Canned laughter

[Tankeryanker]

I have noticed that they don't use a lot of canned laughter in FA. I don't like canned laughter.

For those of you who are old enough, do you remember shows using canned laughter because other shows used it and it seemed the "in" thing to do for that time?

Beaver and FKB have it if I remember correctly.

[stevea]

Originally Posted by Tankeryanker

I have noticed that they don't use a lot of canned laughter in FA. I don't like canned laughter.

For those of you who are old enough, do you remember shows using canned laughter because other shows used it and it seemed the "in" thing to do for that time?

Beaver and FKB have it if I remember correctly.

Yes, both do.

Early Sitcoms that don't:

1. I Love Lucy - filmed in front of an audience. Sometimes these shows will occasionally "sweeten" the laughter with canned, but it's not near as obvious.

2. Make Room for Daddy/Danny Thomas Show - also filmed with a live audience.

3. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - played back to an audience for live responses.

4. The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show - also played back for live responses.

It's possible Feddersons's shows, Family Affair and My Three Sons, don't use it as much. I haven't seen Sons for awhile, but I don't remember it being annoying on there.

[Tankeryanker]

Originally Posted by stevea

3. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet - played back to an audience for live responses.

4. The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show - also played back for live responses.

How do you do the played back for or to a live audience? Like everyone is in a theater or something?

[Tankeryanker]

GIdget is full of canned laughter. Didn't notice it until today.

[Dude111]

I think its the only thing they can do unless the show is filmed like All in the family and Honeymooners which was a real audience there.....

[stevea]

Originally Posted by Dude111

I think its the only thing they can do unless the show is filmed like All in the family and Honeymooners which was a real audience there.....

Or they can do like The Middle and not have a laugh track.

[stevea]

Originally Posted by Tankeryanker

How do you do the played back for or to a live audience? Like everyone is in a theater or something?

Yeah I think so. For a single camera show it's the best thing to do, for the viewer.

As for Gidget, all the old Screen Gems shows had canned laughter. I think the first one with a live audience was the short-lived Paul Lynde Show around 1972.

[stevea]

Originally Posted by Dude111

I think its the only thing they can do unless the show is filmed like All in the family and Honeymooners which was a real audience there.....

All in the Family wasn't filmed. It was the first sitcom shot on videotape in firont of an audience. Except some later episodes where Carroll O'Connor wanted it "played back to an audience for live responses."

[biffbronson]

For My Three Sons, there was a quick little "wah... wah" sound that was used when a character made a mistake, something went wrong, or there was some embarrassment or disappointment in general.

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by stevea

All in the Family wasn't filmed. It was the first sitcom shot on videotape in firont of an audience. Except some later episodes where Carroll O'Connor wanted it "played back to an audience for live responses."

Hmmmmm it was still put on tape though

[biffbronson]

Originally Posted by stevea

Or they can do like The Middle and not have a laugh track.

Scrubs was another sitcom that never used a laugh track.

[stevea]

Originally Posted by Dude111

Hmmmmm it was still put on tape though

Yes, I was making the point that it wasn't shot using a film camera--it was shot using a larger (at the time) TV camera, and saved on videotape, not film.

[Dude111]

Ya its interesting!