M：Cindy, how come nearly all the prime-time TV shows are comedies?

辛迪，为什么几乎所有的黄金时段都是喜剧片呢?

C：That's because Americans love sitcoms.

那是因为美国人爱好情境喜剧。

M：Sitcoms?

情境喜剧?

C：Situation comedies. A sitcom is half an hour long and it airs weekly. Sitcom shows tend to be about ordinary people. If there is one thing that all the shows have in common, it is teaching wholesome values.

单元喜剧片。每出情境喜剧是半个小时的长度，而且每个礼拜都会播出。情境喜剧往往和一般大众息息相关。如果要说所有的节目有一项共通点的话，那就是教导有益人心的价值观。

M：In Taiwan, prime-time shows are an hour long and most of them aren't comedies.

在台湾，黄金时段的节目长度是一小时，而且大多数都不是喜剧片。

C：I think Americans would rather laugh than cry or be scared in their free time.

我想美国人宁愿在闲暇时间开怀大笑也不愿意哭哭啼啼的或是被吓得半死吧。