Why is it, when Nell entered the room, it seemed as if the live studio audience made sure they were a live studio audience and not just a laugh track.


That's the only time it happened in the entire series like that. First scene Nell was in, she got applause by the audience. She was just going to the table to pour some coffee. Nothing big. Burst of cheering and clapping and all that.


Could this be these were just overly anxious fans in the audience? Maybe they knew Nell personally? Like they were friends/family?


Also, around this time, Nell was having problems on set. I read the Doo Wop Girls episode she was causing friction with them on set (this filmed shortly before this episode), and also the last episode filmed of the season with Don Rickles.

Nell must have checked into rehab in Spring of 1983, as there was not much a break between episode shoots before the season ended. I was also thinking "Maybe the audience knew Nell was going through drug use, maybe they read a story on it, maybe she agreed to stop, and they were cheering her on at this time.


But the audience was going crazy when she appeared onscreen.