Why must we be told when 2 laugh?

I've always been under the impression that if it were funny, I'd laugh. I need no coaching from those "higher ups" as 2 when I should laugh.

Is there a disclaimer 4 when I should cry? Is there a "Cry Track"...? Oh, yeah... overly dramatic music is a key source.

2 of the funniest shows on TV right now have no laugh tracks... "The Bernie Mac Show" and the ever-funny "Simpsons".

Remember the good ol' days (not that I was there, but I clearly remember in the re-runs) of the great classics, like "I Love Lucy" with the ever present live studio audiences, and Desi Arnaz's hearty bellow that u could hear from ten blocks away...

Can u name any more that don't add the laugh track?

"King Of The Hill"

"Malcolm In The Middle"

"ER" 8)

June7 said:

Agreed!!! Worse, they usually play the laugh track when shit isn't even close to funny...how annoying!!

That's because it's usually NOT funny. They have to point out the punch lines.

wellbeyond said:

YES!!! 2 great examples (sans "ER") 8)

Funny, I didn't even notice "Malcolm In The Middle" didn't have a laugh track... guess I was 2 busy laughing!!!

Seinfeld though extremely funny, was bad for this.you end up focusing on the fake laughter rather than the show.It's annoying.

See, that's the funny thing. Seinfeld is a show that clearly did not need a laugh track.