Appliances in Film/TV
Hi Lawrence,
It is certainly true that the intake and drain noises are part of the reason dishwashers and washers in actual operation are not used much in filmed scenes, unless absolutely necessary. Let me share with you what I learned having once worked at a motion picture studio.
On a sound stage there are often microphones placed throughout the areas where the actors are present at different levels of height, to record spoken dialogue and sounds like the barking of a dog. It is not just for dramatic effect in a movie scene when someone yells "Quiet on the set!" These microphones, much more powerful than what we typically use in Zoom sessions, can easily and clearly pick up sounds other than what the script or director calls for. Extraneous sounds can often ruin a filming session, especially if this interferes with hearing or understanding what an actor is saying.
The Frigidaire agitation sound is a perfect example of this, with its unique thumping, even with a closed lid. With a microphone nearby, it can easily sound like a marching band is nearby. This is not to pick solely on Frigidaire, as other brands have and have had their own characteristic sounds, such as the loud clunk of the GE and the sharp off balance buzzer of the Kenmore/Lady Kenmore lines. It is true that these sounds can be muted or erased during post production, and the spoken lines added in later in the case of a filmed production.
However, in a production where a live audience is present during videotaping, this is an issue that is often avoided by having the appliance in the background, perhaps loaded but not started. We can all think of many sitcoms and movies, "I Love Lucy" and "Mr. Mom" for example, where the comedic effect of a washing machine gone awry was the product of the special effects team instead of the operation of the machine itself.