6. They're Not Afraid To Laugh At Jokes In-Show
Don't get me wrong, I'm a big 'Friends' fan (you have to be in our house, we've got the box set; it's like E4 never cancelled it). But there's something I've always wondered about; why is it that no one laughs at Chandler's genuinely funny jokes? It's the same with a lot of shows, a lot of really good shows, actually. And not just comedies. But another blurring of fourth wall in 'Extras' is that Andy actually laughs at Maggie. The final joke ("I want to go somewhere where no one knows who I am..." "What about Hollywood?") is actually very witty, and it deserves to be rewarded with some kind of laughter, not just a tut and a frown. It's the same in 'The Office' when Brent finally makes Wernham Hogg laugh in the Christmas special, or when Dawn laughs at Tim's jokes. It's so much cleaner than a laughter track. It again makes the show more realistic. And if it means we get to hear Ricky's brilliant laugh, it's worth it.