But if the show is filmed in front of a live audience, and then you removed the laughing for the final broadcast, would that be better or worse than leaving it in?
No need to remove it, just don’t put a mic on the crowd.
My suspicion would be that the actors would appear to be reacting to something which didn’t exist, and that it’d be even worse than no audience at all.
It depends on why there is an audience. Is the audience there to give the actors feedback, or is it to provide laughing sounds, or to sell tickets?
In terms of study, do people laugh more or less when a laugh track is included? I know that a laugh track is an audible clue that something is happening. There are things I have watched where I did not realize a joke was occurring until I heard the laugh track.
That being said, if I think about a funny movie, it would sound absurd with a laugh track. But stand-up comedy almost needs laughing. My hunch is that the format probably dictates the laugh track. Late night comedy, talk shows, family sitcoms, and game shows seem off without an audience. If there is none, my guess is that one will be simulated.
In terms of study, do people laugh more or less when a laugh track is included?
The evidence is that it does work, even as the audience considers it blatantly stupid and phony, and that it’s even more effective for poorer material.
But if the show is filmed in front of a live audience, and then you removed the laughing for the final broadcast, would that be better or worse than leaving it in?
No need to remove it, just don’t put a mic on the crowd.
My suspicion would be that the actors would appear to be reacting to something which didn’t exist, and that it’d be even worse than no audience at all.
We’d have to do some experiments to check though.
It depends on why there is an audience. Is the audience there to give the actors feedback, or is it to provide laughing sounds, or to sell tickets?
In terms of study, do people laugh more or less when a laugh track is included? I know that a laugh track is an audible clue that something is happening. There are things I have watched where I did not realize a joke was occurring until I heard the laugh track.
That being said, if I think about a funny movie, it would sound absurd with a laugh track. But stand-up comedy almost needs laughing. My hunch is that the format probably dictates the laugh track. Late night comedy, talk shows, family sitcoms, and game shows seem off without an audience. If there is none, my guess is that one will be simulated.
The evidence is that it does work, even as the audience considers it blatantly stupid and phony, and that it’s even more effective for poorer material.