Questions About Flashback Shows Filmed Live - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Dr. Thong · 01-09-2006, 10:46 PM

I was watching Two And A Half Men tonight and the episode was about Charlie visiting a psychiatrist. They kept having flashbacks to a weird night he had with his brother Alan.

Now, I believe the show is filmed live in front of a studio audience. My question is this: How do shows that are filmed live handle going back and forth between the present scenes and the flashbacks?? Particularly when there are different costumes and hair, etc??

Friends had a similar episode where the pre-opening sequence was a set-up and the rest of the show was a flashback to about a year before the show began. I know Friends was filmed live, so I wonder how they did it.

If anyone can shed any light on this, please do!!

factsoflife · 01-10-2006, 12:37 AM

well usually sitcoms shoot thier scenes in order so they probrally just explain to the audience that this or that scene is a flashback.

Dr. Thong · 01-10-2006, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barwars

Anything that isnt done on the normal set, whether its a flashback or location shoot, is shot a day or two before the "live" performance. Then, if its a flashback, it is shown to the same audience in video form and then their laughs are recorded. If its a location shoot, often times the actors will renact the dialogue on the set.

That makes sense. Thanks!

01-09-2006, 10:46 PM	#1
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Questions About Flashback Shows Filmed Live I was watching Two And A Half Men tonight and the episode was about Charlie visiting a psychiatrist. They kept having flashbacks to a weird night he had with his brother Alan. Now, I believe the show is filmed live in front of a studio audience. My question is this: How do shows that are filmed live handle going back and forth between the present scenes and the flashbacks?? Particularly when there are different costumes and hair, etc?? Friends had a similar episode where the pre-opening sequence was a set-up and the rest of the show was a flashback to about a year before the show began. I know Friends was filmed live, so I wonder how they did it. If anyone can shed any light on this, please do!!
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01-10-2006, 12:37 AM	#2
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,747	well usually sitcoms shoot thier scenes in order so they probrally just explain to the audience that this or that scene is a flashback.
	__________________ "and to the fans. I was only supposed to be on every other Tuesday. But, thanks to you, I'm here, and I promise! I will try my best never to let you down. I am going back into that studio on Monday, and I'm going to play Erica Kane for all she's worth!"-- Susan Lucci, May 1999 Daytime Emmy Speech.