Anyone Here Like The Big Bang Theory Televison Show?

[Awesome Possum]

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.



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. :/

It's just not my taste in comedy. I don't care for most modern sitcoms. I like Arrested Development and Community, stuff like that. I consider BBT to be like Family Circus. If that's your thing, stick to it. I don't less of people who do enjoy it. It's just not my thing.

 

[urbandefault]

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.



And, Exhibit C.





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. :/

It's just not my taste in comedy. I don't care for most modern sitcoms. I like Arrested Development and Community, stuff like that. I consider BBT to be like Family Circus. If that's your thing, stick to it. I don't less of people who do enjoy it. It's just not my thing.

But it's a joke. That's the thing.

They're poking fun at the people who should get that it's a joke but don't get it.

This could go on and on and on, but that would just reinforce the point of the joke.

Sheldon doesn't get it.

 

[Awesome Possum]

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.



And, Exhibit C.





Here's the voice of reason.



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

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

It's just not my taste in comedy. I don't care for most modern sitcoms. I like Arrested Development and Community, stuff like that. I consider BBT to be like Family Circus. If that's your thing, stick to it. I don't less of people who do enjoy it. It's just not my thing.

But it's a joke. That's the thing.

They're poking fun at the people who should get that it's a joke but don't get it.

This could go on and on and on, but that would just reinforce the point of the joke.

Sheldon doesn't get it.

Okay.

I don't care who they are poking fun at, I just don't find it entertaining. It's no more insulting to geeks as Garfield is to cats.

 

[TRON JA307020]

Big Bang Theory is just another one of those lowest common denominator sitcoms aimed at a mainstream audience with predictable jokes and dull characters. It's not awful and I might get the occasional chuckle out of it, but I wouldn't go out of my way to watch it.

You need to see all the star trek ones. Also the ones with Wil Wheaton as Sheldons nemesis are excellent.

 

[The Old Mixer]

Funny thing is, I avoided the show for years because I thought it would be what so many of the show's detractors here are describing. When I finally relented and gave it a chance, I quickly came to enjoy it.

 

[TRON JA307020]

Funny thing is, I avoided the show for years because I thought it would be what so many of the show's detractors here are describing. When I finally relented and gave it a chance, I quickly came to enjoy it.

I avoided it also. My old job kept me away from home so much I just never got into it. I discovered it recently and really enjoy it. I can't believe I never watched it before.
My favorite star trek reference episode is the one with Nimoys voice when he is giving Sheldon a lecture about breaking his 1975 star trek transporter toy and switching it for Leonards. Whats really cool about the episode is that we hear Nimoys voice and see Sheldons Mego Mr. Spock doll moving his arms or sitting as Nimoy talks. Pretty damn funny. My favorite star trek joke is when Sheldon orders a Mr. Spock card board cut out and gets the wrong one in the form of Zacharay Quinto instead of Leonard Nimoy and is so disappointed he utters the phrase "Live Long and Suck it Zachary Quinto. Great stuff.

 

[martok2112]

Other shoe has fallen.

 

[FPAlpha]

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."

Concerning the episode you saw.. can you honestly say it's not far fetched that events would play out like this (maybe a bit exaggerated in the call mom for help bit for comedic purposes)?

Years ago i attended roleplaying conventions on a regular basis which was always a highlight because you got to meet people you usually only talked to via internet, hang out and play some RPGs.

One day we went for McDonalds for lunch and were sitting there when a group of Vampire: The Masquerade LARP players showed up (for those who don't know the RPG.. basically Vampires in modern times, in this version as a Live Action Roleplay).

All dressed in standard Gothic outfit (could pass easily as Goths) and the leading character, still playing the character, started to "seduce" the counter girl (who was confused as fuck).

I watched this for a while and watched the reactions of the people present and all had huge WTF faces and question marks above their heads. I'm pretty sure that if there were some stupid (and drunk) people around outright mockery would have followed.

The show didn't invent these stereotypes.. they exist. They may be exaggerated for comedic purposes and not every episode is a comedy masterpiece. The episode in question is also not that funny for the most part because they went a bit too far concerning the guys helplessness in dealing with the situation but the girls hit it home as to why we are able to discuss these things for hours at an end.

So yeah.. they took nerd stereotypes and built a comedy show around it. Sometimes those guys do dumb stuff and we laugh but they also take care to show them as humans with feelings, hopes, passions and they're all decent guys that any woman would be lucky to be with because they would care about them and try to make them happy (and annoy them at the same time).

I am able to laugh at and with them because i'm able to do so at myself.. just recently i organized a big tabletop tournament for a game called X-Wing (and you guessed right.. it's about space combat between various Star Wars space fighters) and posted results and pictures on Facebook.
All my colleagues then asked me what the heck that was about and i explained it in short and none of them mocked me.. it is my hobby and when they learned i controlled 50+ players and rented an entire venue for hundreds of bucks they kinda felt impressed (though it sounds bigger and more complicated than it really was).

If guys can follow sports religiously and learn hundreds of stats about players, paint their faces in team colors and spend hundreds (if not thousands) on sports each year then we are allowed to don our costumes and attend a convention.. everybody has their passion and i think the BBT shows that really well.

 

[theenglish]

I haven't seen the show in a few years because I don't get it where I'm at now and too many other shows have taken priority. But nobody should be insulted by it. All comedies exaggerate "types" of characters for jokes.

Take Modern Family that exaggerates gay stereotypes and Colombian stereotypes but with the intention of actually poking fun at people who consider those types to be real. I look at BBT the same way. It is not any more insulting toward us than Coach was toward college sports, to use another example.

That said, there really isn't that much difference in the quality of the show than say Two and a Half men. It is a generic comedy to be watched for amusement and distraction but it is not, in any way, ground breaking like All in the Family, M*A*S*H*, Cheers, Seinfeld, Arrested Development, or other comedies that really pushed the envelope of what comedic television can be.

 

[gblews]

I liked it a lot in the first year or two but then the show became more mainatream and the "nerds" in the show became more of a laughing at them instead of laughing with them.

This is what the show has been about from the beginning. Perhaps it just took a while for you to notice.

 

[The Old Mixer]

Also, having been married for several years to a woman who wasn't into the things that I was but absorbed a lot of it through me, I can get a good hearty laugh out of some of Penny's reactions to the geekery going on around her. Like the bit where she corrects Amy for getting Star Trek and Star Wars mixed up, and Amy asks about the difference between the two. Penny's response: "THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE!"

 

[JanewayRulz!]

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 . . ..

Thanks for thinking of us, guys, but forgetting the distaff half of fandom is par for the course for us in these shows, whether its about nerd stuff or sport stuff.

While I'll admit its been over 15 years since I frequented a comic book store (owned/ran by a husband and wife team), I am an avid Trekkie. One day a client of mine ran into a colleague of mine while I was on vacation and he told the client that I was at a Star Trek convention. The colleague then chuckled and suggested that was a BIG secret. My client simply responded that it was obvious that the colleague had never been in my office.

Although I knew of at least 50 trekkies (male and female) where I worked (out of 1500), I only knew one other who decorated his office the way I did. But if anyone tried to tease me about it, I'd just point to the signed basketball under glass one guy has in his office or the signed Jazz posters another one has in hers. As for the cons, I know who leaves town early on Fridays to drive across 3 states to watch their childhood hometown football team play their arch nemesis, and they KNOW I know.

 

[TRON JA307020]

Other shoe has fallen.

What epsisode was that?

 

[TRON JA307020]

_

 

[Greg Cox]

Also, having been married for several years to a woman who wasn't into the things that I was but absorbed a lot of it through me, I can get a good hearty laugh out of some of Penny's reactions to the geekery going on around her. Like the bit where she corrects Amy for getting Star Trek and Star Wars mixed up, and Amy asks about the difference between the two. Penny's response: "THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE!"

That was sublime!

Also, when Penny didn't catch an X-Men reference, much to Leonard's confusion.

"But we saw the movie, remember? You said you liked it."

"I say a lot of things, honey."

 

[The Old Mixer]

Penny reminds me a lot of the ex-Mrs. Mixer in moments like that. The best ones are when she catches herself rambling off some geeky facts that she's learned from being around the guys so long.

 

[theenglish]

Penny reminds me a lot of the ex-Mrs. Mixer in moments like that. The best ones are when she catches herself rambling off some geeky facts that she's learned from being around the guys so long.

I think I've mentioned it here before, but my wife was watching some "romantic" movie involving time travel and caught herself explaining to her friends how the movie violated basic concepts of time travel and ignored an obvious "temporal paradox". She was angry with ME that she actually used that phrase in conversation.

 

[Nerys Myk]

I was lucky. Only one of my girlfriends wasn't some degree of nerd. Mrs. Nerys is probably the nerdiest.

 

[The Old Mixer]

I think I've mentioned it here before, but my wife was watching some "romantic" movie involving time travel and caught herself explaining to her friends how the movie violated basic concepts of time travel and ignored an obvious "temporal paradox". She was angry with ME that she actually used that phrase in conversation.

There you go! An excellent example of the show's humor ringing true for at least some of us.

BTW, that wasn't Somewhere in Time with Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour, was it? I love that film.

 

[Kelthaz]

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

They're not inherently negative qualities, but in BBT's case I find it bland. It's a generic sitcom with geeks as main characters as the gimmick. That's it.