Yeah, American entertainment can sometimes be ruined (for me) by sentiment. I've always preferred British humor, because it's so...oh geez I forget the proper word--more cynical, more deadpan. It mildly irritates me as well when the Simpsons get mushy, though the writers, wisely, generally avoid that. 'Seinfeld' also made it a rule to never get sappy.

I think American sitcoms are mushy sometimes, because it's so important here that the audience like and admire the protaganists. I like the British practice of sitcoms starring total jerks. 'Fawlty Towers' and 'Absolutely Fabulous' are shows about people I would never want to meet, yet those shows are hilarious. And jerks don't cry at weddings, not even zany sitcom nuptials, unless they're three sheets to the wind.

Maybe Americans are, by nature, more demonstrative of emotions. The 'stiff upper lip' philosophy hardly exists here. Tom Hanks' display most likely struck most Americans as endearing.

Now I'm not whining about America--this is the best country for me, except maybe Australia. But yeah, the mush can get pretty cloying. Emotions shouldn't be squelched, but I don't like seeing actors pretending to be overwhelmed by love or whatever in an otherwise goofy sitcom. It just seems cheap and disgusting.

--Jez"gonna write a thesis on sitcom psychology someday"zika