Pictured at left: George Clooney had to help out on "How I Met Your Mother" during the strike
Posted: Shortly after Gary Coleman said "What-choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" for the last time
HOLLYWOODLAND, Calif. -- In a move to cripple a television industry still recovering from the months-long writer's strike, the Laugh Track Actors Guild (LTAG) has voted to strike after failing to win key concessions from the major Hollywood studios, one of which includes producing sitcoms that are funny.
Since the 1950s, laugh-track actors -- known as laugh-tractors in "the biz" -- have provided the artificially amped-up sounds from the "studio audience" for television situation comedies. They now contend, however, that sitcoms are no longer funny and that the two that are -- "30 Rock" and "The Office" -- have foregone laugh-tractors entirely. This catch-22 has made it nearly impossible for them to make a living, union members say.
"If I have to watch one more 'According to Jim' episode where he tries to fool his wife into thinking he completed her 'honey-do' list, I'm going to blow my frickin' brains out," said LTAG spokesperson Ryan Raddatz, known in the industry as "Woo," for being the guy who whoops in approval over other audience members who are just engaged in conventional laughing.
In response, sitcom showrunner Patrick Hayden said, "We'll just trick these guys into coming back to work by hiring their wives instead. Talk about situation comedy! The laugh-tractors will learn their lesson and this little 'strike' will wrap in exactly 22 minutes."
However, after some reflection alone in his toy-filled playroom, Raddatz changed his position in time for LTAG's monthly meeting. "Studios, we're sorry. 'Til Death' does have its moments," he said, adding, "That Finch guy from 'American Pie' is pretty funny."
After a well-timed beat, the entire membership immediately erupted into high-pitched cackling approval that segued quickly into a sustained, almost scientific level of applause as Raddatz froze in mid-sentence as the first familiar notes of the "Laverne and Shirley" theme song began playing.
