1.   But it was a sign of the toe-in-the-water approach to topical humor that comedy shows are taking.

2.   He has a few jokes about President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, he said in an interview Monday, but generally avoids topical humor.

3.   So the task faced by Ms. Comden and Green, as they explained, was to spice up the dialogue without resorting to bawdy jokes and topical humor.

4.   Suddenly the breezy topical humor began to blow hard, suddenly no one was tuning in, and suddenly, but not suddenly enough, the series was canceled.

5.   The return to topical humor was gentle.

6.   Thus, flatulence jokes, cartoon nudity and basic tastelessness co-exist with wry topical humor and family dysfunction.