And it would work no less if it did. I don't watch it but judging by the critical acclaim it gets because of the writers and actors, THAT is why it is funny.
Big Bang Theory, yes or no?
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But it wouldn't be written the same way if it had laugh pauses. So, no, it wouldn't be as good (ditto with Community and The Office).
The Big Bang Theory is filmed before a live audience and so most of the laughter is real although from what I have read the laughter is sometimes enhanced with a laugh track.
It'd be real if it were spontaneous, but since these people are told when and how to react, they might as well only be using a laugh track.
It's nice to read a thread like this on a board like this.. the people the show represents.
It's almost a litmus test in itself because the show lampoons the extreme side of nerd existence and fanboyism and those that cry the loudest seem to me to be the people who think the show is deragotary to them and disrespectful when the opposite is true.
I don't think any comedy show or sitcom has an agenda.. Big Bang isn't out to make fun of nerds because they are nerds and i highly doubt someone came into the office with "This dumb nerd scientist just insulted me.. i'll do a show that makes fun of his entire culture!".
They made the show to poke fun at us and the crazy stuff we sometimes obsess about which seems very strange to outsiders but at the core of it all of the characters (even Sheldon
) are very decent and helpful guys and any person in the world would be lucky to have them as friends.
I've encountered far more deceit, lies and dishonesty amongst regular folk than i found at my local gamesstore.. yes, those guys would have a hard time "landing" a hot girl like Penny (much less strike up a non-nerd related conversation) but what show is realistic?
It's almost a litmus test in itself because the show lampoons the extreme side of nerd existence and fanboyism and those that cry the loudest seem to me to be the people who think the show is deragotary to them and disrespectful when the opposite is true.
I don't think any comedy show or sitcom has an agenda.. Big Bang isn't out to make fun of nerds because they are nerds and i highly doubt someone came into the office with "This dumb nerd scientist just insulted me.. i'll do a show that makes fun of his entire culture!".
They made the show to poke fun at us and the crazy stuff we sometimes obsess about which seems very strange to outsiders but at the core of it all of the characters (even Sheldon
) are very decent and helpful guys and any person in the world would be lucky to have them as friends.I've encountered far more deceit, lies and dishonesty amongst regular folk than i found at my local gamesstore.. yes, those guys would have a hard time "landing" a hot girl like Penny (much less strike up a non-nerd related conversation) but what show is realistic?
Next weeks episode:
The guys sit around and debate for days on the positives/negatives of a laugh track on a sitcom they watch.
The guys sit around and debate for days on the positives/negatives of a laugh track on a sitcom they watch.
It'd be real if it were spontaneous, but since these people are told when and how to react, they might as well only be using a laugh track.
How do you know their laughter is not spontaneous?
^ It's well known in the television industry - audiences are often prompted to laugh by crew members holding up signs that say "APPLAUSE" and things like that. (Like at sporting events when they show these messages on the jumbotrons, like "MAKE SOME NOISE")
We don't know for certain that they do this here, but it's possible. Very likely, actually. Think about it - why else do laugh tracks or studio audiences exist at all? Why are shows written that way? They are done so the viewers at home will know when to laugh. The general viewer doesn't think something is funny unless they hear other people laughing along with it.
We don't know for certain that they do this here, but it's possible. Very likely, actually. Think about it - why else do laugh tracks or studio audiences exist at all? Why are shows written that way? They are done so the viewers at home will know when to laugh. The general viewer doesn't think something is funny unless they hear other people laughing along with it.
Either that, or the entire audience is high on nitrous oxide.
I haven't seen a Big Bang Theory taping, but I have sat through the taping of a different show (a pilot that wasn't picked up). We were definitely NOT instructed on how to react to the show. Laughter (or lack thereof) was spontaneous.
100x this. I can understand someone not liking the show's type of humor or the use of audience laughter. But to say this show's getting cheap laughs by tearing down nerds and geeks is just completely off-base and says more about the insecurity of some of this board's members than anything else.
Well now we know who has never attended a live studio taping in the 21st century. At a taping I attended in 2005, they didn't do any of this. There was a comic there to warm up the audience and get them in a good mood, and they did do multiple takes for some scenes to get the best one to edit into the final airing, but that was about it. Some of the jokes fell flat or just went straight over the audience's heads and got rewritten; not surprisingly those didn't make it on the air.
"Thicker skin"
I'm going to note once again the original poster was asking for opinions (yes/no), not a BBT suckoff. Whatever the reason a person may have for disliking the show, who are you to tell them they are wrong and need to get a whatever?
YOU get the thicker skin. Some think your beloved show sucks. Deal.
I've pointed out what I think is good "nerd humor". This isn't it, IMO. It is cheap laughs at the expense of charicatures. This show is nowhere NEAR the level of Shatner on SNL. Or any other real humor. Yes, our subculture, like any subculture, has it's foibles. But there's a difference between observational humor being poked at it, and a show being the equivalent of a "kick me" sign, tired laughs generated by tired tropes.
There's plenty of humor to be found in the nerd community, I consider myself a bit of a fanboy of said humor. I don't think this is it.
Some of you do. Fine. But that doesn't meant that those who do find it unfunny, mean, whatever, have problems, lack a sense of humor or whatever, any more than those of you who do are the humor equivalent of George McFly laughing when Biff and his boys deliver feet to the seat of George's pants.
Different humor appeals to different people. Many think this show does not bring the goods. That does not make them humorless killjoys.
I'm going to note once again the original poster was asking for opinions (yes/no), not a BBT suckoff. Whatever the reason a person may have for disliking the show, who are you to tell them they are wrong and need to get a whatever?
YOU get the thicker skin. Some think your beloved show sucks. Deal.
I've pointed out what I think is good "nerd humor". This isn't it, IMO. It is cheap laughs at the expense of charicatures. This show is nowhere NEAR the level of Shatner on SNL. Or any other real humor. Yes, our subculture, like any subculture, has it's foibles. But there's a difference between observational humor being poked at it, and a show being the equivalent of a "kick me" sign, tired laughs generated by tired tropes.
There's plenty of humor to be found in the nerd community, I consider myself a bit of a fanboy of said humor. I don't think this is it.
Some of you do. Fine. But that doesn't meant that those who do find it unfunny, mean, whatever, have problems, lack a sense of humor or whatever, any more than those of you who do are the humor equivalent of George McFly laughing when Biff and his boys deliver feet to the seat of George's pants.
Different humor appeals to different people. Many think this show does not bring the goods. That does not make them humorless killjoys.
Although I love the show and it is my favorite I do agree that people who disagree doesn't mean they don't have a sense of humor.
Agreed. I'm glad there's so many people here that agree with me on this point. However, knowing that there are so many people here that have the opposite view, well, perhaps the universe will make sense to me some day.
Amen! I don't know how any of my fellow nerds can embrace Big Bang Theory when Abed is clearly the true messiah! I especially love how Community will slip in references but not draw attention to the fact that they're making references.
Agreed. Granted, there are real-life Sheldons out there. But Leonard feels completely forced, from the glasses down to the nasally voice.
BBT is one of my favorite programs, right up there with Doctor Who.
I empathize with the show considerably. I'm probably a Wolowitz leaning towards are a Hofsteter (I don't have my Doctorate -- yet). However, as I'm fond of telling my students (I teach college-level IT) that I'm roughly 4/5 of the cast. That is, if you took all their character traits and pooled them, I'd match about 4/5 of them.
(I don't match Penny -- I've never met a hot chick that willingly hung out with geeks. Look down on us, scoff at us, and just generally being jerks to us -- yes. Hang out with us and treat us like human beings -- never in 47 years.)
I've had all the geeky conversations they've had. Really. Over 47 years, I've had every single one. I know people just like the characters (except Penny).
Again, one of my favorite shows. Your mileage may vary.
Dakota Smith
I empathize with the show considerably. I'm probably a Wolowitz leaning towards are a Hofsteter (I don't have my Doctorate -- yet). However, as I'm fond of telling my students (I teach college-level IT) that I'm roughly 4/5 of the cast. That is, if you took all their character traits and pooled them, I'd match about 4/5 of them.
(I don't match Penny -- I've never met a hot chick that willingly hung out with geeks. Look down on us, scoff at us, and just generally being jerks to us -- yes. Hang out with us and treat us like human beings -- never in 47 years.)
I've had all the geeky conversations they've had. Really. Over 47 years, I've had every single one. I know people just like the characters (except Penny).
Again, one of my favorite shows. Your mileage may vary.
Dakota Smith
My buddies and I had a few girlfriends who could give Penny a run for her money. ( Yeah, I know how that sounds).
As I've said before, Leonard in a lot like me ( including the glasses, but not the nasal voice) The actor's natural voice is a bit nasally, though.
As I've said before, Leonard in a lot like me ( including the glasses, but not the nasal voice) The actor's natural voice is a bit nasally, though.
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