Aaron Sorkin has explained the reasons behind the use of a laugh track during the first season of his ABC sitcom Sports Night. The network required the addition despite objections from the creator and cast. It was removed entirely before the second season.
Sports Night aired for two seasons on ABC before its cancellation in 2000 due to low ratings. Sorkin said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that ABC wanted the show filmed before a live audience, which would have required a laugh track. He also noted the production did not use a traditional multi-camera setup.
Cast member Felicity Huffman told Entertainment Weekly that she disliked the laugh track despite enjoying the live audience. She said it cheapened the show. Director Thomas Schlamme stated the team never fully won the argument with ABC but made progress over time.
ABC entertainment president Jamie Tarses defended the laugh track in 1998, saying viewers needed the cue to understand the show's tone. The laugh track was phased out by the end of season one after ABC relented.
Later series such as The Office succeeded without laugh tracks. Cast member Joshua Malina suggested Sports Night may have been ahead of its time.
