Why Do Americans Clap All The Time?

[Dubious]

I have always wondered

Why do Americans clap all the time during shows like Conan and Jay Leno?

[ForbiddenFruit]

Joke topic? Joke topic.

[Crimson_Wolf]

Its because the audience has cues on when to clap.

[robehouse]

Yes, there is a huge sign that the stage audience sees that says APPLAUSE when they want everyone to clap. It's all staged.

[DiapermanAl]

Just like they edit laughter in on sitcoms.

[DailyDi]

TV producers think/know that we are very stupid people. We don't know a joke is good unless we are given permission to laugh or clap

[Little BabyDoll Christine]

Yes, there is a huge sign that the stage audience sees that says APPLAUSE when they want everyone to clap. It's all staged.

[Zander]

Actually its for multiple reasons, but the main one is that lots of laughter primes the audience to laugh more and its acts as a cue to the audience that something "significant" just happened to bring back viewers with wandering attentions.

[BabyJune]

Its because the audience has cues on when to clap.

[Dubious]

Can't remember having seen any Norwegian Show where they clap for no apparent reason

[froggy]

So how do Norwegians show that they like something or it is funny or do they wait till the end of the show?

[DailyDi]

Can't remember having seen any Norwegian Show where they clap for no apparent reason

Maybe Norwegians aren't that funny?

[rusty pins]

Maybe Americans just have the clap!

[DavidMW]

They've sold a lot of The Clapper on TV. We're now all trained to "Clap on - clap off."

[Dubious]

We clap if its worth clapping, not like Americans, which clap all the time, no matter what..

[erevu]

Judging "Americans" based on television is stupid. I still remember a foreign exchange student we had from France once. When it was suggested that we all go visit the mall, she got very nervous. Apparently she believed shoot-outs regularly happen at malls. Television.... Heh.

[timmyc]

Don't judge Americans based on what you see on tv.

[DailyDi]

Don't judge Americans based on what you see on tv.

[Diaper Mike 05]

A sitcom audience is supposed to laugh at every attempt of a joke.

[froggy]

I do not watch the late night talk shows.

[Waddles]

The basis of this thread is fail.

[Gennie]

Maybe Norwegians aren't that funny?

[Dubious]

The basis of this thread is fail.

[puffybedwetter]

This thread sorta rind me of the yakov joke. Norwega just slowly developing worth laughing television.

[Waddles]

nah, Americans are fail