Laugh Tracks - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Superbatboy · 02-25-2002, 06:36 AM

I'm may be a nit picker...but I've noticed a trend about laugh tracks. It seems like shows of the 60's(Gilligans Island, Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, Lucy Show, and Andy Griffith) all used the same laugh tracks. Then in the 70's(All in the Family, Jeffersons, Maude, Good Times, Rhoda, MTM, Alice, Three's Company) all taped live. Then in the late 80's and early 90's a lot of shows went BACK to laugh tracks. And A LOT of the laughs are recognizeable. I especially notice this on The Cosby Show, Roseanne, Murphy Brown, Full House, Family Matters, and later episodes of The Golden Girls, among others. Did networks just use a brand of laugh tracks or something???? I never got why they wanted viewers to belive that the laughs were real, but then different shows shared the same laugh tracks. Maybe..I'm the only one who noticed this.

Also....Does any die hard Three's Company fan know why every other laugh on Three's Company had that female laugh that sounded like Chrissy Snow??? Kinda like "ha ha".....

AKA · 02-25-2002, 07:04 AM

The Cosby Show and Roseanne were taped in front of an audience. I'm not sure about the other three, but I'm pretty sure Family Matters and Full House were, as well.

Superbatboy · 02-25-2002, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AKA
The Cosby Show and Roseanne were taped in front of an audience. I'm not sure about the other three, but I'm pretty sure Family Matters and Full House were, as well.

I'm sure all of the shows I mentioned were taped live. But they still used laugh tracks. Just watch a 1990 episode of Cosby Show, Roseanne, Golden Girls, and Full House. And then you'll know what I'm talking about.

TJL · 02-25-2002, 03:28 PM

I would say that every current show that tapes before a live audience uses a laugh track at one time or another, to enhance a funny situation or line that didn't get the live response it deserved.
Keep in mind these shows do multiple takes of some scenes in front of a live audience, and a taping of an episode can sometimes take HOURS because of technical things and costume changes, so if you have a tired or bored audience, they're not going to laugh their heads off at every funny thing that is said.
The filmed shows of the 50's and sixties used the same laugh tracks. You are not hearing things. They used the same tracks. Particularly if the shows were produced by the same companies. Those guys would do anything to save money back then.
The thing I hated the most is the cartoons that used laugh tracks!
That is the worst.

boechsner · 02-25-2002, 05:16 PM

What often happens is that they mix a laugh track in with a live audience to accentuate the actual laugher and make it louder. That is what was done with most shows that were taped or filmed in front of a live audience in the 1970's and 1980's. That is why certain distinct laughs can be heard on The Golden Girls and The Cosby Show and many others. You can also hear the same laughs from a laugh track on All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Maude and Good Times. While shows like The Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island and almost all sitcoms from the 60's used a basic laugh track to make up for not being filmed or taped in front of an audience.

TV Guy · 02-25-2002, 07:02 PM

A small nitpick -- "The Lucy Show", in the 1960s, was filmed in front of a studio audience, as most of Lucille Ball's television performances were. And I've read in multiple sources that even shows recorded in front of an audience sometimes "sweeten" the live laughter if the producers think a certain joke should have gotten a bigger laugh than it did.

Sean Snow · 02-25-2002, 07:34 PM

On the "Three's Company" thing..even though I haven't heard it, there are two htings it could be 1)A laugh sweetener or 2) There was a John Ritter fan who went to tapings of all or most episdoes of TC who could've given off that laugh, though 1) is probably right.

FOLrocks1 · 02-25-2002, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sean Feeney Snow
On the "Three's Company" thing..even though I haven't heard it, there are two htings it could be 1)A laugh sweetener or 2) There was a John Ritter fan who went to tapings of all or most episdoes of TC who could've given off that laugh, though 1) is probably right.

I noticed in "A Night Not To Remember" When Jack is getting undressed, you can hear a woman with a REALLY high-pitched laugh that is A LOT louder than everyone elses!

Robert Tilton · 02-26-2002, 05:57 AM

My favorite Laugh Tracks:

The Good Times lady that says: Right On! every other show. I believe I've heard this on Jeffersons a few times as well.

And from the Jeffersons, in the show where Florence spills grape juice on Mr. Fletcher's costume because George wanted her to. It was a Superman costume. Anyway, George is stressed about finding a costume & Mr. Bentley comes out the door w/a Superman Costume! When the camera pans on Mr. B, a stupid laugh track comes up & goes:

oooWHOO!

Cheesewiz all the way.

Laugh tracks are like Pro Wrestling moves. You know they're fake...

Incidentally, did you know that Ric Flair would put the Figure 4 ON THE WRONG LEG! I got this info on www.kayfabememories.com reading about one of his matches.

....but they make the show seem more real in its well real comedy.

If you can follow that.

Brian Damage · 02-26-2002, 06:18 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Robert Tilton

The Good Times lady that says: Right On! every other show. I believe I've heard this on Jeffersons a few times as well.

That statement was hysterical!!!!!!!!! I remember watching Good Times and hearing that righteous woman shouting RIGHT OOOOON!!! I always pictured Wilona(Their next door neighbor) being that woman. It sort of sounds like her.

mamamiasweetpeaches · 02-27-2002, 01:10 AM

LOL!!!!!!RIGHT ON!!!!
I personally hate laugh tracks and wish they'd stop using them.I watch Simpsons,Malcolm in the Middle,and Bernie Mac...all great shows no laugh tracks.Its refreshing!
My alltime most gut-wrenching dis-like of them was Married With Children(stupid show)whenever a charactor walked into the room they went buck wild "WHHHHOOOO-HOOOOO!!!!!"clap clap clap.Lordy please tell me that wasnt a studio audience.
Another show I dislike is Friends and there is laughter after just about every line!Please dont tell me thats a studio audience!!!!So I think we've agred the black shows at least have the funniest ad-libs.RIGHT ON!!!!!!
p.s:I also remember watching that Threes Company hyena woman show with my father as a kid and him saying "Who is that woman and why doesnt somebody remove her from the studio!!!"

Sean Snow · 02-27-2002, 01:53 PM

During the first season of "Three's Company" they must've had audience control troubles LOL. Like in the second episode in which Chrissy's mother visits,. and Chrissy doesn't want her to find out about Jack. Jack asks Janet if there's room in the bed for the two of us, and someone in the audience shouts "GO FOR IT!!" Also, in the third episode in which Jack goes out with Roper's nice instead of celebrating Janets' b-day. Jack gives her a cameo that Janet had pawned for money. Chrissy says "Oh Jaent, your cameo!"...someone in the studio audience can be heard mocking her.

ABC1 · 03-03-2002, 09:05 PM

I will never understand why a show like The Love Boat had to have a laugh track. The show was set on a ship, there was no studio audience. It didn't make any sense to have a laugh track for that show.
The only other thing I dislike is how TV Land has cut scenes out of the episodes that they're airing now, but I guess they do that for lots of other programs as well.

boechsner · 03-03-2002, 09:26 PM

I agree. Laugh tracks on The Love Boat, Eight is Enough and cartoons like The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? is reallly uneccesary.

02-25-2002, 06:36 AM	#1
Superbatboy The Brandon Show Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 25, 2002 Location: California..USA Posts: 793	Laugh Tracks I'm may be a nit picker...but I've noticed a trend about laugh tracks. It seems like shows of the 60's(Gilligans Island, Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, Lucy Show, and Andy Griffith) all used the same laugh tracks. Then in the 70's(All in the Family, Jeffersons, Maude, Good Times, Rhoda, MTM, Alice, Three's Company) all taped live. Then in the late 80's and early 90's a lot of shows went BACK to laugh tracks. And A LOT of the laughs are recognizeable. I especially notice this on The Cosby Show, Roseanne, Murphy Brown, Full House, Family Matters, and later episodes of The Golden Girls, among others. Did networks just use a brand of laugh tracks or something???? I never got why they wanted viewers to belive that the laughs were real, but then different shows shared the same laugh tracks. Maybe..I'm the only one who noticed this. Also....Does any die hard Three's Company fan know why every other laugh on Three's Company had that female laugh that sounded like Chrissy Snow??? Kinda like "ha ha".....
	__________________ "Marion, stop cackling I've been waiting 10 years for you to lay that egg" Last edited by Superbatboy; 02-25-2002 at 06:37 AM.

02-25-2002, 03:28 PM	#4
TJL Suburbanite Extrordinaire Forum Star Join Date: Dec 29, 2001 Location: New Jersey - the cradle of civilization Posts: 16,591	I would say that every current show that tapes before a live audience uses a laugh track at one time or another, to enhance a funny situation or line that didn't get the live response it deserved. Keep in mind these shows do multiple takes of some scenes in front of a live audience, and a taping of an episode can sometimes take HOURS because of technical things and costume changes, so if you have a tired or bored audience, they're not going to laugh their heads off at every funny thing that is said. The filmed shows of the 50's and sixties used the same laugh tracks. You are not hearing things. They used the same tracks. Particularly if the shows were produced by the same companies. Those guys would do anything to save money back then. The thing I hated the most is the cartoons that used laugh tracks! That is the worst.
	__________________ "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

02-26-2002, 05:57 AM	#9
Robert Tilton Man of Barnes Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 29, 2001 Location: North Carolina Posts: 437	Favorite Laugh Tracks My favorite Laugh Tracks: The Good Times lady that says: Right On! every other show. I believe I've heard this on Jeffersons a few times as well. And from the Jeffersons, in the show where Florence spills grape juice on Mr. Fletcher's costume because George wanted her to. It was a Superman costume. Anyway, George is stressed about finding a costume & Mr. Bentley comes out the door w/a Superman Costume! When the camera pans on Mr. B, a stupid laugh track comes up & goes: oooWHOO! Cheesewiz all the way. Laugh tracks are like Pro Wrestling moves. You know they're fake... Incidentally, did you know that Ric Flair would put the Figure 4 ON THE WRONG LEG! I got this info on www.kayfabememories.com reading about one of his matches. ....but they make the show seem more real in its well real comedy. If you can follow that.
	__________________ Pure Oxygen Breathed In Carbon Dioxide Breathed Out And The Brady Bunch Is Like Perfect. Righteous.

02-26-2002, 06:18 PM	#10
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Re: Favorite Laugh Tracks [QUOTE]Originally posted by Robert Tilton The Good Times lady that says: Right On! every other show. I believe I've heard this on Jeffersons a few times as well. That statement was hysterical!!!!!!!!! I remember watching Good Times and hearing that righteous woman shouting RIGHT OOOOON!!! I always pictured Wilona(Their next door neighbor) being that woman. It sort of sounds like her.
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

03-03-2002, 09:05 PM	#13
ABC1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 04, 2001 Location: Champaign, Illinois Posts: 279	Laugh tracks I will never understand why a show like The Love Boat had to have a laugh track. The show was set on a ship, there was no studio audience. It didn't make any sense to have a laugh track for that show. The only other thing I dislike is how TV Land has cut scenes out of the episodes that they're airing now, but I guess they do that for lots of other programs as well.

02-25-2002, 07:04 AM	#2
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	The Cosby Show and Roseanne were taped in front of an audience. I'm not sure about the other three, but I'm pretty sure Family Matters and Full House were, as well.

02-25-2002, 05:16 PM	#5
boechsner Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 2,212	What often happens is that they mix a laugh track in with a live audience to accentuate the actual laugher and make it louder. That is what was done with most shows that were taped or filmed in front of a live audience in the 1970's and 1980's. That is why certain distinct laughs can be heard on The Golden Girls and The Cosby Show and many others. You can also hear the same laughs from a laugh track on All in the Family, The Jeffersons, Maude and Good Times. While shows like The Brady Bunch and Gilligan's Island and almost all sitcoms from the 60's used a basic laugh track to make up for not being filmed or taped in front of an audience.

02-25-2002, 07:02 PM	#6
TV Guy Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 25, 2001 Location: Boston, MA, USA Posts: 3,419	A small nitpick -- "The Lucy Show", in the 1960s, was filmed in front of a studio audience, as most of Lucille Ball's television performances were. And I've read in multiple sources that even shows recorded in front of an audience sometimes "sweeten" the live laughter if the producers think a certain joke should have gotten a bigger laugh than it did.

02-25-2002, 07:34 PM	#7
Sean Snow moo Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,408	On the "Three's Company" thing..even though I haven't heard it, there are two htings it could be 1)A laugh sweetener or 2) There was a John Ritter fan who went to tapings of all or most episdoes of TC who could've given off that laugh, though 1) is probably right.

02-27-2002, 01:10 AM	#11
mamamiasweetpeaches Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 30, 2002 Location: Middle Village,NY Posts: 390	LOL!!!!!!RIGHT ON!!!! I personally hate laugh tracks and wish they'd stop using them.I watch Simpsons,Malcolm in the Middle,and Bernie Mac...all great shows no laugh tracks.Its refreshing! My alltime most gut-wrenching dis-like of them was Married With Children(stupid show)whenever a charactor walked into the room they went buck wild "WHHHHOOOO-HOOOOO!!!!!"clap clap clap.Lordy please tell me that wasnt a studio audience. Another show I dislike is Friends and there is laughter after just about every line!Please dont tell me thats a studio audience!!!!So I think we've agred the black shows at least have the funniest ad-libs.RIGHT ON!!!!!! p.s:I also remember watching that Threes Company hyena woman show with my father as a kid and him saying "Who is that woman and why doesnt somebody remove her from the studio!!!"

02-27-2002, 01:53 PM	#12
Sean Snow moo Forum Fanatic Join Date: May 06, 2001 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,408	During the first season of "Three's Company" they must've had audience control troubles LOL. Like in the second episode in which Chrissy's mother visits,. and Chrissy doesn't want her to find out about Jack. Jack asks Janet if there's room in the bed for the two of us, and someone in the audience shouts "GO FOR IT!!" Also, in the third episode in which Jack goes out with Roper's nice instead of celebrating Janets' b-day. Jack gives her a cameo that Janet had pawned for money. Chrissy says "Oh Jaent, your cameo!"...someone in the studio audience can be heard mocking her.

03-03-2002, 09:26 PM	#14
boechsner Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 18, 2000 Location: Green Bay, WI Posts: 2,212	I agree. Laugh tracks on The Love Boat, Eight is Enough and cartoons like The Flintstones and Scooby-Doo, Where Are You? is reallly uneccesary.