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Despite being essential to sitcoms for decades, laugh tracks have long been a taboo topic in TV. Although it added a sense of authenticity to shows likeThe Andy Griffith Show, which was shot in front of a live audience, with time, many sitcoms shifted towards incorporating artificial laughter. In recent years, the consensus towards laugh tracks has only deterred, with shows likeThe Officebecoming major sensations following its lack of this trope.
However, there has been one major exception, which benefited greatly from the inclusion of laugh tracks,The Big Bang Theory. While adding fake laughter is not uncommon for sitcoms, Chuck Lorre was against it, as it allowed them to identify their flaws.
The Big Bang Theory Benefited From Live Audience
Compared to artificial laughs, filming in front of a live audience can be a lot more troubling, asChuck Lorredescribed that the silence from the audience when a joke doesn’t land“is horrifying”.
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On the flip side, it offered them an insight into what worked and what didn’t and kept the crew grounded. Not only this was humbling for them, but Lorre stressed“It’s also an endless education.”
He said (viaThe Wrap):
If you’ve been to tapings, you know that silence is horrifying. But it tells you that you’ve made a mistake. In essence, it’s what movies do with focus groups. We do that every week on a four-camera show. Those 200 people in the stands are telling us we weren’t not as smart as we think we are, and they don’t really care if I think it’s funny. It’s whether they think it’s funny… To be truthful, you’re not supposed to hear the laughter in the four camera sitcom because you’re laughing
Lorre’s commitment to using the original reaction from the live audience ensured the jokes in the sitcom landed, and it’s safe to say they hit it out of the park with it.
Chuck Lorre Recalled Being Told Sitcoms Would Be Irrelevant
Although Chuck Lorre has cemented himself as the undisputed king in thesitcom landscape, he recalled being told on several occasions, throughout his career, that sitcoms might no longer be relevant. But this couldn’t be far from the truth as sitcoms continue to hold a strong grasp in the realm of entertainment, and it’s safe to say it’s here to stay.
And then somebody comes along and does something wonderful with the form. Suddenly, it’s a genuinely legitimate form again. I’ve seen the obituary too many times to think that it’s for.
With Lorre returning for theYoung Sheldonspin-off,Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, fans will hope it’ll live up to its predecessors in terms of comedy and writing.
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The Big Bang Theoryis available to stream on Max.
Santanu Roy
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2539
Santanu Roy is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on movies, with over 2,000 articles under his belt. He has been pursuing a degree in Animation and possesses a deep love for the medium of animation. Having spent the better part of the last two years pumping out articles for FW, Santanu excels at covering movie analysis and news surrounding Pixar, DCU, DreamWorks, and Batman’s cinematic legacy.With psychological thrillers and intimate slice-of-life dramas ranking among his favorite genres, Santanu is a big admirer of Luca Guadagnino, Shane Black, Park Chan-wook, and Brad Bird.
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