Tonight Show Reality Hacking, adds Laugh Track to Sarah Palin Appearance

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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/3/4/843138/-Lenos-Tonight-Show-Reality-Hacking,-adds-Laugh-Track-to-Sarah-Palin-Appearance


I've dealt with sound engineering for 30 years, as a film maker, interviewer, musician, working with master reel to reel tapes/decks at EMS Music in Seattle in the 80's as a sound duplication engineer, or setting sound levels for my and other bands in live situations at shows. I won a Hollywood award for animation in 2000. I know sound. And it's my opinion that audio portions of Sarah Palin's March 2nd appearance on Jay Leno's Tonight show were added or amplified, edited before broadcast to make it appear that Sarah Palin was more welcome than she was.

I know. I was there.

-snip-

After sitting through the taping of the show in the studio I can recount many portions where there was little or no laughter or response, but at the later broadcast they are smoothed over with applause and laughter that WERE NOT THERE at the taping. Groans, hoots, grumbling, or just dead silence - all missing.

-snip-

Before the show they brought out a cheerleader, ginning up the audience, telling jokes, dancing around the stage. Having been a sound engineer I knew that this comedian's secondary use was setting the sound levels for the room ahead of time.

"Okay, now everyone on the right side of the room, let's hear it!!" "Left side of the room, applause! Give it up! Don't let those on the right side of the room beat you!" "Now everyone, squeal like a piggy, WHEEEE - Loud!"

Behind us the sound man was tweaking levels for all manners of amplitude, to reduce murmur, bottom end rumble, they use all sorts of filters to keep out unwanted levels of noise, chatter, etc. Straight to the sound booth, who make sure there's no "crunchy" or overamped audio, no overpowering of VU meters. Set up compression, all the good stuff.
-snip-
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I've never liked Leno. I still don't like Leno.

[gratuitous]

1. If you know nothing else, know this

These motherfuckers don't miss a trick. If they can tweak or freak or make something unique, they'll do it. The only things left to chance are those completely out of their control, and even then they'll try to influence those variables.

[Liberal Gramma]

2. And I've never liked Palin.

Not surprised by your analysis, because the clips I heard of her stand-up were pretty lame.

[onehandle]

3. Leno and Palin represent the mediocrity that 'real Americans' worship.

They should do a reality show together.

[otohara]

6. Two Quitters Who Never Went Away

This new form of "quitting" is total BS.
I miss the good old days when quitting meant disappearing.

they both suck.

[SharonRB]

4. Sad to say this doesn't surprise me n/t

[Sanity Claws]

5. Why is she getting so much air time?

She bombs but the networks will continue to foist her on us.
I can't figure it out without putting a tinfoil hat on.

[Echo In Light]

8. Embrace the tinfoil as the perceived consensus "reality" requires rolls of the stuff

[xxqqqzme]

7. Thanks for this. I thought I was hearing things.

I first heard her 'stand-up' portion on Stephanie Miller the following morning. Coming through the radio, my first thought hearing the audience reaction was, it's 'canned'. Later when Rachael Maddow replayed pieces, it didn't sound enhanced. So it appears my first reaction was correct.