In Defence Of - Audience Laughter

In days gone by, the truest indication that you were watching a comedy was the ever-present sound of an audience’s enjoyment punctuating all the funny bits for you. While still around, it’s definitely no longer something that could be described as being popular or the default setting. In fact, if anything the opposite is true. A quick squint at the majority of modern comedies, both British and American, will reveal very little in the way of audience laughter accompanying the soundtrack. Fleabag, Home, Back To Life, Don’t Forget The Driver, The Detectorists, Friday Night Dinner, Alan Partridge, Modern Family, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Good Place - not a titter to be heard.

So Why Do We Need It?
As an audience, arguably we don’t and never did. The true intent of an audience laughing is not to make less than funny comedies seem funnier (although it had undoubtedly been used that way - I went to the taping of a music-based BBC panel show many years ago and, from my subjective point of view of course, the audience laughter was more prominent in the edit than in person…). No, the value to be had in an audience responding to the comedy unfolding in front of them is the same one that is provided to a stand up comedian - it’s an immediate reaction to what is funny and what is working and can enhance a performance. Monty python, Fawlty Towers, Blackadder, Only Fools And Horses, Red Dwarf, Frasier - all shows that clearly benefit from the audience response and can impact the timing of delivery.

Should We Have It Back On Everything Then?
Absolutely not. Those comedies that don’t have a laugh track do so for a reason. Whether it be to maintain the illusion of truth (the documentary style of The Office, Parks And Recreation and Modern Family) or because the subtlety of the performance wouldn't be enhanced by audience interaction in this instance (Fleabag definitely.) 

So What’s The Problem Here?
There’s a perceived wisdom at work that seems to indicate that comedy with a laugh track is old-fashioned or worse false and therefore rubbish. I don’t agree - the right sort of comedy can benefit from the enhanced performances you get from the audience interaction. It would be refreshing to see something new made (other than a panel show, of course) that fits that mold - the last one I can think that consciously went down this route was The IT Crowd.

Much like a Spike Milligan sketch, this blog doesn’t have a strong ending so I’m just going to shuffle off sideways repeating the phrase, “What are we going to do now?” (Hmmm, actually, maybe that gives me idea for another one of these….)