Through the lens of structural semiotics, this book explores the textual mechanisms that have driven the evolution of televisual comedy from the classic sitcom, a genre still deeply rooted in its theatrical origins, toward a new genre that is fully integrated into a more mature stage of television's history. It analyzes four comic series--Scrubs, The Office, The Comeback, and Ugly Betty--revealing how each program separates itself from the traditional sitcom archetype and demonstrates an increased self-awareness of the comic genre. Throughout the work, the author focuses on two cardinal...