Weird laugh track snafus on season 2 DVDs - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

likewow · 04-27-2008, 01:31 PM

Hi all! I noticed two episodes on the season 2 DVDs have had the laugh track replaced: One of Our Bottles Is Missing, and My Master the Poor Civilian. The familiar laughs that we've all heard on such shows as Bewitched and The Flintstones is gone, and a generic laugh track with no personality has been added. Does anyone know why on earth this happened

The missing bottle episode was released on VHS by Columbia House intact, and the other episode has been rerun endlessly with the original laugh track.

This is one of the most bizarre occurrences I've come across!

Thanks for your help!

CAJeannieFan57 · 04-27-2008, 07:28 PM

I was reading on an unrelated website, about some of the intracacies involved in taking things from analog format into the digital formats required by CD's and DVD's. Isn't it just possible that the laugh track may have sounded weird when in digital format, so the remastering company made the decision to substitute something that sounded less weird than it might have?

Just a thought - I make no claims to be an expert on remastering, because it sounds very complicated.

I'm personally very glad to have the complete episodes on DVD so that I can get completely away from the VHS tape format. I can deal with a bland sounding laugh track if it means I don't have to search through a tape consisting of 4-12 episodes crammed onto it, just to find one syndicated, cut-up version.

Then again - I'm a "see the glass as half full" type person.

likewow · 04-30-2008, 05:18 PM

Interesting. I wonder if that's why some episodes of The Flintstones arrived on DVD without a laugh track. Weird, though, that some episodes are OK and not others

I'm just glad it didn't happen to any other Jeannie shows. I hate changes of any kind, especially the laugh track. I love hearing those over the top laughs!

ansara1 · 05-14-2008, 12:41 PM

Hi,
I called Sony about this and was given the explanation one of the above posters made about the conversion to digital. Personally I think it really takes away from the episodes. I first noticed it when TV Land last aired it. I can't understand why there are episodes they had to remake sound tracks for on "Jeannie" but they didn't have to for so many other shows like "Bewitched" for example. What also irritates me are the episodes they redid the sound tracks on are on so many of the BEST episodes. Note - there are also episodes like this in the 1st b/w season (for example - "Russian Roulette" and some others). Again, some of the best episodes from the season.

likewow · 05-14-2008, 05:54 PM

Thanks a lot for that info! I agree with you that it takes away from the enjoyment of the shows. I really love My Master the Civilian but have only watched part of it on DVD. It just isn't the same

I've noticed this laugh track thing more with cartoons. Archie's Funhouse and The Groovie Goolies on DVD have just a few shows with the laugh track intact. I grew up watching them that way and they seem rather dull without it. Also, I have a problem with a show being edited in any way from the original broadcast. If consumers accept even a little change it may make the studios feel they can do other alterations and who knows where that would lead

Thank goodness all the half hour Scooby Doo episodes have made it to DVD with the laughs intact! I know some people find that intrusive or annoying, but that is they way the shows were made and they shouldn't be tampered with.

ansara1 · 05-15-2008, 10:45 AM

I agree - I've felt it annoying when I've watched "My Master, the Poor Civilian" and other great episodes. It's not only that they changed the laugh tracks - but they sound like a parady of the show - as if the show itself is having a sketch done on it on some contemporary comedy skit show and the laugh track is intentionally mimicking the original. It's pathetic. Actually, I think it is insulting to the show - not to mention the fans who paid so much money for an "original," uncut, unedited copy. Don't even get me started on fans getting any extras (promos, etc.). At least seasons 1 & 2 didn't weren't butchered like episodes in season 3 (Has anyone watched "Here Comes Bootsie Nightingale" from season 3? - etrocious!!!!).

likewow · 05-15-2008, 03:29 PM

Yeah, I'd never thought of it that way. The fake laughs do sound over the top and insulting. Whod've thought the canned laughs from the sixties would seem natural and subtle?!

I haven't watched Bootsie Nightingale on DVD yet. What has been edited out? I have it on VHS from Columbia House which should be uncut.

ansara1 · 05-19-2008, 02:06 PM

Nothing has been edited out. There are just many BAD malfunctions on this episode - such as the film moving in "slow motion" for SEVERAL seconds at one point. You'll just have to see it. It's shameful Sony put this out and didn't bother to do a recall. Also see "Jeannie or the Tiger" - a milestone episode introducing Jeannie's evil sister - and the film is "green" in one or two spots.

04-27-2008, 01:31 PM	#1
likewow Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 28, 2003 Posts: 217	Weird laugh track snafus on season 2 DVDs Hi all! I noticed two episodes on the season 2 DVDs have had the laugh track replaced: One of Our Bottles Is Missing, and My Master the Poor Civilian. The familiar laughs that we've all heard on such shows as Bewitched and The Flintstones is gone, and a generic laugh track with no personality has been added. Does anyone know why on earth this happened The missing bottle episode was released on VHS by Columbia House intact, and the other episode has been rerun endlessly with the original laugh track. This is one of the most bizarre occurrences I've come across! Thanks for your help!

04-27-2008, 07:28 PM	#2
CAJeannieFan57 Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 01, 2005 Location: Central Missouri Posts: 871	I was reading on an unrelated website, about some of the intracacies involved in taking things from analog format into the digital formats required by CD's and DVD's. Isn't it just possible that the laugh track may have sounded weird when in digital format, so the remastering company made the decision to substitute something that sounded less weird than it might have? Just a thought - I make no claims to be an expert on remastering, because it sounds very complicated. I'm personally very glad to have the complete episodes on DVD so that I can get completely away from the VHS tape format. I can deal with a bland sounding laugh track if it means I don't have to search through a tape consisting of 4-12 episodes crammed onto it, just to find one syndicated, cut-up version. Then again - I'm a "see the glass as half full" type person.
	__________________ Donna

04-30-2008, 05:18 PM	#3
likewow Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 28, 2003 Posts: 217	Interesting. I wonder if that's why some episodes of The Flintstones arrived on DVD without a laugh track. Weird, though, that some episodes are OK and not others I'm just glad it didn't happen to any other Jeannie shows. I hate changes of any kind, especially the laugh track. I love hearing those over the top laughs!

05-14-2008, 12:41 PM	#4
ansara1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 17, 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 184	Hi, I called Sony about this and was given the explanation one of the above posters made about the conversion to digital. Personally I think it really takes away from the episodes. I first noticed it when TV Land last aired it. I can't understand why there are episodes they had to remake sound tracks for on "Jeannie" but they didn't have to for so many other shows like "Bewitched" for example. What also irritates me are the episodes they redid the sound tracks on are on so many of the BEST episodes. Note - there are also episodes like this in the 1st b/w season (for example - "Russian Roulette" and some others). Again, some of the best episodes from the season.

05-14-2008, 05:54 PM	#5
likewow Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 28, 2003 Posts: 217	Thanks a lot for that info! I agree with you that it takes away from the enjoyment of the shows. I really love My Master the Civilian but have only watched part of it on DVD. It just isn't the same I've noticed this laugh track thing more with cartoons. Archie's Funhouse and The Groovie Goolies on DVD have just a few shows with the laugh track intact. I grew up watching them that way and they seem rather dull without it. Also, I have a problem with a show being edited in any way from the original broadcast. If consumers accept even a little change it may make the studios feel they can do other alterations and who knows where that would lead Thank goodness all the half hour Scooby Doo episodes have made it to DVD with the laughs intact! I know some people find that intrusive or annoying, but that is they way the shows were made and they shouldn't be tampered with.

05-15-2008, 10:45 AM	#6
ansara1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 17, 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 184	I agree - I've felt it annoying when I've watched "My Master, the Poor Civilian" and other great episodes. It's not only that they changed the laugh tracks - but they sound like a parady of the show - as if the show itself is having a sketch done on it on some contemporary comedy skit show and the laugh track is intentionally mimicking the original. It's pathetic. Actually, I think it is insulting to the show - not to mention the fans who paid so much money for an "original," uncut, unedited copy. Don't even get me started on fans getting any extras (promos, etc.). At least seasons 1 & 2 didn't weren't butchered like episodes in season 3 (Has anyone watched "Here Comes Bootsie Nightingale" from season 3? - etrocious!!!!).

05-15-2008, 03:29 PM	#7
likewow Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 28, 2003 Posts: 217	Yeah, I'd never thought of it that way. The fake laughs do sound over the top and insulting. Whod've thought the canned laughs from the sixties would seem natural and subtle?! I haven't watched Bootsie Nightingale on DVD yet. What has been edited out? I have it on VHS from Columbia House which should be uncut.

05-19-2008, 02:06 PM	#8
ansara1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 17, 2008 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 184	Nothing has been edited out. There are just many BAD malfunctions on this episode - such as the film moving in "slow motion" for SEVERAL seconds at one point. You'll just have to see it. It's shameful Sony put this out and didn't bother to do a recall. Also see "Jeannie or the Tiger" - a milestone episode introducing Jeannie's evil sister - and the film is "green" in one or two spots.