Difference between revisions of "Laugh track"
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It became commonplace during the 60's and 70's, and was universally hated, derided, and ridiculed by the public. But the producers kept doing it anyway. One of the noteworthy shows to move beyond the laugh track was ''All in the Family'', produced by [[Norman Lear]] in 1971. The action was taped in a "live" performance in front of an invited studio audience, and the audience reaction was made part of the sound track. In later years the show retreated from the somewhat: The show was taped, the tape was shown to a studio audience, and their reaction became part of the sound track. | It became commonplace during the 60's and 70's, and was universally hated, derided, and ridiculed by the public. But the producers kept doing it anyway. One of the noteworthy shows to move beyond the laugh track was ''All in the Family'', produced by [[Norman Lear]] in 1971. The action was taped in a "live" performance in front of an invited studio audience, and the audience reaction was made part of the sound track. In later years the show retreated from the somewhat: The show was taped, the tape was shown to a studio audience, and their reaction became part of the sound track. | ||
| − | Over time, a laugh track has a deadening effect on the intelligence of the real audience. [[Liberals]] rarely object to it, although it laugh tracks have been omitted from a | + | Over time, a laugh track has a deadening effect on the intelligence of the real audience. [[Liberals]] rarely object to it, although it laugh tracks have been omitted from a many contemporary programs favored by liberals, such as [[Tina Fey]]'s (''30 Rock''), Larry David's (''Curb Your Enthusiasm''), Mitchell Hurwitz's (''Arrested Development''), Greg Daniels' and Michael Schur's (''Parks and Recreation''), and Dennis Leary's (''The Job''). |
== History == | == History == | ||
Revision as of 14:41, July 10, 2011
A laugh track, or "canned laughter", is pre-recorded laughter played in a repetitive manner to create the illusion in television comedy show that the viewer is part of the actual audience in a studio or performance hall. It is one of several effects that producers use to produce this "live" ambience, like the "applause" sign shown at the right.
It became commonplace during the 60's and 70's, and was universally hated, derided, and ridiculed by the public. But the producers kept doing it anyway. One of the noteworthy shows to move beyond the laugh track was All in the Family, produced by Norman Lear in 1971. The action was taped in a "live" performance in front of an invited studio audience, and the audience reaction was made part of the sound track. In later years the show retreated from the somewhat: The show was taped, the tape was shown to a studio audience, and their reaction became part of the sound track.
Over time, a laugh track has a deadening effect on the intelligence of the real audience. Liberals rarely object to it, although it laugh tracks have been omitted from a many contemporary programs favored by liberals, such as Tina Fey's (30 Rock), Larry David's (Curb Your Enthusiasm), Mitchell Hurwitz's (Arrested Development), Greg Daniels' and Michael Schur's (Parks and Recreation), and Dennis Leary's (The Job).
History
Canned laughter was originally used in radio during the late 1940s. Most radio shows were produced in front of live audiences, but as TV gained viewers and radio lost its popularity, laugh tracks were added to the broadcasts.[1]
The "Laff Box" for television was invented by Charles Rolland Douglass, a World War II veteran who, upon his return to the United States, worked as a broadcast engineer for CBS.[2] Canned laughter was first used for a NBC show called The Hank McCune Show in 1950.[3] Its appearance was noted in the show's review in Variety magazine.
The earliest laughter is thought to have come from a Los Angeles performance by the mime Marcel Marceau, and various Red Skelton shows.[4]