Why do networks insist on canned laughter?

[Kizzume]

It's been since back in M*A*S*H days that arguments about the validity and benefits of canned laughter has been seriously argued. The directors of M*A*S*H had to work hard to NOT have laughter inserted during operation/surgery scenes.

Why is it that network execs still are obsessed with this sort of thing? Is it to try to teach younger people "what is funny"?

To me, canned laughter is a slap in the face, it's telling people that they're too stupid to figure out a joke.

The arguments FOR it stem to the feeling of watching a live act. I don't think that's strong enough of a reason.

What do you think?

[Hackfest]

I can't stand it. I guess on the M*A*S*H* boxset you can turn off the laugh track. Totally different show. I don't think people realize how different a viewing experience can be without it. The only time you should have a laugh track is on Batman: the Animated Series when Joker hosts his own TV show with a "captive" audience.

[Kizzume]

M*A*S*H is so great to watch that way.

What I think is the most pathetic is the canned laughter in Scooby Doo. What the heck? LOL

[Hackfest]

That is just so bad that its good though. It's always the same couple of laughs.

[Ess2s2]

Well, there's several reasons why television shows have used and retained laugh tracks, and yes, some of the answers are going to piss you off.

Reason 1 - Probably the biggest reason networks apply laugh tracks to sitcoms is to "cue" the audience at home. Yes, networks do think you are too stupid to figure out jokes, because a large cross section of the primetime viewing demographic really *is* too stupid (or zombiefied) to cull out certain jokes.

Reason 2 - Related in part to "cues," laugh tracks are used to maintain the flow of a sitcom amid distraction. If you look away to tend to a child or grab something out of the oven, A laugh track cues you into the end of a line of dialogue and helps you to zero in on the next snippet of dialogue before you get lost. Again, yes, we are catering to people who may not have the easiest time following simple "knock-knock" jokes.

Reason 3 - Simple, to heighten perceived comedic effect. If you hear a bunch of other people laughing at something it must be funny right?

Reason 4 - Like Kizzume said above, it's to simulate a social viewing experience. When you are sitting at home alone and you hear all those other people laugh, you don't feel like such an introvert, and you get the same sensation as that of watching a movie in a theater. You feel comfortable because a part of you is convinced you are participating in a social activity, and you are less prone to going and doing something more personally fulfilling. The LAST thing television networks want you to do is stop watching TV.

Reason 5 - Tied in with early Hanna Barbera era cartoons and mixed genre shows such as M*A*S*H*, laugh tracks actually eased the tension of certain unusual scenes, or, in the case of the cartoons like Scooby Doo or Flintstones, carried laugh tracks to blend in and attempt to appeal to a wider audience.

Reason 6 - The earliest sitcoms (I Love Lucy, Bewitched, I Dream of Genie) as well as some recent shows, were actually filmed live, so the laughter in the background was actually people laughing. Later shows that didn't have the time or budget to film in front of a live audience wanted to be able to compete, and so laugh tracks were added to minimize distinction between a live-filmed show and a soundstage show.

[Kizzume]

You are quite thorough!

I am happy that the past several years have lent to less shows that use on-cue audible laughter. I've so glad the Simpsons doesn't have it. Can you imagine how that show would be ruined with it?