system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why are TV Sitcoms always 30 minutes long and Dramas generally 60?

Has their ever been a 60 minute comedy? This was kind of a random shower thought I had this morning, but seemed like a question worth asking.
gpt
Dramas need more time to show a problem, explain how the problem is being solved, and then the outcome of the situation.  To get enough details in there 48 minutes (for an hour show) is a good amount of time.  

If you've ever watched a comedy film you'll realize that the first half is almost always funnier than the second half.  This is because the end of shows need to resolves the problem created in the first half.  Creating problems is funnier than solving them.  Sitcoms are 30 minutes because anything longer means the characters need to solve a larger problem which means more unfunny time.  This is why there are so many very short comedy clips (like Chapelle's Show, SNL, etc).  Less time = more jokes without needing to resolve any problems on the show.