Distinctive MTM Laugh

If you watch MTM produced shows (MTMS, TAXI, etc.) you'll hear a distinctive "Haw!" laugh. Ken Levine's blog (Hollywood & Levine) verifies that the laugh is that of James L. Brooks. One of the times I had an opportunity to speak to Brooks I asked about it and his friends laughed knowing it was him. Brooks said, "What crazy laugh?!"

I'd read they had brought in a guy to TAXI who had a distinctive laugh or it might be Lorenzo Music (another producer). (See below.) Why do that? We know the "laugh tracks" that television shows use to tell the audience: Laugh here! Cavett discusses a man who did this who brought in a 'magic box' and played the laughs like keys on a piano -- a guffaw here, tittle there, and large laugh there.

The psychology is this: People are embarrassed by their laughs. Laughing is something we give into and people have distinct laughs. Some are high pitched, strange, and everyone has a bit of self-conscious about laughing. With one person in an audience giving in to enjoying a laugh. The signal is: "Enjoy this. No matter how crazy you think your laugh is I got ya beat." Even the laugh itself is a reason to laugh if it's very distinct.

A truly funny movie (Marx Brothers at their best) will make me laugh even if I'm alone. But there's an effect of an audience enjoying a comedy as a group that's especially enjoyable. The largest laughs I've been a part of in the movie theater were screenings of BLAZING SADDLES, AIRPLANE! and SOMETHING AOBUT MARY. All three had my audience (and me) falling out of their chairs laughing.


Sources for more info:

http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2009/08/who-is-that-guy-with-weird-laugh.html

https://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/archive/index.php/t-244727.html