4 ms·

I went to a live taping for a popular talk show host and was surprised to see how much they prodded the audience into cheering at the correct times for the host

I went to a live taping for a popular talk show host and was surprised to see how much they prodded the audience into cheering at the correct times for the hosts's jokes. I always knew that some of it was fake, but they really, really worked hard to make sure the audience applauded at the right time and for the correct length of time. It left a sour taste in my mouth because I genuinely think the audience would have cheered for most or all of it anyhow, but knowing how it was forced really ruined it for me.

joe_the_user 8y ago
Indeed, Everywhere, A fair portion of apparently spontaneous reactions in the media are fake. I suspect the main significant thing in looking at Russia is that you have an important in-person performance rather than performance broadcast on a screen. In Russia, in-person performance is important while TV and later media are what matter in the West. On a screen, a lot is by definition fake since real people and situations look strange broadcast on a screen with no tweaks/improvements.
crazygringo 8y ago
That's interesting. I went to Late Night with Stephen Colbert the other month, expecting there to be some kind of red "applause" sign to coordinate it -- but it was 100% organic, which I found fascinating. There's a warm-up act to rev up the audience and get them high-energy and excited! But all this is just to put them in a state of mind: once the cameras are rolling, it was all real. What show did you go to and how did they "prod"?
- pradn 8y ago
  My experience at Colbert was a mixed bag. They got all the guests in the lobby and one of the workers told us that our energy was very important, Colbert really feeds off of it, that it's important for the show. So they told us of the importance. But during the show there wasn't much prodding I guess. I forgot if they had an opener comedian. What was a bit offputting was how quiet Colbert was when the camera was not running and how much more energetic he was when it was. I know they are playing it up for the camera, but it does make it feel ungenuine. And add to that the format of the talk show. Each of the guests sorta comes up with a routine, planned by their publicists. If all goes well, they get their message across while being spontaneous. A hard thing to do, but also something that feels authentic. It's not just two buddies hanging out on TV. You also realize that the TV audience is by far the most important part of the filming process. You're just a setpiece. I'd almost say don't go to a talk show taping if you like them.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - PavlovsCat 8y ago
    > two buddies hanging out on TV. I had to think of Dick Cavett when I read that. They don't make 'em quite like that anymore. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dick+cavett+interview https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dick+cavett+int...
    - WAthrowaway 8y ago
      Dick's interview with Groucho Marx shortly before the latter's death is legendary
  - abtinf 8y ago
    > It's not just two buddies hanging out on TV. I think this may depends a lot on the guest - search youtube for clips of Norm Macdonald on Conan. Then again, maybe Norm is just that good at faking it?
    - blackstrips 8y ago
      I think Conan, with his current show, has more freedom to let his guest go off script which helps with the spontaneity. Fallon and Colbert are pretty controlled probably due to their mainstream audience - and advertisers. It’s interesting to contrast Bill Burr’s appearance on all 3 shows. Burr is most at home on Conan and worst on Colbert - who ran the interview like an interrogation; lost a lot of respect for Colbert after that (if you are going to be a wet blanket, might as well not book him). On Fallon ... it’s hilarious to see Fallon fumble and panic as he tries to steer him towards the script then giving up half way.
  - tomjakubowski 8y ago
    The Nathan For You episode, "The Ancecdote", along with his subsequent appearances on Kimmel and Seth Myers, are required viewing on this subject.
  - 8y ago
- borkt 8y ago
  Craig Ferguson show did have applause coaching, a sign, etc when I lived down in LA and went to a taping.
jujulet 8y ago
> I genuinely think the audience would have cheered for most or all of it anyhow How much of that is because the general audience is conditioned over time to adapt to that particular kind humour?
maxxxxx 8y ago
You can safely assume that in show business they put a lot of effort into making sure they get the maximum effect without risk. Which means audiences get selected and pumped up, actors have plastic surgery and take steroids to look better, "reality" shows are highly scripted, "candid" paparazzi shots are planned. There is way too much money involved to allow for randomness or things to go wrong.

joe_the_user 8y ago

Indeed, Everywhere, A fair portion of apparently spontaneous reactions in the media are fake. I suspect the main significant thing in looking at Russia is that you have an important in-person performance rather than performance broadcast on a screen. In Russia, in-person performance is important while TV and later media are what matter in the West. On a screen, a lot is by definition fake since real people and situations look strange broadcast on a screen with no tweaks/improvements.

crazygringo 8y ago

That's interesting. I went to Late Night with Stephen Colbert the other month, expecting there to be some kind of red "applause" sign to coordinate it -- but it was 100% organic, which I found fascinating. There's a warm-up act to rev up the audience and get them high-energy and excited! But all this is just to put them in a state of mind: once the cameras are rolling, it was all real. What show did you go to and how did they "prod"?

pradn 8y ago
My experience at Colbert was a mixed bag. They got all the guests in the lobby and one of the workers told us that our energy was very important, Colbert really feeds off of it, that it's important for the show. So they told us of the importance. But during the show there wasn't much prodding I guess. I forgot if they had an opener comedian. What was a bit offputting was how quiet Colbert was when the camera was not running and how much more energetic he was when it was. I know they are playing it up for the camera, but it does make it feel ungenuine. And add to that the format of the talk show. Each of the guests sorta comes up with a routine, planned by their publicists. If all goes well, they get their message across while being spontaneous. A hard thing to do, but also something that feels authentic. It's not just two buddies hanging out on TV. You also realize that the TV audience is by far the most important part of the filming process. You're just a setpiece. I'd almost say don't go to a talk show taping if you like them.
- deleted 8y ago
  [deleted]
- PavlovsCat 8y ago
  > two buddies hanging out on TV. I had to think of Dick Cavett when I read that. They don't make 'em quite like that anymore. https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dick+cavett+interview https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=dick+cavett+int...
  - WAthrowaway 8y ago
    Dick's interview with Groucho Marx shortly before the latter's death is legendary
- abtinf 8y ago
  > It's not just two buddies hanging out on TV. I think this may depends a lot on the guest - search youtube for clips of Norm Macdonald on Conan. Then again, maybe Norm is just that good at faking it?
  - blackstrips 8y ago
    I think Conan, with his current show, has more freedom to let his guest go off script which helps with the spontaneity. Fallon and Colbert are pretty controlled probably due to their mainstream audience - and advertisers. It’s interesting to contrast Bill Burr’s appearance on all 3 shows. Burr is most at home on Conan and worst on Colbert - who ran the interview like an interrogation; lost a lot of respect for Colbert after that (if you are going to be a wet blanket, might as well not book him). On Fallon ... it’s hilarious to see Fallon fumble and panic as he tries to steer him towards the script then giving up half way.
- tomjakubowski 8y ago
  The Nathan For You episode, "The Ancecdote", along with his subsequent appearances on Kimmel and Seth Myers, are required viewing on this subject.
- 8y ago
borkt 8y ago
Craig Ferguson show did have applause coaching, a sign, etc when I lived down in LA and went to a taping.

jujulet 8y ago

> I genuinely think the audience would have cheered for most or all of it anyhow How much of that is because the general audience is conditioned over time to adapt to that particular kind humour?

maxxxxx 8y ago

You can safely assume that in show business they put a lot of effort into making sure they get the maximum effect without risk. Which means audiences get selected and pumped up, actors have plastic surgery and take steroids to look better, "reality" shows are highly scripted, "candid" paparazzi shots are planned. There is way too much money involved to allow for randomness or things to go wrong.