Studio Audience Vs. Canned Laughter - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

pilotguy · 05-01-2003, 08:15 PM

This question is really directed at "Aeromasspilot" (our resident celebrity and "Wings" alumnus), but anyone else knowing the answer is welcomed to answer as well:

I've noticed that most of the "Wings" episodes are filmed on a set before a studio audience. However, often there are scenes in the cramped airplane and other places which are apparently filmed without an audience present, and obvious canned laughter is added to the dialogue.

How did this work for the studio audience? Did they sit and watch the filming of the "set" scenes, and then watch a screening of the filmed "canned laughter" scenes?
Or did they just watch the "set" scenes and were "left hanging" regarding the audience-less "canned laughter" scenes (which perhaps had not even been filmed yet)?

I would think that having the audience watch the live "set" scenes being filmed, and then screening the filmed "canned laughter" scenes for them would be the only way that the studio audience could make any sense, and get full enjoyment, out of the story that they were watching being filmed.

Any info on this?

blackbeard · 05-01-2003, 08:50 PM

I don't know the answer but one thing I hate is at the beginning of some shows they always announce this show was filmed before a live studion audience, as opposed to a dead one, this makes no sense at all aren't all studio audiences live? pardon my little rant

pilotguy · 05-01-2003, 09:31 PM

That whole "live" studio audience business reminds me of what comedian Henry Morgan said when he was being interviewed by Tom Snyder on Synder's "Tomorrow" show in the late 1970's.....

"You know, a lot of these TV situation comedies that you see nowadays use canned laughter...and a lot of that recorded laughter is taken from recordings of old radio shows from the 1940's (which used studio audiences). Those radio shows were performed many years ago, and since then many of those people who were in the studio audience have passed on....

...so now when you watch, say, "Laverne and Shirley", there are a lot of DEAD people laughing at them!"

See? Lowell Mather isn't the ONLY guy who thinks of those things!

phoebe7165 · 05-01-2003, 11:31 PM

I thought I was the only one who thinks too much into these. Whenever I drive by a strip club and see the sign "Live Nude Girls", I always think, well, I don't think men are going to pay money to see dead nude girls. Then again, there are alot of sick people out there!!HaHa!

Krista2882 · 05-01-2003, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by phoebe7165
I thought I was the only one who thinks too much into these. Whenever I drive by a strip club and see the sign "Live Nude Girls", I always think, well, I don't think men are going to pay money to see dead nude girls. Then again, there are alot of sick people out there!!HaHa!

hahaha! ewwwwww

pilotguy · 05-02-2003, 01:44 AM

Tonight's episode ("The Bank Dick") is a PERFECT example of the "studio audience vs. canned laughter" situation that I was talking about....

All of the action up to the plane ride (with Brian, Antonio and the bank robber) was filmed before a studio audience (as was the final "tag" scene with Joe and Helen at the soda machine)....however, the entire "plane ride" scene was filmed without a studio audience, using canned laughter....

So I wonder how they handled this episode with the studio audience? That plane scene is the climax of the entire episode!

Did the studio audience get to see the filmed plane sequence, or perhaps was that part of the story explained to them by a crew member after the "studio audience" portion of the episode was filmed?

I know that I'm being a pain about this, but I AM curious about the production methods of the series!

aeromasspilot · 05-02-2003, 02:16 AM

Dear Pilot Guy,

Nice Question. I think you hit the jackpot with some of the answers.

Everything that appeared on one episode of wings was viewed by one single audience. Live. It was taped over about a 4 hour period. Each scene was filmed about 3 times in front of the audience. There were about 10 microphones above the audience that recorded reactions to the scenes as well. The audience didn't know it, but they were very very important to the show. You see, their laughter kept with the pace of the actors timing of jokes and actually reinforced the fact that we were there to have a good time. I think they should have given a sixpack or something to everyone who came to see the show

But what you hear is the real thing.

There were a couple of exceptions though.Sometimes there was an exterior shot . (like the time Sandpiper crashed in the ocean) They would film the shot a day or two before, then show the tape to the live audience on the day of taping. They would record the audience just as if it was happening live.

So... Where did they film that scene where crashed into the ocean on the season cliffhanger..? Well, its a part of the Paramount backlot parking lot that is sunken about 6 feet. They fill it with millions of gallon of water... heat the water and film the scene. By the way, its the same place where they filmed scenes from Waterworld and Hunt for Red October. I think they called it "the tank"

Sorry If I got a little lenghty on details..

Nice question..! JIM

aeromasspilot · 05-02-2003, 02:29 AM

As for the Sandpiper interior scenes... that was all done on the stage as well. In fact, they would roll the Plane, (which was a 15ft X 4 ft box with seats) onto the hanger portion of the stage and film there. If the camera was looking out the window, they would have "blue screen" on the outside of the windows and fill it in with flying background later on. Anything that looked like aircraft motion was all tricks of the camera angle and editing. The cameras were so close to the action that the only way you could see what was going on inside was to look at the TV monitors above the studio audience.

By the way,,, There was a Sandpiper airplane as well. A real airplane. Of course, a lot of parts were removed and the wings were detachable. For the most part, that airplane was used for background shots in the hanger.

jim

pilotguy · 05-02-2003, 06:35 AM

Many, MANY thanks for the very interesting info, Aeromasspilot....

Don't EVER worry about being too "lengthy" about THIS stuff!

I really learned something about those airplane interior scenes. They have such a close, "claustrophobic" look about them, that if they were filmed on the sound set, the studio audience would really HAVE to look at the monitors to look "past" the pulled-in-close filming cameras.

Thank you again....your answers were just the type of info that I was looking for!

HaskellGirl · 05-02-2003, 09:54 AM

Thanks aeromasspilot!!!! That's so interesting!!!!

peter may · 06-20-2003, 10:28 AM

i remember the paramount tour guide telling me that about the parking lot being filled up, they use the water from the big paramount water tanker. This is how they filmed the scene in a Cheers Episode where Ted Danson and Shelley Long are apparently on a boat together. Its clever how they did this.

05-01-2003, 08:15 PM	#1
pilotguy Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 09, 2003 Posts: 1,305	Studio Audience Vs. Canned Laughter This question is really directed at "Aeromasspilot" (our resident celebrity and "Wings" alumnus), but anyone else knowing the answer is welcomed to answer as well: I've noticed that most of the "Wings" episodes are filmed on a set before a studio audience. However, often there are scenes in the cramped airplane and other places which are apparently filmed without an audience present, and obvious canned laughter is added to the dialogue. How did this work for the studio audience? Did they sit and watch the filming of the "set" scenes, and then watch a screening of the filmed "canned laughter" scenes? Or did they just watch the "set" scenes and were "left hanging" regarding the audience-less "canned laughter" scenes (which perhaps had not even been filmed yet)? I would think that having the audience watch the live "set" scenes being filmed, and then screening the filmed "canned laughter" scenes for them would be the only way that the studio audience could make any sense, and get full enjoyment, out of the story that they were watching being filmed. Any info on this?

05-01-2003, 08:50 PM	#2
blackbeard B.O.G. Forum Regular Join Date: Sep 05, 2001 Location: Constitution State Posts: 712	I don't know the answer but one thing I hate is at the beginning of some shows they always announce this show was filmed before a live studion audience, as opposed to a dead one, this makes no sense at all aren't all studio audiences live? pardon my little rant

05-01-2003, 09:31 PM	#3
pilotguy Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 09, 2003 Posts: 1,305	That whole "live" studio audience business reminds me of what comedian Henry Morgan said when he was being interviewed by Tom Snyder on Synder's "Tomorrow" show in the late 1970's..... "You know, a lot of these TV situation comedies that you see nowadays use canned laughter...and a lot of that recorded laughter is taken from recordings of old radio shows from the 1940's (which used studio audiences). Those radio shows were performed many years ago, and since then many of those people who were in the studio audience have passed on.... ...so now when you watch, say, "Laverne and Shirley", there are a lot of DEAD people laughing at them!" See? Lowell Mather isn't the ONLY guy who thinks of those things!

05-01-2003, 11:31 PM	#4
phoebe7165 Pop Culture Goddess Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 15, 2003 Location: US of A - the country of "really bad music" lovers Posts: 11,600	I thought I was the only one who thinks too much into these. Whenever I drive by a strip club and see the sign "Live Nude Girls", I always think, well, I don't think men are going to pay money to see dead nude girls. Then again, there are alot of sick people out there!!HaHa!

05-02-2003, 01:44 AM	#6
pilotguy Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 09, 2003 Posts: 1,305	Tonight's episode ("The Bank Dick") is a PERFECT example of the "studio audience vs. canned laughter" situation that I was talking about.... All of the action up to the plane ride (with Brian, Antonio and the bank robber) was filmed before a studio audience (as was the final "tag" scene with Joe and Helen at the soda machine)....however, the entire "plane ride" scene was filmed without a studio audience, using canned laughter.... So I wonder how they handled this episode with the studio audience? That plane scene is the climax of the entire episode! Did the studio audience get to see the filmed plane sequence, or perhaps was that part of the story explained to them by a crew member after the "studio audience" portion of the episode was filmed? I know that I'm being a pain about this, but I AM curious about the production methods of the series!

05-02-2003, 02:16 AM	#7
aeromasspilot Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 27, 2003 Posts: 20	Dear Pilot Guy, Nice Question. I think you hit the jackpot with some of the answers. Everything that appeared on one episode of wings was viewed by one single audience. Live. It was taped over about a 4 hour period. Each scene was filmed about 3 times in front of the audience. There were about 10 microphones above the audience that recorded reactions to the scenes as well. The audience didn't know it, but they were very very important to the show. You see, their laughter kept with the pace of the actors timing of jokes and actually reinforced the fact that we were there to have a good time. I think they should have given a sixpack or something to everyone who came to see the show But what you hear is the real thing. There were a couple of exceptions though.Sometimes there was an exterior shot . (like the time Sandpiper crashed in the ocean) They would film the shot a day or two before, then show the tape to the live audience on the day of taping. They would record the audience just as if it was happening live. So... Where did they film that scene where crashed into the ocean on the season cliffhanger..? Well, its a part of the Paramount backlot parking lot that is sunken about 6 feet. They fill it with millions of gallon of water... heat the water and film the scene. By the way, its the same place where they filmed scenes from Waterworld and Hunt for Red October. I think they called it "the tank" Sorry If I got a little lenghty on details.. Nice question..! JIM

05-02-2003, 02:29 AM	#8
aeromasspilot Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 27, 2003 Posts: 20	As for the Sandpiper interior scenes... that was all done on the stage as well. In fact, they would roll the Plane, (which was a 15ft X 4 ft box with seats) onto the hanger portion of the stage and film there. If the camera was looking out the window, they would have "blue screen" on the outside of the windows and fill it in with flying background later on. Anything that looked like aircraft motion was all tricks of the camera angle and editing. The cameras were so close to the action that the only way you could see what was going on inside was to look at the TV monitors above the studio audience. By the way,,, There was a Sandpiper airplane as well. A real airplane. Of course, a lot of parts were removed and the wings were detachable. For the most part, that airplane was used for background shots in the hanger. jim

05-02-2003, 06:35 AM	#9
pilotguy Member Senior Member Join Date: Apr 09, 2003 Posts: 1,305	Many, MANY thanks for the very interesting info, Aeromasspilot.... Don't EVER worry about being too "lengthy" about THIS stuff! I really learned something about those airplane interior scenes. They have such a close, "claustrophobic" look about them, that if they were filmed on the sound set, the studio audience would really HAVE to look at the monitors to look "past" the pulled-in-close filming cameras. Thank you again....your answers were just the type of info that I was looking for!

05-02-2003, 09:54 AM	#10
HaskellGirl Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 15, 2002 Posts: 590	Thanks aeromasspilot!!!! That's so interesting!!!!

06-20-2003, 10:28 AM	#11
peter may The SO Limey Senior Member Join Date: Feb 26, 2002 Location: LONDON Posts: 1,883	i remember the paramount tour guide telling me that about the parking lot being filled up, they use the water from the big paramount water tanker. This is how they filmed the scene in a Cheers Episode where Ted Danson and Shelley Long are apparently on a boat together. Its clever how they did this.