Discussion on use of Laugh Tracks

M

magicdavek

Well-known member
In the clip section, three clips from pilot projects for "sit-coms" appeared within two days of each other. Two of the three use a laugh track. Some sit-coms use a live audience for feedback/laughing, some do not. The question I'm posing is what are people's opinions of laugh tracks - I know we all say we hate them, but they've been around for 50 years and still get used. In the late 1970s, MASH experimented doing episodes with and without laugh tracks. The ratings were better on the episodes with the laugh track!

Anyway, I'd like people's opinions on the use of laugh tracks (e.g., when appropriate, what type of comedy show or sit-com, etc.).
 
For something like Friends or Sienfeld I do not mind them; I know they tape for a live audience but also know they enhance the live audience with tracks.

For something that is NOT a straight up studio shot live sitcom? I don't like them.
 
Telling me when to laugh is like telling me when to crap. I already know. If you need to tell the audience, it obviously isn't funny enough.

I know the ratings are beetter with this "tool". Doesn't mean I have to like it. Films get along fine without them.
 
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
 
In a lot of today's sit-coms I need them to tell me when to laugh - sometimes it's very hard to know when they intended humor, otherwise:).
 
vjbrennan said:
Telling me when to laugh is like telling me when to crap. I already know. If you need to tell the audience, it obviously isn't funny enough.
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What does it mean if I laugh on the toilet and crap in front of seinfeld?
 
taubkin said:
Why the hell is this in the cinematography forum? :)
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Because I didn't think the audio section was appropriate because I don't think this is primarily an audio issue - rather an issue about setting the mood or tone of a given type of production (i.e., a sit-com). Sure, it has nothing to do with "movies" per se, and if you are limiting the term "cinematography" only to movies, there are a lot of people doing stuff here at this site (documentaries, TV shows, etc.) that wouldn't belong in this section, either.

I don't know if that answers your question. Which section would be more well suited for this discussion?
 
Good question. Maybe post production, or the cafe. Although audio would be fine too, IMHO

I think the rub is that "cinematography", whatever the final venue, is about the visual aspect of shooting.
 
Relax, it was a light-mooded remark, that's what the smiley was trying to say.

My guess? Directing. Since it's about the concept of the show. But I'd say that audio or editing could be possible places to, since they make for big ndecisions in those departments. But I don't think any DP would change a negative stock, light placement, camera move, for a laugh track.

I just can't think of a way to relate the use or not of laugh tracks with cinematography, I really did not see where this was a relative decision.

---

I don't like them, BTW. I think the best humor is made without them, and I think it was somehow a convention and maybe a demand of TV distributors, because I've seen a number of good shows with them. Since I almost never laugh out loud watching TV, I guess I don't make a nice use of them. I don't see "Some like it Hot" getting funnier with a laugh track at the end (But sure, you are in the movies and everybody is laughing) nor "His Girl Friday" (I actually laughed out loud alone at the resolution). And don't get me started on L'Armatta Brancaleone, or Rabi Jacob... Boy those italians knew their comedy...

Anyway, for me the comparisson I make is this. I think "Wayne's World" was a very funny picture and I was a fan of them from SNL. I like the film better.

And don't getme wrong, I think it's a very interesting discussion, but (and I repeat myself):

"What the Heavens is this doing in the cinematography section?"
 
Hey, I don't necessarily disagree. Personally I don't like it when posts are in the wrong area (that's mostly a problem in the DVX News section at the top of the home page) - it was just my judgment because I thought it was the most appropriate setting. Now that you mention it, post production would be a better place, but there's no way I could switch it.
 
GenJerDan said:
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.
Dan
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My thoughts exactly. You ever see thouse sitcoms where it's like ' Full House in Paris ' or ' Blossom in Greece ' or ' Everybody Loves Raymond in Italy ' And they shoot it on location ( obviously, haha ) and then after a funny comment, then nothing? To me it just feels uncomfortable. I think they should be used when ever possible but taylor them to the 'joke or funny moment' you can have hysteria if its just something mildly funny. AND you can't use the same laugh over and over ; then it just sounds fake.

I think laughter is contagous. Most people when they see/hear other people laughing will start to laugh or smile too even when they dont know what is funny. So in my opinion, use them.
 
Do you think the problem with a show as "Blossom in Greece" would be due to the lack of laugh tracks?

- I know it does not exist, I'm only kidding... :)

I think they are a legitimate way of substituting the audience of the movies (that will be there with you and will laugh with the jokes). I just really feel that my kind of humor is more sarcastic, the kind you don't really want to laugh along, just laugh inside. Now, Seinfeld was great, for example, and sarcastic, maybe so much that they had to have some laugh tracks, to make us know they were kidding. I felt, when Kramer was on (he was my least favorite character) and the laughs were high, the show felt like a regular afternoon TV sitcom. It's something about making stuff that isn't necessarily very funny and trying to solve with laugh tracks. You'd be amazed how many script problems they can salvage...
 
remember when scooby doo got a laff track?scooby doo was supposed to be a funny show, even though it was a cartoon, but the laff track did absolutey nothing to enhance the story... THAT felt weird!!
 
i thought that made it funny. I actually laughed BECAUSE of the laugh track. That 'laugh at it becuase it's kinda cheesy ' thing.
 
i was laffing at scooby and shag long before the laff track..

i stiill laff at the 3 stooges and bugs bunny... no laff tracks there....

quality shows with quality talent and great writing do not need laff tracks. a live audience is different. im speaking on laff tracks...
 
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