Laugh Track

[JimNorton]

Thanks to all of you who watched Lucky Louie. Whether you loved it, hated it or remained indifferent; I apprecaite you giving it a chance. The only thing I want to address is the 'laugh track' issue. Most sitcoms put some sort of barrier between themselves and the audience, this way the crowd's laughs don't bleed into the mics being used by the actors. Louie purposefully did not put up a barrier, which added to the old school feel. He was telling me there is a guy who adds laughs to ALL sitcoms, which is why they sound so perfect and uniform. Even the big shows who use live audiences add a laugh track. I can tell you there is ABSOLUTELY NO LAUGH TRACK used on Lucky Louie. None whatsoever. Every laugh is absolutely organic. Louie would not even allow jokes to be sweetened in post production. You'll notice in episodes not all jokes get something, some get shitty titters. There was even one instance Louie told me about where they tried to sweeten a joke and he said, No, we got nothing on it, leave it like that. Groucho Marks said that laugh tracks ruined comedy writing, because the writing no longer had to be good and the laughs were guarenteed. I'm paraphrasing, maybe Ant asked him when they hung out. Thanks again everyone, it means a lot to me that people on this board, OpieAnthony.net, FBA and Cringe at least gave it the time of day. Give it a few episodes, if it doesn't grab you, then take your HBO, flush it down the toilet....................

[RnFBig Jim]

Well said, Jimmy.

[Smokezilla]

I have to concur. I'm watching the replay right now. It's got a good "feel" to it.:action-sm

[Shaggz]

Fucking fantastic Jimmy, can't wait to watch the rest of the series.

[ProfessorMurder]

The show was fucking awesomely funny...congrats!

[TDavis3084]

great show...cant wait for next week...

[Flush.Buy.Fuck]

I have been a tough critic tonight. However, I will watch whether I like it or not just to support you.

[doomwarfare]

Nice work, Jimmy. Congratulations.

While I was cackling away like a fool in front of the tube, it never even crossed my mind to dissect the audience laughter. My Wife's and my own were my only concern, and there was plenty.

[Warpath]

Not that my opinion means shit, but I'll tell you this much Jimmy...there is hardly ANYTHING on television that makes me laugh, but I was very entertained by the show tonight. I'll definitely keep watching.

Plus, I thought you did a fine job controlling your hands while acting. I'd give it another week based on that alone. :icon_mrgr

[supertool]

several of those organic laughs most have come from some pretty good organic weed. I actually thought there was a laugh track because of the laughs I heard where I thought there was zero humor. I guess like most things, humor can be subjective. Listening to the radio show four plus hours a day has probably made me somewhat jaded to anything that isn't brutally funny. The first episode was a little weak, but it seems unfair to give an opinion without watching a few more episodes, I get the feeling that it wiill get a lot better.

[Mud Duck]

After the pilot episode, I'm still willing to give it a chance... It didnt blow me away like I was hoping it would but Im a big fan of Louis CK and of course Jimmy, so Im going to keep up with it... For those bitching about the lack of hilarity - it's the fucking pilot episode.. Calm it.

I will note how AWFUL Dane Cook's Tourgasm episode 1 was...

[Shaggz]

My mom even loved the show. She especially liked Jimmy's line about Louie's freckled cock.

[qaylin]

im stoked i can get my jimmy norton AND robert kelly fix every sabbath. only good thing about sundays. speaking of tourgasm, i enjoyed it.

[BIV]

Congrats 'lil Jimmy. I didn't get to see it since I iz da poor boy wiffout cable. I hope you don't take the negative comments to heart since people's idea of funny vary widely. (I'm a tool, like I have to tell you)

So have a tussle lad, on me.

[mkat]

James, I would love nothing more than to flush my comcast receiver down the toilet. But where I live the people say "nonono' to a dish on the house.

Can't wait to watch it. I have it DVR'd at home. :)

[SOS]

I watched the preview and it live and it did not get old which is very hard for sitcoms to do.

[Skinflute]

Can I buy some weed Jimmy, I'm almost out?

[knowles]

james-

your new television series is quality. i lol'd more than once. not out of pity, and not out of ass-kissery, but because of the humor. you, sir, win an internet.

[Dugpa]

I wish you guys hadn't spoiled the "financial ruin" line, that was the line of the episode.

I didn't like the "why" scene, I kinda agree with the critic on that one. I wish the kid was older and less precocious. I also didn't like the meat slapping scene.

Your lines sounded like you, and that was good. I like the idea of the show and it looks like it could be great over time. I loved Jerry Minor on Mr. Show (with David Cross), and he was good on LL also.

[mrsweatpants]

When the little girl started crying because she got a black Barbie I got a good hardy chuckle. also how sweet was bobby on tourgasm?

[Aolsux]

Thanks to all of you who watched Lucky Louie. Whether you loved it, hated it or remained indifferent; I apprecaite you giving it a chance.

Is that a bit on honesty I detect from Little Jimmy? This seemingly strays away from your indignant personality.


The only thing I want to address is the 'laugh track' issue. Most sitcoms put some sort of barrier between themselves and the audience, this way the crowd's laughs don't bleed into the mics being used by the actors. Louie purposefully did not put up a barrier, which added to the old school feel. He was telling me there is a guy who adds laughs to ALL sitcoms, which is why they sound so perfect and uniform. Even the big shows who use live audiences add a laugh track. I can tell you there is ABSOLUTELY NO LAUGH TRACK used on Lucky Louie. None whatsoever. Every laugh is absolutely organic.

Psssst.. Jimmy.. I kind of figured this out a few minutes into the show. But thanks for continually offering up this refresher at this facet of your career.. since we wackbaggers 'have the memory of a goldfish.'


Louie would not even allow jokes to be sweetened in post production.

Now I'm interested in the reasoning behind this.. care to expatiate this statement?


You'll notice in episodes not all jokes get something, some get shitty titters.

Yeah.. we noticed. :rolleyes:


There was even one instance Louie told me about where they tried to sweeten a joke and he said, No, we got nothing on it, leave it like that.

Again.. care to facilitate this statement?


Groucho Marks said that laugh tracks ruined comedy writing, because the writing no longer had to be good and the laughs were guarenteed. I'm paraphrasing, maybe Ant asked him when they hung out.

Agreed.. why go the extra mile and collaborate satisfaction when the prepossessing convenience acclivities itseslf to half-ass things with the same causatum?


Thanks again everyone, it means a lot to me that people on this board, OpieAnthony.net, FBA and Cringe at least gave it the time of day. Give it a few episodes, if it doesn't grab you, then take your HBO, flush it down the toilet....................

Thanks Jim.. I truly apprehend your honesty.

[XMScott]

Thanks for the explanation Mr. Norton.

Now, can you get Louie on the show, please. Thanks!

[hillarythegreat]

Jimmy you rule! It's a great first eposode and I can't wait for the rest. Congratulations lil guy!!

[Dickieboy]

I thought the show was very funny and I wouldnt say that If I didnt think so .

The best 2 parts were when the guy said " I would hit my mother , I would punch her right in the face " ...I was fucking rolling .

And when the wife was trying to get louie horny by unloading the dishwasher right in front of him ....very funny stuff .

I'll give it another whirl next week .:clap:

[Premarital Sex]

Hey Jimmy, <insert asskissing here>.

I just watched the first episode again and I have to say it was better than I expected. The dialogue just seems more natural and grungy than the polished up shit I see everywhere else. The only annoying thing was the fucking 'HBO' they had on the screen the entire time. Damn thing fucked with my eyes.

[nickdeangelo]

Jimmy I thought the show was great

[lick]

I liked it. had some very good lines and also hit home on a few points with a marraige. Do not knwo about any one else but when your line was to meet the young lad in the restrooms my mind went some where else other than selling weed.

I will be watching next week.:action-sm

[happytypinggirl]

Almost 200 of us watched together in the Fan room on Paltalk last night. It was GREAT being able to watch the reactions of everyone who was on camera. The reactions were 90% positive. We loved it and all agreed that those of us who watched it for the second or third time, enjoyed it even more this time around.

If anyone wants to join us-- we'll be gathering every week to watch Lucky Louie and Tourgasm on Paltalk in the Fan Room, and people are also starting to plan viewing parties in their areas. Can't wait to see more. Congratulations Jim!!!!!

[space_hitler]

Jimmy, the show was ok. I appreciate the honest of the no laugh track that is awesome!. I can't wait to watch next week. I drove 6 hours to see you on New Years eve so my wife and I are in for the season!

[Shane1V]

Thats some wild ID you gots there JimNorton!!

I'm gonna watch it later today. Even if I'm not ape shit over the 1st episode I'm gonna watch the whole season and see how it develops.
Just cuz I love you!!! No homo? I'm a BIG HOMO for Jimmycakes!!

[ColllinsMissle]

jimmy, the audience laughing is kinda cool. you can tell its diff from a laugh track, so jokes got bigger laughs than others. i dig the new show, last night had its moments. so much potential for this show, can't wait for the next episode

[TummyFrosting]

Jimmy I loved it and you looked terrific on the screen... no homo.

[opack fan]

Jimmy... I coulnd't wait for the show and even though it seems to be a little out there (in the "old skool" fashion) I really enjoyed it and I felt a heartful of pride that it was you on the screen! Congrats!!!! I can't wait to see the next show!!!! Luv ya sweetie!!!!!!!! :love:


O&A and Lil' Jimmy Forever!!! Spread The Virus!!!

[patbattlefield]

my wife and i laughed really hard at a couple spots. we both had a good laugh at the closet masturbating scene...hit close to home is all i'll say. funny shit. :clap:

[nimsu]

How dare you misspell Anthony's colleagues last name.. LOL (car crash)

love ya sweet tits

[Ted the Poster]

I hate to admit it, but I forgot it was on. Can't wait to catch it on demand.
Congrats, Jimmy! You are now officially fancy.

[OliveWho?]

wow, i really really liked this show!
i recommend anyone who has HDTV to watch it on the High Definition HBO channel...its a lot more enjoyable.
There were many times where I legitimately laughed while watching the show (this rarely happens while watching a sitcom). I'll definitely be watching every week.

Anyone else dissapointed with TOURGASM? the show was pretty weak..and it just seemed like a huge commercial for Dane Cook.
Bob Kelley is the highlight of the show.

[Angelfuck]

The only part I didnt like was that Rich character, it seemed too obvious he was acting :icon_wink just kidding, actually the only part I didnt like was the black family :action-sm

[RMPGP]

Great fucking show, great work. You'll be in your own show, your stuff in the show is amazing.

[Ballbuster1]

I liked the show and I'll admit it sounded like it had some laughs added
to me when I watched it. After you have explained it here and on the show,
I guess it just came across that way. Good luck with this one Jimmy.
Just please don't stay away from the show for too long when you become
a sucessful actor.:icon_bigg

[Gilligan]

Jimmy, congrats on the show.

I'll give it a few more episodes. I will say that your lines were some of the funniest in the show. Just remember that you don't have to nod like a jackhammer while everyone around you speaks and you'll be OK.

[Ted the Poster]

The only part I didnt like was that Rich character, it seemed too obvious he was acting :icon_wink just kidding, actually the only part I didnt like was the black family :action-sm

The "Rich" character never seems to know what to do with his hands, that's the problem!

[robinquivers]

Loved the show meaty tits, cant wait for next week.

[24hrs-left]

The only part of the show that scared me was when the "Revenge of the Nerds Fag" came in the diner and Rich told him "meet me in the bathroom". I tought Rich was gonna go in and psssst through some hole, not sell weed

[Shadow812]

and idk what if was but the way the show was shot and the camera adn the closeup its has this hapening live on a set old school thing that Jimmy said so the work by the production crew as well as the actors were phenominal

[CJJames]

I decided to watch the show with my Dad, who appreciates a VERY different type of humor. While I enjoyed it because I love the uncomfortable stuff, I was suprised that my Dad loved it too-particularly the lines about punching Mom in the face.

Could it be that this show will connect with more than one type of audience? That would be really great.:icon_bigg

[JSHAW]

I've been psyched for the premiere of Lucky Louie since the day Norton went to Hollyweird to start filiming. Even if it sucked balls I'd still watch it because Norton's in it, and he makes me laugh.

Overall I like LL alot. The birthday scene with the 2 dolls was great, cake in garbage can, great, LL's insistance on becoming friends with the Black neighbor, great. Norton's scene's were great, onscreen he looks like a seasoned veteran actor.

I'm sticking with Lucky Louie till the end.

[ShesTooOld]

I laughed, I cried, I shit myself. Odd how so many people seem to think that the daughter asking "why" is the punchline of the opening scene, not his answers.... morons.

[Ballbuster1]

I laughed, I cried, I shit myself. Odd how so many people seem to think that the daughter asking "why" is the punchline of the opening scene, not his answers.... morons.
Exactly. Both of my kids went thru the "why?" phase.
His answers were way better than anything I told them.

[TheSqueakyWheel]

Here is my take. I started to watch it and noticed the smae things a lot of people did. Weird camera work, some missed cues, etc, then I restarted it. See, the one thing HBO did not due was market this as to what it is.

In my view it is not a studio sitcom like Friends or Seinfeld. It is more like a stage production that happened to be filmed, like some great comedies like The Producers or some long sketch comedy at Second City or some other comedy troup show.

Once I saw it like that, I re-watched it and then I started to get it. Don't think of it as a polished TV show.. Think of it as having a great seat for a live comedy stage show, and I tink you will enjoy it more.

TVhas become so slick, so polished and so CGIed we miss the point. This is more like the days of Gleason than the days of Seinfeld, and I think that raw format is more fun... Just my opinion.

Point is, I like live shows and this was like that. BTW LOVED the fact that Jim's first scene was about coffee. I thought he was going to say the coffee sucked after, "What? What the fuck?" Why, becuase he is a COFFEE DIVA!!!!:icon_mrgr

[JoeyDVDZ]

Jimmy, loved you, like the show. I think it needs to develop a flow, but it definitely showed lots of potential. Just described the white/black barbie gag to my girlfriend, and she chuckled.

Good luck, my precious sweet boy!

[Iron Duke]

Jimmy that show was so funny I'd fuck your tits off.

[Clocktower]

TO be honest, knowing it was a live audience and no laugh track made laughing at it easier than most sitcoms. I hate the idea of laughing at something because you think your supposed to because the track is hitting. I felt more comfortable laughing along with this show.

[progambler]

One scene that nobody is mentioning, that made me, my wife and the audience laugh was then ending of the meat spanking in the supermarket.
She tells the lady behind her that she is buying it, then proceeds to throw
it back anyway.
I never saw anyone mention that bit as it got a great reaction from the live crowd.

[Clocktower]

Jimmy, loved you, like the show. I think it needs to develop a flow, but it definitely showed lots of potential. Just described the white/black barbie gag to my girlfriend, and she chuckled.

Good luck, my precious sweet boy!

Yep. Does anyone remember watching the first episode of Taxi or All in the Family?

[Spadanko]

well done Jame Norden!! the show was fantastic

[ZeoVGM]

For those who think it was weird that stuff you found unfunny got big laughs, that's fine, but remember that if you're there in person and actually watching it happen, with tons of other people around you, you're more likely to laugh. I know I pretty much never laugh when I'm alone watching something.

[nitlion16046]

No way am i flushing HBO. Jimmy, i loved it and just watched it again. the replay aired at midnight. Good luck!!!!! <<<<Exclamation point

[Hobo_Cum]

I was impressed by the fact that the PILOT episode of the series was so funny. I made my father watch it with me after he had read some shitty review in the Boston Herald, and he was cackling like a fool w/o knowing who norton or anyone else on the show was.

You have a couple of fans for as long as it runs Jimmy, you rule

[Radioguy]

Jimmy, I hope you can talk Louie into coming on O&A.

I'm starting to wonder if you didn't because Opie's "fresh face" might get him a walk on....or perhaps an actual role. ;)

Um...No homo.