MovieChat Forums > The League of Gentlemen (2000) Discussion > Canned laughter!?

Canned laughter!?

posted 17 years ago by lennalf
36 replies | jump to latest

What's up with the laugh track? I grabbed the first episode of this show upon 3rd party recommendation. The first scene is a guy reading a letter and we hear a voiceover, but then the camera pans over to an old lady who is actually the one narrating. The CAMERA PANS OVER, and the laugh track begins!? So that pretty much rules out "live audience" right off the bat, doesn't it!?

I despise canned laughter. It is the most foul thing anybody can do to a "comedy." It actually makes potentially funny jokes and lines UNFUNNY, especially in the case of subtle humor or dry sarcasm, both of which would often make up much of a British comedy. I'm extremely glad I downloaded this first episode to preview before investing any more time or money in such a vulgar attempt at comedy.

Canned laughter is for people with an IQ of 100 or lower. Yuck.

[–] paulmartinsmith 17 years ago

I actually like the fact they used the laughter of people that have never even seen the programme. To me, it just adds to the perverse feel of the show.

[–] trav1 17 years ago

Try the Christmas Special, that doesn't have a laughter track, as far as I remember, neither does the 3rd series.

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[–] magoo10498 17 years ago

I've just watched season 1 and I'd say it's a laugh track as opposed to a live audience. There's a definate loop of a laugh similar to Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop!!!

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[–] victorbateman 17 years ago

"There's a definate loop of a laugh similar to Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop!!! "

Ha ha. i know exactly the one you mean. The laugh seems to make other audience members laugh more. i always just assumed that there was one guy in the live audience who had a very strange laugh.

And just cause you hear it more than once doesn't mean it's a loop. Could it be that that person laughed more than once?

[–] SaraGooner 17 years ago

There's no laugh track later on. Season 3 I think.

"Screw you guys, I'm going home!"

[–] amyl_nitrate 17 years ago

I despise canned laughter. It is the most foul thing anybody can do to a "comedy." It actually makes potentially funny jokes and lines UNFUNNY, especially in the case of subtle humor or dry sarcasm, both of which would often make up much of a British comedy. I'm extremely glad I downloaded this first episode to preview before investing any more time or money in such a vulgar attempt at comedy.

Canned laughter is for people with an IQ of 100 or lower. Yuck.

Well that's your luck out then isn't it? I don't like canned laughter anymore than the next person but I'm not stupid enough to label a show as vulgar simply because of it. How pathetic. Criticise the show for it's jokes, writing and acting, not for the studio audience or laughter track. With your attitude you've missed out on a truly fantastic show and will miss many more classic comedy shows that have studio audience laughters recorded onto them including Monty Python, Blackadder and The Young Ones to name but a few.

[–] the_unutterable 17 years ago

Outside scenes are show to an audience, but indoor scenes that are done on sets are filmed in front of an audience (e.g. the local shop)

"It is time to keep your appointment with the Wicker Man"

[–] badbeard 16 years ago

Red Dwarf too!

[–] adamknox 16 years ago

I actully read some where... the BBC demand every comedy show HAVE a laughter track. The 'royal family' didnt have one as it was writen INTO the contract my caroline ahearn that it was not to have one. The BBC think we need to be told where to laugh, i find this insulting and.. stuff i cant spell :'( lol

This show isnt a 'comedy' as in only fools and horses or Victor of dibley (shudders) this is a dark,sick and depraved show which has a few laughs. It ruined the first 2 series for me tbh :( When your watch paplazru (sorry for spelling) rip an innocent women from her warm home into a life of fear,hunger and depravity and to take part in a cirus which will ruin all the suprises hell has for ppl on there way there.... which is then drowned out by fake laughter which was probley recorded from hancock half hour 40-50 years ago!
It really does ruin a show for the ppl who wish to look deeper into the story and try and work out the hidden meanings.

thanks BBC :)

P.s Tony hancock (hancocks half hour fame) near enough went mad about laughter tracks.. he said "if you needed to put fake laugher on my show why bother" He sunk into a deep depression after he found out about the laughter tracks.. something like that anyway! ....not that this had anything to do with anything..just showing you they have been doing it since the 50s :)

P.s I know my spelling isnt perfect but can u spare me the digs please :(

This message was done in the best possible of taste :) x 24/7

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[–] jayeye1979 17 years ago

During the Geoff birthday scene, I remember hearing an audience member saying "sick" when they show him lying in the bathroom, so I guess that proves a live audience saw that scene at least. It's funny because I was thinking the same exact thing at that moment, that's why I remember someone saying it.

[–] iamnicksemail 17 years ago

On the commentary of the first episode in Season 1, they say how it's not canned, it's people who are shown the footage and recorded.

[–] beresfordjd 17 years ago

Canned laughter can help some series but this does not need it.
I have yet to see the feature length movie but I have heard good things and bad things so I will reserve judgement.The original radio series from which LOG came was as innovative as the TV series became. I don't know whether the TV series made it to the US but I would be fascinated to see how American audiences found the weird Englishness of the humour

[–] sherman-10 17 years ago

Comedy Central ran cut episodes of the first two seasons, so it could fit into a normal half hour. They never showed the third season, but BBC America showed all three seasons briefly, uncut. It didn't gain popularity here (probably because of the episodes being cut and being shown at bad times, not to mention the show is just plain bizarre at times), but it does have a cult following, myself included. I'm sure if it ran now it would definitely be more popular. Can't wait to see the movie!

[–] iamnicksemail 17 years ago

I'm from the US and I LOVED this show! Then again, I tend to like most English Comedy

The Office (UK Version) Is AMAZING! I hate the US version, it doesn't have the same sense of subtle humor.

Shaun of the Dead/Hot Fuzz - Awesome

LOG - Love it!

I even like the older stuff like Are You Being Served!

[–] cheshire_cat00 16 years ago

i'm pretty sure i posted in this thread but it seems that my post has been deleted by admin. ugh imdb is such a fascist state sometimes!

and i didn't even say anything bad. i just said that it's not canned laughter, it's a studio audience.

____________________________________
"No mother...that sailor suit doesn't fit anymore!"

[–] Harlequin_Forest 16 years ago

I always thought The League Of Gentlemen never needed a laughter track. I love the show, I just don't like canned laughter.

[–] thisismynewe-mail 16 years ago

i think that the laughter track is inappropriate, but if it wasn't there, this show would be SO HIDEOUSLY DARK that it wouldn't have taken off.