Follow-Up to Sitcom Post

Speaking of lessons learned from sitcoms, there are three requisite episode plots that every TV sitcom since 1984 has utilized when the show's writers just felt like mailing it in. If the networks and production companies really wanted to, they could very easily re-purpose these plots for current sitcoms during the writers' strike...

1) The "Parents/authority figures are out of town/let's throw a party" episode
Examples: The Cosby Show, 227, Growing Pains, Different World, the list goes on...
Teenage son/daughter or teenage son/daughter's peers: "Hey, my/your parents are gone, let's have a party, they'll never find out."
Party happens, destruction of property occurs, kids try to cover it up before the parents get back.
Surprise: Parents are home early and walk in on party OR parents arrive home after their trip and find a tell-tale sign of a party -- broken furniture, knick-knacks destroyed, etc. C'mon.
2) The "My friend/family member's pet died of natural causes or I lost the pet while I was pet-sitting, and now I have to replace the pet instead of telling the truth" episode
Examples: The Cosby Show, Growing Pains, countless others.
Requires no explanation -- imposter pet is purchased, imposter pet is often painted to look like real pet. The owner always knows it's a fake. This scheme was even utilized as part of the action in the film "Meet the Parents". This plot needs to be retired. It's overdone. Enough said.
3) The "One of the main characters is sick and is being a pain in the butt" episode
Examples: The Cosby Show, Who's the Boss? (eh-o...o-eh, Angeler!), 227, etc.
A bell is often given to the sick character to allow him or her to summon the character taking care of him or her. This results in annoying and petty requests by the sick character and a high level of tension between the two characters.
Seriously -- TV can and should do better than this.