weight. **In simple terms:** Comedy works when characters are slightly self‑conscious but not overly deep. Key Takeaway Keep characters lightly self‑aware for humor. Themes humor character design writing television Mood lighthearted analytical Type creative instructional When to use this quote - scriptwriting - character development - show pitching - audience testing Key Concepts comedy theory psychology of humor media studies Questions to Reflect On - How much self‑consciousness makes a character funny? - When does shallow depth limit storytelling? A Different Perspective Over‑simplified characters can feel flat or unrelatable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humiliation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humiliation/) [Pain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pain/) [Self conscious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-conscious/) [Sitcom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitcom/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [In those stupid online polls to find the best sitcom ever, 'Father Ted' never gets the credit it deserves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-lock/in-those-stupid-online-polls-to-find-the-best-sitcom-ever-father-ted/) [Sean Lock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-lock/) > [Getting under the surface of real-life humans' poker faces humans is hard in a sitcom, even a drama.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/getting-under-the-surface-of-real-life-humans-poker-faces-humans-is/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [Writing a sitcom compared with writing a novel is a bit like the difference between going on a big, noisy group holiday compared with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/writing-a-sitcom-compared-with-writing-a-novel-is-a-bit-like-the/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [I love the breadth and space you get to explore character in so-called serialized TV, the novelistic element of maybe being able to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesse-armstrong/i-love-the-breadth-and-space-you-get-to-explore-character-in-so/) [Jesse Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesse-armstrong/) > [I can just about enjoy it. 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