Producers of the American sitcom 'Friends'
ensure your audience is aware of how hilarious your show is by employing a laughter track every 30 seconds...
(SonoraAeroClub "OH SWEET HELEN OF BALLS!", Thu 11 Aug 2011, 7:59, 16 replies, latest was 13 years ago)

Friends didn't use a laugh track...

( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 11 Aug 2011, 8:55, Reply)

Of course they didn't dear...
because every time Joey said something it was, "like", sooo totally hilarious...
(SonoraAeroClub "OH SWEET HELEN OF BALLS!", Thu 11 Aug 2011, 10:41, Reply)

Each to their own in terms of comedy, I wouldn't be laughing at that either.
But it didn't use a laugh track.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 11 Aug 2011, 10:50, Reply)

Why are we even talking about this anyway? Have you been watching your Box Sets again?

( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 11 Aug 2011, 10:50, Reply)

No, I haven't.

( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 11 Aug 2011, 10:51, Reply)

Look, it must be perfectly obvious that I wasn't talking to you
I just replied to the wrong post.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 11 Aug 2011, 10:51, Reply)

Well, you're a fucking idiot then aren't you?

( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 11 Aug 2011, 10:51, Reply)

Leave me alone
you horrid internet bully.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 11 Aug 2011, 10:51, Reply)

Scarpey you legend...

(SonoraAeroClub "OH SWEET HELEN OF BALLS!", Thu 11 Aug 2011, 10:56, Reply)

^What she said^

( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 11 Aug 2011, 11:45, Reply)

Look what happens
when they remove the laughter, it's just full of awkward silences which highlight how unfunny the dialogue really is.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIKWWxTqA9o
( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Thu 11 Aug 2011, 11:57, Reply)

I can't believe I am defending 'Friends'
It was filmed before an audience. Removing the laughter is like filming a stand up comedian and then releasing the DVD with the laughter dubbed out. It would just look awkward and weird and just be someone standing up on a stage talking shit to themselves in silence (or like a Jason Mountford show, amirgight, amiright?)

Also, the script is paced to allow laughter gaps, so of course it looks weird if that laughter is then removed. The Office, for example, was filmed with no laugh track and is paced differently. That would look weird and awkward if it had gaps where laughter should go too.

Finally, I may not have been clear, there is a difference between a laugh track and canned laughter.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 11 Aug 2011, 12:07, Reply)

^What Bitchtits said^
Also, laughter is a social, bonding behaviour, and the discourse infectious.

Also - *gasp!* I quite like Friends - some of it's really quite well-written and acted, I think.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 11 Aug 2011, 12:28, Reply)

Yup
for all it's many faults in terms of dragging storylines, it was a very sharply scripted show joke wise.
( scarpe We Stole Bikes, Thu 11 Aug 2011, 12:29, Reply)

I never had you down as a troll

( sandettie light vessel automatic New Twitter - @bollocksreally, Fri 12 Aug 2011, 13:57, Reply)

'tis merkin
and to be an horrible racist, they do tend to labour the point, whether laughing or clapping or hugging or jumping for joy or close up shots of facial expressions of disgust, confusion, surprise etc. The reality shows are much worse for this.

One thing I think deserves to be mentioned, that although it might be filmed in front of a live audience, the reactions are 'normal'. The producers are quite clear at the filmings that they want the audience to react strongly, so the reactions are even more over the top than they would normally be for an LA audience full of failed actors.
( Sextant goes to him is emotionally erect, on this day, Sat 13 Aug 2011, 23:34, Reply)