Excessive Use of the Laugh Box

[Brando @$$ Fat]

I was watching an episode of "Married With Children" the other day on FX, and I was just thinking how much better it would have been if they hadn't used the laugh box EVERY SINGLE GODDAMNED TIME SOMEBODY SAID SOMETHING!!!! It wasn't just that, either. Everytime somebody said something that could be interpreted as remotely sexual, the sex box went off (the "woooooooooooooooooo" sound effect).

It's not just "Married With Children," though. Shows these days take it way too far. I think these television execs should follow the example that "Seinfeld" set. Those were real laughs, not a bunch of phony lies.

[Backstabba]

I remember watching some show...I think it was called "Committed"?
It had those TV spots with the guy who lived in a closet, and a guy in a wheelchair playing basketball?

...Anyway, that had the WORST use of the laugh box.
Not because it wasn't funny. Because they used it on parts when they didn't even joke.

"I hope she's awesome" *laugh box* WHAT?!?!?!?!

...And "The Pits", a show that if you laughed while watching, you must have been high, stupid, or just had a different opinion then I did (;))

....AHHHHH! The best comedy shows are the ones without a laugh box.

[AWP82]

I agree with this rant. They used to do that on most of my favorite sitcoms back in the day, especially Family Matters with that "wooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" stuff whenever a sexual/flirty comment was made or when two people kissed. They think it amplifies the mood when it really just ruins it. It blows things way out of proportion. Kind of like when you mention to your friends that you're attracted to somebody and they rub it in by teasing you in a "Ooooohh" or "Awww, that's so cute" lovey dovey sort of way, and you're like "shut the fuck up man, don't jinx it!" Anyway, I don't like being told when to laugh either, especially when things are unfunny or only chuckle worthy. It's overkill.

[JurassicMik]

Originally posted by Backstabba
"The Pits"

That show made me want to kill stuff.

[KcMsterpce]

I was watching season one of COUPLING and thought the laugh track detracted greatly from the flow and enjoyment of the series.

Overall, a funny series, though.

[jaw2929]

Watch any old show of Boy Meets World... They fucking completely over-use the gaddamn laugh box thing... It's so annoying, it really takes you outta the show.... :o

[Tony_Montana]

I hate any use of the laugh box. It's like they're telling us when to laugh.

[LordSimen]

I think half the comedy of Married With Children was it's use of the laugh box.

[LoomisFan]

Originally posted by LordSimen
I think half the comedy of Married With Children was it's use of the laugh box.
That show was filmed in front of a live audience...

[screamer581]

Good rant.


That 70's Show was pretty bad about that as well. I think I would have enjoyed the show much more if it weren't for that awful laugh track.

[bob]

Originally posted by LoomisFan
That show was filmed in front of a live audience...

It doesn't matter...when shows are filmed "live", the laughter from audiences is recorded, be it from the one actually funny joke in the show, or from a comedian that performs between takes....it's still "canned" laughter.

[jolanar]

Originally posted by bob
It doesn't matter...when shows are filmed "live", the laughter from audiences is recorded, be it from the one actually funny joke in the show, or from a comedian that performs between takes....it's still "canned" laughter.

Exactly, the audience laughter isn't going to be real after the first take.

[Monotreme]

Everybody Loves Raymond single-handedly takes the prize as the most annoying use of the laugh box. There, literally every line the characters say is followed by hysterical laughter. Friends also over-did it on many occasions. Have to give it to Seinfeld and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (although it was filmed in front of a live audience, but see explanation above) for excellent, consistent use of the laugh box without ever over-doing it. And both of those shows are funny as hell, so that's another bonus - and something I can't really say about Everybody Loves Raymond...

[Cronos]

the laugh box is one of the reasons i stopped watching tv, even some shows i used to love are now unbearable because of it and generally completely kill any joke for me

when they release these laugh box shows on dvd they should have an option to remove it

[LoomisFan]

Originally posted by bob
It doesn't matter...when shows are filmed "live", the laughter from audiences is recorded, be it from the one actually funny joke in the show, or from a comedian that performs between takes....it's still "canned" laughter.
Ah, so that when a joke flops it will still seem like the audience enjoyed it. Interesting.
I WANT ONE.