To laugh track or not to laugh track? That is the question. - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

AKA · 02-21-2004, 04:16 PM

When watching M*A*S*H on DVD, do you prefer to watch it with or without a laugh track?

I think the show is so much better without it, especially the pacing.

Sparki Rococo · 03-07-2004, 10:16 PM

Without. It sometimes blocks out what they're saying. Although, if I haven't seen the episode in a long time, and didn't know if I missed something funny, it's a nice reminder to back up and re-watch.

~Sparki¤

AKA · 04-25-2004, 09:01 PM

Just thought I'd bump this thread up.

TJL · 04-25-2004, 09:10 PM

I watch it with the laugh track. I guess I'm just used to it from watching the reruns.

I have turned it off from time to time to check out certain scenes.

Dr. Thong · 06-10-2004, 12:59 PM

The laugh track was tacked on there at the network's insistence. The producers certainly didn't want it on there, so I always listen without.

I think laugh tracks for shows filmed without a live audience are foolish. It was always annoying on Happy Days when the Fonz would enter a scene and would have to pause for half a minute before continuing due to the screaming girls.

Ant-Lox · 10-18-2004, 02:03 PM

It's weird without it..I gotta have it on...

gilligan fanatic · 10-20-2004, 07:25 PM

I like it better without it. It seems to be funnier when I am doing the laughing. M*A*S*H is a great show anyway so it realy doesn't mater that much.

Dude111 · 12-13-2013, 12:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad

I think the show is so much better without it, especially the pacing.

I agree......... I dont think MASH is really meant to be a comedy is it?? They are a medic unit during a war!! (Laughter is stupid)

OH Nuts! · 12-13-2013, 09:04 AM

I never like laugh tracks and would like to see them all fade into oblivion.

treky · 12-14-2013, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dude111

I agree......... I dont think MASH is really meant to be a comedy is it?? They are a medic unit during a war!! (Laughter is stupid)

to quote Larry Gelbart when he heard that CBS insisted on one-"These people are in the middle of Korea; who's doing the laughing?"

treky · 12-14-2013, 12:53 AM

Larry Gelbart didn't want a laugh track but CBS insisted the show have one. They said they didn't have to have one in the O.R. scenes though.

king of comedy · 12-14-2013, 08:29 AM

There 3 episodes that never had laugh tracks. 1. When Hawkeye had to stay over night at a hut with a family and had to say a monologue for 30 minutes to prevent himself from going into a coma 2. the staff had to perform on a soldier and there was a stopwatch on the screen 3. the final episode. These have worked so well without laugh tracks and are rewatchable.

Dude111 · 12-14-2013, 10:13 AM

I think i remember the final episode,kinda sad in a way to see the show end....

Dr. Thong · 12-14-2013, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king of comedy

There 3 episodes that never had laugh tracks. 1. When Hawkeye had to stay over night at a hut with a family and had to say a monologue for 30 minutes to prevent himself from going into a coma 2. the staff had to perform on a soldier and there was a stopwatch on the screen 3. the final episode. These have worked so well without laugh tracks and are rewatchable.

On the season 4 DVD, there is no laugh track on the "Quo Vadis, Captain Chandler" episode.

treky · 01-08-2014, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dude111

I agree......... I dont think MASH is really meant to be a comedy is it?? They are a medic unit during a war!! (Laughter is stupid)

Larry Gelbart had that exact same reaction when CBS insisted on one. "These people are in the middle of Korea" he said "Who's doing the laughing?"

View Poll Results: MAS*H - with or without a laugh track?
With! It's how I remember watching it on television.	11	42.31%
Without! That canned laughter is so out-of-place.	15	57.69%
Voters: 26. You may not vote on this poll

02-21-2004, 04:16 PM	#1
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	To laugh track or not to laugh track? That is the question. When watching MASH* on DVD, do you prefer to watch it with or without a laugh track? I think the show is so much better without it, especially the pacing.

04-25-2004, 09:10 PM	#4
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	I watch it with the laugh track. I guess I'm just used to it from watching the reruns. I have turned it off from time to time to check out certain scenes.
	__________________ "I think I'll stroll up to the front to see how the shooting's going..." - Capt. Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce Read my blogs! http://centralparkamisguide.com/ http://dvdcriticscorner.com Visit me on Facebook!http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=641138880 Hey, I do the tweet thing too! http://twitter.com/TomLevier My shop of handmade items! http://www.etsy.com/shop/ColdGarageCreations

06-10-2004, 12:59 PM	#5
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	The laugh track was tacked on there at the network's insistence. The producers certainly didn't want it on there, so I always listen without. I think laugh tracks for shows filmed without a live audience are foolish. It was always annoying on Happy Days when the Fonz would enter a scene and would have to pause for half a minute before continuing due to the screaming girls.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

10-18-2004, 02:03 PM	#6
Ant-Lox Cloud Watcher Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2004 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,824	It's weird without it..I gotta have it on...
	__________________ Currently Watching: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Sports Allegiances Philadelphia 76ers Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia Eagles Detroit Red Wings New York Football Giants

03-07-2004, 10:16 PM	#2
Sparki Rococo Who? First Time Poster Join Date: Mar 07, 2004 Posts: 1	Without. It sometimes blocks out what they're saying. Although, if I haven't seen the episode in a long time, and didn't know if I missed something funny, it's a nice reminder to back up and re-watch. ~Sparki¤

04-25-2004, 09:01 PM	#3
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	Just thought I'd bump this thread up.

10-20-2004, 07:25 PM	#7
gilligan fanatic Born to Be Bad Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: down by the Lagoon Posts: 9,954	I like it better without it. It seems to be funnier when I am doing the laughing. MAS*H is a great show anyway so it realy doesn't mater that much.

12-13-2013, 09:04 AM	#9
OH Nuts! Member Forum King Join Date: Feb 15, 2005 Posts: 133,383	I never like laugh tracks and would like to see them all fade into oblivion.

12-14-2013, 12:53 AM	#11
treky star trek fan Eternal Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: Conshohocken, pennsylvania Posts: 14,490	Larry Gelbart didn't want a laugh track but CBS insisted the show have one. They said they didn't have to have one in the O.R. scenes though.

12-14-2013, 08:29 AM	#12
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	There 3 episodes that never had laugh tracks. 1. When Hawkeye had to stay over night at a hut with a family and had to say a monologue for 30 minutes to prevent himself from going into a coma 2. the staff had to perform on a soldier and there was a stopwatch on the screen 3. the final episode. These have worked so well without laugh tracks and are rewatchable.

12-14-2013, 10:13 AM	#13
Dude111 Forum Legend Join Date: Nov 05, 2013 Posts: 37,051	I think i remember the final episode,kinda sad in a way to see the show end....