I can't deal with the laugh tracks

[LisaInNc]

I think my daughters Disney Channel has ruined me. That show has the most annoying laugh track.

I was watching a rerun of Friends last night. I had to turn it off because of the laugh track. I never really realized they had one until last night.

WHY does a TV show have to tell me when to laugh?

Lisa

 

[goofyintoronto]

I was thinking the exact same thing while watching a sitcom last night. The laugh track is terrible.
Thats why i love modern family, they dont tell you when to laugh.

 

[BrookieCookie]

I hate the laugh tracks! So annoying and like you both said, I don't need a show telling me to laugh! In fact it makes me Not want to laugh just to be stubborn!

 

[Kogo Shuko]

Not all TV shows that have laughter at certain moments have a fake laugh track.

Wil Wheaton confirmed that the laughter you hear on The Big Bang Theory is not fake, it is actual laughter from real, live people.

Whether there's a "LAUGH NOW" sign that lights up, I have no idea, but I do know he got a bit offended when people were slamming that show.

Couldn't confirm which shows have real laughter and which have fake laughter though. I've no idea.

I don't even hear it, personally. To me, laughter on a sitcom is the same as the ticking of a grandfather clock. It's there, but it's background noise, and I kinda tune it out.

 

[goofyintoronto]

Not all TV shows that have laughter at certain moments have a fake laugh track.

Wil Wheaton confirmed that the laughter you hear on The Big Bang Theory is not fake, it is actual laughter from real, live people.

Whether there's a "LAUGH NOW" sign that lights up, I have no idea, but I do know he got a bit offended when people were slamming that show.

Couldn't confirm which shows have real laughter and which have fake laughter though. I've no idea.

I don't even hear it, personally. To me, laughter on a sitcom is the same as the ticking of a grandfather clock. It's there, but it's background noise, and I kinda tune it out.

I love Big Bang. I didnt notice the laugh track on that show very much. The laughter is probably real, as you mentioned. I only noticed the bad laugh track on the show i was watching yesterday. But usually it doesnt bother me at all. I only notice when it sounds fake.

 

[Kogo Shuko]

I love Big Bang. I didnt notice the laugh track on that show very much. The laughter is probably real, as you mentioned. I only noticed the bad laugh track on the show i was watching yesterday. But usually it doesnt bother me at all. I only notice when it sounds fake.

The only time I really hear it is on kids' shows. And it sort of makes sense to have it on those. Not every child is going to get every joke, and they're trying to convince kids that "No, this is TOTALLY funny!"

Not all humour comes naturally. There are things I think are hilarious that my BF's son doesn't get at all. But some day he'll learn. Either that, or I have a bad sense of humour. Which is entirely possible!!

But other than kids shows, I don't normally hear the laugh track that others seem to hear.

 

[OhMari]

ITA, as someone said, I can tune it out, but it is hard. Canned laughter has been around a long time. I was watching an old Happy Days rerun and I noticed the fake laughing. I probably can sit through a whole show and not laugh once, but I will watch this commercial for State Farm Insurance where the old man has a fishing rod and the girl is trying to grab the one dollar bill after she asked her insurance company to show her money. It cracks me up every time I see it and I probably saw it a hundred times.

One other thing I find annoying is the panning in and out of the camera. I get dizzy watching some of the shows that do this. I think Modern Family is a show that this happens.

 

[rlduvall]

I was watching a rerun of Friends last night. I had to turn it off because of the laugh track. I never really realized they had one until last night.

I totally agree with you about laugh tracks. And once I start focusing on it, I can't quit. BUT, Friends was filmed/taped in front of a live audience so that was not a laugh track. I only know this for sure because my SIL got to attend one of the tapings - that lucky duck.

 

[BigAlsGal]

ITA, as someone said, I can tune it out, but it is hard. Canned laughter has been around a long time. I was watching an old Happy Days rerun and I noticed the fake laughing. I probably can sit through a whole show and not laugh once, but I will watch this commercial for State Farm Insurance where the old man has a fishing rod and the girl is trying to grab the one dollar bill after she asked her insurance company to show her money. It cracks me up every time I see it and I probably saw it a hundred times.

One other thing I find annoying is the panning in and out of the camera. I get dizzy watching some of the shows that do this. I think Modern Family is a show that this happens.

"Oh you almost had it!!! Gotta be quicker than that!!" Bahahaha a!!!! I love that commercial too.

 

[Micca]

I grew up watching 60s sitcoms and they all had laugh tracks. Somewhere along the line--maybe 15 years ago, I lost all interest in shows with laugh tracks. I can watch some of the "classics" with the canned laughter, but none of the current stuff.

BTW, I've read that even shows performed for a live audience can still have the laughter "sweetened" or enhanced with canned tracks.

 

[soccerdad72]

Is it possible that shows like Disney Channel sitcoms just aren't taped in front on an audience, so they need to put in a laugh track. Not to tell people at home when to laugh, but to simulate having an actual audience? I'm guessing that live studio audience shows have bigger budgets than your typical Disney Channel show?

 

[KristaTX]

One other thing I find annoying is the panning in and out of the camera. I get dizzy watching some of the shows that do this.

Oh yeah, I hate that. I don't mind a laugh track in moderation and especially if it is a "live studio audience" (like on Big Bang Theory), but I REALLY don't want the camera moving around trying to make me feel like I'm there in person or whatever the goal of that is on comedies. I haven't ever liked any of the comedies filmed like that. An action show like "24" is a little different, but even then I'd prefer the camera to just stay still.

On the comedies, it seems to often serve the same purpose as the laugh track - to tell you when something is supposedly funny. That just annoys me.

 

[NMAmy]

I don't mind it when it was from a live audience.

I saw Friends live once. It was the episode about Chandler's office laugh. It was a lot of fun.