What's so funny?

One observation I have made during the pandemic involves a person telling a joke or sharing a funny story  in the absence of a live audience. There is something to be said about laughter being contagious. Anyone who depends on humor as part of their delivery lacks the feedback that a live audience provides. Humor is definitely a two-way street. It involves timing and the unexpected. When I watch television programs or live online events in which the presenter is standing alone before the camera, what would normally be received with waves of laughter, is met with silence. I wonder what the speaker is thinking at the time. This reminds me that we are social creatures who thrive on interaction. Imagine standing in an empty room and telling a joke. Without a listener, it takes quite a bit of imagination to create a hearty laughter coming in response. I look forward to the time when live audiences are filling rooms with laughter again. What have you noticed as you view such material?