Will the Laugh Track Ever Come Back?

[thedamndest]

It seems like the modern television product has broken away from using canned laughter after every joke. To my knowledge, the only shows still in production that use a laugh track are shows that have always used it, the "traditional" comedy.

I like shows that don't have the laugh track. It allows for episodes outside of the normal range. Every series has that one episode where a character's mom dies. Those canned laughs always take away from the gravity of the situation. It also permits for more natural interactions; there is no waiting for two seconds for the audience laughter to subside while the characters putter around, blatantly stalling. The whole element just feels more high-end/better produced than shows with a laugh track.

I don't want to rule out completely that it will come back (or at least attempted) because everything comes back. I wouldn't be surprised if an entire movie used these reactions at some point.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

I could totally see some indie film using a laugh track for the entire movie. I'm actually shocked it hasn't happened yet.

[Boondock Saint]

Hate laugh tracks.

[DAMN iNATOR]

Yeah, I mean, laugh tracks date at least back to I Love Lucy, one of the earliest American television shows ever, and I think in some form or another it's kind of found a way to hang on by a thread. Kinda reminds me of how "teh 'E", likes to pipe in crazy cheering or booing s/fx on tv to make it seem as though one wrestler is getting more pops or heat than another. And the terrible thing is you could totally call them out on it every time and know you were right, and someone like Vince would probably still deny it. Just one of many things contributing to the downfall of professional wrestling these days.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

The laugh track still has a home on CBS and they seem like they are in no hurry to phase it out.

[thedamndest]

The first non-laugh track comedy show I remember watching is probably Malcolm in the Middle. It actually took me a while before I even realized it was missing the laughter. Probably because the show was funny enough on its own. One reason I think laugh track shows have reached the end is that they have just become so predictable. I don't want to make a blanket statement like "everything has been done", but everything has been done. If you're going to build a show around a family with 2.6 kids, you're basically going to be doing the same show that has been done for the last thirty years. But then you have shows like The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother which feature the laugh track but are not that. They are only three seasons old, but both are on CBS, so I suspect CBS was the last to get the memo that the laugh track was out. They have a few other comedies that use it too.

[thedamndest]

Me and Supreme are on the same page in knowing about CBS.

[thedamndest]

I have been doing a little more thinking about this. Kids shows like Hannah Montana still use the laugh track. This is an entirely different demographic that didn't exist in the mid 90's when there were "family shows" like Step-by-Step and Full House around. But now it seems like kids watch their shows and adults watch theirs and everyone wins.

[Kalyx triaD]

Every sitcom on the Disney channel uses a laugh track. Fact. Laugh tracks are pathetic. Also fact.

[Fox]

I can barely watch shows with laugh tracks. It's just fucking distracting.

[DAMN iNATOR]

The first non-laugh track comedy show I remember watching is probably Malcolm in the Middle. It actually took me a while before I even realized it was missing the laughter. Probably because the show was funny enough on its own. One reason I think laugh track shows have reached the end is that they have just become so predictable. I don't want to make a blanket statement like "everything has been done", but everything has been done. If you're going to build a show around a family with 2.6 kids, you're basically going to be doing the same show that has been done for the last thirty years. But then you have shows like The Big Bang Theory and How I Met Your Mother which feature the laugh track but are not that. They are only three seasons old, but both are on CBS, so I suspect CBS was the last to get the memo that the laugh track was out. They have a few other comedies that use it too.

You never saw The Wonder Years? It didn't have laugh tracks either. It was told from a narrative perspective. And don't pull that "it's not a comedy, it's a drama", because it's not (a drama, I mean).

[DrA]

It bolded.

[thedamndest]

I think you answered your own statement by saying it was told from a narrative perspective. The laugh track really wouldn't have fit if Kevin had to pause his own thoughts for studio applause. It's not really the same thing as Roseanne or Malcolm, regardless of whether you view it as a comedy or drama.

[ct2k]

Don't most US sitcoms still use it?

[DAMN iNATOR]

It's pretty much become obsolete here ever since about the early '90s...

[thedamndest]

None of the ones that matter still use it. FOX, ABC, and NBC, have all gotten away from it. CBS still has a couple and so does the CW, but the CW doesn't really matter.

[DAMN iNATOR]

Like you said, thed, I don't want to completely rule out the possibility, but I do think it will remain forever marginalized from now on in television, especially given the fact that there's probably some pretty strong correlation between the early '90s shows not having as many laugh tracks, and the reality tv (most series which I hate in that genre, btw) craze really taking off, could be what helped it to having one foot in the grave, where it is now.

[Fox]

I wonder what the psychological factors are when an entire generation grows up watching programming with fake laughter, and then another generation grows up entirely without it.

[Skippord]

the Scrubs episode that uses a laugh track is quite enjoyable

[Anybody Thrilla]

I always thought it was quite ridiculous of The Flinstones to use a laugh track. What kind of studio auidence could they possibly have had?

[NoJabbaNoBogRoll]

I don't usually have a problem with laugh tracks, unless they are of the canned variety.

[ct2k]

It's pretty much become obsolete here ever since about the early '90s...


Friends
Everybody Loves Raymond
King Of Queens
Frasier

ermmm, that one with the Wayans brother etc


They all have canned laughter no?

[Supreme Olajuwon]

You are correct, ct2k. The laugh track has only recently been phased out.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Just remembered that Fox still has a show that uses a laugh track. 'Til Death starring Brad Garrett is somehow on the air. And that started as recently as 2006.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Remember that stupid fucking Cavemen show? I tend to remember Supreme being a big fan. Did they have a laugh track? Even if it did, I bet the laughs were half-hearted.

[thedamndest]

The Caveman show was awesome and it did not have/need a laugh track. I think that show would have worked on a cable station, but putting it on prime time ABC was the kiss of death. ABC needs everything to have Regis Philbin ratings and can't afford to let a show build an audience.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

It did not. And the laughs were genuine and heartfelt, thank you.

[road doggy dogg]

Yeah CBS shows still do. I don't mind it. Sometimes when I hear other people laughing at jokes it makes it funnier. Don't know.
crossrine

[Gone Mad]

I remember when they put laugh tracks in Flintstones and Scooby Doo cartoons. I reallly hated that. They even laughed at the unfunny parts and it be the same laughs!

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Yeah the Scooby Doo one was brutal.

[thedamndest]

Yeah CBS shows still do. I don't mind it. Sometimes when I hear other people laughing at jokes it makes it funnier. Don't know.

I usually do find things funnier if I am watching them with people. Movies or TV. The laugh track doesn't affect me though. Sometimes it makes it much worse, like when they laugh at the slightest crack that isn't funny or when a huge joke isn't funny at all and they laugh for like thirty seconds.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

It does enhance certain shows. Saved By The Bell wouldn't have worked without the audience. But that was a multi dimensional audience that reacted with more than just laughter.

[thedamndest]

I would agree with that. The laughter is like part of the soundtrack. Hearing it instantly gives you a sense of relevance that you are in a comedy. It also affects the performance itself. The dialogue is written keeping the laughter in mind, so they have to time their it differently (a little more campy) than a non-laugh track show.

[PapaGeorgio]

CBS is very laugh track heavy. I'm not huge on the fake laugh tracks. You watch a show like Sanford and Son and you hear people laugh and you know its genuine. Real laughs are good and can add to some shows, but plugging in huge laughs for lame joke after lame joke can make me stop watching some shows.

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Interesting story: CBS and Charles Schulz went to war over including a laugh track in A Charlie Brown Christmas. Schulz absolutely refused to allow it because he wanted to audience to enjoy the show at their own pace. CBS officials believing the special was terrible and doomed to failure thought a laugh track would possibly save it. They even made a version of the special with the canned laughter. However, Schulz would not budge and eventually got his way. The result is an all time, unmutilated classic.

Suck it, CBS.

[DAMN iNATOR]

CBS is very laugh track heavy. I'm not huge on the fake laugh tracks. You watch a show like Sanford and Son and you hear people laugh and you know its genuine. Real laughs are good and can add to some shows, but plugging in huge laughs for lame joke after lame joke can make me stop watching some shows.

Yeah, man Sanford and Son is awesome...can't believe TV Land doesn't show it more often...freakin' love that show, especially Fred's epic confrontations with Lamont's ugly Aunt Esther...funny shit.

[The Mackem]

I remember when they put laugh tracks in Flintstones and Scooby Doo cartoons. I reallly hated that. They even laughed at the unfunny parts and it be the same laughs!

I was going to bring this up. Imagine if the Simpsons had a laugh track.

[Anybody Thrilla]

Hey assholes. I brought that up first.