Source
r/television•
Most_Intriguing

How does live audience in a TV show work when the punchline of a joke is the reveal?

I am currently watching That 70's Show which has a live audience.
Some jokes have the reveal as the punchline, for example this timestamped clip (difficult to find good videos).

This is not limited to That 70's Show, basically every live audience show I have seen does this.
Why does the audience begin to laugh when the camera reveals the joke? Wouldn't they have been able to see him from the start?

Posted Jun 12, 2019, 6:41 AM UTC

416
ofimmsl•

If they do multiple takes they will use the sound from the take where the audience has the best response. If it is a shot where the live audience would not laugh like the camera reveal clip, they just add the sound of the audience laughing at something else.

When you go to a taping of a show, do they see the same reveal shot as we do or is the joke just ruined?

they just add in the laughter after. that reveal shot might not have even been filmed in front of an audience

10
TheShadyGuy•

If it is a shot where the live audience would not laugh like the camera reveal clip, they just add the sound of the audience laughing at something else.

They screen a couple completed episodes prior to the taping and record the audience to get that kind of stuff. Also, during the taping, they will show the pre-recorded stuff that can't be done in the studio (like outdoor things or complex camera moves) chronologically in between scenes or in the middle of the scene.

3
Most_IntriguingOP•

I see you've replied to most comments. Have you been to a live screening?
If yes, would you mind going into detail?

1
TheShadyGuy•

Yes, I have! Tickets are free but they prefer that you make a reservation, sometimes studio tours end with a taping as well. Sitcoms tape on Tuesday and Friday nights, iirc. At Sony, we waited outside for a bit until the studio was ready for us. They make you sign stuff and you don't bring phones and such. A page leads you to the studio and you sit down. A comedian is there to host the evening and explain the process answering questions. As the tech crew sets up they show an episode or two on the monitors to get you familiar with everything. Then the cast comes out and they might take questions. Shows are taped in chronological order so you get it how it will playon TV. If the writers couldn't decide on a joke or punchline, they will do the scene many times and keep the best reaction from the audience. Outdoor and more complicated scenes are shot in large chunks prior to the live tapings and those are shown on the monitors at the appropriate time. They passed around pizzas and candy during the taping, too. Even if I didn't particularly like the show, it is a lot more fun live than it is on TV and I laughed a lot more. It is kind of like seeing stand-up in person vs. on TV, it is always funnier in person.

Edit: If you are ever in LA, you should try to see a taping!

5
Most_IntriguingOP•

Hey, I forgot to say thank you for such a detailed answer.
It is interesting to know the behind the scenes workings. Sounds like you had a fun time.

2
Creek0512•

You might find this podcast episode about laugh tracks interesting.

https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/the-laff-box/

Also, unless it's a live show like SNL, there will be multiple takes, and the final episode that airs will be made up of parts from multiple takes edited together, both audio and video.

4
OneGoodRibMad Men•

I'm pretty sure they actually have tv monitors that the audience can see, at least for some shows, so they might throw up something edited together from a rehearsal for the audience to react to.

3
TheShadyGuy•

Yes, they do! They also show one or two episodes on the monitors prior to the taping and record the audience.

2
[deleted]•

[deleted]

1
Jetskiimcfly•

Are you serious? The audience is doing as much acting as the ones on camera. Also lots of laugh tracks are added post production ots si.ply there to try to tell the audience when something is supposed to be funny it's a psychological thing and the live audience arent reacting to anything really they're just following a cue of when to laugh or clap from the production team.

-3†
Most_IntriguingOP•

Yes I am serious, but I might not have made it clear what the intention of my post was. I am just wondering about the logistics behind it all.
When you go to a taping of a show, do they see the same reveal shot as we do or is the joke just ruined?

I of course know laughter get spliced and mixed, and people get told to laugh at certain key moments.

All I am wondering is from an audience perspective. Do they even try to set up a reveal shot so the audience laugh at the right time, or would they just fall back on "flavoring" the laughter?

2
iamzion248•

Jetskiimcfly is correct: They edit in the laughter when needed. And the audience is told when to laugh.

0†
TheShadyGuy•

I guess if by "told when to laugh" you mean that the audience understands jokes and responds accordingly? Nobody is holding up or turning on "laugh" signs at sitcom tapings, half of the reason for the live taping is to workshop lines and jokes to figure out the best one. Sure, the studio records the laughter from the audience watching the "warm up" episodes prior to the taping and mixes it in to the recording from the taping. There have certainly been shows that use canned laughter, like ALF, but the vast majority of 4-camera shows really use real people. See my other posts in here for more information. Here is one of the places that you can get "tickets" to attend if you are ever in Los Angeles: https://www.tvtickets.com/fmi/shows/recordlist.php?

Edit: this one does game and talk shows, too http://www.on-camera-audiences.com/

1
TheShadyGuy•

The production team doesn't tell you when to laugh or clap on sitcoms. Part of taping in front of the audience is trying multiple jokes in the same scene and seeing which gets the best reaction.

2
PalpableEnnui•

Never seen an applause sign???

2
TheShadyGuy•

Maybe at the Price is right or the Tonight Show, not at a sitcom.

2