TV Chat

bif

(26,366 posts) Sun Oct 12, 2025, 02:01 PM Oct 12

What's with bringing laugh tracks back?

I absolutely hate them and was quite pleased they were fazed out years ago. I've tried to watch some new shows that had great potential, only to quit a minute into them when I heard a laugh track. What were they thinking?

5 replies

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What's with bringing laugh tracks back? (Original Post) bif Oct 12 OP

Agreed bif. Laugh tracks were the bane of my youth, only I didn't know it. Just never responded in kind. George McGovern Oct 12 #1

A couple of reasons LogDog75 Oct 12 #2

Ya mean like on SNL??? Ugh, couldn't stand it on Saturday night. a kennedy Oct 13 #3

Laugh tracks cost less Oeditpus Rex Oct 14 #4

Neighborhood v DMV LessAspin Oct 14 #5

George McGovern

(9,845 posts)

1. Agreed bif. Laugh tracks were the bane of my youth, only I didn't know it. Just never responded in kind.

Reply to bif (Original post)

Sun Oct 12, 2025, 02:17 PM

Oct 12

They didn't work. Not once can I recall laughing along with one. It's a damn shame they are back. Bad decision. Far better to rely on good script writing, acting and leave a good thing alone.

LogDog75

(941 posts)

2. A couple of reasons

Reply to bif (Original post)

Sun Oct 12, 2025, 03:01 PM

Oct 12

1. The show/jokes are so bad the only people laughing are the ones on the laugh track.
2. Subliminal suggestion where the laugh track triggers an automatic reaction in people causing them to laugh.
3. Social pressure in hearing a large group of people laughing, even though you don't see them/

In short, we've been programmed to respond to certain stimuli that produces responses in people. For example, If you go to a play and don't really like it, at the end you applaud the actors even though you didn't think they deserved it.

a kennedy

(34,695 posts)

3. Ya mean like on SNL??? Ugh, couldn't stand it on Saturday night.

Reply to LogDog75 (Reply #2)

Mon Oct 13, 2025, 10:57 AM

Oct 13

Oeditpus Rex

(43,055 posts)

4. Laugh tracks cost less

Reply to bif (Original post)

Tue Oct 14, 2025, 03:38 AM

Oct 14

than accomodating a live audience.

LessAspin

(1,715 posts)

5. Neighborhood v DMV

Reply to bif (Original post)

Tue Oct 14, 2025, 06:36 PM

Oct 14

Pretty good example of this last night. In the 8-9 slot last night on CBS you were able to compare and contrast the 2 styles.

Neighborhood 8-8:30 Monday night on CBS has a laugh track. Even though I like the stars of the show (Cedric the Entertainer...) .. having a laugh track is a deal breaker for me. Just feels like it cheapens it.

DMV 8:30-9pm was very good but I would have never tried watching DMV if it had a laugh track.

https://www.tvinsider.com/1221130/tv-we-love-dmv-fbi-watson-the-voice/

CBS does the same thing on Thursday..

George and Mandy has a laugh track in the 8-8:30 slot.

Ghosts at 8:30 does not .. so I don't bother turning on CBS until 8:30 on either of those nights.

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