Discussion on use of Laugh Tracks

[John_Moore]

Laughtracks aren't there to tell you when to laugh...silly people. They're there so it feels more like you are there.

Have you ever gone to the movies and been the only person (or even nearly so) in the theater? It's just too weird. Uncomfortable.

So much better when you're part of an audience.

Dan

That's my thought on the matter too, and for web released comedies where people will be watching it alone, it would probably help.

However, I'm gonna be sending stuff on DVD WITHOUT laugh tracks.

I honestly think that while they help individual people laugh, it would degrade the movie to have them with a larger audience.

 

[GenJerDan]

Oh yeah.

But, generally, I think of them the same as musical/effects soundtracks. Just additional clues for you. But if they're too heavy-handed, they're...well...too heavy-handed.

Sometimes, you just need something, though. Ever watch Rocky Horror alone? It's just not....right...without the extra stuff going on. Same with sitcoms, I think, unless they're out-and-out farces.

Dan

 

[ecarr]

If it's set up on a stage, where there could be an audience, i think the laugh tracks help, with the "not the only one laughing" situation. But if it's filmed where it's "on location" like "arrested development" or "sports night" (which was on a few years ago) where there is no place for an audience, then they're just out of place and don't work well at all. Sports night worked a lot better when they got rid of the laugh tracks.