Slight additions to Kevin's post. Friends also didn't use paid audience members. The same was probably also true of Roseanne and Will and Grace (after the first year), and probably Home Improvement. I'm probably leaving out some others, e.g., I remember one time when there were a few empty seats at Frasier -- because the producers had gotten too complacent relying on ticket demand. I also think that currently Two and a Half Men doesn't use them.
Also, I do think that for most of the sitcoms and daytime talk shows, almost all paid audience members are from fund-raising groups, not those being paid to be there or recruited at the Chinese Theater. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Kevin M. Sent: Saturday, February 27, 2010 9:12 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [TV orNotTV] Craig and his audience machine If it isn't OCA, then another company called Audiences Unlimited is filling the seats. A decade ago, the only sitcom that wasn't using paid audience members was "Seinfeld." There are "fundraiser" groups, usually college kids or soccer moms -- that sort of thing, that earn money for their respective causes by attending show tapings. They are the desired paid audience members, but they are only a fraction of them. Walk out front of Groman's Chinese Theater. The guys peddling tickets earn commission for every seat they fill. In those instances, the tourists who use those tickets are also paid audience members, but (as is often the case in Hollywood), their Hollywood pimp gets the money. Again, only a fraction of the paid audience comes from that group. Mostly, you have unemployed people who like getting $20 a day under the table, or elderly people with nothing better to do. -- Kevin M. (RPCV) -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en
