Laughter hatred

I just got through watching The Munsters on WGN. They had some sort of marathon on tonight because if Halloween. Seems to be the only time it and The Addams Family can get any airtime, despite how great both shows are, but that's a topic for another time.

I was reading some message board tonight and they were basically crucifying sitcoms and comedies because of the laugh track and/or studio audience. Something about it being annoying. WTF?!?

Total nobodies running around drunk, bitchy brides, spinoff after spinoff after spinoff of the same show don't annoy these people, but laughing does? Am I the only person that doesn't understand this logic?

Now, I've made it more than known that I love sitcoms, especially the old ones black and white or from the '60s. They just don't make shows like this anymore. The only show that could hold a candle to the classic sitcoms of yesteryear is The Big Bang Theory and that's because its actually funny without resorting to nothing but sex jokes...there are a few, but what do you expect with 3 guys and 1 girl these days?

Back to my point...what is that makes people hate laugh tracks so much? I don't get it. Is there something wrong with laughing? I mean if you look up and down the television schedule for the past 3 or 4 years and comedies have become next to extinct while dramas and reality have taken over. Granted part of this is to save money, though I don't see how an hour long drama is cheaper than a half hour comedy, but then again I actually have common sense, unlike network execs who care only about money and nothing else....a topic for another blog, as well.

I guess you can say that I belong in a different time because I am not a big fan of dramas and loathe and detest reality shows, but love comedies and sitcoms. I can't stand shows that are dark. The world is dark enough. Do we really need to come home turn on our TV sets, or log onto our computers and see more of the same stuff?

I guess I'm in the minority, but to me the laugh tracks really make a show funnier. What annoys me about comedies these days are the shows like The Office that seem to be more of a documentary than anything. although I will say that the new comedy on ABC, Modern Family does a good job with it.

I just wish more shows would take a cue from CBS' comedies and bring back the laugh track. Forget the pimply faced morons living in their mom's basement eating hot pockets and play World of Warcraft all day. They just want something to whine and complain about. Why can't they fuss about all these stupid reality shows or copycat crime dramas?