A year or two ago Summer Wine hit some kind of milestone and their was a behind the scenes documentary on it which I saw.
Summer Wine is filmed out and about in picturesque countryside and then screened to an audience of fans. It is these mutant humour loonies that you hear laughing.
Can you believe it's been going since 1973??????? The sad thing is the laughter doesn't sound like it's canned. I honestly can't understand why folk think it's funny, it's just dire.
I've often thought, when canned laughter is used, that I'd rather watch what ever the audience was watching when their laughter was taped - it's obviously not what I am watching while their laughter is applied to patently unfunny scenes.
LOTSW is popular, harmless, devoid of swearing and nastiness, and ideal family viewing.
That said it is also desperately dull, turgid, unfunny, repetitive, and never-ending - so I don't watch it.
It isnt canned laughter but when you go to sit through the recorded episodes you are encouraged to laugh like hyenas and some have a warm up to try to get you in the mood..i was once at a a recording session of the comedy Spoons and then a live filming of Derek Acorahs Ghost town and before it came on we were told to shout and cheer like banshees when he came on ..Then they said oh Derek what a welcome as if it wasnt prompted. I think the laughing for Last of the Summer Wine is prompted ( with a cattle prod by the sound of it.)