Laugh Track: Difference between revisions

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=== Film ===
=== Film ===
* The DVD of ''[[Seltzer and Friedberg|Epic Movie]]'' actually comes with an optional laugh track.
* The DVD of ''[[Seltzer and Friedberg|Epic Movie]]'' actually comes with an optional laugh track.
** As does ''[[Seltzer and Friedberg|Date Movie]]'' -- It actually makes them [[So Bad Its Good|somewhat tolerable]], if only by virtue of being [[What Do You Mean It Wasn't Made On Drugs|completely surreal.]]
** As does ''[[Seltzer and Friedberg|Date Movie]]'' -- It actually makes them [[So Bad It's Good|somewhat tolerable]], if only by virtue of being [[What Do You Mean It Wasn't Made On Drugs?|completely surreal.]]
* This is also mentioned in the [[Andy Kaufman]] [[Biopic]] ''[[Man On the Moon]]'', when Andy explains why he is not interested in doing a [[Taxi|sitcom]]: "It's just stupid jokes and canned laughter! And you don't know why it's there, but it's there! And it's dead people laughing, did you know that? Those people are dead!" (Interestingly, this rant may have been [[Throw It In|improvised]] by [[Jim Carrey]] since only the first line appeared in the script.)
* This is also mentioned in the [[Andy Kaufman]] [[Biopic]] ''[[Man On the Moon]]'', when Andy explains why he is not interested in doing a [[Taxi|sitcom]]: "It's just stupid jokes and canned laughter! And you don't know why it's there, but it's there! And it's dead people laughing, did you know that? Those people are dead!" (Interestingly, this rant may have been [[Throw It In|improvised]] by [[Jim Carrey]] since only the first line appeared in the script.)
* Used in a segment of the film ''[[Natural Born Killers]]''.
* Used in a segment of the film ''[[Natural Born Killers]]''.
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* ''[[Gilligans Island]]'' and ''[[The Brady Bunch]]'' are two good examples of the height of laugh track abuse from the 1960s and early 1970s.
* ''[[Gilligans Island]]'' and ''[[The Brady Bunch]]'' are two good examples of the height of laugh track abuse from the 1960s and early 1970s.
* The ''[[Twilight Zone]]'' episode "Cavender Is Coming", guest-starring Carol Burnett, featured a laugh track (as it was a pilot for a sitcom). The director was so offended by this that he refused to be in the studio when the laugh track man was present.
* The ''[[Twilight Zone]]'' episode "Cavender Is Coming", guest-starring Carol Burnett, featured a laugh track (as it was a pilot for a sitcom). The director was so offended by this that he refused to be in the studio when the laugh track man was present.
* In the 1980s, there was a situation comedy series written and produced by [[Mel Brooks]] (yes, ''that'' Mel Brooks) called ''The Nutt House'' (which was [[Too Good to Last]]). [[Executive Meddling]] resulted in laugh tracks, because the executives felt that [[Viewers Are Morons]]. The result was loud, jarring, clumsily dubbed-in laughtracks that often drowned out the punchlines.
* In the 1980s, there was a situation comedy series written and produced by [[Mel Brooks]] (yes, ''that'' Mel Brooks) called ''The Nutt House'' (which was [[Too Good to Last]]). [[Executive Meddling]] resulted in laugh tracks, because the executives felt that [[Viewers are Morons]]. The result was loud, jarring, clumsily dubbed-in laughtracks that often drowned out the punchlines.
* ''[[Get Smart (TV)|Get Smart]]'', another series with which Brooks was involved, had some especially bad laugh tracks. (Mind you, some of its jokes weren't much to laugh about anyway.)
* ''[[Get Smart (TV)|Get Smart]]'', another series with which Brooks was involved, had some especially bad laugh tracks. (Mind you, some of its jokes weren't much to laugh about anyway.)
* See also ''[[I Dreamof Jeannie]]'', ''[[Bewitched (TV)|Bewitched]]'' and other contemporaneous [[Sit Com|sitcoms]].
* See also ''[[I Dreamof Jeannie]]'', ''[[Bewitched (TV)|Bewitched]]'' and other contemporaneous [[Sit Com|sitcoms]].
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** The old daytime version of ''[[Wheel of Fortune]]'' was known for its [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxzUTF15Nd0 canned applause]. Compared with the combined cheers and applause from the current syndicated version's live audiences of 3,000 people, the 1980s version's canned applause was still much louder. There were also awkward "ooh"s every time a prize was shown or the top dollar on the Wheel was hit, "aww"s whenever someone hit Bankrupt or called a wrong letter, et cetera. The sweetening is particularly noticeable during this infamous "Megaword" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHzQLXHFCoQ category puzzle]. It becomes obvious that the same audience groaning sound is recycled throughout!
** The old daytime version of ''[[Wheel of Fortune]]'' was known for its [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxzUTF15Nd0 canned applause]. Compared with the combined cheers and applause from the current syndicated version's live audiences of 3,000 people, the 1980s version's canned applause was still much louder. There were also awkward "ooh"s every time a prize was shown or the top dollar on the Wheel was hit, "aww"s whenever someone hit Bankrupt or called a wrong letter, et cetera. The sweetening is particularly noticeable during this infamous "Megaword" [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHzQLXHFCoQ category puzzle]. It becomes obvious that the same audience groaning sound is recycled throughout!
** ''Super [[Password]]'' got a great deal of canned laughter whenever Bert Convy screwed up (which was often) or extreme applause when the show came back from commercial!
** ''Super [[Password]]'' got a great deal of canned laughter whenever Bert Convy screwed up (which was often) or extreme applause when the show came back from commercial!
** Lampshaded on an episode of ''[[Blockbusters]]'', where [[Bill Cullen]] lapses into [[Self Deprecation]] mode after a particularly bad joke. He says, "can't we do this show with just an applause machine?", and someone off-camera (possibly announcer Bob Hilton) says "We are."
** Lampshaded on an episode of ''[[Blockbusters]]'', where [[Bill Cullen]] lapses into [[Self-Deprecation]] mode after a particularly bad joke. He says, "can't we do this show with just an applause machine?", and someone off-camera (possibly announcer Bob Hilton) says "We are."
* The original British version of ''Da Ali G Show'' used a laugh track, but its American adaptation (known as ''Ali G in da USAiii'' in Britain) lacks it.
* The original British version of ''Da Ali G Show'' used a laugh track, but its American adaptation (known as ''Ali G in da USAiii'' in Britain) lacks it.
* NBC's ''100 Questions'' abused the hell out of this. It was eventually cancelled after 6 episodes.
* NBC's ''100 Questions'' abused the hell out of this. It was eventually cancelled after 6 episodes.
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** Taken a step further in their running gag of using obvious black-and-white stock footage of applauding audiences throughout the series.
** Taken a step further in their running gag of using obvious black-and-white stock footage of applauding audiences throughout the series.
* Referenced in the ''[[Star Trek the Original Series]]'' episode ''[[Bread and Circuses]]'', where we see a 20th century TV technician turning the canned applause on and off on a programme. Fine, except it's a 20th century ''Roman Empire'' and the programme consists of televised gladatorial fights to the death.
* Referenced in the ''[[Star Trek the Original Series]]'' episode ''[[Bread and Circuses]]'', where we see a 20th century TV technician turning the canned applause on and off on a programme. Fine, except it's a 20th century ''Roman Empire'' and the programme consists of televised gladatorial fights to the death.
* [[TV Funhouse]] (as [[Spin Off|its on show]] and on [[Saturday Night Live]] uses parody laugh-tracks, especially for their send-ups of Saturday morning cartoons of the seventies. Their [[Harlem Globetrotters]] parody includes the same staccato baritone "Heh-heh-heh-heh" after every line.
* [[TV Funhouse]] (as [[Spin-Off|its on show]] and on [[Saturday Night Live]] uses parody laugh-tracks, especially for their send-ups of Saturday morning cartoons of the seventies. Their [[Harlem Globetrotters]] parody includes the same staccato baritone "Heh-heh-heh-heh" after every line.
* An episode of ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'' shows Servo using a laugh track every time Crow utters his newly adopted "[[Sit Com]]" [[Catch Phrase]] "You Know You Want Me Baby!" The really old cassette player Servo is using ultimately eats the laugh track.
* An episode of ''[[Mystery Science Theater 3000]]'' shows Servo using a laugh track every time Crow utters his newly adopted "[[Sit Com]]" [[Catch Phrase]] "You Know You Want Me Baby!" The really old cassette player Servo is using ultimately eats the laugh track.
* A certain single-episode show summed up its content by taking the name ''[[Canned Laughter]]''. While the end credits rolled, the same quick laugh track was played over... and over... and over...
* A certain single-episode show summed up its content by taking the name ''[[Canned Laughter]]''. While the end credits rolled, the same quick laugh track was played over... and over... and over...
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{{quote| Canned Laughter<br />
{{quote| Canned Laughter<br />
'''Dean:''' ''How is that funny''? Vultures! }}
'''Dean:''' ''How is that funny''? Vultures! }}
* A [[French And Saunders]] sketch (featuring Dame Helen Mirren and Julia Sawalha) parodying sitcoms had the incessant laugh track constantly interrupting the already terrible punchlines, ruining the timing of the actors by cutting them off when they were speaking, making the whole thing [[So Unfunny Its Funny]], until they got annoyed and basically walked off the sketch.
* A [[French And Saunders]] sketch (featuring Dame Helen Mirren and Julia Sawalha) parodying sitcoms had the incessant laugh track constantly interrupting the already terrible punchlines, ruining the timing of the actors by cutting them off when they were speaking, making the whole thing [[So Unfunny It's Funny]], until they got annoyed and basically walked off the sketch.
* In an episode of ''[[Thirty Rock (TV)|Thirty Rock]]'', Tracy Jordan is having a drug induced hallucination which gives him an epiphany moment which gets interrupted by a laugh track, he becomes quite annoyed by them mocking him.
* In an episode of ''[[30 Rock (TV)|Thirty Rock]]'', Tracy Jordan is having a drug induced hallucination which gives him an epiphany moment which gets interrupted by a laugh track, he becomes quite annoyed by them mocking him.
* In the Pierce Brosnan episode of ''[[Muppets Tonight]]'', a particularly bad pun from Rizzo provokes no reaction whatsoever, causing Clifford to remark that "Even the laugh track didn't think that was funny."
* In the Pierce Brosnan episode of ''[[Muppets Tonight]]'', a particularly bad pun from Rizzo provokes no reaction whatsoever, causing Clifford to remark that "Even the laugh track didn't think that was funny."
* Used for the imaginary [[Show Within a Show]] ''Pyro and the Idiot'' in the ''[[Corner Gas (TV)|Corner Gas]]'' episode "Self-Serving."
* Used for the imaginary [[Show Within a Show]] ''Pyro and the Idiot'' in the ''[[Corner Gas (TV)|Corner Gas]]'' episode "Self-Serving."
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=== Western Animation ===
=== Western Animation ===
* In the ''[[Aqua Teen Hunger Force (Animation)|Aqua Teen Hunger Force]]'' episode "The Cloning", a possessed television used inappropriate laugh tracks in its efforts to scare the people watching.
* In the ''[[Aqua Teen Hunger Force (Animation)|Aqua Teen Hunger Force]]'' episode "The Cloning", a possessed television used inappropriate laugh tracks in its efforts to scare the people watching.
* As part of her obsession with regaining her former sitcom fame, Baby Doll from ''[[Batman the Animated Series (Animation)|Batman the Animated Series]]'' carries a laugh track on tape with her everywhere and plays it at moments she thinks are appropriate (along with "Ohhhh..." and "Awww...").
* As part of her obsession with regaining her former sitcom fame, Baby Doll from ''[[Batman: The Animated Series (Animation)|Batman the Animated Series]]'' carries a laugh track on tape with her everywhere and plays it at moments she thinks are appropriate (along with "Ohhhh..." and "Awww...").
** From the same series, there's ''Christmas with the Joker,'' where he uses a laugh track in grossly inappropriate fashion while discussing violence/terrorism. It's possibly a secondary [[Lampshade Hanging]] that the "audience" he's using is revealed to be cardboard cutouts.
** From the same series, there's ''Christmas with the Joker,'' where he uses a laugh track in grossly inappropriate fashion while discussing violence/terrorism. It's possibly a secondary [[Lampshade Hanging]] that the "audience" he's using is revealed to be cardboard cutouts.
* ''[[The Simpsons]]'' played with this a couple times, as in the "Love-Matic Grandpa" portion of the spinoff episode.
* ''[[The Simpsons]]'' played with this a couple times, as in the "Love-Matic Grandpa" portion of the spinoff episode.
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** People may think it has a laugh track because the laughter sometimes seems very forced and extremely noticeable, or laughing when nobody has said anything.
** People may think it has a laugh track because the laughter sometimes seems very forced and extremely noticeable, or laughing when nobody has said anything.
* ''[[Malcolm in The Middle]]'' doesn't use a laughtrack either.
* ''[[Malcolm in The Middle]]'' doesn't use a laughtrack either.
** ''[[Malcolm in The Middle]]'''s ultimate legacy is that, along with the British sitcom ''[[Spaced]]'', its considered to be the [[Trope Codifier]] of the single camera, laugh track free sitcom. Since ''Malcolm'' premiered, it's become popular for high-quality, single-camera sitcoms like ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]'', ''[[The Office]]'', ''[[Thirty Rock (TV)|30 Rock]]'', ''[[Community (TV)|Community]]'', ''[[Peep Show]]'', ''[[The Inbetweeners]]'', ''[[Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia]]'', ''[[Arrested Development (TV)|Arrested Development]]'' and ''[[Flight of the Conchords]]'' (among others) to eschew laugh tracks entirely. Coincidentally (or rather not) these shows are usually some of the most acclaimed comedies on television.
** ''[[Malcolm in The Middle]]'''s ultimate legacy is that, along with the British sitcom ''[[Spaced]]'', its considered to be the [[Trope Codifier]] of the single camera, laugh track free sitcom. Since ''Malcolm'' premiered, it's become popular for high-quality, single-camera sitcoms like ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]'', ''[[The Office]]'', ''[[30 Rock (TV)|30 Rock]]'', ''[[Community (TV)|Community]]'', ''[[Peep Show]]'', ''[[The Inbetweeners]]'', ''[[Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia]]'', ''[[Arrested Development (TV)|Arrested Development]]'' and ''[[Flight of the Conchords]]'' (among others) to eschew laugh tracks entirely. Coincidentally (or rather not) these shows are usually some of the most acclaimed comedies on television.
* Oddly enough, ''[[The Mighty Boosh]]'' was supposed to have a laugh track in its early stage of production, as we can see with the pilot episode (it's included in the DVDs). They actually showed the episode in front of an audience and recorded their laughter. Julian Barratt and [[Noel Fielding]] found the audience overdid it so much that they decided not to keep it. It sounds disastrous indeed, as The Boosh is clearly not a "laugh out loud" type of comedy.
* Oddly enough, ''[[The Mighty Boosh]]'' was supposed to have a laugh track in its early stage of production, as we can see with the pilot episode (it's included in the DVDs). They actually showed the episode in front of an audience and recorded their laughter. Julian Barratt and [[Noel Fielding]] found the audience overdid it so much that they decided not to keep it. It sounds disastrous indeed, as The Boosh is clearly not a "laugh out loud" type of comedy.
* ''[[All in The Family]]'' was recorded in front of a live studio audience, as announced at the end of nearly each episode. In the later seasons they stopped using live audiences, presumably because they were distractions to the actors; they played back each episode to the audience instead.
* ''[[All in The Family]]'' was recorded in front of a live studio audience, as announced at the end of nearly each episode. In the later seasons they stopped using live audiences, presumably because they were distractions to the actors; they played back each episode to the audience instead.
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