Sitcoms Ditch Laugh tracks - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Mr. Television · 09-20-2007, 09:07 PM

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...tdown0912.html

Sitcoms ditch laugh tracks
Randy Cordova
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 12, 2007 12:00 AM

The sound of other people laughing suddenly seems old-school.

Sitcoms without a laugh track or a chuckling studio audience appear to be the norm these days. This fall, NBC's two-hour block of Thursday sitcoms features no kind of laughter, unless the characters suddenly start guffawing on screen.

For some reason, sitcoms with laughter just don't seem as hip or as cutting edge as sitcoms without. This season, the very traditional Kelsey Grammer/Patricia Heaton show Back to You is filmed in front of an audience, as were his Frasier and her Everybody Loves Raymond. The show feels very familiar, and it's not merely the presence of the two leads.

Then you have the sharp and clever Aliens in America, which is satirical and bright and edgy and has no laugh track. It's also the funniest of the new crop of comedies and seems fresh and original.

Among the season's other new sitcoms, only The Big Bang Theory is filmed in front of a studio audience. Carpoolers and Samantha Who? aren't.

Cavemen is being overhauled, so there's no word on what the final product will be like.

You know how awkward it is to watch a comedian who doesn't get a laugh? It can be the same with a TV show. And so although a good comedy doesn't need sweetening, it couldn't hurt a bad one. Carpoolers is painfully unfunny; the sound of canned laughter might make it less grim.

catlover79 · 09-20-2007, 09:16 PM

Good idea - if you can't have a live audience, go without a laugh track. It's worked before.

TJL · 09-20-2007, 10:02 PM

NBC has no sitcoms that are filmed in front of a studio audience.

That's all I have to say.

friendcarr · 09-20-2007, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJL

NBC has no sitcoms that are filmed in front of a studio audience.

That's all I have to say.

i know; they have 3.

Mikado · 09-20-2007, 11:22 PM

I prefer comedies without laugh tracks now, you can actually watch the show without those ridiculous aukward pauses until the audience quiets down, my favorite current sitcom Corner Gas has never had a laughtrack, and i sure dont miss it, I can make my OWN laughtrack!

Ireneparalegal · 09-20-2007, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikado

I prefer comedies without laugh tracks now, you can actually watch the show without those ridiculous aukward pauses until the audience quiets down, my favorite current sitcom Corner Gas has never had a laughtrack, and i sure dont miss it, I can make my OWN laughtrack!

Yes. Corner Gas is a great example of how laugh tracks are not needed because the show is just so damn funny and hilarious. God, finally a show that is not a reality show, it is not a game show, IT IS GREAT. I swear, I am so thankful for WGN bringing us this charmer. IT IS HILARIOUS!!!!

Mikado · 09-20-2007, 11:42 PM

Most Canadian sitcoms have no laugh track.......of course, some werent all that funny to begin with!

( Of course Corner Gas IS funny! )

comedyfreak · 09-21-2007, 06:01 AM

I kinda like the laugh tracks, some comedies seem boring without them. The Office for example is boring without a laugh track. The laugh track is classic and fits the old comedies from the 60's. I think it worked for The Flintstones imo.

RapunzeL · 09-21-2007, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by comedyfreak

I kinda like the laugh tracks, some comedies seem boring without them. The Office for example is boring without a laugh track. The laugh track is classic and fits the old comedies from the 60's. I think it worked for The Flintstones imo.

I agree. I like to think I have a good sense of humor on my own, but a whole audience laughing along with you, validates your own laughter somehow.

I've been at a comedy movie, and there were maybe only 12 people in the theater. The smaller the group, the less laughter. I've been the first person to laugh out loud at a funny moment, then I notice the rest of the audience begins to laugh aloud also. There's something about sharing the experience, that changes the mood.

When I watch Earl or The Office, I find myself smiling or giving a small "Hunh!" now & then, but it's never a laugh that comes from the gut. I can be mildly amused at everyday situations all day long. But when it comes to being entertained on TV, I miss those knee-slappin' belly laughs I used to get from "Everybody Loves Raymond, Fraiser, I Love Lucy" etc.

Sterling Holobyte · 09-21-2007, 12:29 PM

But then how do we know what's supposed to be funny?!

Seriously, it doesn't really matter much to me, as I quit watching "new" shows years ago.

JulieSomoski · 09-21-2007, 04:00 PM

I could care less if there was a laugh track or not. Actually, I would rather a laugh track in sitcoms, just because when I'm laughing, it seems like I have someone to laugh along with. Plus, I only watch a few sitcoms without a laugh track.

09-20-2007, 09:07 PM	#1
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	Sitcoms Ditch Laugh tracks http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...tdown0912.html Sitcoms ditch laugh tracks Randy Cordova The Arizona Republic Sept. 12, 2007 12:00 AM The sound of other people laughing suddenly seems old-school. Sitcoms without a laugh track or a chuckling studio audience appear to be the norm these days. This fall, NBC's two-hour block of Thursday sitcoms features no kind of laughter, unless the characters suddenly start guffawing on screen. For some reason, sitcoms with laughter just don't seem as hip or as cutting edge as sitcoms without. This season, the very traditional Kelsey Grammer/Patricia Heaton show Back to You is filmed in front of an audience, as were his Frasier and her Everybody Loves Raymond. The show feels very familiar, and it's not merely the presence of the two leads. Then you have the sharp and clever Aliens in America, which is satirical and bright and edgy and has no laugh track. It's also the funniest of the new crop of comedies and seems fresh and original. Among the season's other new sitcoms, only The Big Bang Theory is filmed in front of a studio audience. Carpoolers and Samantha Who? aren't. Cavemen is being overhauled, so there's no word on what the final product will be like. You know how awkward it is to watch a comedian who doesn't get a laugh? It can be the same with a TV show. And so although a good comedy doesn't need sweetening, it couldn't hurt a bad one. Carpoolers is painfully unfunny; the sound of canned laughter might make it less grim.
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09-20-2007, 09:16 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Good idea - if you can't have a live audience, go without a laugh track. It's worked before.
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09-20-2007, 10:02 PM	#3
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,588	NBC has no sitcoms that are filmed in front of a studio audience. That's all I have to say.
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09-21-2007, 06:01 AM	#8
comedyfreak Cheers! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Dec 14, 2005 Location: Sunny California Posts: 11,061	I kinda like the laugh tracks, some comedies seem boring without them. The Office for example is boring without a laugh track. The laugh track is classic and fits the old comedies from the 60's. I think it worked for The Flintstones imo.
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09-21-2007, 12:29 PM	#10
Sterling Holobyte Harper House Senior Member Join Date: Nov 07, 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,896	But then how do we know what's supposed to be funny?! Seriously, it doesn't really matter much to me, as I quit watching "new" shows years ago.
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09-20-2007, 11:22 PM	#5
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	I prefer comedies without laugh tracks now, you can actually watch the show without those ridiculous aukward pauses until the audience quiets down, my favorite current sitcom Corner Gas has never had a laughtrack, and i sure dont miss it, I can make my OWN laughtrack!

09-20-2007, 11:42 PM	#7
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,892	Most Canadian sitcoms have no laugh track.......of course, some werent all that funny to begin with! ( Of course Corner Gas IS funny! )

09-21-2007, 04:00 PM	#11
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	I could care less if there was a laugh track or not. Actually, I would rather a laugh track in sitcoms, just because when I'm laughing, it seems like I have someone to laugh along with. Plus, I only watch a few sitcoms without a laugh track.
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