The Fool in Sitcoms

A great deal of comedy depends on the "fool," the character that others make jokes about or towards. 

In all honesty, it's not an entirely comfortable comedy trope since it can descend into bullying. It helps if the "fool" has one of three characteristics:

1. The fool is actually more competent than everyone else. 

Al is a great example here. Yes, Tim uses him for comedic fodder:

"Is this man boring? Yes. Tell me something I don't know!" 

However, Al is respected and defended by "Al's Pals." He receives more fan mail than Tim and acts as the straight man to Tim's antics. In some ways, Mike of Last Man Standing is Tim and Al combined.

2. The fool deserves to be fooled. 

This solution is more difficult. Shakespeare uses it with Malvolio in Twelfth Night. Unfortunately, the mockery by his opposition is rough enough that the audience's sympathy may possibly veer towards Malvolio.

One sitcom where this approach totally works is Andy Griffith. Barney's smug self-satisfaction, boastfulness, and self-delusion deserve to be poked at. Andy does it gently. Barney is so inherently good-natured that his threats to quit are quickly handled. The balance is possibly the most perfect in sitcom history. 

3. The fool mocks himself.

Wojohowicz from Barney Miller is a great example. "Canny dope" Kyle is another. Both are competent at their work. If they sidetrack into oddities (aliens, odd grandmothers, marijuana brownies, feral cats), it is out of almost aggressive naivety. They also have the impressive ability to re-examine themselves and consequently, carry a confidence and maturity that outstrips the people around them (although they rarely realize their own strengths).