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The Big [Censored] Theory

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1444 points feross | 5 comments | 29 Aug 22 17:34 UTC | HN request time: 1.058s | source
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ascar ◴[29 Aug 22 19:24 UTC] No.32642380[source]▶
Side note: the article mentions canned laughter in TBBT rather early. TBBT actually doesn't use canned laughter but uses laughter from the live audience for its laugh track.

I pity that I didn't have the chance to visit the studios and be part of that laugh track :(

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1. nindalf ◴[29 Aug 22 19:33 UTC] No.32642496[source]▶
Most shows that use canned laughter (Friends, Seinfeld etc.) were filmed in front of an audience. It’s not worth the hassle to set up audio recoding for the audience, especially because people aren’t reliable. They might not laugh at the right moment, one or two audience members might have a weird laugh, they might be too soft or loud.

The audience reaction is useful feedback for the actors, but the laughter is canned.

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2. ascar ◴[29 Aug 22 19:41 UTC] No.32642580[source]▶
Well, TBBT is especially known for recording and using the audience laughter. That's why I explicitly mentioned it and it creates some interesting moments the producers didn't even intend to be funny. You can find multiple sources for that like point 10 here [1]. There are some YouTube videos giving deeper insight into the process but I don't have them at hand.

[1] https://www.cbr.com/big-bang-theory-annoyed-anger-fans/

3. ryanobjc ◴[29 Aug 22 19:48 UTC] No.32642683[source]▶
I've done a studio tour of TBBT set, and they have mics set up for audience recording.

I'm not sure what your "worth the hassle" is about, they rented the same sound stage for YEARS to record the show. They're hardly tearing it down and setting it up daily!

4. kevin_thibedeau ◴[29 Aug 22 20:32 UTC] No.32643171[source]▶
Seinfeld didn't use canned laughter except to mask editing cuts as is the norm for shows with an audience.
5. pessimizer ◴[29 Aug 22 21:05 UTC] No.32643541[source]▶
No modern sitcom filmed in front of a live studio audience uses canned laughter. They may sweeten laughter with overdubs, but they're not throwing away the real thing for the fake stuff.

Live audience laughter completely changes the timing for 3-camera sitcoms, because the actors have to wait for it to finish. Setting up audio recording for the audience is trivial.