Despite having owned the Season One set since 2002 and the Martinis and Medicine Collection since 2006, until last weekend I hadn’t watched any episodes of M*A*S*H without the laugh track. I don’t recall the ability to watch episodes of the series without the laugh track being used as a selling point back in 2002 (not that M*A*S*H needed any help selling itself on DVD) but it was something of a bonus feature for an otherwise bare bones release.

Personally, I’ve never found the laugh track on M*A*S*H to be obnoxious or overwhelming. But after sitting down to a mini marathon of six episodes — “Requiem For A Lightweight,” “The Army-Navy Game,” “There Is Nothing Like A Nurse,” “The Late Captain Pierce,” “Death Takes A Holiday,” and “Sons and Bowlers” — I realized that the laugh track does occasionally overpower dialogue. I can’t think of any examples where the laugh track intruded upon an actual conversation or ruined a joke but there were certainly times where laughter covered up the reaction to a joke.

Hearing each and every one of these words for the first time was a treat. So why did it take this long for me to try out the audio track without the canned laughter? A combination of laziness and forgetfulness. Popping in a disc, selecting an episode and hitting play is easier than selecting the audio track without the laugh track. Not much easier, I admit, but a little easier. I had also more or less forgotten about the ability to watch without the laugh track. On a whim, while I was turning on the closed-captions, I decided to select the option for the audio track without the canned laughter.

I don’t know if I’ll be watching every episode without the laugh track from now on. I’m so used to hearing the laughter that it was a little strange not to hear it. I’ll probably watch some episodes without the laugh track and some with it. But what about everyone else? Am I the only one watching the DVDs with the laugh track? Or is watching M*A*S*H without the laugh track a little weird? Hit the comments with your opinion on being able to watch the series without the laugh track.

If you haven’t yet picked up the Martinis & Medicine Collection, or if you want to buy the first season for a friend, head over to Amazon.com where you’ll find all eleven seasons on sale for $15.49, compared to a suggested retail price of $29.98. These are the repackaged slim sets, first issued in August of 2008. The sale is part of Amazon’s Spotlight Deals Event, which runs through April 5th, 2010 (while supplies last).

Although repackaged DVD season sets began appearing in stores back in August of 2008, I’ve never seen them this cheap before. You can buy any individual season for just $15.49 — except for Season One which is currently listed at $15.99 — at Amazon.com. Of course, if you want the entire series along with the bonus discs, the better deal is the Martinis and Medicine Complete Collection, which Amazon has for $168.99 (compared to $170.89 for all eleven seasons individually).

The original season sets, which are bulkier than the repackaged versions but otherwise identical, appear to be mostly sold out. Amazon.com only has Season Four available at $34.99, more than double the price for the repackaged version. If you are in the market for just one or two seasons, or want to buy the first season for a family member or friend, at less than $16 a pop before shipping, now is a perfect time. You can also get the series finale and the bonus discs alone for $21.99.

Monday, March 23rd Edit: It appears all eleven seasons of M*A*S*H at less than $16 are part of Amazon’s “Save on Classic TV” sale that ends April 16th.

Although the complete series has already been released twice — once as individual seasons and then again as a complete set — as of November 11th, the season sets will be available again in new, slimmer packaging. These repackaged seasons have been available at Costco since June but will be offered in other stores in a few months. Check TVShowsOnDVD.com for the complete story.