Why do sitcom producers use laugh tracks when having a live audience seems to be common practice?”
Yes, if a sitcom is strictly (or even mostly) of the “three camera, filmed in an evening” variety, the live audience is better, and has taken control in the industry. However, some shows do not fall into that category. Examples are quoted below: Now that we know why laugh tracks work, we must ask ourselves, “Why a machine? Can’t a live audience provide laughter?” Sure, and shows taped before an audience often use the audience’s laughter. But a live audience is limiting–you can’t do location shots, all the sets need to be on one sound stage, retakes are problematic, etc. Substituting a laugh track for a live audience simplifies matters, the obvious drawback being that the lack of feedback lets TV execs kid themselves that a show is funny when it’s not.
