The Big Bang Theory: What will they think of ST XI?

[Lord Garth]

Six different characters, six different personalities, and six different tastes even if most of them are huge/sci-fi fantasy fans. How do you think each of the characters on The Big Bang Theory will like ST XI?

My opinion:

Sheldon = Hates it.
Leonard = Likes it.
Penny = Is kind of interested but then not.
Howard = Loves the effects. What was the story again?
Kunal = Is indifferent. TWOK was better.
Sara = Likes it and likes to spite Sheldon.

Sheldon is kind of strange though. He's not the type of trekkie I thought he would be if today's episode was anything to go by. He thinks TFF is bad but still superior to TMP which, according to him, "was a failure on all levels" and he thinks TVH was the best.

I saw Sheldon as more the TMP type and Leonard TVH.

 

[chardman]

Big Bang Theory is a CBS show, so they could, conceivably, get away with more than mere casual references. Likewise, Trek 11 comes to the big screen during May TV sweeps, so a blatant tie-in could be excellent cross-promotion for the parent company.

I'm guessing the boys will find a way to attend the film's premiere, run into one of the lead actors, and madcap hijinx will ensue.

 

[Lord Garth]

^ FOX did the same thing with That '70s Show for Star Wars in the first season when The Phantom Menace was released.

I think a Big Bang ST XI episode would practically write itself.

Incidentally, in the eighth season of That '70s Show, which started in 2005, Donna says she felt like a nerd for keeping Eric up to date on Battlestar Galactica. I loved that line because she was talking about one version of the show and the audience could take it to mean something else. I thought it was a nice, subtle double-entreda.

 

[number6]

I think a Big Bang ST XI episode would practically write itself.

All they have to do is look through one of these threads. They've got enough material for an entire series.

 

[Lord Garth]

You know, I just had an inspired idea.

I've spent the last two years straight developing a screenplay with few breaks in between. I've really started to hone my skills. I can't show people what I'm working on but I could show people something that I would never use if I wanted to find out if I was any good.

Teleplays are easier than screenplays and they probably already have all the writing for The Big Bang Theory in the can for this season. The window for any script I'd write about a ST XI episode is already gone. Irgo, a teleplay for a current series that is unusuable and thus something that couldn't be pitched, agent or otherwise.

I could actually write an episode like that, post it on TrekBBS, some posters might get a kick out of it, and I can get feedback on my writing ability. My family and friends will only tell me what they think I want to hear but there would be no such problem here. If I couldn't write professionally, people would let me know instead worrying about whether or not they'd "hurt my feelings".

By saying I'll do this, I'm actually forcing myself to do something I've been looking to do this year by practicing to write for current series.

I'd just have to see if there would be a problem with posting professional fan-fiction in this case.

EDIT: Even if this were ruled against, I'll write the teleplay anyway. I just won't post it. Either way, this will be a great exercise.

 

[Captain Robert April]

Leonard is probably mildly interested and cautiously optimistic, Sheldon denies its very existence, Howie is only interested in seeing the rest of that scene where Zoe Saldana is getting undressed, Raj is waiting until it comes out to pass final judgment, Penny is barely aware of it and regrets knowing what she does.

 

[Captain59]

^ Captain April nailed it! In addition, Sara would go at great lengths to prove to Sheldon the movie does exist just to piss him off. Maybe she'll even say the new Kirk is better than Batman.

 

[DaveyNY]

I work 3 to 11 PM so don't get to watch much TV, but I gotta thank you guys Big Time, for talking about this show.

I had no clue what you were discussing till I did a Google and watched Episode One online... OMG !!!

Funny As Hell !!!

My IC isn't very fast so I ordered the DVD's from Amazon yesterday and can't wait to see the rest of the season and I've already got my DVR set up to catch this weeks episode!

Thanks again, I haven't laffed that much in a long while.

David

 

[bryce]

Sheldon will explain in precise detail how the time travel in the movie flagrantly violates half a dozen known laws of physics, is incompatable with his new version of string theory, and even if it was somehow possible some thing Nero did in X scene would clearly generate a paradox - and can't be done with a Romulan warp drive anyway...

...but Leonard Nimory was the awesome as usual and his apperance was the films single redeeming feature.

 

[Mr. Scott]

Not a big fan of "Big Bang Theory", but when I read the title, I was going to opine that Sheldon was going to hate it because the movie screwed up the established canon. Leonard is much more laid back and will just enjoy it for what it is.

The guy who played the brother of the actor of Leonard (Johnny Gelecki) on Roseanne died several years ago of a heroin overdose.

 

[Cheewiee]

Sheldon will explain in precise detail how the time travel in the movie flagrantly violates half a dozen known laws of physics, is incompatable with his new version of string theory, and even if it was somehow possible some thing Nero did in X scene would clearly generate a paradox - and can't be done with a Romulan warp drive anyway...

...but Leonard Nimory was the awesome as usual and his apperance was the films single redeeming feature.

Sheldon, is that you?

 

[Kchunda]

Big Bang Theory is a CBS show, so they could, conceivably, get away with more than mere casual references. Likewise, Trek 11 comes to the big screen during May TV sweeps, so a blatant tie-in could be excellent cross-promotion for the parent company.

I'm guessing the boys will find a way to attend the film's premiere, run into one of the lead actors, and madcap hijinx will ensue.

I would love to watch that, especially if everyone falls into two camps (accepting vs strict "it does not exist". Let's say they get there early for Sheldon to do his "acoustic optimization" ritual, an argument ensues about the most logical way to enjoy this new installment, and one of the guys ends up moving one seat away as a protest.

Lights dim, and at the last minute a person in a hoodie ends up grabbing the now-vacant seat. He can't stand Sheldon's constant interruption about the scientific theory employed in the movie and threatens him somehow. . .

When Sheldon retorts that he has no clue as to the superiority of the intellect he possesses, the mystery person responds:

"Really. I'm laughing at the superior intellect."

Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. William Shatner!

 

[M'Sharak]

^ That one does have a certain charm.

 

[FordSVT]

If Sheldon didn't approve of it, I'm not sure how he'd rationalize it against the fact that Nimoy (his God) approves of and acts in the movie. His head might explode.

 

[Lord Garth]

I know how I'm going to make this work: Sheldon feels betrayed by his "God". Something happens so that by the end he approves of the movie. CBS's way of telling hardcores that crow isn't so bad. That's the A-plot.

Penny doesn't want to go see it. She goes at Leonard's repeated insistance. At the end, through clenched teeth, she admits it wasn't so bad. Leonard wants to know if turns her into a Trekkie and she says not to push hits luck.

 

[Kryton]

The guy who played the brother of the actor of Leonard (Johnny Gelecki) on Roseanne died several years ago of a heroin overdose.

Glenn Quinn was also Doyle in the first season of Angel. He died the day before my birthday in 2002.

 

[wamdue]

Big Bang Theory is a CBS show, so they could, conceivably, get away with more than mere casual references. Likewise, Trek 11 comes to the big screen during May TV sweeps, so a blatant tie-in could be excellent cross-promotion for the parent company.

I'm guessing the boys will find a way to attend the film's premiere, run into one of the lead actors, and madcap hijinx will ensue.

that would be cool, however I am going to be disappointed if it doesn't happen.

 

[Eric Cheung]

You know, I just had an inspired idea.

I've spent the last two years straight developing a screenplay with few breaks in between. I've really started to hone my skills. I can't show people what I'm working on but I could show people something that I would never use if I wanted to find out if I was any good.

Teleplays are easier than screenplays and they probably already have all the writing for The Big Bang Theory in the can for this season. The window for any script I'd write about a ST XI episode is already gone. Irgo, a teleplay for a current series that is unusuable and thus something that couldn't be pitched, agent or otherwise.

I could actually write an episode like that, post it on TrekBBS, some posters might get a kick out of it, and I can get feedback on my writing ability. My family and friends will only tell me what they think I want to hear but there would be no such problem here. If I couldn't write professionally, people would let me know instead worrying about whether or not they'd "hurt my feelings".

By saying I'll do this, I'm actually forcing myself to do something I've been looking to do this year by practicing to write for current series.

I'd just have to see if there would be a problem with posting professional fan-fiction in this case.

EDIT: Even if this were ruled against, I'll write the teleplay anyway. I just won't post it. Either way, this will be a great exercise.

Spec scripts like the one you're talking about are usually what's needed to get a television writing agent anyway, so the more practice you have doing that, the better. Once you have some that you're proud of you can shop them around to agents who shop them around to shows that are similar to the ones for which you wrote specs.

Obviously it's best to write for a show you know well like TBBT. In TV a lot of shows have different formats for their scripts, so you might be able to go online and find a template. If you have a program like Final Draft you might be able to download one from them.

I think they say to write a show as minimalist as possible (if possible write most of the scenes for existing sets), while demonstrating a strong knowledge of the structure (know how many scenes are usually in an episode, how many acts there are, a typical arc for an episode, etc.) in addition to knowing the characters well and knowing how they speak.

I bet they'll have far better information in the Trek Literature forum.

 

[WendellM]

I'm looking forward to it! BBT is one of my favorite current series (they usually do get the "geek" feel right without being condescending or cruel), and I laugh when I see so many familiar situations. I expect them to nail the reaction to ST XI, both pro and con/KHAAAN!