When was the last time you spared a thought about sitcom laugh tracks? Probably years. Maybe decades? Sitcoms with background laughter have seemed almost dead, definitely and firmly dying, for a very ...

Is the laugh track finally being taken seriously? Critics have long viewed adding the taped sound of laughter to TV shows as an exercise in mind control and behavior modification. At best, TV viewers ...

The laugh track. When used correctly, it can be effective, an element of the sitcom that adds to the experience, seen and heard on shows like Seinfeld or Mom. When it isn't used correctly, it's ...

Many people view Seinfeld as the greatest TV series of all time, and certainly the best sitcom. Even those who don’t acknowledge it as the best comedy ever have to recognize its place among the greats ...

In the 75 years since it was introduced, the laugh track has conditioned viewers to know when and how much to laugh Some audiences love it, and some audiences hate it, but the laugh track—which ...

I ran into an old episode of Hogan’s Heroes the other day that stuck me as odd. It didn’t have a laugh track. Ironically, the show was one where two pilots were shown, one with and one without a laugh ...

Meet Hazel, the self-proclaimed TV buff and word wizard at Collider.com. With over three years of writing experience, Hazel is your go-to guide for all things entertainment. When Hazel isn’t busy ...

Critically reviled. Hopelessly dated. Forever near extinction. Yet in a TV landscape full of brutally realistic hits, sitcoms with background laughter are not only still popular, but have become ...