Sitcoms: With or Without a Laugh Track, Which do you prefer? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

PrettyinPink55 · 01-09-2006, 01:46 AM

Which Do you Prefer?

I personally think it depends on the sitcom. But it seems like the new thing to do is to not have a laugh track. Which, I think is pretty cool myself.

Mr. Television · 01-09-2006, 01:50 AM

laugh track. I just don't like this new trend although their have been a few sitcoms I've liked without one like Wonder Years, Doogie Howser, and Malcolm In The Middle. They're few and far between though.

Dean Winchester · 01-09-2006, 01:52 AM

I know some people hate one-camera sitcoms, but let's face it, all you need to do is watch late period (last 3 or 4 seasons) of Friends and Happy Days just to know what is wrong about laugh tracks. Friends had this issue that every line that came out of a mouth was immediately followed by laughs, I was expecting someone to say "I have cancer" just to see if everyone would still laugh at it. Happy Days got bad in the post-Ron Howard sitcoms because even an extra could come onscreen to deliver a pizza and people would start cheering. Seinfeld ALMOST had that happen to them but Larry David began instructing audiences to not clap when Kramer came into a scene and it eventually stopped, thankfully.

Classicshowsgurl15 · 01-09-2006, 02:13 AM

does laugh track mean that the laughter is taped? I like it without a laugh track. I like when it is a real live audience.

WhoStheBoss_Fan · 01-09-2006, 08:24 AM

with the laugh track just seems better to me

tv star collector · 01-09-2006, 08:55 AM

I would have to say that it depends on the show. I recall, in the early sixties
after the success of THE FLINTSTONES, that even animated series in prime-
time had laugh tracks (BULLWINKLE, TOP CAT, etc.). But it never really
bothered me. I thought it was kind of cool. And when The Three Stooges
made live appearances on television in the fifties and early sixties, there was
a live audience. And that didn't bother me, either. At first, it seemed odd
because, of course, in their movie shorts you weren't used to hearing any
laughter.

Mrs. John Ritter · 01-09-2006, 10:39 AM

with a laugh track

gilligan fanatic · 01-09-2006, 11:36 AM

depends on the show

Dean Winchester · 01-09-2006, 11:38 AM

I am surprised nobody else ever found the live audience for Friends and Happy Days very annoying?

gilligan fanatic · 01-09-2006, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HUNG UP!

I am surprised nobody else ever found the live audience for Friends and Happy Days very annoying?

I like the live audience on Happy Days. It makes the show seem more alive.

Dean Winchester · 01-09-2006, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gilligan fanatic

I like the live audience on Happy Days. It makes the show seem more alive.

but it became too much when every single actor would get their own 30 seconds of applause, weren't people watching it to see what was gonna happen each episode, not how many seconds people were going to give Ted McGinley a standing ovation for walking in the room? They got way too carried away in the post-Richie seasons at applauding instead of actually trying to watch the show.

gilligan fanatic · 01-09-2006, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HUNG UP!

but it became too much when every single actor would get their own 30 seconds of applause, weren't people watching it to see what was gonna happen each episode, not how many seconds people were going to give Ted McGinley a standing ovation for walking in the room? They got way too carried away in the post-Richie seasons at applauding instead of actually trying to watch the show.

yeah, they were way to long but it was way better than the first two seasons without the audience.

lockdown06 · 01-09-2006, 02:49 PM

I never was a fan of canned laughter.

PrettyinPink55 · 01-09-2006, 03:14 PM

I can relate to that Hung Up. I think that sometimes they get a bit carried away with the laughing or the cheering. Especially like you said on Friends.
But I still loved the show.

Does anybody else feel sometimes that the laugh tracks kind of "tell you when to laugh?" Like sometimes I felt like, I don't need to be told when to laugh, you know? Maybe it's just me...

Dean Winchester · 01-09-2006, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gilligan fanatic

yeah, they were way to long but it was way better than the first two seasons without the audience.

I personally think Happy Days was at its finest in the one-camera seasons. Don't get me wrong, the show was fun live, but I think when it was filmed without an audience, the storylines and writing were at its best and Fonzie was less of a cartoon character

View Poll Results: Sitcoms With or Without a Laugh Track?
With a laugh track	13	35.14%
Without a laugh track	8	21.62%
Depends on the show really	16	43.24%
Voters: 37. You may not vote on this poll

01-09-2006, 01:46 AM	#1
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	Sitcoms: With or Without a Laugh Track, Which do you prefer? Which Do you Prefer? I personally think it depends on the sitcom. But it seems like the new thing to do is to not have a laugh track. Which, I think is pretty cool myself.
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01-09-2006, 01:50 AM	#2
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	laugh track. I just don't like this new trend although their have been a few sitcoms I've liked without one like Wonder Years, Doogie Howser, and Malcolm In The Middle. They're few and far between though.
	__________________ Sonny

01-09-2006, 02:13 AM	#4
Classicshowsgurl15 Happy Days Senior Member Join Date: Jun 28, 2004 Location: California Posts: 2,088	does laugh track mean that the laughter is taped? I like it without a laugh track. I like when it is a real live audience.
	__________________ “All our young lives we search for someone to love, someone who makes us complete. We choose partners and change partners. We dance to a song of heartbreak and hope, all the while wondering if somewhere, somehow, there's someone perfect who might be searching for us.” - The Wonder Years

01-09-2006, 08:24 AM	#5
WhoStheBoss_Fan I Love Jenna Elfman Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 08, 2005 Location: In Connecticut with the Bowers and Macellis! Posts: 524	with the laugh track just seems better to me
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01-09-2006, 01:52 AM	#3
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	I know some people hate one-camera sitcoms, but let's face it, all you need to do is watch late period (last 3 or 4 seasons) of Friends and Happy Days just to know what is wrong about laugh tracks. Friends had this issue that every line that came out of a mouth was immediately followed by laughs, I was expecting someone to say "I have cancer" just to see if everyone would still laugh at it. Happy Days got bad in the post-Ron Howard sitcoms because even an extra could come onscreen to deliver a pizza and people would start cheering. Seinfeld ALMOST had that happen to them but Larry David began instructing audiences to not clap when Kramer came into a scene and it eventually stopped, thankfully.

01-09-2006, 08:55 AM	#6
tv star collector I Love Susie Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 4,487	I would have to say that it depends on the show. I recall, in the early sixties after the success of THE FLINTSTONES, that even animated series in prime- time had laugh tracks (BULLWINKLE, TOP CAT, etc.). But it never really bothered me. I thought it was kind of cool. And when The Three Stooges made live appearances on television in the fifties and early sixties, there was a live audience. And that didn't bother me, either. At first, it seemed odd because, of course, in their movie shorts you weren't used to hearing any laughter.

01-09-2006, 10:39 AM	#7
Mrs. John Ritter John is my true love Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 30, 2005 Location: Being Held by the wonderful John Ritter Posts: 439	with a laugh track
	__________________ Johnathan the love that I have for you is so strong, and it continues to grow everyday. You are my angel. I miss you so much my darling. You will always be in my heart. John S. Ritter September 17, 1948-September 11, 2003 I love you. :loveu

01-09-2006, 11:36 AM	#8
gilligan fanatic Born to Be Bad Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: down by the Lagoon Posts: 9,954	depends on the show
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01-09-2006, 11:38 AM	#9
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	I am surprised nobody else ever found the live audience for Friends and Happy Days very annoying?

01-09-2006, 02:49 PM	#13
lockdown06 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 18, 2004 Location: ohio Posts: 709	I never was a fan of canned laughter.
	__________________ "Life's Tough Get a Helmet"

01-09-2006, 03:14 PM	#14
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	I can relate to that Hung Up. I think that sometimes they get a bit carried away with the laughing or the cheering. Especially like you said on Friends. But I still loved the show. Does anybody else feel sometimes that the laugh tracks kind of "tell you when to laugh?" Like sometimes I felt like, I don't need to be told when to laugh, you know? Maybe it's just me...