Why are fake laughs added to sitcoms? - eviltoast

Is lack of trust in their comedy or they really think the public is that dumb they need to know when to laugh?

Or is a by product of its former format, the live laughs with a crowd while filming?

    • SanguinePar
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      4 days ago

      I’m not saying this is what they or other shows do, but just saying it was filmed before a live audience does not necessarily mean that it’s the sound of that live audience that makes it to the broadcast product. Easy enough to add a laugh track to augment or even completely replace the sound of a live audience.

      EDIT - in fact there’s even a name for it - Sweetening

      • Optional
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        14 days ago

        Well, in the case of BBT that’s specifically what the article says - the sound of laughter on set is the audience. But yes historically laugh tracks were used to replicate that. And for a long time most people didn’t know it was a laugh track.

        • @III@lemmy.world
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          24 days ago

          It wasn’t “just” the audience. Sweetening enhances the laughing - it doesn’t replace it.

          I always thought of it this way. You see fun videos of sitcom outtakes, everyone is having fun on set. This means multiple takes. How hard would you imagine it is for an audience member, on the 15th take, to laugh? Sweetening.

    • AwkwardLookMonkeyPuppet
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      64 days ago

      It’s kind of still a laugh track because they have big illuminated signs telling the audience when to laugh.

      • Optional
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        24 days ago

        Mmmm i don’t remember seeing that but open to pictures or whatever