Which sitcoms have fake laughter? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

TMC · 09-10-2019, 02:11 PM

Sitcoms are known for having laugh tracks, but to my understanding most of them used a real audience. Are there any known to use it exclusively?

stevea · 09-10-2019, 03:14 PM

Any sitcom shot movie-style with a single camera would have a laugh track as opposed to an audience. Well-known sitcoms with a laugh track would be Andy Griffith and Bewitched but there are many others.

The 70s trended away from single camera comedies. All in the Family ushered in the era of sitcoms taped before a live audience (but there were others that were filmed before a live audience, like the MTM sitcoms). But way back in the 50s the multi-camera filmed sitcoms came in. A couple of the first ones were I Love Lucy and The Honeymooners classic 39.

Some more current sitcoms are filmed with a single camera, and don't have a laugh track. One example of this was The Middle.

Sometimes a sitcom shot with an audience will "sweeten" the audience responses with a laugh track.

Also in rare cases a single camera sitcom will be played to an audience for live responses. Early examples of this were The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet and The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (filmed episodes).

Raingus · 09-10-2019, 11:57 PM

Didn't Green Acres use a laugh track?

Steve_uk · 09-11-2019, 12:53 AM

Apparently they don't use the technique now. http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/201...here-did-it-go

stevea · 09-11-2019, 07:32 AM

All the Filmways sitcoms were single camera, and therefore had laugh tracks.

Same thing with Fedderson: My Three Sons and Family Affair.

king of comedy · 09-11-2019, 09:54 PM

I Dream of Jeannie, Bewitched, M*A*S*H* ( except in the operating room), Gilligans' Island as well as of the country sitcoms from the 60s.

Duster76 · 09-11-2019, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by king of comedy

I Dream of Jeannie, Bewitched, M*A*S*H* ( except in the operating room), Gilligans' Island as well as of the country sitcoms from the 60s.

If your speaking of the 1960's it would be easier to list the sitcoms that didn't have a laugh track. In some series the laugh track was less prevalent than others, Gilligan's Island and the Beverly Hillbillies used it frequently, Farmer's Daughter and the Ghost and Mrs. Muir less so.

I never understood the prejudice against the laugh track, frankly I like it. Dramas have background music to build suspense, in driving and emotional sequences, why is that OK but the laugh track isn't?

Merry24 · 09-11-2019, 11:21 PM

The Brady Bunch

Schmoopie · 09-12-2019, 02:21 AM

Leave it to Beaver

king of comedy · 09-12-2019, 05:26 AM

The Partridge Family

lakesgirl · 09-12-2019, 04:22 PM

Eight is Enough

stevea · 09-13-2019, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duster76

I never understood the prejudice against the laugh track, frankly I like it. Dramas have background music to build suspense, in driving and emotional sequences, why is that OK but the laugh track isn't?

And sometimes an audience is a problem. When MeTV showed Rhoda's wedding episodes last Sunday, I heard that loud guy who goes haw haw (VERY loudly) again. I'd forgotten about him, but I think he was known. Related to the show in some way.

cloggedmind · 09-13-2019, 11:21 AM

Alf, The Young Ones, Married.. With Children(some later eps, when the cast isn't "shouting" dialogue like the first few years-- you can just tell), Sanford and Son (same thing, some eps are all canned, like The Hawaiian Connection), the 1980's Sanford was all canned, Get a Life!, The Jeffersons.. and many more!

Funny thing is when you hear some of the film-based laugh tracks used on shows like The Jeffersons-- Suddenly, you hear that same "Hoo-hoo-ha" laugh from M*A*S*H mixed in. Crazy, man, crazehhh!

Torgo · 09-16-2019, 07:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lakesgirl

Eight is Enough

I always found this weird. Never thought of it as a sitcom.

lakesgirl · 09-16-2019, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Torgo

I always found this weird. Never thought of it as a sitcom.

I agree. It was weird.

09-10-2019, 02:11 PM	#1
TMC Member Forum Idol Join Date: Jan 09, 2001 Posts: 125,642	Which sitcoms have fake laughter? Sitcoms are known for having laugh tracks, but to my understanding most of them used a real audience. Are there any known to use it exclusively?

09-12-2019, 02:21 AM	#9
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	Leave it to Beaver
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

09-10-2019, 03:14 PM	#2
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,537	Any sitcom shot movie-style with a single camera would have a laugh track as opposed to an audience. Well-known sitcoms with a laugh track would be Andy Griffith and Bewitched but there are many others. The 70s trended away from single camera comedies. All in the Family ushered in the era of sitcoms taped before a live audience (but there were others that were filmed before a live audience, like the MTM sitcoms). But way back in the 50s the multi-camera filmed sitcoms came in. A couple of the first ones were I Love Lucy and The Honeymooners classic 39. Some more current sitcoms are filmed with a single camera, and don't have a laugh track. One example of this was The Middle. Sometimes a sitcom shot with an audience will "sweeten" the audience responses with a laugh track. Also in rare cases a single camera sitcom will be played to an audience for live responses. Early examples of this were The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet and The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (filmed episodes).

09-10-2019, 11:57 PM	#3
Raingus Banned Banned!! Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 09, 2019 Location: Montana Posts: 23	Didn't Green Acres use a laugh track?

09-11-2019, 12:53 AM	#4
Steve_uk Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jun 29, 2012 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 5,803	Apparently they don't use the technique now. http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/201...here-did-it-go

09-11-2019, 07:32 AM	#5
stevea 22 Years On Sitcoms Moderator Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 13, 2003 Location: Indy Posts: 44,537	All the Filmways sitcoms were single camera, and therefore had laugh tracks. Same thing with Fedderson: My Three Sons and Family Affair.

09-11-2019, 09:54 PM	#6
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	I Dream of Jeannie, Bewitched, MASH ( except in the operating room), Gilligans' Island as well as of the country sitcoms from the 60s.

09-11-2019, 11:21 PM	#8
Merry24 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 10, 2017 Location: beach Posts: 2,041	The Brady Bunch

09-12-2019, 05:26 AM	#10
king of comedy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 31, 2012 Location: New Jersey Posts: 5,140	The Partridge Family

09-12-2019, 04:22 PM	#11
lakesgirl Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 14, 2014 Posts: 2,116	Eight is Enough

09-13-2019, 11:21 AM	#13
cloggedmind Inactive Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 30, 2007 Posts: 529	Alf, The Young Ones, Married.. With Children(some later eps, when the cast isn't "shouting" dialogue like the first few years-- you can just tell), Sanford and Son (same thing, some eps are all canned, like The Hawaiian Connection), the 1980's Sanford was all canned, Get a Life!, The Jeffersons.. and many more! Funny thing is when you hear some of the film-based laugh tracks used on shows like The Jeffersons-- Suddenly, you hear that same "Hoo-hoo-ha" laugh from MAS*H mixed in. Crazy, man, crazehhh!