Some sitcoms I don't care for, but others are very, very funny. And, since so many are popular for so long, it's obviously resonating with *somebody*--a lot of somebodys, as a matter of fact. Enough that a network would renew it because it's attracting enough viewers to generate Big Cash Sponsor Dollars. I could never just dismiss a popular show because I don't like it; rather, I try to figure out what it is about people and the social condition that makes it attractive. If you understand the people watching it, generally you can understand the show...or, sometimes the reverse is true, and if you can figure out the show, you can figure out the viewers.
I have an irreverent sense of humor sometimes, and I love those Adult Swim-type cartoons...but one I could never figure out is Aqua Teen Hunger Force. People rave about it, but I'm perplexed. One of my clients--a really conservative older guy who I never thought would be the "type" to watch it--said he didn't like it for the longest time, either, but he kept getting exposed to it through his stepdaughters, and one day it just clicked and now he thinks it's hilarious. I haven't had time to devote to further experimentation yet, but I promised him one day I would sit down and watch it--a lot--and see if it likewise clicked for me. Maybe some things are like that, you just have to give them enough of a chance or something. I don't know.
Somewhat unrelated, I noticed that a lot of people are talking about writing the "funny parts" of stories. Even the most serious dramas benefit from a little humor to break the tension. However, the process for that vs. actually writing "a comedy" is a little different, I think. The difference is expectation. The humor woven into a drama is the tension-breaker or the unexpected surprise treat. When one sits down to read a comedy, one expects it to be funny pretty much nonstop, so it's a little more pressure. Not all forms of humor are for everyone, nor are they appropriate to every situation, but generally having a good idea of what "most people" will laugh at is a good start.
panyasan--Thank you.

