Mark Kermode, the film reviewer on Five Live, possibly the best I've ever heard, comments that if a comedy film makes you laugh out between 5-7 times during the film, then it is a success. So by that measure a 30-min sitcom must only require about 3-4 lol moments.
Thoughts?
I don't always judge a comedy on the amount of times it makes me laugh. If the characters and story lines are interesting enough, I'll still enjoy it.
I think if a 'comedy' film only made me laugh 5-7 times in one and a half hours I'd be pretty disappointed. Surely laughter is the only way to measure a comedies' success - is that not what it's mean to do? - nothing wrong with bringing out some other emotions in the same way 'Friends' and similar sit-coms do but in the end there are more laughs than anything else.
If I was to watch a porn movie and I only got 5 minutes of female flesh within the same period of time I'd be pretty miffed for the same reason - ie "it is NOT doing exactly what it says on the tin".
DISCLAIMER: Any references to watching pornography by the author of this post is purely for reasons of comparison and in no way, shape or form should be construed as the said author being a pervert.
Andy
You've got one laugh from me so you're nearly there!
Dan
I do have to disagree with you slightly there Andy, as I'm sure 5 minutes of female flesh is more than ample when your watching a porn film.
Quote: Ginger Jesus @ April 17, 2007, 10:43 AMI do have to disagree with you slightly there Andy, as I'm sure 5 minutes of female flesh is more than ample when your watching a porn film.
lol
Having never watched one I have no idea what you mean my red-headed, walking on water friend - ahem, cough, cough. If you are hinting at the speed of ejaculation then I guess it depends on the 'film'. If it was 'Chubby Chasers 3: Revenge of the Bouncy Babes' then I would need as much 'imagination' as possible and a hell of a lot more than 5 minutes.
I do see your point though - I always wondered why the porn channels give a 5/10 minute free-view!
Again, the above is purely hypothetical as I am of course a clean-cut chap who has no need for such disgusting material.
Andy W
It was wrong of me to assume that you would have watched such filth, you being a good christian boy n' all (I know everything)
Purely for research purposes though, I can dig out a copy of "Take it to the Limit 7 - Crack heads on heat" - I'm sure these repulsive sluts will get you past 5 minutes and beyond.
Quote: Andy W. @ April 17, 2007, 10:51 AMI do see your point though - I always wondered why the porn channels give a 5/10 minute free-view!
Ah, the 5 minute freeview race.
Regarding the laugh quota, I think it's a difficult one. The more you watch something, the funnier it can get (or vice versa). I know it's not everyones favourite, but Anchorman has become a rapid favourite of mine, however when I first saw it, i didn't think it was that funny. Now I'm laughing in anticipation of the jokes.
It's the same with TV series, as discussed in another thread, Peep Show just seems to get funnier and funnier the more I watch it.
I think it depends on the style of comedy as well - If you look at Ideal, I don't think it has many belly laugh moments, but its a programme i find funny and enjoy.
I feel I must apologise to Jeremy for turning a very worthwhile question / thread into a discussion about pornography.
Sorry buddy!
Footnote for Ginger (I've never seen the seventh in the series but "Take it to the Limit 4: your crack or mine" was a classic).
Lol, no worries. This thread has already produced more laughs than an episode of My Family 
Not to hard really... making more laughs than My Family nothing else!
I've analysed a SitCom epidode for 'laugh count'. It worked out at 90 over half an hour with (even) distribution of 45 per 15 minutes. Each 15 minutes ended on a really big laugh ... one to get the audience back after a likely commercial break and the other to get 'em back to watch the next episode. A lull in the laughing only occurred between minutes 22 and 27 in the end-of-episode build-up. It was a Red Dwarf episode ... I can't remember which one as it was several years back. Clearly not all SitComs match this laughter level ... but I find the ones that I remember as being really good do!!!
I think 7 laughs ina film would be a very poor return. It seems though that 'comedy' films these days don't seem that bothered about humour. Aside from Hot Fuzz and Blades of Glory I can't think of a film that really made me laugh since The 40-Year Old Virgin. It seems people are quite happy to churn out stuff like Wild Hogs and be done with it.
(The Wild Hogs thing is a shame because it was written by an Arrested Development writer and that was the best sitcom I have ever seen. Easily two laughs a minute every episode and that hit-rate continued over many multiple viewings!)
Family Guy and American Dad have a high hit rate methinks. Some of the best laughs are when the film is not a comedy film. A line in Sunshine got a massive laugh when I was in the cinema.
Shit films can be funny aswell such as parodies. I laughed at almost every joke on Not Another Teen Movie. Don't knoe why, maybe it was my time of the month or something. Its got the best line ever.
'Why is it when I tell the boys they can stick it wherever they want they always stick it up my ass'
Quote: Stuart Laws @ April 17, 2007, 12:39 PM(The Wild Hogs thing is a shame because it was written by an Arrested Development writer and that was the best sitcom I have ever seen. Easily two laughs a minute every episode and that hit-rate continued over many multiple viewings!)
Very high hit rate for me, nearly everything said in that show had my laughing, even in the smallest way.
Just read up on this & Andy i love the porn critique. There was me thinking there was only particular shots a guy liked in porn films and all the while you guys have been after a hairy armpit and some very fluffy curtains. I take it we are talking proper porn here, not the acting by the good looking women who pretend to be doing naughty things.
Anyhoo
Going back to the laughter levels. I judge by my nickers. I am a girl. If its hysterical they are wet. If its a little funny they are damp. If they are dry, well i havent exactly pissed myself have I.