Anyone else find it hard to watch a comedy without a Laughtrack/Audience?

[TVFactFan]

Someone told me to watch "Sons and Daughters" and it was hard for me to stay interested because of no laughter or audience in the background. That's why I couldn't get into "My Name is Earl."

[Stuck In The '70's]

I have a hard time watching sitcoms without a laughtrack. Their have been a few over the years I liked and I do like My Name Is Earl but by and large I like the traditional sitcom better. It gets me in the mood a lot more.

[TVFactFan]

I have a hard time watching sitcoms without a laughtrack. Their have been a few over the years I liked and I do like My Name Is Earl but by and large I like the traditional sitcom better. It gets me in the mood a lot more.


Yeah I like the traditional sitcom too. When I watched my Name is Earl I thought I was watching a Movie-lol

[Brieannas21]

Mary Hartman-Mary Hartman was hard for me to get into when it was on TVland. Or maybe it was because it wasn't a good show.

[Ireneparalegal]

Mary Hartman-Mary Hartman was hard for me to get into when it was on TVland. Or maybe it was because it wasn't a good show.
I remember feeling that when I watched Mary Hartman during its first run. When I watched MASH in the 70's, I was always asking my older brother why there wasn't the usual audience laughter like we heard on other shows. He tried to explain it to me then, but I didn't get it. I heard some canned laughter but not the usual "laugh track" that I had been accustomed to. Obviously now, I know better. But being ten years old, it was hard to figure out. Bernie Mac is fun to watch, laugh track or not.

[TVFactFan]

That's the point.


I know but it's not something I can watch

[Pavan]

I like the traditonal sitcom with the studio audience, too. If I want to see a comedy without that, I'll watch a movie. That is the reason why these type of sitcoms don't work in the ratings I think.

But Sons & Daughters is hilarious. That is really the only sitcom of this type I can watch.

[dlemond]

I like a few shows with no studio audience- Scrubs, My Name is Earl, Arrested Development- to name a few. I'm trying The Loop and I've yet to see Sons & Daughters.

I don't mind a studio audience BUT I certainly hate the ones that make a nuisance of themselves by screaming and making ridiculous and unnecessary noise (exagerrated laughter for instance) .

And a plain laugh track with no audience is the worst.

[Brent88]

I hate sitcoms without a laugh track, but Sons and Daughters is actually pretty good. I kinda sat out last week, but I watched most of the hour tonight and I was interested enough to keep watching, which is always good. :lol:

[evilNpunk]

I think (reasonable) laughtracks and studio audiences enhance the comedy, but it has to do w/timing too. Sometimes the laughter bothers me b/c there is a delay in laughter, or its something that just is not funny. I dont mind watching sitcoms w/o them though, but it definately does help make the moment have that little something extra.

[Ant-Lox]

I really dont pay the laugh track any mind since not every line, phrase, facial expression of a show is funny.

[Chocoholic]

I don't like laugh tracks or audience laughter. I'm glad some sitcoms are moving away from it.

[Stuck In The '70's]

Like The Office. All the critics love that show but I watched it and it was horrible. It probably would be horrible with a laugh track though. :lol:

[catlover79]

I don't like laugh tracks or audience laughter. I'm glad some sitcoms are moving away from it.
:yeahthat Sometimes an audience or laughtrack can be distracting. I guess it depends on the show itself.

[Mikado]

Canadian sitcoms have no laugh tracks, i've not only gotten used to it, I now PREFER it....I dont NEED a laugh track , i make my own. If Corner Gas suddently went to a laughtrack, id be upset; i much prefer being able to follow the story, without those aukward pauses when actors wait for the laughter to die down!

[Buffyboy323]

Canadian sitcoms have no laugh tracks, i've not only gotten used to it, I now PREFER it....I dont NEED a laugh track , i make my own. If Corner Gas suddently went to a laughtrack, id be upset; i much prefer being able to follow the story, without those aukward pauses when actors wait for the laughter to die down!
I agree. I like laughing on my own. I don't like being told when to laugh. And when there's a sad and emotional scene, it feels more real, since there's not 200 people in the audience going "aaaawe."

[Dean Winchester]

Canadian sitcoms have no laugh tracks, i've not only gotten used to it, I now PREFER it....I dont NEED a laugh track , i make my own. If Corner Gas suddently went to a laughtrack, id be upset; i much prefer being able to follow the story, without those aukward pauses when actors wait for the laughter to die down!
I agree. I believe not using a laugh/audience-track gives the show more room to be funny. There are no pauses for laughter, no pauses for people to cheer if a special guest star/most popular character comes onscreen. Plus, shows like Friends, Married With Children and Happy Days pretty much abused the laugh tracks. Friends got so bad in the later seasons that even if something was sad, there'd still be a pause for laughter afterwards because the audience was so conditioned to laugh at every lame thing that came out of Joey's mouth even if he stopped being funny in 1996. Sitcoms without a laugh track make you decide for yourself what is funny and what's not and it doesn't slow the pace down. Either something is funny to you or it's not, you don't need to be convinced something is funny by an audience of people instructed to laugh because a sign comes on at certain points telling them to do so.

[Buffyboy323]

I agree. I believe not using a laugh/audience-track gives the show more room to be funny. There are no pauses for laughter, no pauses for people to cheer if a special guest star/most popular character comes onscreen. Plus, shows like Friends, Married With Children and Happy Days pretty much abused the laugh tracks. Friends got so bad in the later seasons that even if something was sad, there'd still be a pause for laughter afterwards because the audience was so conditioned to laugh at every lame thing that came out of Joey's mouth even if he stopped being funny in 1996. Sitcoms without a laugh track make you decide for yourself what is funny and what's not and it doesn't slow the pace down. Either something is funny to you or it's not, you don't need to be convinced something is funny by an audience of people instructed to laugh because a sign comes on at certain points telling them to do so.
Curb Your Enthusiasm is a show that comes to mind, where a studio audience or laugh track would never work. The music in the scenes without talking is hilarious on it's own. :lol:

And The Office would only be half as great without those awkward silences.

[Dean Winchester]

Curb Your Enthusiasm is a show that comes to mind, where a studio audience or laugh track would never work. The music in the scenes without talking is hilarious on it's own. :lol:

And The Office would only be half as great without those awkward silences.
Curb would be so unwatchable with a laugh track whenever Larry gets into trouble, which is pretty much every episode :lol:

[comedyfreak]

Someone told me to watch "Sons and Daughters" and it was hard for me to stay interested because of no laughter or audience in the background. That's why I couldn't get into "My Name is Earl."
Same here, it's hard to get into the comedies where there is no laugh track.

[waichingliu81]

the only ones without a laughter track that i could stand are everybody hates chris and ugly betty. otherwise, i prefer it with the laughter track because it is a long standing tradition and convention that is associated with comedies and sitcoms, and as it really gives a good atmosphere when watching a show of that type

[dawsongirl]

Someone told me to watch "Sons and Daughters" and it was hard for me to stay interested because of no laughter or audience in the background. That's why I couldn't get into "My Name is Earl."
Actually, yes. That's why I don't think the ones today (like the ones on ABC and NBC) look remotely funny. I know I've laughed at movies, but TV shows that look like movies seem totally different.

[Mikado]

I agree. I like laughing on my own. I don't like being told when to laugh. And when there's a sad and emotional scene, it feels more real, since there's not 200 people in the audience going "aaaawe."
Well said B-boy! :cow: yup yup!

[JulieSomoski]

yeah, it is a little hard to watch a sitcom without laughter in the background. The only shows I watch without a laugh track are The Wonder Years and Everybody Hates Chris. Even though I like these shows, they are hard to laugh at because I'm the only one laughing at it-LOL

Although, I hate the shows where it's obviously noticeable they are using a laugh track. For example, Full House biggtime used a laughtrack. There's always that one out of place laugh in the laughtrack that bugs the hell out of me. The last season of Roseanne used it too a couple times.

[Buffyboy323]

yeah, it is a little hard to watch a sitcom without laughter in the background. The only shows I watch without a laugh track are The Wonder Years and Everybody Hates Chris. Even though I like these shows, they are hard to laugh at because I'm the only one laughing at it-LOL

Although, I hate the shows where it's obviously noticeable they are using a laugh track. For example, Full House biggtime used a laughtrack. There's always that one out of place laugh in the laughtrack that bugs the hell out of me. The last season of Roseanne used it too a couple times.
I do like the traditional audiences on sitcoms - but it depends on which sitcom. I always loved the Roseanne crowd. They knew when to laugh and when to get and stay quiet. And I thought the Saved By The Bell audience was funny. I crack up just listening to them. Same goes for The Honeymooners. We had another thread this week about horrible studio audiences, so I'm going to go into detail on specific shows here, but we all know there's some shows where the audience reaction is at times, uncalled for.

I agree about the laugh track. Then again, I always found those tracks the most annoying things - especially in older sitcoms. Didn't Bewitched and The Brady Bunch use laugh tracks?

[JulieSomoski]

I do like the traditional audiences on sitcoms - but it depends on which sitcom. I always loved the Roseanne crowd. They knew when to laugh and when to get and stay quiet. And I thought the Saved By The Bell audience was funny. I crack up just listening to them. Same goes for The Honeymooners. We had another thread this week about horrible studio audiences, so I'm going to go into detail on specific shows here, but we all know there's some shows where the audience reaction is at times, uncalled for.

I agree about the laugh track. Then again, I always found those tracks the most annoying things - especially in older sitcoms. Didn't Bewitched and The Brady Bunch use laugh tracks?

The Brady Bunch used a bad laugh track. It was out of place in the scenes, very annoying to listen to, and was obvious. They did tape in front of a studio audience, so why did they need to use the track for every scene!?!?

Yeah, the Roseanne audience was great in the first 6 seasons. But by season 7, the jokes became less funny, and they obviously weren't laughing as much. By the ninth season, you could barely laugh at all, so I don't blame them for using a laugh track there.

I guess I've just been watching the traditional sitcom for so long I'm just used to hearing it in the background all the time.

[Ireneparalegal]

Corner Gas is a great show that WGN began airing and I love it. It needs no laugh track. I am glad because if it had a laugh track or audience, it would deter or detract from what was being said by the actors. After years of seeing Fonzie or Chachi coming into a scene on Happy Days and their dialogue being interrupted by roaring clapping and cheering, hootin' and hollerin', you can't help but become annoyed by that crap.

Also, let's not forget Good Times fans, how many times the audience LAUGHED AT THINGS THAT WEREN'T MEANT TO BE LAUGHED AT. Stupid audience would laugh at serious moments. Dopes. :crazy:

[JulieSomoski]

Also, let's not forget Good Times fans, how many times the audience LAUGHED AT THINGS THAT WEREN'T MEANT TO BE LAUGHED AT. Stupid audience would laugh at serious moments. Dopes. :crazy:

I can't stand when the audience would laugh at the dumbest things or at more serious moments. Good Times, Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons all had the audiences laugh at things that weren't meant to be laughed at. It was just bad timing.

[Buffyboy323]

The Brady Bunch used a bad laugh track. It was out of place in the scenes, very annoying to listen to, and was obvious. They did tape in front of a studio audience, so why did they need to use the track for every scene!?!?

Yeah, the Roseanne audience was great in the first 6 seasons. But by season 7, the jokes became less funny, and they obviously weren't laughing as much. By the ninth season, you could barely laugh at all, so I don't blame them for using a laugh track there.

I guess I've just been watching the traditional sitcom for so long I'm just used to hearing it in the background all the time.
The Roseanne studio audience also got a little more "white trashy" later on. They all went crazy when someone said a mean joke or when Roseanne made a funny comment about the Connors being poor. Sometimes I thought they shared the Married...With Children studio audience. :lol:

The Sabrina laugh track was also irritating. They would have the laugh track going in the most random place - for no apparent reason. Maybe it was me, but I was never ROTFL at Harvey.

[Buffyboy323]

I can't stand when the audience would laugh at the dumbest things or at more serious moments. Good Times, Sanford and Son, The Jeffersons all had the audiences laugh at things that weren't meant to be laughed at. It was just bad timing.
I liked when they didn't know if they should laugh or not. It's all quiet for an emotional scene, then 3 or 4 people chuckle. I noticed that with All In The Family and Good Times.

[Dean Winchester]

I think what MASH did on the DVD's is brilliant, you have the option of watching the show with or without laugh track. I am not a fan of the show but it's great that they gave the show the respect and ability to do such a thing since they realized that a lot of fans hated the laugh track and thought the show would do better without it.

I still believe Friends in it's last seasons is one of the worst culprits. Seriously, did ANYONE find Joey the least bit funny after the second or third season? He was one of the all time most one-dimensional characters ever and was almost functionally retarded by seasons 7-10 but yet the audiences laughed at every single line that came out of his mouth when most rational fans of the show knew that he was the worst character by far and that he was not funny in the slightest after season 3 or so.

Like Robby said tho, it really depends on the type of show it is. Family type of comedies work better with a laugh track, but "adult" comedy shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm or Corner Gas (or adult animated shows like The Simpsons or South Park) function best as it is because a laugh track would slow things down, and those are shows that have a faster pace than a standard three-act sitcom. Seinfeld did a good job with the audience because when the show took off in popularity, the audiences started this thunderous Fonz-like applause whenever Kramer would come into a scene (this was towards the beginning of season 4) but after a few weeks, they actually asked the audience not to do so because they did not want Seinfeld becoming Happy Days or Married With Children.

[TVFactFan]

There was no studio audience like the audience for season 1 of the Jeffersons. Great Energy and Laughter that made that season eligible for the Sitcom Hall of Fame

[Mikado]

Corner Gas has no laughtrack but, just once, id love to hear a roar of laughter at one of the lines said in the gas station, because, you just KNOW Brent would turn to Wanda and say: "What was that?" and Wanda would answer: "Oops sorry Brent, i had the TV turned up!" and Brent would say: "Well, turn it off, it's too distracting!"* (My sentiments about laughtracks, exactly! :lol: )
*I see this as another CG "anti-TV convention" gag, like when Wanda gets hit in the head by the microphone boom! :lol:

[Stuck In The '70's]

For the most part I don't like sitcoms without a studio audience. A few I like but I also tend to lose interest in them after awhile.

[JulieSomoski]

There was no studio audience like the audience for season 1 of the Jeffersons. Great Energy and Laughter that made that season eligible for the Sitcom Hall of Fame

yeah, they were great in the first season. They obviously were coming over from All in the Family, seeing the show had just spun off, and the AitF audience could get pretty crazy too.

[JulieSomoski]

The Roseanne studio audience also got a little more "white trashy" later on. They all went crazy when someone said a mean joke or when Roseanne made a funny comment about the Connors being poor. Sometimes I thought they shared the Married...With Children studio audience. :lol:

The Sabrina laugh track was also irritating. They would have the laugh track going in the most random place - for no apparent reason. Maybe it was me, but I was never ROTFL at Harvey.

White-trashy is a good way to put it. Especially in the seventh and eighth seasons. Most of the jokes were mean, and the audience always laughed at those.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch wasn't filmed in front of a studio audience, so I guess they had no choice but to use a laughtrack. Plus, I don't think I could see the show without one. But, it was in random places, and the show wasn't exactly one you'd watch to laugh at every minute.

[Buffyboy323]

White-trashy is a good way to put it. Especially in the seventh and eighth seasons. Most of the jokes were mean, and the audience always laughed at those.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch wasn't filmed in front of a studio audience, so I guess they had no choice but to use a laughtrack. Plus, I don't think I could see the show without one. But, it was in random places, and the show wasn't exactly one you'd watch to laugh at every minute.
Oh, I know Sabrina needed the laugh track (same with Bewitched, right?). They couldn't pull off all those effects in front of an audience - without stopping every five minutes. I liked the laugh track on that show, but it was constantly playing in the most random scenes. That's where I got annoyed. If it's not funny, DON'T force it!

[EmoJoe]

i actually prefer it without the laugh track. its like its telling you when you need to laugh and forcing the humor upon you, and telling you what you think should be funny. i think that if a show isnt taped in front of a studio audience, there's no need for it to have a laugh track. it's just dumb if if it does, and often dumbs down the humor of the show.

what i hate the MOST though is the laugh tracks they use nowadays - they're so faint and fake and i dunno, just so obviously not real, and it's annoying. that's one of the main reasons i can't stomach the current CBS sitcoms, the laugh tracks.

a lot of my favorite shows have laugh tracks, but i generally like them better without them.

[Cactus Jack]

Seinfeld did a good job with the audience because when the show took off in popularity, the audiences started this thunderous Fonz-like applause whenever Kramer would come into a scene (this was towards the beginning of season 4) but after a few weeks, they actually asked the audience not to do so because they did not want Seinfeld becoming Happy Days or Married With Children.
LOL when I saw that in the Notes About Nothing on one of the eps, it made me wish Larry David created Happy Days :lol:

[Mikado]

i actually prefer it without the laugh track. its like its telling you when you need to laugh and forcing the humor upon you, and telling you what you think should be funny. i think that if a show isnt taped in front of a studio audience, there's no need for it to have a laugh track. it's just dumb if if it does, and often dumbs down the humor of the show.
:yeahthat

[waichingliu81]

I still believe Friends in it's last seasons is one of the worst culprits. Seriously, did ANYONE find Joey the least bit funny after the second or third season? He was one of the all time most one-dimensional characters ever and was almost functionally retarded by seasons 7-10 but yet the audiences laughed at every single line that came out of his mouth when most rational fans of the show knew that he was the worst character by far and that he was not funny in the slightest after season 3 or so.

Like Robby said tho, it really depends on the type of show it is. Family type of comedies work better with a laugh track, but "adult" comedy shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm or Corner Gas (or adult animated shows like The Simpsons or South Park) function best as it is because a laugh track would slow things down, and those are shows that have a faster pace than a standard three-act sitcom. Seinfeld did a good job with the audience because when the show took off in popularity, the audiences started this thunderous Fonz-like applause whenever Kramer would come into a scene (this was towards the beginning of season 4) but after a few weeks, they actually asked the audience not to do so because they did not want Seinfeld becoming Happy Days or Married With Children.

joey became more and more unfunny as the series progressed on friends, although the same could said about him when matt le blanc had that god awful spin-off joey. he was so one-sided and frankly, he was the same person as he was, he didn't develop properly as a character. once again, i agree with you on that note.

as for saying that adult-based shows, work best without a laughter track, i slightly disagree with you. take everybody hates chris- that is a family orientated show which works so well without a laughter track. if it had one, then i would think that not a lot of people would have tuned in as they did in the first place

[Mikado]

as for saying that adult-based shows, work best without a laughter track, i slightly disagree with you. take everybody hates chris- that is a family oriented show which works so well without a laughter track. if it had one, then i would think that not a lot of people would have tuned in as they did in the first place
Right, and Corner Gas is a family show without a laugh track and my nephew and nieces dont miss the laugh track anymore than I do!

[littletydramon]

So how many sitcoms on primetime TV still use laugh tracks? Everyone I catch always is without, I prefer laughtracks for some reason. But it seems they are slowly going completely a way...

[Stuck In The '70's]

So how many sitcoms on primetime TV still use laugh tracks? Everyone I catch always is without, I prefer laughtracks for some reason. But it seems they are slowly going completely a way...
Their's not many of them although the highest rated new sitcom The Big Bang Theory has one and the biggest sitcom Two and a Half Men have one. All the ones that don't aren't bringing in any better ratings but the critics love them I guess.

[vtunie]

Definitely, yes. TV comedy SHOULD have audience laughter or a laugh track.

I apologize if I'm repeating a point already made...

It's hardly a matter of not being sophisticated enough to appreciate comedy without the laugh track. Sitting at home we miss the public audience at the movies or especially the theatre, and that's why the laugh track is good, and a live-audience taping is even better, so long as they don't sweeten the reaction too much.

The only way to watch comedies without the laugh track is to do it with as many friends as possible.

[Dean Winchester]

Two And A Half Men gets good ratings, but I think most of it has to do with the fact that it's in Raymond's old timeslot and was Raymond's lead-in for several years. It might be getting better ratings, but is it honestly as popular as The Office or My Name Is Earl, two shows without the laugh tracks?

Ratings and popularity don't always go hand in hand, just look at all those shows that were on Thursdays on NBC that were ratings hits because of Seinfeld/Friends as their lead-ins. I'd argue a show like NewsRadio was and still is more popular than Caroline In The City, which one is finished on DVD, which one is still seen in reruns from time to time.

Laugh tracks work for family sitcoms, but for adult sitcoms they are a hindrance IMO. Curb Your Enthusiasm would never work with a laugh track.

[Dean Winchester]

The only way to watch comedies without the laugh track is to do it with as many friends as possible.

so you can't tell something is funny without hearing other people laugh? I don't buy it. Some of the funniest comedy doesn't need a calculated laugh track to be cued for you to get the joke.

[vtunie]

so you can't tell something is funny without hearing other people laugh? I don't buy it. Some of the funniest comedy doesn't need a calculated laugh track to be cued for you to get the joke.

No, no! I said it had nothing to do with how "smart" or whatever you are. Laughter is infectious. The more THEY laugh, the harder YOU laugh. Get a joke and snicker to yourself, but do a belly-laugh with everyone else. That's all I meant.

[TVFactFan]

so you can't tell something is funny without hearing other people laugh? I don't buy it. Some of the funniest comedy doesn't need a calculated laugh track to be cued for you to get the joke.


I think all sitcoms should have a live studio audience

[EmoJoe]

I think all sitcoms should have a live studio audience
why? some shows simply don't work with a laugh track, while other shows simply don't work without one. i don't see why every comedy show needs to be forced to have a laugh track/studio audience. i'm glad that the requirement that "all sitcoms must have laugh tracks" is finally being broken - some shows NEED the laugh track and make the show funnier, but its dumb to say every single comedy show ever should have a laugh track.

personally ive laughed much harder at shows without laugh tracks then anything with a laugh track, so i dont think the "it makes shows funnier" argument is really valid.

[Dean Winchester]

all in all, I think it depends on the type of comedy you like. If comedy to you is Will Ferrill and Adam Sandler, you probably prefer laugh tracks, if you're more into Larry David or Woody Allen type of comedy, you prefer single-camera sitcoms

[EmoJoe]

all in all, I think it depends on the type of comedy you like. If comedy to you is Will Ferrill and Adam Sandler, you probably prefer laugh tracks, if you're more into Larry David or Woody Allen type of comedy, you prefer single-camera sitcoms
well i agree, i just hate it when people say "every sitcom should have a laugh track!!!11"

[Corolla]

I like a studio audience but the one found in Married... With Children was a little extreme.

[vtunie]

all in all, I think it depends on the type of comedy you like. If comedy to you is Will Ferrill and Adam Sandler, you probably prefer laugh tracks, if you're more into Larry David or Woody Allen type of comedy, you prefer single-camera sitcoms

well i agree, i just hate it when people say "every sitcom should have a laugh track!!!11"

Nothing done by Larry David or Woody Allen qualifies as a sitcom, even if it both situation and comedy are present. Sitcoms are broad melodrama or farce. The deeper they try to be, the more they fail, regardless of whether they achieve depth or not.

[Stuck In The '70's]

Two And A Half Men gets good ratings, but I think most of it has to do with the fact that it's in Raymond's old timeslot and was Raymond's lead-in for several years. It might be getting better ratings, but is it honestly as popular as The Office or My Name Is Earl, two shows without the laugh tracks?

Ratings and popularity don't always go hand in hand, just look at all those shows that were on Thursdays on NBC that were ratings hits because of Seinfeld/Friends as their lead-ins. I'd argue a show like NewsRadio was and still is more popular than Caroline In The City, which one is finished on DVD, which one is still seen in reruns from time to time.

Laugh tracks work for family sitcoms, but for adult sitcoms they are a hindrance IMO. Curb Your Enthusiasm would never work with a laugh track.
Yea Two and a Half Men has been the only sitcom in the top 20 for the last couple years so yes it is more popular than MNIE and the Office who don't even come in 1st or 2nd in their timeslots. I do like MNIE but that's more the exception. I've tried to watch the Office but I just can't get into it. I don't find anything about it funny. I'm not even sure a laugh track would help. lol

[EmoJoe]

i think his point was that while Two and a Half Men get better ratings, there's much more buzz about shows like The Office/30 Rock/My Name is Earl/Scrubs...ect...then Two and a Half Men.

[Dean Winchester]

Yea Two and a Half Men has been the only sitcom in the top 20 for the last couple years so yes it is more popular than MNIE and the Office who don't even come in 1st or 2nd in their timeslots. I do like MNIE but that's more the exception. I've tried to watch the Office but I just can't get into it. I don't find anything about it funny. I'm not even sure a laugh track would help. lol
I personally am not a fan of The Office, but the show is very very popular and has a devoted following. But three of it's actors have successfully transitioned into film (Carell, Krasinski and Wilson). The cult following the show has is rabid and I believe the show will still be revered and popular years after the last episode airs. It's much like how Arrested Development was never a hit in the ratings but it's been off the air two years and is already one of the most popular sitcoms of the decade and Bateman and Cera have both used their ties to that show to establish themselves as movie stars (and remember that Bateman tried to be a movie star during his Hogan Family days and failed, yet now he's actually getting great offers and doing well).

Cult shows generally have a longer lasting impact than shows that are popular because of their timeslot and are forgotten as soon as the last episode airs. The Office is a massive seller on DVD and it's already a cult classic. In a decade, Two And A Half Men won't be any more popular than Caroline In The City or Suddenly Susan is now

[EmoJoe]

^yeah, these days a show doesn't have to get massive ratings to be a hit. i mean look at The Simpsons, i dont think it's ever been in the top 20 in all of the 19 years it's been on the air yet it's considered to be a cultural phenonmon, and has lasted for almost 20 years.

[Dean Winchester]

^yeah, these days a show doesn't have to get massive ratings to be a hit. i mean look at The Simpsons, i dont think it's ever been in the top 20 in all of the 19 years it's been on the air yet it's considered to be a cultural phenonmon, and has lasted for almost 20 years.
exactly, ratings don't tell the whole tale. Look at Buffy The Vampire Slayer. It was never in the top 30 in the ratings (or even top 75 since WB/UPN never scored well), but yet it's been five years since the show went off the air and yet amongst it's millions of fans, is still as popular and in demand today as it was when new episodes were being made. There are still fan conventions, new merchandise and the sort, and a built-in fanbase no matter what any of the actors decides to act in now. There are other shows that were on roughly in the same late 90's/early 00's period that were huge ratings hits, but yet are already largely forgotten.

Never underestimate a cult show, ratings only tell half the story.

[Stuck In The '70's]

I personally am not a fan of The Office, but the show is very very popular and has a devoted following. But three of it's actors have successfully transitioned into film (Carell, Krasinski and Wilson). The cult following the show has is rabid and I believe the show will still be revered and popular years after the last episode airs. It's much like how Arrested Development was never a hit in the ratings but it's been off the air two years and is already one of the most popular sitcoms of the decade and Bateman and Cera have both used their ties to that show to establish themselves as movie stars (and remember that Bateman tried to be a movie star during his Hogan Family days and failed, yet now he's actually getting great offers and doing well).

Cult shows generally have a longer lasting impact than shows that are popular because of their timeslot and are forgotten as soon as the last episode airs. The Office is a massive seller on DVD and it's already a cult classic. In a decade, Two And A Half Men won't be any more popular than Caroline In The City or Suddenly Susan is now
I wouldn't go that far ... Suddenly Susan and Caroline were considered awful shows for the most part even while they were airing. I do agree with you about Cult shows though. Both the Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island became bigger hits after they left the air. I tried to get into AD too but I just couldn't...and I was always a fan of Jason Bateman. I loved him on the Hogan Family. Their have been a few sitcoms like the Wonder Years and Doogie Howser that I really liked that didn't have a laugh track. Maybe it depends on the show. Besides MNIE...I watch Weeds sometimes and that show is pretty good. This year though I've really liked Back to You and the Big Bang Theory ( although I haven't seen it yet) has been doing pretty good in the ratings. Maybe some of the traditional sitcoms can make a comeback. I really do miss them.

[Dean Winchester]

i think his point was that while Two and a Half Men get better ratings, there's much more buzz about shows like The Office/30 Rock/My Name is Earl/Scrubs...ect...then Two and a Half Men.
exactly what I meant. Two And A Half Men gets more viewers, but shows like The Office and 30 Rock are perfect examples of "water cooler shows". The people who watch those shows are more devout to what they're watching and will go to any timeslot it's on and still watch it. Two And A Half Men seems to be a show that people watch because it's on, it's not a show that has a huge loyal following that trades inside jokes and have websites and message boards devoted to it.

[Stuck In The '70's]

If you look on the local channels though you can still find reruns of Friends, Seinfeld, KOQ , ELR and other sitcoms with laughtracks so people watch them..it's just the new series that are having trouble.

[Dean Winchester]

If you look on the local channels though you can still find reruns of Friends, Seinfeld, KOQ , ELR and other sitcoms with laughtracks so people watch them..it's just the new series that are having trouble.
true, but all of those shows came on before people started tampering with the idea of no-laugh tracks. I actually think the aforementioned Seinfeld is a big factor in todays single-camera no-laugh-track types of comedy. Seinfeld really changed what television comedy could be like, and shows that have followed in it's footsteps eschewed the laugh tracks because if the sitcom is going to be unconventional, it figures the audience will know when to laugh. Many of today's no-laugh-track sitcoms are Seinfeld influenced

[TVFactFan]

I have to sample the Office tonight at 10:30pm, I don't think that show has a laugh track

[TVFactFan]

exactly, ratings don't tell the whole tale. Look at Buffy The Vampire Slayer. It was never in the top 30 in the ratings (or even top 75 since WB/UPN never scored well), but yet it's been five years since the show went off the air and yet amongst it's millions of fans, is still as popular and in demand today as it was when new episodes were being made. There are still fan conventions, new merchandise and the sort, and a built-in fanbase no matter what any of the actors decides to act in now. There are other shows that were on roughly in the same late 90's/early 00's period that were huge ratings hits, but yet are already largely forgotten.

Never underestimate a cult show, ratings only tell half the story.


I can believe that, especially when I think of shows like One Day at a Time, Alice, and Phyllis-lol

[Cactus Jack]

all in all, I think it depends on the type of comedy you like. If comedy to you is Will Ferrill and Adam Sandler, you probably prefer laugh tracks, if you're more into Larry David or Woody Allen type of comedy, you prefer single-camera sitcoms
Uhh, I like all those people and love single camera sitcoms, nowadays, Seinfeld is my big exception to that , although sometimes Ive laughed at scenes in that where there's no laugh track

[EmoJoe]

If you look on the local channels though you can still find reruns of Friends, Seinfeld, KOQ , ELR and other sitcoms with laughtracks so people watch them..it's just the new series that are having trouble.
i dont really think that the traditional sitcom is dead forever, i just don't think TV comedy needs to be limited to laugh-track sitcoms only anymore. it can also be argued that the single-camera sitcoms on TV right now are of better quality then the laugh-track sitcoms on TV right now, so that may also be a factor in why single-camera comedies are more popular lately.

[Cactus Jack]

true, but all of those shows came on before people started tampering with the idea of no-laugh tracks. I actually think the aforementioned Seinfeld is a big factor in todays single-camera no-laugh-track types of comedy. Seinfeld really changed what television comedy could be like, and shows that have followed in it's footsteps eschewed the laugh tracks because if the sitcom is going to be unconventional, it figures the audience will know when to laugh. Many of today's no-laugh-track sitcoms are Seinfeld influenced
Seinfeld himself was on 30 Rock

I havent noticed any influence in nay of them, except The Office has some characters in it that are great on TV,but you may not wabba hang out witht them in real life, kinda like Seinfeld does, only no George Costanza clone, The Office needs a George clone LOL.

[Dean Winchester]

Seinfeld himself was on 30 Rock

I havent noticed any influence in nay of them, except The Office has some characters in it that are great on TV,but you may not wabba hang out witht them in real life, kinda like Seinfeld does, only no George Costanza clone, The Office needs a George clone LOL.
actually, pretty much every contemporary single camera sitcom, The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm (well, that's a duh since it's Larry David), Arrested Development, My Name Is Earl, 30 Rock, etc... are all products of a post-Seinfeld environment. They might not be Seinfeld clones, but they all contain a level of observant humor that didn't exist on television before Seinfeld broke the floodgates open in the early 90's.

[Cactus Jack]

actually, pretty much every contemporary single camera sitcom, The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm (well, that's a duh since it's Larry David), Arrested Development, My Name Is Earl, 30 Rock, etc... are all products of a post-Seinfeld environment. They might not be Seinfeld clones, but they all contain a level of observant humor that didn't exist on television before Seinfeld broke the floodgates open in the early 90's.
True!

[catsrule]

A lot of the comedies I like have laugh tracks. There's a few no laugh track comedies that are really good (The Wonder Years, Corner Gas, Desperate Housewives). But some of them suck (all of NBC's comedies, they haven't had a good comedy since Frasier ended and they went to the single camera crap they have now)

[vtunie]

Single-camera sitcoms are a strange beast. You have to be really good not to veer into soap-opera or drama. I haven't seen anything that really works (for me). Oh well, eventually the trend will pass, like the NY-hip nineties shows and the jigglecoms and everything else. Though the shows that did it the best, usually first, will be remembered. I have a feeling, however, that Seinfeld will seem dated next to Sex in the City even though properly speaking it's a bad derivative of SNL.

[EmoJoe]

A lot of the comedies I like have laugh tracks. There's a few no laugh track comedies that are really good (The Wonder Years, Corner Gas, Desperate Housewives). But some of them suck (all of NBC's comedies, they haven't had a good comedy since Frasier ended and they went to the single camera crap they have now)
yeah, let's forget that the "single-camera crap" has won tons of awards and are the most critically acclaimed shows on TV right now. just because *you* don't like them, they must be really, really bad shows.

[EmoJoe]

Single-camera sitcoms are a strange beast. You have to be really good not to veer into soap-opera or drama. I haven't seen anything that really works (for me). Oh well, eventually the trend will pass, like the NY-hip nineties shows and the jigglecoms and everything else. Though the shows that did it the best, usually first, will be remembered. I have a feeling, however, that Seinfeld will seem dated next to Sex in the City even though properly speaking it's a bad derivative of SNL.
actually, most single-camera shows ive seen are a LOT less serious then most laugh-track sitcoms...The Office and 30 Rock (to a lesser extent then The Office) are just plain silly sitcoms, hardly ever serious, whereas most "laugh track" sitcoms usually have some sort of lesson or something. unless, of course, you're referring to Ugly Betty or Desperate Housewives, which are meant to be melodramatic at times.

[Dean Winchester]

actually, most single-camera shows ive seen are a LOT less serious then most laugh-track sitcoms...The Office and 30 Rock (to a lesser extent then The Office) are just plain silly sitcoms, hardly ever serious, whereas most "laugh track" sitcoms usually have some sort of lesson or something. unless, of course, you're referring to Ugly Betty or Desperate Housewives, which are meant to be melodramatic at times.
I agree. I'm not as well versed on the NBC shows, but I am a huge Curb Your Enthusiasm fan, and in the six seasons it's been on, they've dealt with Larry's mother dying, Larry almost dying himself, and currently he and Cheryl are going through a divorce. This is heavy handed stuff, but the show has never tried to use those real life type of situations to get into "very special episode" territory, instead it's remained a level of funny. I mean, the episode revolving around Larry's mothers death has him using the "my mom just died" card to get out of certain responsibilities. :lol:

[catsrule]

yeah, let's forget that the "single-camera crap" has won tons of awards and are the most critically acclaimed shows on TV right now. just because *you* don't like them, they must be really, really bad shows.Critical acclaim means nothing to me. A lot of the time critics have poor taste, gushing over lousy shows like Grey's Anatomy and 30 Rock. I stand by my position that all of NBC's current comedies suck. NBC used to have great comedies like Frasier, Family Ties, and I Dream of Jeannie. not anymore

[EmoJoe]

Critical acclaim means nothing to me. A lot of the time critics have poor taste, gushing over lousy shows like Grey's Anatomy and 30 Rock. I stand by my position that all of NBC's current comedies suck. NBC used to have great comedies like Frasier, Family Ties, and I Dream of Jeannie. not anymore
who made you the judge of what sucks and what doesn't? have you even seen even more then 5 minutes of Grey's Anatomy or 30 Rock? because obviously, if tons of people like them, and if they've won tons of awards, they don't "suck" and they arent lousy shows. can you dislike them? sure, but just because YOU dislike them doesn't mean they're "lousy shows". there's a huge difference between opinon and fact. i can't stand it when people treat their opinions as if they have some special privilege that makes their opinion correct. Grey's Anatomy and 30 Rock are obviously well-written, well-acted shows since they got all of this critical acclaim and huge fanbases. it's fine if they aren't up your ally, but to call them "lousy shows that suck" is an extremely ignorant comment.

[vtunie]

who made you the judge of what sucks and what doesn't? have you even seen even more then 5 minutes of Grey's Anatomy or 30 Rock? because obviously, if tons of people like them, and if they've won tons of awards, they don't "suck" and they arent lousy shows. can you dislike them? sure, but just because YOU dislike them doesn't mean they're "lousy shows". there's a huge difference between opinon and fact. i can't stand it when people treat their opinions as if they have some special privilege that makes their opinion correct. Grey's Anatomy and 30 Rock are obviously well-written, well-acted shows since they got all of this critical acclaim and huge fanbases. it's fine if they aren't up your ally, but to call them "lousy shows that suck" is an extremely ignorant comment.

Good thing the temperature outside my door is -35 degrees -- the unnecessary heat of personal attacks doesn't bother me! :talk:

Criticism is essentially backward looking. Tastes change from decade to decade so much that no claim of objectivity stands up. "Lousy shows that suck" is just as good a personal opinion as "well-written, well-acted".

[Skywalker]

I wouldn't say hard to watch, but they are hard for me to laugh at, for the most part. There are a few shows without a laugh track that I think are very funny, like Arrested Development, Curb, MNIE and Sledge Hammer! but that's about it. I watch The Office sometimes and once in a while there is something that will make me laugh a little, but it's really nothing compared to when I watch sitcoms with a live studio audience. I can't get into all those other sitcoms without one though and I've tried. Some of them I think are as bad as any of the horrible sitcoms in the past that had laugh tracks and IMO, there are too many of those types of sitcoms on the air right now.

[Dean Winchester]

I think a lot of the "I love laugh track" crowds have never seen latter episodes of Happy Days, Friends or Married With Children, those audiences abused the laugh tracks and were obnoxious. It's one thing to laugh when something's funny, it's another thing to give Erin Moran or Marion Ross a standing ovation when you knew they were going to appear in said episode

[EmoJoe]

Good thing the temperature outside my door is -35 degrees -- the unnecessary heat of personal attacks doesn't bother me! :talk:

Criticism is essentially backward looking. Tastes change from decade to decade so much that no claim of objectivity stands up. "Lousy shows that suck" is just as good a personal opinion as "well-written, well-acted".
how is that a personal attack? i didn't call anyone names and i didnt insult her or anything, but this thread is kind of in the form of a debate. it seems like lately on these boards anything that's not a compliment is considered a "personal attack". -_- if i offended anyone im sorry cause i didnt mean to, but i dont think my post was really that offensive.

anyway, i think you may have misunderstood my point. im not saying that catsrule has to like those shows or anything, but saying "this show sucks and is a lousy show" is MUCH different then "i don't care for this show". some people don't seem to understand the difference.

[Stuck In The '70's]

I think a lot of the "I love laugh track" crowds have never seen latter episodes of Happy Days, Friends or Married With Children, those audiences abused the laugh tracks and were obnoxious. It's one thing to laugh when something's funny, it's another thing to give Erin Moran or Marion Ross a standing ovation when you knew they were going to appear in said episode
I can't talk about Friends since I've never liked that show ( although I did watch one whole year of it before I gave up on it) but the later years of HD and MWC never bothered me. It was like I was watching the show with a bunch of people. The laughter got me in the mood. I rather have a wild studio audience then just a quiet laugh track like some of the sitcoms did back in the late 60's. Then again I'd rather have that then no laugh track at all for the most part.

As for critical acclaimed shows...I don't go by that either. I never watch the Emmy's anymore. They give the awards to the same shows year after year anyway. During the 80's I was a Dallas fan and they only won one major award in all their years dispite being the #1 show in the country. A lot of shows I liked have been the same way...popular but dispised by critics.

[Dean Winchester]

how is that a personal attack? i didn't call anyone names and i didnt insult her or anything, but this thread is kind of in the form of a debate. it seems like lately on these boards anything that's not a compliment is considered a "personal attack". -_- if i offended anyone im sorry cause i didnt mean to, but i dont think my post was really that offensive.

anyway, i think you may have misunderstood my point. im not saying that catsrule has to like those shows or anything, but saying "this show sucks and is a lousy show" is MUCH different then "i don't care for this show". some people don't seem to understand the difference.
agreed, it's one thing to look at things objectively, another to just dismiss something you've never watched as crap. There are tons of movies, television shows, music and books that I personally cannot get into no matter how hard I've tried, but it doesn't appeal to me. But I can tell when something I dislike is not "crap", I just don't care for it. There is a huge difference with not liking something but accepting there are redeeming things about it, it's just not your "thing", and thinking something is outright crap period.

[*InThisMoment*]

Good thing the temperature outside my door is -35 degrees -- the unnecessary heat of personal attacks doesn't bother me! :talk:
:rofl: :rotflmao: :rofl: :rotflmao: :rofl: :rotflmao: :rofl: :rotflmao: :rofl: :rotflmao: :rofl: :rotflmao: :rofl: :rotflmao:

OMG GURL THAT REALLY BROUGHT IT.

[EmoJoe]

agreed, it's one thing to look at things objectively, another to just dismiss something you've never watched as crap. There are tons of movies, television shows, music and books that I personally cannot get into no matter how hard I've tried, but it doesn't appeal to me. But I can tell when something I dislike is not "crap", I just don't care for it. There is a huge difference with not liking something but accepting there are redeeming things about it, it's just not your "thing", and thinking something is outright crap period.
yeah, exactly my point. i dont care for shows like 24 or Desperate Housewives or House...or really, most dramas...but i would never go as far as saying they're awful shows or anything. they just aren't my thing.

[catsrule]

have you even seen even more then 5 minutes of Grey's Anatomy or 30 Rock? because obviously, if tons of people like them, I've seen a full episode of 30 Rock. I'll give you tons of people like GA, but the same can't be said for 30 Rock. It does lousy in ratings. My Name is Earl and The Office both do better than 30 Rock. Even though 30 Rock is sandwiched between those two shows it doesn't do nearly as well. It just proves viewers are fleeing from 30 Rock. You and the critics may like it but a lot of people don't. The only reason it got renewed was critical acclaim, it certainly wasn't ratings.

[Dean Winchester]

I can't talk about Friends since I've never liked that show ( although I did watch one whole year of it before I gave up on it) but the later years of HD and MWC never bothered me. It was like I was watching the show with a bunch of people. The laughter got me in the mood. I rather have a wild studio audience then just a quiet laugh track like some of the sitcoms did back in the late 60's. Then again I'd rather have that then no laugh track at all for the most part.

from what I've heard about Friends, they stopped taping in front of audiences because people would steal things from the set, so for the last three seasons, they filmed on a stage and the laugh tracks were added in afterwards. In the last three seasons, there'd be the same processed laugh track after every single sentence that came out of any of their mouths would amount to this roarious laughter, even tho the show was running on fumes and wasn't even that funny by that point.

I think it's one thing to laugh at a joke, but on Happy Days, sometimes you couldn't even hear the words coming out of their mouths because the cheering whenever an actor would come onscreen would be so loud.

[Dean Winchester]

I've seen a full episode of 30 Rock. I'll give you tons of people like GA, but the same can't be said for 30 Rock. It does lousy in ratings. My Name is Earl and The Office both do better than 30 Rock. Even though 30 Rock is sandwiched between those two shows it doesn't do nearly as well. It just proves viewers are fleeing from 30 Rock. You and the critics may like it but a lot of people don't.
ratings don't mean squat. I remember several years ago, Arrested Development was the whipping boy of choice of the "shows that don't get good ratings automatically suck" crowd, who were in turn lavishing praise on Yes Dear. Well, AD and YD both ended in early 2006, it's early 2008, which show was a smash hit on DVD and has two of Hollywood's most in demand character actors right now, and which one is regarded as one of the worst and most inane sitcoms of the decade? YD got better ratings but it didn't get 1/10th of the respect AD got, and AD has gone on to be successful on DVD and a cult classic, YD is slowly fading from consciousness.

I'm not a 30 Rock fan myself, but ratings aren't necessarily something you can debate about quality, it's like saying an album sucked because it didn't sell 10 million records. Don't forget 30 Rock is up against CSI and Grey's Anatomy, of course it's going to get slaughtered.

[EmoJoe]

I've seen a full episode of 30 Rock. I'll give you tons of people like GA, but the same can't be said for 30 Rock. It does lousy in ratings. My Name is Earl and The Office both do better than 30 Rock. Even though 30 Rock is sandwiched between those two shows it doesn't do nearly as well. It just proves viewers are fleeing from 30 Rock. You and the critics may like it but a lot of people don't. The only reason it got renewed was critical acclaim, it certainly wasn't ratings.
well like we were talking about earlier in the thread, ratings don't merit a show's quality or even success. 30 Rock is a fast-paced sitcom with a lot of hidden gags and references to past episodes that's in a different style then most shows, so a lot of people aren't used to that type of humor and don't care for it. does that make it a bad show? not at all. it has an extremely dedicated fanbase and could probably be considered a "cult show".

[EmoJoe]

from what I've heard about Friends, they stopped taping in front of audiences because people would steal things from the set, so for the last three seasons, they filmed on a stage and the laugh tracks were added in afterwards. In the last three seasons, there'd be the same processed laugh track after every single sentence that came out of any of their mouths would amount to this roarious laughter, even tho the show was running on fumes and wasn't even that funny by that point.

I think it's one thing to laugh at a joke, but on Happy Days, sometimes you couldn't even hear the words coming out of their mouths because the cheering whenever an actor would come onscreen would be so loud.
yeah, the MWC audience really got annoying with that. the laughing was alright (annoying at times, but alright) but the cheering was just like...why? lol. you see these people every week.

i actually prefer live audiences to laugh tracks though. laugh tracks are usually so mundane, especially ones from this decade. you can barely even hear at all in most of the CBS comedies so it's like there's not even a point in having it.

[Stuck In The '70's]

yeah, the MWC audience really got annoying with that. the laughing was alright (annoying at times, but alright) but the cheering was just like...why? lol. you see these people every week.

i actually prefer live audiences to laugh tracks though. laugh tracks are usually so mundane, especially ones from this decade. you can barely even hear at all in most of the CBS comedies so it's like there's not even a point in having it.
I think the audience was out of a fraternity. lol

[Dean Winchester]

yeah, the MWC audience really got annoying with that. the laughing was alright (annoying at times, but alright) but the cheering was just like...why? lol. you see these people every week.
I agree with that. I could understand the applause in the 1983 episode where Richie and Ralph returned since they were both major characters who'd been gone a few years, but cheering over Tom Bosley or Erin Moran walking into a room was just crazy.

[Cactus Jack]

I agree with that. I could understand the applause in the 1983 episode where Richie and Ralph returned since they were both major characters who'd been gone a few years, but cheering over Tom Bosley or Erin Moran walking into a room was just crazy.
:nod:


Larry David actually had to tell the audeince not to applaud too much everytime Kramer entered

[Dean Winchester]

:nod:


Larry David actually had to tell the audeince not to applaud too much everytime Kramer entered
I know, and thank God!! :lol:

You know it would've gotten so bad that even Puddy would've gotten standing ovations at the end of the day. Thank God for Larry David putting a stop to that

[vtunie]

I agree with that. I could understand the applause in the 1983 episode where Richie and Ralph returned since they were both major characters who'd been gone a few years, but cheering over Tom Bosley or Erin Moran walking into a room was just crazy.

Larry David actually had to tell the audeince not to applaud too much everytime Kramer entered

So what's wrong with the studio audience enjoying themselves that much?

I used to watch Happy Days all the time when it was originally on, and the incessant applause never bothered me. I'm not sure I could sit through an episode now, but it's hardly because of the audience noise.

The thing is, though, that kind of audience reaction should probably be a clue about the show to the more intellectually inclined. ;)

It seems easier to remove the excess noise in post-production -- still better than using a poorly-designed laugh track.

[Dean Winchester]

So what's wrong with the studio audience enjoying themselves that much?
what might be amusing amongst 200 people in a room is annoying to tens of millions of fans watching the episode at home. On Happy Days, the applause was so annoying and over the top that you couldn't even hear entire lines Fonzie was saying because the audience was so surprised to see him come into a room, even tho it was Happy Days and Winkler never left the show and came back like Ron Howard did

Plus, one thing a lot of people don;t think about with laugh tracks is that without a laugh track, the show can be faster paced and more funny scenarios can happen because they don't have to stop every 5-10 seconds for an uproarious applause. Episodes of Arrested Development, Corner Gas and Curb Your Enthusiasm have enough going on in them to make two or maybe even three (in Curb's case since it's HBO so the eps are 28-30 mins a piece) episodes of a standard sitcom if you added in laugh tracks at every funny moment.

[vtunie]

what might be amusing amongst 200 people in a room is annoying to tens of millions of fans watching the episode at home.
...

Plus, one thing a lot of people don;t think about with laugh tracks is that without a laugh track, the show can be faster paced and more funny scenarios can happen because they don't have to stop every 5-10 seconds for an uproarious applause.

I don't think a good director would allow the actors to halt their action just because the audience was laughing. It's a general pacing problem; the audience track is a symptom, not a cause.

And as regards the noise, I'm pretty sure there were shows that cut down excessive audience response. I see that as a post-production issue.

I am talking about studio-audience sounds. Canned laughter usually does have too much botulin in it to be healthy; on that score, I guess I've changed my mind.

[EmoJoe]

Plus, one thing a lot of people don;t think about with laugh tracks is that without a laugh track, the show can be faster paced and more funny scenarios can happen because they don't have to stop every 5-10 seconds for an uproarious applause. Episodes of Arrested Development, Corner Gas and Curb Your Enthusiasm have enough going on in them to make two or maybe even three (in Curb's case since it's HBO so the eps are 28-30 mins a piece) episodes of a standard sitcom if you added in laugh tracks at every funny moment.
yeah, another reason why i like sitcoms without laugh tracks better. the pacing is so much better...much more realistic. you can fit a lot more into an episode and the actors dont have to awkwardly pause every four seconds for a laugh track.

I don't think a good director would allow the actors to halt their action just because the audience was laughing. It's a general pacing problem; the laugh track is a symptom, not a cause.
i dont think i've ever seen a sitcom where the actors talk over the laugh track. in every sitcom i've seen, there's a pause for laughter after every joke. you may not notice it since it just seems normal to you now, but it's there, and it can be annoying (for me), and also kind of awkward.

[vtunie]

i dont think i've ever seen a sitcom where the actors talk over the laugh track. in every sitcom i've seen, there's a pause for laughter after every joke. you may not notice it since it just seems normal to you now, but it's there, and it can be annoying (for me), and also kind of awkward.

Happy Days. Fonzie talking over the applause. Good pacing, bad post-processing.

Remember, I'm only talking about studio-audience sounds.

Look, it comes down to what we want from TV.

If it's a cinematic experience, then obviously there should be no background laughter.

If, rather, it is theatric, then a good show should have a studio audience, and maybe even make occasional pauses.

Critics and fans who complain of so-and-so overacting in a sitcom should consider whether the theatric acting was in fact intended.

[Dean Winchester]

I don't think a good director would allow the actors to halt their action just because the audience was laughing. It's a general pacing problem; the audience track is a symptom, not a cause.

Friends is a major culprit of this. A scene that realistically could last two minutes would be stretched out to four or five because the audience erupted at every line. The episodes with guest stars were even worse, the episode where Brad Pitt appeared had a really long applause and ovation that lasted well over a minute when he walked onto the set, that's more than 1/22 of the show being sacrificed right there. On that show, nobody would say the next line until the laughter died down, and it really slowed the show down considerably.

I am still thankful that Seinfeld's audience was instructed not to go romper room because it was one of the faster paced sitcoms with an audience with a ton of acts in a 22-23 minute episode, if the audience continued treating Kramer like he was Fonzie, the show would've suffered a big deal because Jerry and Larry intended to fill the episode with funny moments, and the audience had to move with them, instead of slowing down for the audience.

[EmoJoe]

Happy Days. Fonzie talking over the applause. Good pacing, bad post-processing.

Remember, I'm only talking about studio-audience sounds.

Look, it comes down to what we want from TV.

If it's a cinematic experience, then obviously there should be no sound track.

If, rather, it is theatric, then a good show should have a studio audience, and maybe even make occasional pauses.

Critics and fans who complain of so-and-so overacting in a sitcom should consider whether the theatric acting was in fact intended.
im not talking about the applause, im talking about the laughter itself, and the actors never talk over it, because if they did, the timing and pacing of the show would be really sloppy. my point is that without the laughter, it gives the show much more time and lets them have a much faster, more realistic pace.

and im not sure i understand your point. are you saying that everyone thinks a good TV show should have audience laughter and pauses? because i certainly dont think that and i know a lot of people who don't. :confused:

[vtunie]

im not talking about the applause, im talking about the laughter itself, and the actors never talk over it, because if they did, the timing and pacing of the show would be really sloppy.

Three's Company carried on over the laughter many times.

iim not sure i understand your point. are you saying that everyone thinks a good TV show should have audience laughter and pauses? because i certainly dont think that and i know a lot of people who don't. :confused:

No. I'm saying that if you want your TV to be like the movies, you'll hate the laughter.

If you want your TV to be like the theatre, you won't mind it.

The difference being that a move runs at a fixed speed regadless of how the audience responds, but live actors will adjust their timings quite a bit.

There's good theatre and bad, just as movies go from crappy to awesome.

[vtunie]

Friends is a major culprit of this. ...
I am still thankful that Seinfeld's audience was instructed not to go romper room because it was one of the faster paced sitcoms with an audience with a ton of acts in a 22-23 minute episode...

Although I think we differ in terms of what we like, I too prefer the comedy to be as fast as possible.

[EmoJoe]

Three's Company carried on over the laughter many times.



No. I'm saying that if you want your TV to be like the movies, you'll hate the laughter.

If you want your TV to be like the theatre, you won't mind it.

The difference being that a move runs at a fixed speed regadless of how the audience responds, but live actors will adjust their timings a little bit.

There's good theatre and bad, just as movies go from crappy to awesome.
that's true, but they still paused most of the time, as did most sitcoms.

anyway, i see your point, but personally im not big on movies, yet i much prefer no-laugh track to laugh track. when i watch single-camera comedies, i dont really feel like im watching a movie, but i can see why people would. but thats not why i prefer them - i just think they're cleaner and without the laugh track, the shows can do much, much more.

[vtunie]

anyway, i see your point, but personally im not big on movies, yet i much prefer no-laugh track to laugh track. when i watch single-camera comedies, i dont really feel like im watching a movie, but i can see why people would. but thats not why i prefer them - i just think they're cleaner and without the laugh track, the shows can do much, much more.

I agree with you there: TV comedy even in at its most inane has been superior to most movie comedy for decades.

[Cactus Jack]

I know, and thank God!! :lol:

You know it would've gotten so bad that even Puddy would've gotten standing ovations at the end of the day. Thank God for Larry David putting a stop to that
LOL I like Puddy,but yeah

[Furienna]

To be honest, I wouldn't consider a show without laugh tracks a sitcom. If there's no laugh track, it becomes a drama to me.

[Dean Winchester]

To be honest, I wouldn't consider a show without laugh tracks a sitcom. If there's no laugh track, it becomes a drama to me.
out of curiousity, what is dramatic about The Office or Curb Your Enthusiasm or Arrested Development? They've all had dramatic storylines... played for laughs.

[vtunie]

out of curiousity, what is dramatic about The Office or Curb Your Enthusiasm or Arrested Development? They've all had dramatic storylines... played for laughs.

Well,I would ask equally what is funny about The Office? ;) Never watched any of the others.

Oh, right, I don't get it... :lol:

[Mikado]

To be honest, I wouldn't consider a show without laugh tracks a sitcom. If there's no laugh track, it becomes a drama to me.
Well, if you watched Corner Gas, I think youd have a hard time thinking of it as a drama. It's a hilarious comedy and the lack of a laughtrack just means they have the time/space to add more jokes and content (Cause they dont have to wait for the laughter to die down.......I never did like those pauses that made comedies seem SO unreal.)

[Stuck In The '70's]

To be honest, I wouldn't consider a show without laugh tracks a sitcom. If there's no laugh track, it becomes a drama to me.
I agree. Most of the dramas I watch have a lot of comedy thrown in. If you shorten it to a half-hour I guess you get a sitcom.

[gotsmart]

A lot of older shows are better with the laughter/laugh track, but alot of newer shows benefit from no live audience/ laugh track. I'm one of those people that prefers M*A*S*H without the laugh track.

[EmoJoe]

To be honest, I wouldn't consider a show without laugh tracks a sitcom. If there's no laugh track, it becomes a drama to me.
I agree. Most of the dramas I watch have a lot of comedy thrown in. If you shorten it to a half-hour I guess you get a sitcom.
...no.

just because a show doesnt have a laugh track does NOT mean it's a half-hour version of a drama. there's nothing dramatic about single-camera comedies, if people actually gave them a chance they'd see that. comedy is not defined by a laugh track.

dramas do have elements of comedy in them, but they're called dramas because they are primarily dramatic. single-camera/non-laugh track sitcoms are focused on comedy, not dramatic storylines or anything. a drama probably has about 5 jokes per episodes, a comedy has 2 per every 3 minutes. and yes, even single-camera ones - in fact, especially them, because they arent bogged down with a laugh track.

[EmoJoe]

Well, if you watched Corner Gas, I think youd have a hard time thinking of it as a drama. It's a hilarious comedy and the lack of a laughtrack just means they have the time/space to add more jokes and content (Cause they dont have to wait for the laughter to die down.......I never did like those pauses that made comedies seem SO unreal.)
thank you. :)

A lot of older shows are better with the laughter/laugh track, but alot of newer shows benefit from no live audience/ laugh track. I'm one of those people that prefers M*A*S*H without the laugh track.
exactly. most of the older sitcoms wouldn't work at all without a laugh track/live audience, but the newer ones have a type of humor that doesn't need it and is better without it. people here just cant grasp that concept for some reason.

[Mikado]

thank you. :)

YW :)

[Stuck In The '70's]

...no.

just because a show doesnt have a laugh track does NOT mean it's a half-hour version of a drama. there's nothing dramatic about single-camera comedies, if people actually gave them a chance they'd see that. comedy is not defined by a laugh track.

dramas do have elements of comedy in them, but they're called dramas because they are primarily dramatic. single-camera/non-laugh track sitcoms are focused on comedy, not dramatic storylines or anything. a drama probably has about 5 jokes per episodes, a comedy has 2 per every 3 minutes. and yes, even single-camera ones - in fact, especially them, because they arent bogged down with a laugh track.
I don't know...I watch DH , Ugly Betty, and NCIS all the time and they have more than 5 jokes an hour in them. I think they're funnier than most of today's sitcoms.

[EmoJoe]

I don't know...I watch DH , Ugly Betty, and NCIS all the time and they have more than 5 jokes an hour in them. I think they're funnier than most of today's sitcoms.
DH and Ugly Betty are comedies though, lol. or "dramadies".

[Stuck In The '70's]

DH and Ugly Betty are comedies though, lol. or "dramadies".
You can say that about a lot of dramas though. I can go back to the Dukes of Hazzard and BJ and the Bear where their was a lot of comedy in it. Heck BJ at one time was syndicated in hour and half-hour form. Dallas ( my favorite show) had a lot of comedy in it. Their was more comedy in that then Doogie Howser which I also watched and which is considered a sitcom.