I was wondering if most (or all) episodes (barring location shoots, or course) were shot in front of a live audience. How much of the audience reaction that is heard in televised eps is real and how is "augmented"? And if it is a live audience, is the seating stadium style or is it on a flat floor so that the folks stuck in the back can't see anything?
I'm asking because I remember some sitcoms in the 70s had a voiceover in the end credits claiming their show was filmed in front a live studio audience (as opposed to a gaggle of cadavers stapled to the bleachers??), and Friends, to my knowledge, doesn't make this claim.
You can only laugh at the same joke so many times. It may be funny the first time (or two), but not LOL-funny after a few times, when it just becomes a light chuckle. So depending on which take they use for the final cut, they may have to add additional laughter.
I did notice that some of the staff folks seemed to be spread out in the studio audience, and would force themselves to laugh very hard at all the jokes, in addition to *always* gasping at "surprises" (it's only surprising the first time you see it, there's no way I'd believe anyone would gasp *again* take after take), or make any oohing and ahhing sounds.
Stadium style.. sort of. Lots of barriers, though.. You can't see through the front "fence" (for lack of better word), since they have covers on it (as well as glass), and above the set, there are also barriers (seemed kind of like some kind of balcony), and also moniters for people who can't see the actual sets. There's something like a five-foot gap between the lower barrier and the upper one, by my guesstimation. Aside from that, the camera crew could also obstruct your view (they have to get the best view to show for TV, afterall), so if you're in the back, you pretty much have no choice but to look at the moniters (I was lucky enough to get the first row, so I wouldn't know).
None of the sitcoms do anymore. I think people got annoyed at those announcements...
Yes, I have actually read a story about someone who had one of those jobs. Also, when someone else is laughing you tend to laugh, or laugh much harder. I know this because I see a big difference in my laughter when I am watching it alone and when I am watching it with a friend. Same goes for other emotions such as crying. Have you ever seen everyoen just fine then one person starts crying, than everyone starts balling? This happens at funerals and other places.
It's Stadium Seating, but if you're at the back it can be hard to see anything due monitors & barriers etc.
It is live, but they over dub it, because I went to the filming of ep6.05 & deliberatly made these really loud laughs so I could hear myself on TV when it was aired (I know I'm pathetic), but they were all dubbed out.
Z
"Michael Martin" wrote in message news:39117753$[email]...
A sitcom taping can last for several hours, during which the audience can thin out (I went to a taping for another show which ran until midnight). Canned laughter is used to "sweeten" the natural laughter.
About 7-8 years ago, a group of us went to go and see a taping of Jay Leno. My friend made a loud sound (similar to a "Hoo!") when his model of car was mentioned. When we were watching it that night, you could hear it pretty clearly. I guess they don't have the time to dub out audiences in those "Late Night" shows, as they are taped and televised the same day.
Not necessarily true; I went to a taping of 'The Eleven O' Clock Show' recently, which is filmed between 6 and 8pm, and aired at 11pm the same day. Some jokes were done three or four times, and there was litle or no laughter. Then when the program was aired later, laughter had magically appeared, but also with some of the sounds that we had made. Turns out that the middle of the audiences laughter is used, but the ends are patched over with canned. This is so that the laughter can be introduced quickly and smoothly, and cut-off quickly and smoothly. Next time you watch it, Anglais, notice how quickly the laughter dies out - surreally fast.
Exterior scenes are pre-shot during the week and are then played back on tv monitors to the audience on Friday film days to record the laughter. There is some "sweetening" or adding of laughter when the show is edited together - like almost every other sitcom.
I think those "Filmed before a live studio audience" announcements died out around 1992 or 1993... the last show I remember having them was "Coach"... Friends is filmed in front of a live studio audience.