[ SECRET POST #4028 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #4028 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 36 secrets from Secret Submission Post #577.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

Re: Given the replies, I'm not sure people understand what laugh tracks are.

[(Anonymous)]

I refuse to believe that TBBT isn't substantially sweetened.

And, like, more generally: I don't know how useful it is to draw a hard line between live audience and laugh track, when there's so much manipulation and sweetening that's possible, and I don't think it's even really all that central for the way that most people experience shows. The way that laughter is used on TBBT is really annoying and bad to a lot of people, regardless of how it's produced.

Re: Given the replies, I'm not sure people understand what laugh tracks are.

[(Anonymous)]

ayrt

I actually kind of doubt that.

Do I think there is an artificiality to the audiences' reactions? Yes. First, for a show as popular as TBBT, it is not difficult for them to get audience members who are fans of the show and want to be there, I would assume there are waitlists, even. So, already, they have people who are excited to be there and want to enjoy themselves (and probably some who want to show that they are a good audience member). Next, they have a hype person, generally a comedian, who performs for the audience before the filming starts and during any breaks. Generally, there will also be cues for the audience, which people are just inclined to follow. Next, are the mess-ups - a joke sometimes gets a much bigger reaction than it deserves because they finally get it right and the audience is reacting to that. So, is it manipulated? Absolutely. But the artificiality is of a different type to me than a laugh track, mostly because there are both genuine and not-so-genuine reactions. And forgive me for the lengthy reply, I just find this stuff fascinating.

Re: Given the replies, I'm not sure people understand what laugh tracks are.

[(Anonymous)]

There's also the fact that people tend to laugh more when people around them are laughing, so the studio audience is creating their own laughter positive feedback loop, while a person watching at home along might barely chuckle.

Re: Given the replies, I'm not sure people understand what laugh tracks are.

[(Anonymous)]

I get all of that, but none of that precludes them also using editing and other kinds of sweetening. obviously, I don't really know whether or not they use it, but I wouldn't be surprised.

But even setting that aside - I still think it's the case that the effect that the laughter has on the show is the really important thing. And TBBT has issues with the way that it uses laughter, even if it's a completely unsweetened reaction. It is unsubtle and seems forced in the same way that people generally attribute to recorded laugh tracks.

Re: Given the replies, I'm not sure people understand what laugh tracks are.

[(Anonymous)]

I don't mind the laughter being sweetened, or using the laugh from one take with the footage of another, but I draw the line when there very clearly is no real audience, as in cartoons or the M*A*S*H example below, or when the laughter sounds way to same-y every time..