Laugh Tracks

[Skullbones]

Laugh tracks annoy me. It's as if they are trying to tell me what is and isn't funny. The "Oooos" and "Aaas" thrown in are even worse. I'd like to find out if/how much the popularity of these shows would change if they were taken out.

 

[MrPresident]

Something like the Office would be ruined by a laughter track (something I fear the American remake will have) however something like Friends is enhanced. Incidentially M*A*S*H was shown over here without a laughter track and one episode the BBC screened the wrong version which had a laughter track and it got a lot of complaints saying it ruined the atmosphere of the show.

 

[cgannon64]

Originally posted by MrPresident
Something like the Office would be ruined by a laughter track (something I fear the American remake will have) however something like Friends is enhanced. Incidentially M*A*S*H was shown over here without a laughter track and one episode the BBC screened the wrong version which had a laughter track and it got a lot of complaints saying it ruined the atmosphere of the show.

Really? I think EVERY show would get that complaint if they ran an episode without a laugh track, and then an episode with a laugh track.

What is The Office? British comedy I guess...and its coming to America? Better not have a laugh track...

heartbreaker...with your fourty-fours

 

[bobgote]

Originally posted by gael
I didn't know that friends had a 'laugh track', i always thought it was a real audience. ( laughing at tapes, or whatever it is they do)

It's very tricky. next time you watch friends, tape it. wait for the point where the laugh track is, then rewind it and play it again and listen to the "joke" or whatever. now here's the trick, you'll see it actually isn't funny at all! that is if it turns out it was a joke anyway. very subtle, but if you watch carefully you can pick these things up.

anyway i prefer no laughing, or if anything, a live studio audience. sketch comedy is always better with no laugh tracks.

 

[allhailIndia]

Laugh tracks on American shows are OK, they are not as irritating as those in Bean or Benny hill.

Half the time the laugh track starts off before the guy even does somethign funny or says something funny and it pisses me off!

BTW, I AM ABSOLUTELY SICK AND TIRED OF FRIENDS AND HOPE THOSE BUNCH OF LOSERS GET A LIFE!!!!!

 

[cgannon64]

Originally posted by allhailIndia

BTW, I AM ABSOLUTELY SICK AND TIRED OF FRIENDS AND HOPE THOSE BUNCH OF LOSERS GET A LIFE!!!!!

I think their careers on Friends have gotten so huge they can't get a good role anywhere else. Jennifer Aniston has done the best, and she has had a few OK roles. While the rest have done romantic comedies and thats it.

i hate romantic comedies

 

[sabo]

I think they're dumb...
they probably think some people need to be reminded when to laugh
(come to think of it maybe some people do)

 

[allhailIndia]

Or desperately try to prolong a tired out show by making it seem more funny that it really is

 

[MrPresident]

Or desperately try to prolong a tired out show by making it seem more funny

Not that I want to start a, shall we say, heated debate about Friends but I think people say it is bad because hating Friends is the "cool" thing to do. If you actually watch the show you will see a marked improvement in the last two seasons.

Half the time the laugh track starts off before the guy even does somethign funny or says something funny and it pisses me off!

One word, anticipation.

 

[cgannon64]

Originally posted by MrPresident

Not that I want to start a, shall we say, heated debate about Friends but I think people say it is bad because hating Friends is the "cool" thing to do. If you actually watch the show you will see a marked improvement in the last two seasons.

Um, not where I live. Liking it is the "cool" thing to do.

wha

 

[puglover]

I laugh tracks!

 

[Greeny]

I think it depends on the show. I think something like the Fresh Prince of Bel Air which is basicaly a load of tollerable jokes strung together, it needs laughter to make it funny (it is a subliminal thing I think). But when it's something with realy good gags like the Simpsons or someting like the Office or the Royal Family (these are British comedies) would be ruined by a laughter track.

However on reflection with slapstick anarchy like Fawlty Towers or Blackadder the laugter realy helps get you in the mood. So I think most shows are correct in their choice of laughter/ non-laughter.