Thoughts on the Current Season of the Big Bang Theory
- Thread starter Andonagio
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That's interesting. When things like that occur, do you think it's due more to writer fatigue (i.e. creative burnout after several seasons writing the same characters) or more to wanting to play up the kind of story that generates the best ratings?
It's definitely about the ratings. They added the female characters and the demo shot through the roof.
And that's the part of the series I may opt out of when I get there. One cute girl living across from a group of 4 nerd friends was a genius move for a sitcom. Moving too far away from that distorts the original crux of the show.
Such is the way of the way of almost every popular form of entertainment. In attracting/gaining/keeping a larger audience they shift away from the original premise they started with in order to have broader appeal.
I've personally felt that the show has become more of the nerds being 'the joke'... Where in the beginning that was somewhat the case, but I felt like it was more of a show trying to appeal to 'nerdier' fans with the dialogue. Now its more of a 'ha-ha' look at how pathetic this nerd is at times.
I think maybe it's because the writers THINK the audience likes that kind of story best due to favorable reaction the first few times, when in realty that kind of story gets annoying when it's overused. Though there may be a certain amount of writer fatigue involved too.
I like Sheldon and Amy. They're a hoot. For a show that's five seasons old, it's surprisingly enjoyable. I give season five a thumbs up. 
It's not great art, but TBBT sure is funny. That's all that matters. 
It's not great art, but TBBT sure is funny. That's all that matters. 
I caught the initial episode of this show and bailed. Since the reruns went into syndication on the local Fox affiliate here, I'v been catching two episodes a night for the last 4-5 months. For the most part, I find BBT to be extremely lame. The jokes are all predictable, nearly all based on mainstream stereotypes of nerds. There is absolutely nothing cool about the show. There;s no subtlety. All of the jokes land like a 16 lbs bowling ball.
I compare it to a nerd show like "Community" and good lord, there is no comparison. I saw one BBT episode that featured Summer Glau. If I'm not mistaken, I don't think they made a single reference in that episode to the show Glau is most known for in the geek community, "Firefly". But they did make several references to Sarah Connor Chronicles, which I guess was running at the time the BBT episode aired. Nothing against SCC, I liked the show, but for a "nerd" show to feature Summer Glau and not mention Firefly...
And all those complaints in the thread starter's post, I had been making many of these same ones about the first 3 seasons of the show I've been watching in syndication (except the complaint about Sheldon centric episodes). If it wasn't for Jim Parsons' fully committed and engaging performance, this show would hold no appeal for me at all.
I compare it to a nerd show like "Community" and good lord, there is no comparison. I saw one BBT episode that featured Summer Glau. If I'm not mistaken, I don't think they made a single reference in that episode to the show Glau is most known for in the geek community, "Firefly". But they did make several references to Sarah Connor Chronicles, which I guess was running at the time the BBT episode aired. Nothing against SCC, I liked the show, but for a "nerd" show to feature Summer Glau and not mention Firefly...
And all those complaints in the thread starter's post, I had been making many of these same ones about the first 3 seasons of the show I've been watching in syndication (except the complaint about Sheldon centric episodes). If it wasn't for Jim Parsons' fully committed and engaging performance, this show would hold no appeal for me at all.
I find Amy n Sheldon funny as hell and I would argue the ratings back that up for the fanbase in general. When they upped the cast last season I found that gave the show a new freshness to the show and allowed Penny her own little group away from the boys.
Poor Johnny Galecki. The straight man is vital, but he gets no credit at all. Galecki expresses a lot of the supposed normal viewers' feelings, but he's still definitely a nerd, so I don't think the show has moved that far into laugh at the nerds territory.
What they really need to do is bring Kate Mulgrew on. They can have Penny like Janeway and keep her and Leonard from finally committing just because that feaks him out. Liking Voyager could serve to keep them arbitrarily separated for the entire series run.
What they really need to do is bring Kate Mulgrew on. They can have Penny like Janeway and keep her and Leonard from finally committing just because that feaks him out. Liking Voyager could serve to keep them arbitrarily separated for the entire series run.
I`m a huge fan on BBT 
i loved the other series but this is starting to lag hope it picks up again
i loved the other series but this is starting to lag hope it picks up againDevolving from a unique, intelligent show to just another sitcom.
Basically "Friends" with nerds
3 guys and 3 girls with two apartments across from the hall
So far the introduction of Bernadette (mid season 3?) is where things are taking a nosedive for me. Luckily the control-Penny-with-chocolate episode was the standout that delivered before that. I can see why they introduced her, though. It's not as though the writers had anything more to do with Howard being unsuccessful with women so they played that out to it's logical conclusion.
Critically one could argue that more American sitcoms should go the route of the UK where a hit comedy like The Office exists only for two short seasons but maintains the same high level of quality throughout. But then again, TV is some kind of "business", apparently.
I might stop here, unless there are any gems from season 4 worth watching. The best part of this show are the interactions between Penny and Sheldon.
Critically one could argue that more American sitcoms should go the route of the UK where a hit comedy like The Office exists only for two short seasons but maintains the same high level of quality throughout. But then again, TV is some kind of "business", apparently.
I might stop here, unless there are any gems from season 4 worth watching. The best part of this show are the interactions between Penny and Sheldon.
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I thought it was very funny. I loved the different poses the action figure was in each shot.
And the Gorn was a hoot.
At first I was dissappointed when I heard that Nimoy wasn"t actually going to appear before the cameras but was only going to do a voice over. But having a Spock action figure as a manifestation of Sheldon's conscience was hilarious and didn't feel like a cheat at all. The alien planet set and the cameo by the gorn were a nice touch as well.
I think that the show is now every bit as funny as it ever has been. All the characters have evolved in interesting directions with the unfortunate exception of Raj. His gags- the selective mutism around women and his implied homosexuality - are getting really tired. I think that the best thing the writers could do for his character at this point would be to actually make him gay which would open up a lot potential storylines for him.
I think that the show is now every bit as funny as it ever has been. All the characters have evolved in interesting directions with the unfortunate exception of Raj. His gags- the selective mutism around women and his implied homosexuality - are getting really tired. I think that the best thing the writers could do for his character at this point would be to actually make him gay which would open up a lot potential storylines for him.
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