How Do You Feel About The Big Bang Theroy(The Show)
- Thread starter elax92
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Yeah, you're always going to be able to find some members of a group who do fit the stereotype. The problem, of course, are the many, many others who don't fit the stereotype, yet still get painted by a broad brush.
The problem with the show isn't that it gets laughs at the expense of geeks, and what the show sees as "geekdom". It's a sitcom, that's to be expected. The problem is that the show's characters are all mainstream America's view of nerds. And yes, they are all stereotypes. They all love any kind of space show, they all love all types of sci-fi, they all like comics. They all obsess over the same things. Those "things" all seem to fit the mainstream view of nerdom.
This show doesn't really get nerds at all, I don't think. What they do "get" is what the mainstream thinks nerds are all about. And that is what the show presents. Imagine if one of the nerd characters on the show obsessed over the show, "Couger Town"? Wouldn't have happened because "nerds aren't into shows that don't have super heroes or spaceships", in TBBT-world. Imagine one of the nerds obsessing over say, the Dallas Cowboys (in addition to sci-fi)? Nope. Because nerds know nothing about sports in TBBT-world.
This is nerdworld according to TBBT where only men are real geeks.
This is exactly what I'm talking about. The show's producers are going for a mainstream audience so they make the nerds as easily recognizable (to a mainstream audience) as nerds, as possible.
In it's first 3 or 4 seasons "Community" displayed a much better understanding of nerds than TBBT ever has.
I enjoyed the first season. A few after that were pretty good. Haven't really enjoyed it as much in a year or so. Not watching anymore.
Despite it's dip in quality I still keep tuning in and I will probably stay until the end. Unless they add a baby. That would kill the show for me.
I've seen every episode and frequently laugh in recognition. Pretty sure my friends and I have had some of those same conversations. 
Granted, they could stand to introduce a genuine female at some point. I get that Bernadette and Amy are science geeks, but not sci-fi fans, which is a legitimate distinction, but we could use a female character who is just as passionately into Star Trek, comic books, etc. as the guys . . . .
Granted, they could stand to introduce a genuine female at some point. I get that Bernadette and Amy are science geeks, but not sci-fi fans, which is a legitimate distinction, but we could use a female character who is just as passionately into Star Trek, comic books, etc. as the guys . . . .
Your post reminds me of the episode where the girls decide to read some comics, and they end up getting all huffy about Thor's hammer.
Sheldon makes a really good Data!
As much as I hated Sheldon's guts and wanted to see him die slowly, it took me awhile before I realized this is apparently the whole point of the character.
That's what they did last year. Afterwards they will move it back to Thursday.
The Big Bang Theory.
I know so many people who absolutely loathe this show.
They hate it with a passion, never missing an opportunity to trash it or to go into why they don't like it.
They spend more energy doing that than actually talking about the shows they do like and why.
It boggles my mind.
The reason seems to be because the show is a monstrous hit for CBS. If it were some worthless show that barely brought in 200,000 viewers each week, nobody would give two Lannister shits about it.
But because it's the ratings juggernaut that it is and because CBS (rightly) has ridden the wave of its success for 8 years, people always find a way to complain about it. Because they don't like it and because they can't stand to see other people enjoying something they don't like.
And maybe there is some kernel of truth to that.
We all want to feel like we're "in" and "with it" and have our fingers on the touchstone of the current cultural zeitgeist. But it's the purgatory-esque middle ground between that and the realm of legitimate criticism of the choices made by the show and the people making it where all these problems lie.
And as long as we keep watching, they'll keep thinking that they're doing a show that people want to see.
Part of me just throws my hands up now every time I see someone complaining and just think to myself, "Stop watching the show then." I know this isn't entirely fair, but at the same time the internet seems to get really bent out of shape (and to much more an extreme than often need be).
Nobody is forcing us to watch this show. Don't like it? Then don't watch it!
I know so many people who absolutely loathe this show.
They hate it with a passion, never missing an opportunity to trash it or to go into why they don't like it.
They spend more energy doing that than actually talking about the shows they do like and why.
It boggles my mind.
The reason seems to be because the show is a monstrous hit for CBS. If it were some worthless show that barely brought in 200,000 viewers each week, nobody would give two Lannister shits about it.
But because it's the ratings juggernaut that it is and because CBS (rightly) has ridden the wave of its success for 8 years, people always find a way to complain about it. Because they don't like it and because they can't stand to see other people enjoying something they don't like.
And maybe there is some kernel of truth to that.
We all want to feel like we're "in" and "with it" and have our fingers on the touchstone of the current cultural zeitgeist. But it's the purgatory-esque middle ground between that and the realm of legitimate criticism of the choices made by the show and the people making it where all these problems lie.
And as long as we keep watching, they'll keep thinking that they're doing a show that people want to see.
Part of me just throws my hands up now every time I see someone complaining and just think to myself, "Stop watching the show then." I know this isn't entirely fair, but at the same time the internet seems to get really bent out of shape (and to much more an extreme than often need be).
Nobody is forcing us to watch this show. Don't like it? Then don't watch it!
And then there's this sterling example of why another hilarious TV series is better about and for the nerd in all of us and why The Big Bang Theory isn't:
'Parks And Recreation': Good For Nerds, Good For America
'Parks And Recreation': Good For Nerds, Good For America
It's a generic sitcom with geek references inserted mad libs style. I don't find it clever or funny.
It is really popcorn TV, there have been a few deep & touching EPs but it isn't something I take too serious and have fun with.
I have to say I am amazed at how many people don't like this show.
I think it's sweet and funny. It's one of the few shows I actually try to watch live, because I don't want to wait.
Sheldon and Amy (AKA "Shamy") are a Love Story for the Ages. Howard's (AKA "Fruit Loops") trip to the space station was both a dream and a nightmare come true (his calls to Bernadette were awesome). Leonard finally gets the girl.
When they tried to get young girls into science? When Penny get's Sheldon's virtual treasure back? When Amy was sick and Sheldon had to take care of her? The Blue Jay on the windowsill? The roommate agreement? Zack?
Video games, sci-fi, comic books, science experiments, conventions, Wil Wheaton... it's all there!!
One of my all-time favorite sitcoms.
I think it's sweet and funny. It's one of the few shows I actually try to watch live, because I don't want to wait.
Sheldon and Amy (AKA "Shamy") are a Love Story for the Ages. Howard's (AKA "Fruit Loops") trip to the space station was both a dream and a nightmare come true (his calls to Bernadette were awesome). Leonard finally gets the girl.
When they tried to get young girls into science? When Penny get's Sheldon's virtual treasure back? When Amy was sick and Sheldon had to take care of her? The Blue Jay on the windowsill? The roommate agreement? Zack?
Video games, sci-fi, comic books, science experiments, conventions, Wil Wheaton... it's all there!!
One of my all-time favorite sitcoms.
The Sheldon/Amy thing is one of the most annoying, cringeworthy things about an already tough to sit through "funny" show.
It throws bad jokes at the audience haphazardly to make us laugh at the collection of men-children and little else for 8 years.
And the constant abuse slung at Penny for her lifestlye and not sharing their "genious" was just awful for most of the run of the show.
It throws bad jokes at the audience haphazardly to make us laugh at the collection of men-children and little else for 8 years.
And the constant abuse slung at Penny for her lifestlye and not sharing their "genious" was just awful for most of the run of the show.
Fair enough. I don't see it that way though. To each his/her own.
Penny gives as good as she gets.
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