Laugh tracks are not so bad

[JetJam]

I keep reading that people don’t like laugh tracks and that they are a “Relic of a strange past” as someone put it.

But it is probably because few shows in recent times use laugh tracks or are even in front of a studio audience. People have gotten so used to the non-live audience shows.

Malcolm in the Middle was one of the shows that started this trend. When it first came out, articles about it would say “Where’s the laugh track?” Now the opposite is expressed.

I say laughing in sitcoms is perfectly fine, and often makes the show better. I would like to see them come back.

[Charles Knox]

Like you, l prefer the traditional sitcom format of a live studio audience or a laugh track. Shows like the Office could have reached a much larger audience, if they stuck with the traditional format like the Big Bang Theory did.

[Alan Brady's Hair]

I sometimes think that sitcoms need some kind of background just to remind the writers that it's a comedy. Given the chance, they tend to take themselves and their shows too seriously.

[Dude111]

The laughing on The Honeymooners is REAL as they are really in a theater

[24/7 reruns]

I like laugh tracks especially on older sitcoms. Live audience is even better. Sitcoms without laugh tracks I generally don't watch. Yet watching cartoons with laugh tracks like some Pink Panther I don't really care for.

[Dude111]

I dont think Mash should have a laugh track.. That show isnt meant to be funny,its a war hospital isnt it???

[Duster76]

I never understood the argument against laugh tracks. Back in the day Tony Randall complained about laugh tracks, yet he never complained about the musical background used in all shows and movies to set moods. There's nothing real about that, The Odd Couple used the same musical backgrounds in all the episodes, isn't that more or less the same thing. Real life doesn't come with background music.

[Charles Knox]

Originally Posted by Duster76

I never understood the argument against laugh tracks. Back in the day Tony Randall complained about laugh tracks, yet he never complained about the the musical background used in all shows and movies to set moods. There's nothing real about that, The Odd Couple used the same musical backgrounds in all the episodes, isn't that more or less the same thing. Real life doesn't come with background music.

So all this time, the background theme in my life was just playing inside my head.

[24/7 reruns]

Originally Posted by Dude111

I dont think Mash should have a laugh track.. That show isnt meant to be funny,its a war hospital isnt it???

In the later seasons I would agree. The first couple of seasons the intent was to show humor in that environment. As Alda took more control the show was more drama than comedy.

[Dude111]

Ya I suppose so..

[principehomura]

Originally Posted by JetJam

I keep reading that people don’t like laugh tracks and that they are a “Relic of a strange past” as someone put it.

But it is probably because few shows in recent times use laugh tracks or are even in front of a studio audience. People have gotten so used to the non-live audience shows.

Malcolm in the Middle was one of the shows that started this trend. When it first came out, articles about it would say “Where’s the laugh track?” Now the opposite is expressed.

I say laughing in sitcoms is perfectly fine, and often makes the show better. I would like to see them come back.

100% agree
Everytime I try to watch a comedy that has no laugh tracks I'm confused, it's like something is missing.

Also the same sound presets used at the end of every scenes in modern comedies are more annoying than any laugh tracks.

[Furienna]

I prefer a laugh track as well.