Finding Laughter – Are Comedy Shows Really Funny? (day 6)

Throughout the years, I’ve spent time laughing at The Dick Van Dyke Show,  I Love Lucy, Mash, Cheers, Night Court, and Friends. But how much did I laugh and was it because it was really funny or did I respond to the laugh tracks or the laughter of those around me?

I listened to some old shows again, I Love Lucy and Mash, and I did not laugh much. I smiled at the antics Lucy stumbled into. I was emotionally involved with the story line of  Mash and again I smiled more than laughed.

Was my lack of laughter due to  . . .

• Being alone while viewing these shows?
• Because I knew the shows and so their “formula” was too familiar?
• Or maybe the writing was out-dated?
• Or perhaps I am simply a fuddy-duddy with a broken laugh-er?

I found this post with its list of top 50 comedy shows.

I checked out a couple of more recent shows, 30 Rock. Modern Family, and The Office. Same result. I smiled much more than I laughed. And quit frankly, I didn’t smile as much as I thought I would.

I simply don’t enjoy  . . .

• crass humour,
• slapstick,
• humour based on immorality
• or on someone else’s discomfort.

Perhaps I am too rigid in my viewing tastes. Or maybe I just laughed more when I was younger.

So as to the “why” this part of my experiment failed, I am not sure. And maybe I needed to watch more than 4 episodes or watch them with someone before deciding shows weren’t funny (to me).

I don’t have a TV and so use Hulu on my computer to watch shows (more chick-flick oriented). I thought about getting Hulu Plus or Netflix for a month so I could check out Seinfeld and some newer shows. But I decided I didn’t want to use my time (or money), on something I may or may not find funny.

Your Turn . . . Are there some shows you watch that tickle your funny bone? 

I am joining 100’s of others at #write31days to write every day in October on a single topic. My topic is 31 Days of Finding Laughter. I will spend time each day studying laughter to see if I can improve my laughter quotient.

Go here for the landing page which has all the posts in one spot.

Read, learn, and discover with me what this world of laughter is all about and is it all that it’s cracked up to be. And be sure to leave a comment. Talking together will make for a richer, interactive experience for all of us.