WTF happened to 30 Rock?

[pokerfan]

WTF is this Whitney crap with the laugh track? I watched it but I could actually feel brain cells dying...

NBC has a put together a really decent Thursday night comedy block, with “Community,’’ “Parks and Recreation,’’ “The Office,’’ and “30 Rock.’’ No, they don’t bring blockbuster ratings, as NBC’s old “Friends’’/“Seinfeld’’ block did, but they are witty, imaginative shows. They feel like they’re in line with the tone of today’s comedy world - the character humor of the “Parks and Recreation’’ mockumentary format, the meta-reference that makes “Community’’ exhilaratingly unpredictable, the political satire that sometimes puts “30 Rock’’ in the same league as “The Daily Show.’’

So why “Whitney’’?

Tonight, NBC is adding “Whitney’’ to the lineup, since “30 Rock’’ won’t return until midseason. And the decision, based on the pilot that premieres at 9:30 on Channel 7, is beyond comprehension.

http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2011/09/22/nbcs_whitney_is_witless

[Yavin4]

1. The Show "Whitney" Is A Text Book Example of How Networks Screw Up Comedy

A lot of hit TV sitcoms were based on stand up routines of comics: Seinfeld, Cosby, Roseanne, Home Improvement, Everybody Loves Raymond, The Bernie Mack Show, and Louie.

There have also been failures with this genre as well, and they stem from trying too hard to force the laughs instead of letting the humor flow naturally. Whitney is the latest example of this. I saw about 5 seconds of it, and you can tell that they are trying too hard for the joke instead of letting the show find its own pace.

In the early days of Roseanne, they did the same thing. Every other line was a fat joke or a put down. Roseanne had to wrest control of the show, and she improved it mightily.

[pokerfan]

2. It just felt out of place

following the other three Thursday NBC comedies. To go from single camera, no laugh track shows to a multi-cam one with an obviously sweetened studio audience is just jarring. The big problem is that they laughed (with equal enthusiasm, mind you) at everything, the few funny jokes, the mediocre ones and the bad ones. It was just annoying. One of these things is not like the others: Community, The Office, Parks & Recreation and Whitney. It just needs to be on a different night or perhaps even a different network. 30 Rock can't return soon enough.

[Renew Deal]

10. Wasn't it weird the first time you watched a show without an audience/laugh track?

It was for me. Now we're back to where we started, at least with Whitney.

[Renew Deal]

9. I thought they did a good job.

And I think it was a fair representation of who Whitney Cummings is. The show will grow into it's own, but I thought it was a great start.

[OriginalGeek]

3. Of the new comedies I've seen so far

I was disappointed by all of them except the one with Zooey Deschanel.

I will say, however, I watched the 2 and half men premier just to see what happened and it was quite a bit funnier than I expected. I don't expect it to last though.

I love Zooey though and there is no way you can ever convince me she has or ever will do any wrong.

I watched Whitney expecting it to be much better - her stand up has some good bits (and some cliche "women do this, men do that" moments) so I expected more from her. The laugh track is terrible. But I think she has the smarts to get better - Seinfeld didn't get really funny until season 2.

[betharina]

4. whitney is taped in front of a live studio audience.

it says so right in the beginning of the show.

[Bucky]

11. dirty secret: they still add in laugh tracks

[Taverner]

5. “Whitney’’ is a perfect example of spoon-fed crap they force us to watch

One way or another...

[Renew Deal]

8. Did you watch it?

[MorningGlow]

6. The media push for Whitney has been ridiculous

Somebody has a lot invested in that show, because it has been promoted ad nauseum for MONTHS. Interesting to hear that it blows chunks. (I had no intention of checking it out--I'm ornery that way--the more somebody tells me to do something, the more I think they have an ulterior motive and the more I resist. :P )

I'm excited to have Community back. I was pleased that The Office is still good. I REALLY loved New Girl.

On the other hand, I was unimpressed with Up All Night and Free Agents and won't be watching them again (I gave each one two tries).

I want Cougar Town back (another one being held till midseason).

That's about it for comedies, for me.

[Renew Deal]

7. Whitney was really funny

And it's not a laugh track. They said that it was recorded in front of an audience. It was odd to hear an audience. I don't know when the last time I heard that was, but it was a long time ago. It was as weird as the first time I watched a show without an audience.

I always loved when there was one ridiculous laugh on one of those shows because it was almost disruptive. :D

[Kat45]

12. That laugh track in Whitney was ridiculous.

I was looking forward to that show. I wasn't familiar with her, but when I saw the commercials I liked her and thought it looked funny. The freaking loud laughter after just about every single line totally turned me off. I was so distracted by it that it was hard for me to determine which lines actually were funny. I hope they wise up and drop the laugh track. If they keep it, I don't think I can watch it.