Yes, I agree! It also does so many other things right yet different. One thing I noticed recently is that the camera is always moving when the characters are still, and I've noticed that it keeps what could be a visually boring scene interesting. You know how amateurs with cell phones will jiggle the camera around to the point of making you nauseous? (Think Blair Witch Project). Well, Schitt's does this on a micro level where you don't really notice it's being done, but it's genius, because when you have two characters dialoguing in a boring motel room it's easy for the scene to become flat and dull. But just a slight jiggling of the camera, along with shooting from interesting angles, makes what could be drab conversation much more interesting and captivating. The next time you watch the show pay attention to the tops of their heads and you will see that they get closer and further away from the top edge of the camera - which shows that the camera is moving. But if you don't pick a point of reference to gage it by, like the edge of your screen, you'd probably never notice it happening because it's subtle. This may be a trick that has been used for years, I'm not in the industry so I don't know, but I've never noticed it before. Maybe it's not just SC doing it. Is this something you are aware of?
@PhantomKitten It has a name? I figured it did, thank you! It really keeps the scenes lively without overkill. You can only pan in and out so much before it gets obvious, right? I don't know why but this was the first show I ever noticed "the wobble" in.
I loved that fact that Johnny and Moira really LOVED each other! They weren’t putting each other down, having affairs, etc. they were both so supportive of each other!
I never thought of this, but you are absolutely right! This starts right at the pilot, when we don't open on their rich lives, we open on them being raided and losing everything. The inciting incident for the show is within the first minute. And it continues and it REALLY works for them
Compared to the other comedies i watched i liked that the side characters weren’t idiots and picked up on any kind of mischief, sarcasm or deception. It’s like they had personalities and opinions of their own that influenced the behaviour of the main characters. A lot of the times with the writing the main characters treated the other side characters like protagonist and that added weight. It was a joy seeing the main characters “act on”/influence/“react from”/develop/ inspire the world around them in Schitt’s Creek. I agree with your points too. The writers gave the Schitts Creek watchers more benefit of the doubt and did more show than tell.
Likely reason for the late inciting start on sitcoms....habit from when we were tied to tv times. They couldn’t put important info in the first few minutes, in case people were late getting to their tv for their show.
For me it's how the characters are able talk like grown ups and resolve miscommunication relatively easily. Nothing is ever blown out of proportion in this show. Comedies tend to exaggerate plot points and drag them on for far too long, making characters behave from questionably to horribly for the sake of comedy and/or drama. Schitt's Creek doesn't need that, because they have spent a lot of time carefully building up their characters, and that alone is a better recipe for powerful and/or funny moments than unnecessary conflict ever was. The characters, like real people, are emotionally affected by finer, subtler plot points, which also gives the show its distinct compassion towards human emotion that just feels so comforting to watch. On the same vein, it's a show where every character is quirky in some way (especially the family), but they don't exploit that quirkiness by making the same joke again and again. They allow their characters to grow, even if that means they have to sacrifice some of the quirkiness for meaningful development, and they just find new ways to keep things funny, while also giving us characters that feel realistic and that we can grow attached to.
LOVE Schitt's Creek, love this observation! I think that in doing this the show allows just that little bit of extra time in each episode that a lot of shows seem to waste by needlessly long and complicated opening scenes.
Which is why I downvoted this video. Its Always Sunny has been snubbed its entire run so to see yet another instance of it being ignored just pokes my brain in the wrong way.
Great video! Very interesting! Love Schitt’s Creek and the Canadian connection. Section on your wife putting on the jacket and the celebration was hilarious. My gf and I from Ontario took a drive to the location of Rosebud Motel. It was such a trip.
@@largeandinchargeproductions yeah the plot would be introduced in the first couple of minutes...it basically had a cold open and then the title shows saying the plot "The Gang ______" which was part of what made it funny. But after it went onto streaming where you can see the title first, that part kind of lost the comedic effect it had. Kind of hard to explain until you see it.
That's actually true, I never thought of that. I think that's why they have only 6 seasons. Other shows may want to drag the story out to add more seasons/episodes. The other reason is that they don't focus on unnecessary conflicts, drama or negativity.
Excellent analysis that was something I enjoyed was what could have been throw away jokes at the start turned into full plots. However, this would not work for every show. This method does work, and I’d like to see it done before, but I don’t think it beats a cold open. Brooklyn 99, the office, parks and rec (I know these are all Schur shows but they were at the top of my head) all use the hilarious cold open technique and I binge them to death - just the openings!
Six Feet Under. Most (every?) episodes start with the last minute(s) of the person destined to be a corpse for the family to preserve. Some corpse stories have a more profound effect on the episode plot than others. Exception is first episode, still a favorite: kitschy funeral advertisements, before they hit you with Nathaniel’s demise.
After seeing this, what is interesting to me is that the show doesn't feel fast or rushed. Some shows have so much happening in the first episode that it could have been the entire season. Well done, Schitt's Creek team!
@@largeandinchargeproductions Sure! I think a lot of shows take a while to find their groove. Schitt's Creek has so much heart and the character development is incredible! Always enjoy watching it 😃
Hi! Never even gave this show a second look as far as listing it for viewing, but you made this SCHITT'S review so much like the examples you put forth as reference, I am down to go and check it out just based on your presentation! Well done! I've also learned something new with your information about the inciting incident🤔 (don't worry, imma re-watch this vid until I totally understand)…going to go over to Netflix & binge-watch from S1E1 - PS: your Wifey's got some moves over there! Be safe and tale care😀
I had oddly enough not seen much Always Sunny. I watched the pilot years after it was popular and just didn't get hooked. But I should give it another shot.
Now that I think about it, usually B-stories start this way in sitcoms. Think Friends or Seinfeld or himym- Phoebe or George or Barney bursts through the door: you’ll never believe what happened at work (or something of the like). B-stories start from the moment the character enters, but it’s rare - like you pointed out - for A-stories to start that way.
Totally agree that Schitt's Creek is awesome, on my 5th re-watch. Everytime I watch I enjoy another aspect of a character. Tis the best of us humans. Peace.
I didn't watch a lot of Superstore but I hink you're right! That's a great one. I'm doing another ONE THING episode on The Bear next week. Can't wait to talk about it.
@@largeandinchargeproductions Well if you like superheroes...I'm finishing up the draft before it goes to the editor for her to tear apart and hand back to me to fix! lol
@@largeandinchargeproductions I was only joking; I was giving compliment to Schitt Creek series is a round about way. There is plenty of good stuff to watch on netflix. Schitt's Creek maintained its tempo. Fast cut situation comedy, I was lured into series with Levy , O'hare and Chris Elliot. Levy and O'hare go back the 70's second city television the roots SNL
It's something of a cult phenom. But it is good, can't deny it. For me it tapped right into my fondness for small town quirkiness. It took a while but I really started to enjoy these people. Although I loved Moira from the getgo.
This was a good show until the show started to make the episodes all about the annoying gay son. He really does not contribute much to the show other than over-exaggerating his gayness. He is always doing too much with his facial expressions. I just don't get it. Even my gay friends find him annoying because he is never happy and always complains about everything. When we watch the show we guess when the gay son is going to say " I don't know what that means" Another show destroyed just to push another agenda. Can anyone say the gay character is likable??? Look at him he does so much with his face that I am surprised he didn't dislocate his facial muscle. Waaaayyyyyyy tooooooo much gay stereotypes.
i don’t think the overexaggeration is bcos he’s gay, david and alexis obviously adopted their mother’s dramatic traits (have u seen moira? lol) + they come from a rich and pampered background. idk why you’re singling out david for always being dramatic/complaining a lot when the Roses do that almost every episode. sounds nitpicky tbh
You don't have to say "the annoying gay son" unless the family had another son who was straight; "the annoying son" (or David) would have sufficed. Your entire comment smacks of resentment, to be honest. The thing is, every episode involves David in one way or another. And should. My gosh, the actor/writer Daniel Levy is a huge part of the show, he basically made it. So to expect them to shy away from the character would be unrealistic, and to say that the later seasons put him much more in the spotlight seems wrong to me. This sitcom balanced all the characters but focused mostly on the two siblings and the parents. What "agenda" do you feel is being pushed by Schitt's Creek's writers? I found David extremely quirky and self absorbed but naturally he is a product of his upbringing; you'd be a little odd and eccentric and prissy and bitchy if Moira had raised you, or if all you had was servants and "yes people" in your orbit. But it strikes me that you've missed something huge about the character: he is likable. Yes, he is flawed and girlish (clearly way too "gay" for your tastes) and fussy, but deep down he is lonely and needy and loving and fun. Anyone who watched the show would agree that the character is not a prancing, mincing fay thing--- he's a complicated guy. He's a lot of things: fashionable to the extreme (there's Mom again) and insecure and borderline misanthropic. And I was delighted when they brought in a love interest for him, a guy who was masculine-- to counterpoint David's persona--- and who loved David not just with his faults but _because_ of them. The dramatic and exaggerrated facial expressions are funny. Very funny. And they're just one interesting part of the character as a whole. I believe you missed the boat, regarding his appeal and his funniness. You might need to watch an older sitcom with a gay character who fits your mold better than David Rose does.
Do you love Schitt's Creek? Did you agree about the inciting incident? Let me know below! And share other shows with an immediate inciting incident.
Yes, I agree!
It also does so many other things right yet different. One thing I noticed recently is that the camera is always moving when the characters are still, and I've noticed that it keeps what could be a visually boring scene interesting. You know how amateurs with cell phones will jiggle the camera around to the point of making you nauseous? (Think Blair Witch Project). Well, Schitt's does this on a micro level where you don't really notice it's being done, but it's genius, because when you have two characters dialoguing in a boring motel room it's easy for the scene to become flat and dull. But just a slight jiggling of the camera, along with shooting from interesting angles, makes what could be drab conversation much more interesting and captivating. The next time you watch the show pay attention to the tops of their heads and you will see that they get closer and further away from the top edge of the camera - which shows that the camera is moving. But if you don't pick a point of reference to gage it by, like the edge of your screen, you'd probably never notice it happening because it's subtle.
This may be a trick that has been used for years, I'm not in the industry so I don't know, but I've never noticed it before. Maybe it's not just SC doing it. Is this something you are aware of?
@PhantomKitten It has a name? I figured it did, thank you! It really keeps the scenes lively without overkill. You can only pan in and out so much before it gets obvious, right? I don't know why but this was the first show I ever noticed "the wobble" in.
@PhantomKitten No, is it on Netflix?
Definitely agree about the inside incident and Schitt‘s Creek. I think another show that does it pretty well is it’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
House. Columbo.
I loved that fact that Johnny and Moira really LOVED each other! They weren’t putting each other down, having affairs, etc. they were both so supportive of each other!
Same here! The unfaithful or out-of-love spouse is so overdone, and it doesn't leave a good vibe.
Well I love your name. Million Dollar Baby is one of my fave movies of all time.
"I'm sorry for not responding to like ONE TEXT, DAVID!!"
the way she moves her head and speaks this is ICONIC
I never thought of this, but you are absolutely right! This starts right at the pilot, when we don't open on their rich lives, we open on them being raided and losing everything. The inciting incident for the show is within the first minute. And it continues and it REALLY works for them
The pacing of a comedic sketch.
I WAS THINKING OF THAT ONLY, THE PILOT!
Compared to the other comedies i watched i liked that the side characters weren’t idiots and picked up on any kind of mischief, sarcasm or deception. It’s like they had personalities and opinions of their own that influenced the behaviour of the main characters. A lot of the times with the writing the main characters treated the other side characters like protagonist and that added weight. It was a joy seeing the main characters “act on”/influence/“react from”/develop/ inspire the world around them in Schitt’s Creek.
I agree with your points too. The writers gave the Schitts Creek watchers more benefit of the doubt and did more show than tell.
Yeah I love that take. And each of the side characters had a very clear want that would often collide off the main characters in real and fun ways.
Likely reason for the late inciting start on sitcoms....habit from when we were tied to tv times. They couldn’t put important info in the first few minutes, in case people were late getting to their tv for their show.
Good one. Maybe this style is more appropriate for streaming rather than TV that’s why it works.
yeah I like that analysis Stephanie. Sort of how theater always starts 7 minutes late.
That makes a lot of sense - never thought of it that way!
Wow that’s such a good point. It really interests me how things like that affect the way creatives make their work
Agree. The cold opens of this show are often my favorite part.
For me it's how the characters are able talk like grown ups and resolve miscommunication relatively easily. Nothing is ever blown out of proportion in this show. Comedies tend to exaggerate plot points and drag them on for far too long, making characters behave from questionably to horribly for the sake of comedy and/or drama. Schitt's Creek doesn't need that, because they have spent a lot of time carefully building up their characters, and that alone is a better recipe for powerful and/or funny moments than unnecessary conflict ever was. The characters, like real people, are emotionally affected by finer, subtler plot points, which also gives the show its distinct compassion towards human emotion that just feels so comforting to watch.
On the same vein, it's a show where every character is quirky in some way (especially the family), but they don't exploit that quirkiness by making the same joke again and again. They allow their characters to grow, even if that means they have to sacrifice some of the quirkiness for meaningful development, and they just find new ways to keep things funny, while also giving us characters that feel realistic and that we can grow attached to.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia was doing this a decade before Schitt's Creek.
LOVE Schitt's Creek, love this observation! I think that in doing this the show allows just that little bit of extra time in each episode that a lot of shows seem to waste by needlessly long and complicated opening scenes.
Yes! It's why there can be so much quality content packed into 20 minutes (30 minus commercials). Genius.
Always Sunny in Philadelphia also has insighting incident in the first few minutes... then shows the episode title. Very funny!
Which is why I downvoted this video.
Its Always Sunny has been snubbed its entire run so to see yet another instance of it being ignored just pokes my brain in the wrong way.
Great video! Very interesting! Love Schitt’s Creek and the Canadian connection. Section on your wife putting on the jacket and the celebration was hilarious. My gf and I from Ontario took a drive to the location of Rosebud Motel. It was such a trip.
Ya know, I didn't know there was an actual Rosebud Motel... but that totally makes sense! Thanks for commenting!
Really interesting analysis!
I'd like to really interestingly analyze your beautiful face!!! (This is my wife for anyone else who sees this.)
That's what makes Schitt's Creek such a good show to binge
I love Schitt's Creek Great stuff
Thanks Dawg!
The OH Canada clip caught me off guard lol, so good
Was it the money gun? I love the money gun.
@@largeandinchargeproductions lmao yes! I love the misdirection.
I’ve watched it from start to finish many times and never caught on to this, but you’re right! No other show compares to it
This very well analysed. I've always loved Schitts Creek, but have never noticed this before!
They have the best character arcs. They all have growth and maturity
Love Schitt Pudding! I mean, the approach Schitt's Creek takes that sets them apart (LOL)
Aaahhh my two favorite shows - The Good Place and Schitts creek - unexpectedly in one video 😁
terrific insight!
It's Always Sunny does this!
I still need to watch it!!!
@@largeandinchargeproductions yeah the plot would be introduced in the first couple of minutes...it basically had a cold open and then the title shows saying the plot "The Gang ______" which was part of what made it funny. But after it went onto streaming where you can see the title first, that part kind of lost the comedic effect it had. Kind of hard to explain until you see it.
That's actually true, I never thought of that. I think that's why they have only 6 seasons. Other shows may want to drag the story out to add more seasons/episodes. The other reason is that they don't focus on unnecessary conflicts, drama or negativity.
Oh, wow, yes. Thanks for this expert analysis. So interesting. I don't know about storytelling and this is fascinating to me.
Cold openings is the other route a show can take and though Schitts had this in it a little bit the cold opening wasnt totally detached.
Since I binged this show and barely breathed between episodes, I had not noticed this.
Well then you watched it the right way!
Excellent analysis that was something I enjoyed was what could have been throw away jokes at the start turned into full plots. However, this would not work for every show. This method does work, and I’d like to see it done before, but I don’t think it beats a cold open. Brooklyn 99, the office, parks and rec (I know these are all Schur shows but they were at the top of my head) all use the hilarious cold open technique and I binge them to death - just the openings!
Brooklyn 99's cold open where the guys sing in the lineup? Brilliant. I should do an ep on how amazing their cold opens are.
NO LAUGH TRACK, BEST IDEA EVER!!!
Excellent point that I never thought about. For Schitt's Creek it starts episode one with the door bell!
Six Feet Under. Most (every?) episodes start with the last minute(s) of the person destined to be a corpse for the family to preserve. Some corpse stories have a more profound effect on the episode plot than others. Exception is first episode, still a favorite: kitschy funeral advertisements, before they hit you with Nathaniel’s demise.
Arrested Development has nearly immediate inciting incidents.
And people love that show!
After seeing this, what is interesting to me is that the show doesn't feel fast or rushed. Some shows have so much happening in the first episode that it could have been the entire season. Well done, Schitt's Creek team!
Agreed! Although I didn't love the first season. I skipped through to the second once it found it's groove
@@largeandinchargeproductions Sure! I think a lot of shows take a while to find their groove. Schitt's Creek has so much heart and the character development is incredible! Always enjoy watching it 😃
Hi! Never even gave this show a second look as far as listing it for viewing, but you made this SCHITT'S review so much like the examples you put forth as reference, I am down to go and check it out just based on your presentation! Well done! I've also learned something new with your information about the inciting incident🤔 (don't worry, imma re-watch this vid until I totally understand)…going to go over to Netflix & binge-watch from S1E1 - PS: your Wifey's got some moves over there! Be safe and tale care😀
So what did you think?!
@@largeandinchargeproductions 3 words...FAB-U-LOUS! Thanks for checking in - Stay safe out there😎
Spot on! Always Sunny is another one that uses this technique.
I had oddly enough not seen much Always Sunny. I watched the pilot years after it was popular and just didn't get hooked. But I should give it another shot.
@@largeandinchargeproductions Please give it another shot!! THe first season is not good (IMO) but once Danny DeVito gets there its gold.
@@hopejanette I do love me some Devito.
It IS what’s called “class”! That’s what makes it different from other shows! It’s graceful in every way!
To be clear: your wife is an awesome Canadian 🇨🇦 True North, strong and free! 👏🏽😎👏🏽
I mean the fact that she's got that jacket almost tells you everythig you need to know
Now that I think about it, usually B-stories start this way in sitcoms. Think Friends or Seinfeld or himym- Phoebe or George or Barney bursts through the door: you’ll never believe what happened at work (or something of the like). B-stories start from the moment the character enters, but it’s rare - like you pointed out - for A-stories to start that way.
Good stuff. Maybe why this works now bec. its more appropriate for streaming rather than TV.
I agree. As the formats change, so doth change the story. And that's a solid use of "doth" if I doth say so myself.
Best show out there. So sad it’s over.
Totally agree
Totally agree that Schitt's Creek is awesome, on my 5th re-watch. Everytime I watch I enjoy another aspect of a character. Tis the best of us humans. Peace.
Yeah it certainly became that. First season is rough for me to watch.
Superstore was great at hooking you early in the episode
I didn't watch a lot of Superstore but I hink you're right! That's a great one. I'm doing another ONE THING episode on The Bear next week. Can't wait to talk about it.
Love this breakdown Jeff! And I'm embarrassed to say I haven't seen Schitt's Creek 😬
Go for it. It will grow on you w/o you knowing.
Check it out! You'll fall in love with the characters and the town for sure
You must
I’m going to have an inciting incident right now.
Does Moira Rose do it for you?
@@largeandinchargeproductions No, but the host certainly does. He's such a cutie.
@@truerthanyouknow9456 Oh my! You're not wrong.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating!
The proof is not ‘in the pudding’.
Oh my Lord I just looked it up and you're right. I've been saying that wrong my entire life! Reminds me of "blood is thicker than water"
Really smart analysis.
agreed, well done analysis
Good stuff.
My novel's inciting incident starts at the end of the first chapter, then we're off on a Nantucket Sleigh Ride!
A Nantucket sleigh ride?! That sounds like EXACTLY the type of adventure I want to end up on!
@@largeandinchargeproductions Well if you like superheroes...I'm finishing up the draft before it goes to the editor for her to tear apart and hand back to me to fix! lol
Great Channel
Loves it 1st, 2nd, and 3rd time watching!!!
Arrested Development????
One of the best
There ain’t Schitt on netflix.....so I am gonna watch schitt’s creek round two again
What kind of stuff do you watch? I'm happy to make some recos
@@largeandinchargeproductions I was only joking; I was giving compliment to Schitt Creek series is a round about way. There is plenty of good stuff to watch on netflix.
Schitt's Creek maintained its tempo. Fast cut situation comedy, I was lured into series with Levy , O'hare and Chris Elliot. Levy and O'hare go back the 70's second city
television the roots SNL
Think this works for pilot scripts???
Came from Reddit. Let’s go!
3:27
"so in this scene, pregnant joselin.." welp thats enought spoilers for today
Darth is Luke's father.
Schitt’s is really good pudding
RIGHT?!?!
schitt’s is the shit. the end.
Am I the only one who thinks it’s completely overrated?
Quite possibly.
Yes
It's something of a cult phenom. But it is good, can't deny it. For me it tapped right into my fondness for small town quirkiness. It took a while but I really started to enjoy these people. Although I loved Moira from the getgo.
This was a good show until the show started to make the episodes all about the annoying gay son. He really does not contribute much to the show other than over-exaggerating his gayness. He is always doing too much with his facial expressions. I just don't get it. Even my gay friends find him annoying because he is never happy and always complains about everything. When we watch the show we guess when the gay son is going to say " I don't know what that means" Another show destroyed just to push another agenda. Can anyone say the gay character is likable??? Look at him he does so much with his face that I am surprised he didn't dislocate his facial muscle. Waaaayyyyyyy tooooooo much gay stereotypes.
i don’t think the overexaggeration is bcos he’s gay, david and alexis obviously adopted their mother’s dramatic traits (have u seen moira? lol) + they come from a rich and pampered background. idk why you’re singling out david for always being dramatic/complaining a lot when the Roses do that almost every episode. sounds nitpicky tbh
You don't have to say "the annoying gay son" unless the family had another son who was straight; "the annoying son" (or David) would have sufficed. Your entire comment smacks of resentment, to be honest.
The thing is, every episode involves David in one way or another. And should. My gosh, the actor/writer Daniel Levy is a huge part of the show, he basically made it. So to expect them to shy away from the character would be unrealistic, and to say that the later seasons put him much more in the spotlight seems wrong to me. This sitcom balanced all the characters but focused mostly on the two siblings and the parents.
What "agenda" do you feel is being pushed by Schitt's Creek's writers?
I found David extremely quirky and self absorbed but naturally he is a product of his upbringing; you'd be a little odd and eccentric and prissy and bitchy if Moira had raised you, or if all you had was servants and "yes people" in your orbit. But it strikes me that you've missed something huge about the character: he is likable. Yes, he is flawed and girlish (clearly way too "gay" for your tastes) and fussy, but deep down he is lonely and needy and loving and fun. Anyone who watched the show would agree that the character is not a prancing, mincing fay thing--- he's a complicated guy. He's a lot of things: fashionable to the extreme (there's Mom again) and insecure and borderline misanthropic. And I was delighted when they brought in a love interest for him, a guy who was masculine-- to counterpoint David's persona--- and who loved David not just with his faults but _because_ of them.
The dramatic and exaggerrated facial expressions are funny. Very funny. And they're just one interesting part of the character as a whole. I believe you missed the boat, regarding his appeal and his funniness. You might need to watch an older sitcom with a gay character who fits your mold better than David Rose does.
"I was saving that for during my run DAVID" "😯...well I was saving it for during your run" uggghh, your like a dirty little racoon 🦝"
Great stuff.