Anyone Here Like The Big Bang Theory Televison Show?

[Greg Cox]

Leonard: "This is ridiculous. Nobody really acts this way!"

Penny bites her tongue and looks at the ceiling . . ..

 

[Kelthaz]

I was wondering when the LCD card would be played.

LCD means appealing to the widest audience possible. I'm not saying that BBT fans are stupid. The Big Bang Theory uses jokes that everyone will get in order to achieve mass appeal resulting in a safe, predictable show. That's why I somewhat enjoy the show when I watch it, but don't love it.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I was wondering when the LCD card would be played.

LCD means appealing to the widest audience possible. I'm not saying that BBT fans are stupid. The Big Bang Theory uses jokes that everyone will get in order to achieve mass appeal resulting in a safe, predictable show. That's why I somewhat enjoy the show when I watch it, but don't love it.

I get a kick out of the SF and science jokes myself. If those are being got by the wider audience then nerd culture is broader than thought. I don't see the other humor as going for the LCD. A lot is character driven and speaks to certain universal truths. Which isn't the same as the LCD.

 

[Greg Cox]

I not sure why being "mainstream" or having "mass appeal" should be negative qualities.

Are we saying that BBT would be a better show if the jokes were more obscure?

 

[Awesome Possum]

I tried to watch it, but it's generic sitcom crap with "geek" jokes crammed in. I don't think it mocks geeks and nerds anymore than other sitcoms mock families or whatever the subject. I just find it bland and boring.

 

[JanewayRulz!]

Okay, here's a question to make your head spin: Would Sheldon watch BBT--and what would he think of it?

You know, that could be actually be a funny episode . . .

He would be forced to watch it by the group, but complain the whole time, making everyone miserable. At the same time he would be jealous of the Sheldon character.

And he would add a clause to the roommate agreement to prevent any further such shows to be forced upon him.

 

[The Old Mixer]

I not sure why being "mainstream" or having "mass appeal" should be negative qualities.

Are we saying that BBT would be a better show if the jokes were more obscure?

I don't know if it would be better, but it would certainly be long-cancelled.

 

[Trekker4747]

I'm in the "nerd blackface" category of people when it comes to this show. I've seen a few episodes and in the ones I've seen I didn't get too much laughter from it myself as it really felt like we're supposed to be laughing at these guys because "ho ho, nerds are so awkward and goofy!"

I've spent my entire life being one of those people, I'm not going to contribute to their mockery.

To me it doesn't feel like mockery because honestly i've met guys like this and to a degree i am like that which is why i can relate to the characters and why it doesn't feel that made up (though i was never a full blown nerd who buys costumes and display figurines).

I think if someone can't take some humor at his own expense they should take a step back and see things from a different perspective because we all mock every cultural group.
Jocks mock nerds and nerds mock jocks, if it's a good joke i'll laugh and that's all i want from this show.

I don't take it personal because all the guys (even Sheldon) are decent guys who will help others no matter what, they are passionate about their jobs and private interests and the humor comes from a place that's not mean spirited.

Who amongst us who has full blown comicbook/toys/Comic Con attendee friends didn't recognize character traits shown in the show that fit their friends? They may be exaggerated for comedic purposes (i seriously doubt there is someone this clueless as Sheldon when it comes to social conventions without some form of mental issues like the often denied Asperger's syndrome) but i don't mind and laugh which is all the show is trying to do.

But, again, for me it seems like we're supposed t be laughing *at* these guys because they're nerds, social misfits and interesting in uncommon/main-stream things.

And is it really "good" to laugh *at* these guys because they're smart, into comic books and Trek?

I watched an episode where they're going to a Star Trek convention dressed as characters from TNG. The stop at the Vasquez rocks for a photo-op and while doing so their car gets stolen so the hoof-it to a nearby diner in order to come-up with a plan.

So, they enter the diner in Star Trek uniforms and make-up and are immediate treated like outcasts and misfits by the diner's patrons and staff. And because "ooo they're nerds. They're smart but can't deal with reality at the same time!" the solution one of them comes up with for their rescue is to call his mom to come pick them up (or give get them a rental car or something.) Again, this is played for laughs and not for a practical solution to their problem, showing that they're such misfits they have to call mom when they're given something they can't handle.

Sorry, I found it sort of offensive. Not angering-ly offensive just, "sheesh. this is the shit I went through growing up" offensive. People laughing at me because I'm not like them.

In the same episode their girl friends/the female characters try and to understand the guys better and their want to go to to this convention so they decide to try reading comics. They go to a comic book store. Where. ooooo, guess what? A trio of good-looking girls walk into a comic book store and all of the regular gawk and awe at them. "Pretty women! In a comic book store!" That *never* happens! Isn't it funny how these outcasts act and behave when confronted with pretty women in their regular hangout? Ha. Ha. They're nerds!

The "funniest" thing for me in the episode is when the girls read the comic they bought, as well as some of the comics belonging to the guys, they get into a nerd-like shout-fight over Thor's hammer, Mjolnir and what it means that only he can pick it up.

Leading to one of my more favorite questions of the concept, whether or not it's possible to pick-up Mjolinir by proxy. (Pick up Thor while he's holding his hammer.)

But with the guys and treatment of the people at the LCS? I dunno, I don't think it's right to laugh at "my kind."

 

[Greg Cox]

But with the guys and treatment of the people at the LCS? I dunno, I don't think it's right to laugh at "my kind."

But shouldn't we be able to laugh at ourselves?

 

[Trekker4747]

But with the guys and treatment of the people at the LCS? I dunno, I don't think it's right to laugh at "my kind."

But shouldn't we be able to laugh at ourselves?

Laugh at ourselves? Yes. Laugh at a stereotype of the group of people we belong to? No.

I'll laugh at myself, I make plenty of mistakes and goof-ups. But I'm not going to laugh at someone because they're a socially awkward person who has trouble interacting with a female. And I'm *certainly* not going to laugh at an extreme take of that type of person presented as someone awe-struck by seeing a pretty girl in his comic-book store. If I stood there wide-eyed and drooling at every pretty girl who came into my LCS I'd never get any comic-buying done.

 

[Ovation]

My wife and I both love it and we watch it regularly (it is all the more important to us as there are few such shows or movies or music). It's a comfortable bit of amusement we share--and there's nuthin' wrong with that.

 

[urbandefault]

Exhibit A.

I'm not going to debate your straw man argument. I gave valid reasons for my dislike of the show.

Oh, come on. It was a joke. But you played along in fine fashion, putting a point on the end of the stick. Good job.

Now here's Exhibit B.

I tried to watch it, but it's generic sitcom crap with "geek" jokes crammed in. I don't think it mocks geeks and nerds anymore than other sitcoms mock families or whatever the subject. I just find it bland and boring.

And, Exhibit C.

But, again, for me it seems like we're supposed t be laughing *at* these guys because they're nerds, social misfits and interesting in uncommon/main-stream things.

And is it really "good" to laugh *at* these guys because they're smart, into comic books and Trek?

I watched an episode where they're going to a Star Trek convention dressed as characters from TNG. The stop at the Vasquez rocks for a photo-op and while doing so their car gets stolen so the hoof-it to a nearby diner in order to come-up with a plan.

So, they enter the diner in Star Trek uniforms and make-up and are immediate treated like outcasts and misfits by the diner's patrons and staff. And because "ooo they're nerds. They're smart but can't deal with reality at the same time!" the solution one of them comes up with for their rescue is to call his mom to come pick them up (or give get them a rental car or something.) Again, this is played for laughs and not for a practical solution to their problem, showing that they're such misfits they have to call mom when they're given something they can't handle.

Sorry, I found it sort of offensive. Not angering-ly offensive just, "sheesh. this is the shit I went through growing up" offensive. People laughing at me because I'm not like them.

In the same episode their girl friends/the female characters try and to understand the guys better and their want to go to to this convention so they decide to try reading comics. They go to a comic book store. Where. ooooo, guess what? A trio of good-looking girls walk into a comic book store and all of the regular gawk and awe at them. "Pretty women! In a comic book store!" That *never* happens! Isn't it funny how these outcasts act and behave when confronted with pretty women in their regular hangout? Ha. Ha. They're nerds!

The "funniest" thing for me in the episode is when the girls read the comic they bought, as well as some of the comics belonging to the guys, they get into a nerd-like shout-fight over Thor's hammer, Mjolnir and what it means that only he can pick it up.

Leading to one of my more favorite questions of the concept, whether or not it's possible to pick-up Mjolinir by proxy. (Pick up Thor while he's holding his hammer.)

But with the guys and treatment of the people at the LCS? I dunno, I don't think it's right to laugh at "my kind."

Here's the voice of reason.

But shouldn't we be able to laugh at ourselves?

If we can't laugh at ourselves, can we honestly laugh at anyone or anything else?

That just might be some people's problem. :/

 

[Marc]

I was wondering when the LCD card would be played.

LCD means appealing to the widest audience possible. I'm not saying that BBT fans are stupid. The Big Bang Theory uses jokes that everyone will get in order to achieve mass appeal resulting in a safe, predictable show. That's why I somewhat enjoy the show when I watch it, but don't love it.

My father-in-law loves the show and he's not exacly techincally literate (he doesn't use the net and the only thing he he uses his computer for is play solitare)

He doesn't get the sci-fi jokes (and would have nfi who Katee Sackhof is) but he laughs the characters and the "idiot" things they do.

My wife's cousin and her fiance are bit more into things so they can get some of the more sci-fi related jokes.

I can laugh at the jokes, the sci-fi references and the silly things they do.

So which part is the LCD? I've just given 3 different types of viewers.
(And don't what is but find Amy pretty hot).

 

[Greg Cox]

Granted, the show could use an actual female fan character.

I get that Amy and Bernadette are science geeks, but not sci-fi fans, which is a valid distinction, but it would be nice if the show acknowledged that being into Star Trek, comic books, and such was not just a "guy" thing.

 

[nightwind1]

I'm in the "nerd blackface" category of people when it comes to this show. I've seen a few episodes and in the ones I've seen I didn't get too much laughter from it myself as it really felt like we're supposed to be laughing at these guys because "ho ho, nerds are so awkward and goofy!"

I've spent my entire life being one of those people, I'm not going to contribute to their mockery.

To me it doesn't feel like mockery because honestly i've met guys like this and to a degree i am like that which is why i can relate to the characters and why it doesn't feel that made up (though i was never a full blown nerd who buys costumes and display figurines).

I think if someone can't take some humor at his own expense they should take a step back and see things from a different perspective because we all mock every cultural group.
Jocks mock nerds and nerds mock jocks, if it's a good joke i'll laugh and that's all i want from this show.

I don't take it personal because all the guys (even Sheldon) are decent guys who will help others no matter what, they are passionate about their jobs and private interests and the humor comes from a place that's not mean spirited.

Who amongst us who has full blown comicbook/toys/Comic Con attendee friends didn't recognize character traits shown in the show that fit their friends? They may be exaggerated for comedic purposes (i seriously doubt there is someone this clueless as Sheldon when it comes to social conventions without some form of mental issues like the often denied Asperger's syndrome) but i don't mind and laugh which is all the show is trying to do.

I've met people not far removed from most of the characters at any of the fan-run SF cons I've been to, not to mention at the huge media-cons like Wizard-world and ComiCon. I enjoy the show because a lot of the humor hits home to me (and my wife, and my other geeks friends, all of whom love the show). Whenever anyone claims it's "nerdface" or is laughing AT the geeks, I just do this-

 

[JD]

There was that girl, I think her name was Alex, that Leonard met while he was dating Penny the first time. Granted, she was just a one off character meant to tempt Leonard, but she was there.

I really have no problem with the way the show portrays the guys. To me it's not any worse than The Office making fun of office workers, or shows like Modern Family and Everybody Loves Raymond making fun of families. Most sitcoms are making fun of someone, so it seems kind of silly to me to criticize a sitcom for making fun of nerds.

 

[Greg Cox]

I've met people not far removed from most of the characters at any of the fan-run SF cons I've been to, not to mention at the huge media-cons like Wizard-world and ComiCon.

Heck, it's not far removed from me and most of my friends, although I like to think that it's slightly exaggerated.

 

[urbandefault]

The whole point is to laugh at yourself, while laughing at the people who laugh at you.

It's all in fun.

There's not enough fun in the world, so take it where you can get it.

 

[Greg Cox]

There was that girl, I think her name was Alex, that Leonard met while he was dating Penny the first time. Granted, she was just a one off character meant to tempt Leonard, but she was there.

True, but, like you said, she was a one-off character who hasn't been seen in years. The show still tends to suggest that comic books and STAR WARS are just for guys.

Not sure how you work a female fan in at this point, but maybe Stuart could hire a female assistant to help run the comic-book shop, who turns out to know more about comics than any of the guys?

You could probably get an episode or two out of the guys smugly patronizing her, and assuming that she's only into cosplay or anime or My Little Pony (not that there's anything wrong with that), only to have her kick their butts in a comic-book trivia contest . . ..

 

[Ovation]

There was that girl, I think her name was Alex, that Leonard met while he was dating Penny the first time. Granted, she was just a one off character meant to tempt Leonard, but she was there.

True, but, like you said, she was a one-off character who hasn't been seen in years. The show still tends to suggest that comic books and STAR WARS are just for guys.

Not sure how you work a female fan in at this point, but maybe Stuart could hire a female assistant to help run the comic-book shop, who turns out to know more about comics than any of the guys?

You could probably get an episode or two out of the guys smugly patronizing her, and assuming that she's only into cosplay or anime or My Little Pony (not that there's anything wrong with that), only to have her kick their butts in a comic-book trivia contest . . ..

Sheldon would either suffer a nervous breakdown or dump Amy.