How do you feel about sitcoms that have no studio audience/laugh track (like Modern Family or The Office?) Do you prefer the subtlety, or the would you rather hear a crowd laugh at the joke?

I guess I am used to the studio audience laugh it would be strange not to hear it. Then again in comedy movies you don't hear any studio laughing.

I prefer a studio audience.

I prefer the laughter.

I guess I prefer the laughter...but if the show is written really well, I wouldn't mind no laughter. Like Everybody Hates Chris is one of my favorite shows ever and I think it works best with no laugh track.

Yeah, but like The Flintstones, it just wouldn't be right without the laugh track in it, or I Love Lucy, or What's Happening.

Tony Marino wrote:

I guess I am used to the studio audience laugh it would be strange not to hear it. Then again in comedy movies you don't hear any studio laughing.

But you do often have music or something else to help create the scene.

I don't like laugh tracks but I do like audience laughs. Modern Family works without it but many feel flat without it.

I don't need a laugh track to think something is funny. It either is or it isn't. Modern Family is a perfect example. It doesn't need one. A studio audience isn't as obnoxious but it can slow down the pace. Comedy writers know they have to schedule a pause after something they think is going to get a big laugh so whatever comes after won't get drowned out.

Laugh tracks are hideous but I like sitcoms that have a real studio audience.

Lately I have been starting to prefer non-laugh track sitcoms for some reason.

I like a sitcom with a studio audience. Sometimes its the audience reaction that makes the scenes even funnier or more memorable.