The Good Place

＂Pobody’s nerfect＂--or whatever the saying might be! As humans we are constantly worried about how our actions may come back to haunt us. The Good Place (2016-2020) is a high-concept American sitcom that brought light to the dark topic of the afterlife, and the show tackled this worry head-on. Although it had a life span of only four seasons, The Good Place made a lasting impact on American television culture and garnered many accolades for producer Michael Schur (also producer of The Office, Parks and Recreation, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine). Author Erin Giannini argues that the show redefines the classic sitcom structure by mixing the genres of fantasy and comedy, while simultaneously teaching the viewers the importance of character development through the analysis of moral and ethical principles. Giannini also analyzes the ＂not so in your face＂ political commentary seen in The Good Place, as this show took place during a tumultuous time in American politics. Television studies scholars and fans of the show will enjoy Giannini’s analysis of The Good Place as they read about the show’s laughs and twists and turns.

Erin Giannini is an independent scholar in television studies and has served as an editor for PopMatters. She is the author of Supernatural: A History of Television’s Unearthly Road Trip and Joss Whedon vs. the Corporation. Her articles have appeared in numerous journals, including Monstrum, Slayage, and Science Fiction Film and Television, and she is a member of the Southwest Popular/American Culture Association