We've watched this show since the pilot. Hubby (and I somewhat, via osmosis) are techie and scifi fans, and I love science, so we "get" a lot of what's going in. As a software engineer, he's worked with these types for eons.
There's an interesting article (with clips) about an episode of BBT with and without a laugh track. Some people will say "it's just not funny without a laugh track" or that it sounds awkward, but as a trained (but "local") actress, I think that is because the actors add the pauses to allow for the laugh track/audience (is it taped live??).
Check it out for yourself. For the record, I am not a fan of laugh tracks. I think that it dumbs down the audience.
http://www.geekologie.com/mt/mt-sear...logs=1&x=0&y=0
Hybrid Mode
