Over years of watching television, fans have almost tuned out the tracks of laughter that are played over the scenes. If they come to think about it, are laugh tracks really necessary for sitcoms? Or ...

There's a lot of things that can ruin an otherwise decent sitcom. A cheesy script or underwritten characters is one. Cringey, outdated jokes or overused, tired tropes is another. But when it comes to ...

If you look at a list of the most-watched television shows of the 1990s, you’ll find that seven of the top 10 were sitcoms. As any fan who lived through it can tell you, the decade was a golden era ...

You have questions. I have some answers. Q: I used to watch “The Odd Couple.” One season Jack Klugman and Tony Randall both threatened to quit over the use of laugh tracks. The network agreed to run ...

In NBC’s “Happy’s Place,” Reba McEntire stars as Bobbie, left, who inherits her father’s bar along with her sister Isabella (Belissa Escobedo). Casey Durkin/NBC/TNS You have questions. I have some ...

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 ...

Welcome to the “Joanie Loves Chachi” of the 21st century. Like that best-left-forgotten 1980s spinoff of “Happy Days,” the new CBS sitcom “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” plucks two young characters ...

You have questions. I have some answers. Q: I enjoy the cast and storyline of the new show “Happy Place.” However, I will probably stop watching it because of the annoying laugh track. It is not at ...