There's a channel over here that airs a lot of TV shows I follow or used to follow (mainly The Walking Dead nowadays), and that I tune in from time to time when I need some decent background humor in the form of The Simpsons, American Dad, Family Guy and so on. They also have The Big Bang Theory on air, so while I don't like the show, it happens that I catch a couple minutes of it from time to time as I wait for something else or as another show ends before I get around to switch channels. I don't like the characters, the fake nerd setup and all, but I understand it isn't for me and I just move on.
So yesterday while I was working on the computer and as the fun 2-part Who Shot Mr. Burns episode of The Simpsons ended, immediately The Big Bang Theory started. Can't tell which episode it was, but it started with the main characters entering in an apartment lobby in renessaince clothes, with Sheldon saying something along the lines of "this was the worst renessaince fair ever". After that, there was a pretty loud laugh track.
This was at the start of an episode so no context was given. There was no joke in this setup, no joke said by Sheldon or anyone else, unless seeing actors in generic renessaince costumes is a joke in itself. And yet, there was a laugh track, and I have no doubts a lot of people watched this and laughed. Call me obtuse but I don't fucking get it. I've always found their attempts at humor pretty weak, but at least there's usually an attempt to set up some decent joke by building something up or by having wacky acting on purpose. But this isn't the first time I see scenes from this show that end with a laugh track placed after scenes that failed to have a punchline, let alone a good one.
"I went to New York." *laughs*
"Worst renessaince fair ever." *laughs*
"I bought a Star Wars toy." *laughs*
This thing somehow lasted 12 seasons. I don't want to make fun of people's tastes or sense of humor, but I am seriously in awe that the show is trying to force laughs out of people by adding laugh tracks where there is nothing even remotely funny. I'm aware this is an old trick, but in this day and age with a modern show it just feels jarring. It feels like there's a dude pushing the audience laugh button at random intervals, regardless of what's happening on screen.
Illuminate me, what is up with this show because I'm probably too stupid to understand it.
So yesterday while I was working on the computer and as the fun 2-part Who Shot Mr. Burns episode of The Simpsons ended, immediately The Big Bang Theory started. Can't tell which episode it was, but it started with the main characters entering in an apartment lobby in renessaince clothes, with Sheldon saying something along the lines of "this was the worst renessaince fair ever". After that, there was a pretty loud laugh track.
This was at the start of an episode so no context was given. There was no joke in this setup, no joke said by Sheldon or anyone else, unless seeing actors in generic renessaince costumes is a joke in itself. And yet, there was a laugh track, and I have no doubts a lot of people watched this and laughed. Call me obtuse but I don't fucking get it. I've always found their attempts at humor pretty weak, but at least there's usually an attempt to set up some decent joke by building something up or by having wacky acting on purpose. But this isn't the first time I see scenes from this show that end with a laugh track placed after scenes that failed to have a punchline, let alone a good one.
"I went to New York." *laughs*
"Worst renessaince fair ever." *laughs*
"I bought a Star Wars toy." *laughs*
This thing somehow lasted 12 seasons. I don't want to make fun of people's tastes or sense of humor, but I am seriously in awe that the show is trying to force laughs out of people by adding laugh tracks where there is nothing even remotely funny. I'm aware this is an old trick, but in this day and age with a modern show it just feels jarring. It feels like there's a dude pushing the audience laugh button at random intervals, regardless of what's happening on screen.
Illuminate me, what is up with this show because I'm probably too stupid to understand it.
