805 taping---off limits to audience????

i heard that no one was allowed into yesterday's taping (for obvious reasons)? is this true?

On 22 Sep 2001 22:32:41 GMT, [email] (SHNOCODY) wrote:

What were the obvious reasons? Nude Scene?

Eric

security reasons: terrorism threats.

A terrorist attack on Friends??? LOL! Oh come on not even terrorists would think this show is as big as the White House or something important enough to blow up the studios.

Sofya

"SHNOCODY" wrote in message news:[email]...

Basically, the FBI was given a bomb threat that if the US attcked Afghanistan, they would retaliate and blow up the movie studios. For security reasons, they don't want to film Friends in front of a live audience. Are you guys ready for canned laughter? The FBI met with all the studio heads concerning this situation. Among the studios were Fox Entertainment Group Inc.'s, 20th Century Fox, Sony Corp.'s Sony Pictures Entertainment, Walt Disney Co., Vivendi Universal's Universal Pictures, Viacom Inc.'s, Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. and AOL Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros., and DreamWorks SKG. Here is an in-depth article:

Hollywood goes on alert after FBI warning

By Steve Gorman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Major Hollywood studios tightened security Friday -- canceling tours and setting up metal detectors and barriers -- after the FBI warned they could be the "target of a terrorist bombing."

FBI spokesman John McLaughlin said the agency met the heads of major studios Thursday hours after receiving an "uncorroborated yet credible" threat against the filmmakers.

Many in Hollywood have worried that studios might be targeted by Muslim extremists who view the film and TV industries as purveyors of decadent American values.

The studios warned were Fox Entertainment Group Inc.'s

20th Century Fox, Sony Corp.'s Sony Pictures Entertainment, Walt Disney Co., Vivendi Universal's Universal Pictures, Viacom Inc.'s

Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. and AOL Time Warner Inc.'s Warner Bros.

DreamWorks SKG, the studio co-founded by filmmaker Steven Spielberg, also was believed to have been included.

The studios immediately took steps to beef up security, shutting entrances to their lots, setting up barricades and metal detectors and canceling some studio tours.

At Warner Bros., television studio tours were halted and live tapings of its prime-time shows, such as "Friends" and "The Drew Carey Show," were closed to the general public. Paramount canceled its studio tours for Friday and next Monday.

In a show of the patriotism that has swept the country after the Sept. 11 attacks, a large American flag adorned the third "o" in the famed Hollywood sign overlooking the city.

McLaughlin declined to discuss the source of the threat but said FBI agents almost immediately informed studio chiefs.

"The uncorroborated threat states that a film studio in California could be the target of a terrorist bombing attack in retaliation for any bombing attacks by the United States in Afghanistan," he said.

PREPARING FOR POSSIBLE ATTACKS

President Bush has been steeling Americans and the nation's allies for looming U.S. military action against those the government believes carried out the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. In a televised address Thursday night, Bush demanded that Afghanistan's Taliban rulers hand over Osama bin Laden, who has been living in Afghanistan.

The United States has named him as the prime suspect behind attackers who hijacked four passenger airplanes, smashed two into the World Trade Center and one into the Pentagon. More than 6,500 people are missing or dead. A fourth plane crashed in rural Pennsylvania.

Internal memos were circulated Thursday and Friday among employees at several studios detailing new security measures. An e-mail from Peter Chernin, president of Fox parent News Corp. Ltd., warned studio employees that "we will all be subject to long delays entering the facility," and as a result "we urge you to remain on the lot during the day."

The memo, obtained by Reuters, also said the studio would install barricades, post more armed guards, search all vehicles entering the studio, tow any vehicles found parked illegally and require all staff to carry identification badges.

In suburban Burbank, workmen installed concrete barriers along the sidewalk outside the Warner Bros. executive offices. Signs saying "No deliveries" were posted at each entrance and increased security was visible.

"We are taking this very seriously and will take all necessary measures to protect the safety of our employees," a Warner Bros. spokeswoman said.

Last week's attacks have forced the studios and television networks to scrap, postpone or tinker with projects that had terrorist-related themes. The TV networks, most of which are corporate siblings of film studios, have lost hundreds of millions of dollars in advertising revenues. The uncertain economic picture has sent media stocks tumbling.

"Please watch out for each other and love and forgive everybody. It's a good life. Enjoy it." -- the late Jim Henson

<snip>

I thought they already mixed in or cut the laughter whenever they wanted to anyway. Wasn't that made clear in the making of Friends?

Usually they will mix in the canned laughter with the live audience's laughter, but at least you have some live audience making some noise. It's really annoying when the ENTIRE show is all canned laugther. Some people can't tell the difference, but when you can, it's annoying. They're just going to have to go with their gut instinct on what is funny and what is not.

"Please watch out for each other and love and forgive everybody. It's a good life. Enjoy it." -- the late Jim Henson

laughter,

tell

have to

right, I notice that when the laughter is canned it's always shorter and if it's the end of a scene it's extended.

Owen

How can you tell between Canned laughter and audience???

Sofya "Owen Shiers" wrote in message news:XRms7.1281$[email]...

if

believe me, you can tell. Canned laughter is forced, among other things.

You can tell when there isn't an audience because many times every other line has laughter. When there is laughter at 5 things in a row that are not that funny it is most likely canned. I guess if the canned laugh mixing person is really good you couldn't tell. I only notice it on certain shows.

-Robert

"Sofya" wrote in message news:9othm9$1re$[email]...

really

can't

to

things

Well it's fairly easy....one clue is that, as I said it's shorter and another is that they laugh too much at not-so-funny jokes. And also it's always extended laughter at thr final joke when Bright, Kauffman Crane comes up.

Owen

That is so ridiculous, why would they also add canned laughter with audience laughter, i feel betrayed for some reason...

Sofya

"Owen Shiers" wrote in message news:P6Cs7.352$[email]...

comes

In article , [email] (Sofya) usenetted:

The sound is different, but also the actors' responses are different -- if you're working in front of a live audience that's reacting to what you say and do, your timing changes to accommodate the audience (which has knock-on effects since the audience at home may well be reacting similarly). If, for example, the audience laugh to a particular joke is long, the actor with the next line will delay starting it until the laugh has died down enough that the actor can be heard/appreciated. All of that goes with strictly canned laughter.

Will they try to create an audience out of studio staff and the actors' relatives, etc? It said the tapings are closed to the public, but that doesn't mean there can't be specific people invited.

wg

cast and crew's laughter...

Owen

Yep, you're exactly right. The audience of Friends for the "closed" filmings has actually been made up of mostly studio employees, instead of the public.

Larissa

In article , [email] (Larissa) wrote:

And was that the same number of people as an ordinary audience?

Tennant

292? Well, I wasn't there myself, so I don't really know. Sorry!

Larissa

In article , [email] (Larissa) wrote:

Oh that's a shame, Larissa - but they can easily round up 292 people from the studio lot, who have nothing to do with making "Friends", yes?

Tennant

If they're willing to go, sure. There are a lot more than 292 people who work at the studio.

Larissa

In article , [email] (Larissa) wrote:

That's what I'm thinking.

So they can still get a representative audience who will laugh at what most people would find funny, as opposed to biased 'yes-men', IYKWIM?

Tennant

<snip, snippity, snip>

Judging by some of the stories I've seen about people attending live shows (the one where they only let *three* people into first seating sticks out), I think they will have plenty of employees, family and VIP's to make up for the general public. I've never heard anyone say they let in tons and tons of people - esp. at the first seating. Much to my disappointment, by the way, that means they won't need any of us waiting for tickets for the rest of the season :(:(:(

~Teresa~

In article , "TFM" wrote:

Will people who have bought expensive VIP tickets at charity auctions still be able to attend closed filmings?

Tennant

The audience is fresher and has more vitamins.

Lol

If you wanna know if it's real or canned, just listen for Marta Kauffman. Her laughter is insane and easily recognisable.

Kauffman.

yeah I've noticed that

Owen

"Sofya" wrote in message news:...

Its not just Friends. All WB studios in Burbank are closed sets now fearing for security reasons.

Priya

On Sun, 23 Sep 2001, SHNOCODY stated this considered view. Waking from my doze, I hastily scrawled -

ISTM that the show will lose something without the audience participation. They won't know when some of their 'funny' lines will actually flop.