Big Bang Theory: Worst Thing on TV or Just the Unfunniest Thing on TV? Discuss.

[Aerozord]

Lets be honest you see very few legit examples of nerds in anything. They are either over the top stereotypes that understand nerd culture and literally nothing else or they are "hollywood nerds" that are only nerds because they are quirky, intelligent, and because the show keeps insisting they are.

Then again this is television so I guess archetypes are kind of assumed. In real life nerds are nerds more because they embrace their non-mainstream interests over conforming to the norms. They aren't obsessed or atleast no more obsessed than a reality TV or sports fan. Just our interests carry a social stigma, generally we aren't any more or less adept at other things or prioritize things differently.

[stefan]

BBT is far more interesting when you approach it from the perspective that its a satire of "proud nerd culture," taking the kind of people who use the word jock unironically and exposing them for the sociopathic, viciously bitter, arrogant shits they are.

Let's be honest here. Who hasn't met someone like Sheldon, who completely and utterly fails at social interaction on basically every level, and latches onto their status as a "nerd" to excuse their complete and utter refusal to act like a person instead of a shit-flinging monkey? We all know at least one person who will shoehorn pop culture references into literally every fucking sentence they say, no matter how inappropriate or awkward.

Look at gamer culture. Look at the tvtropes community. Go take a walk through your nearest Games Workshop outlet. When you step back and look, a frankly alarming number of the people who self-describe as nerds are terrifyingly regressive nuts with delusions of competence. I mean, fuck, the fact that "nerd blackface" is considered to be remotely acceptable at all to describe BBT should tip off several warning bells.

[Bells]

That's true... also, i don't doubt that there probably are people that mirror more closely the "archetypes" of the characters on the show... a fringe slice of a group, sure... but it's Sitcom, it's absurdity magnified.

Also, seriously, defining "nerd culture" and how people go about celebrating or living it... it's not an exact science. I work with people who camp overnight on the middle of the week for a D&D session and the next morning go to work to do some serious, technical, responsible non-science/nerdy jobs as much as i know people who love a lot of the stuff but watch it from afar for a plethora of reasons.

People and their communities are not binary things. And, sure, you can totally say the jokes in TBBT fall flat... just like some would say that The Office is stale and lifeless, it's more of a personal taste than any social stigma really...

It's Friends with some science and nerdy babble pretty much... harmless show that is watchable, but i wouldn't find myself quoting it (like... Bazinga) Mind you that regarding to portraits of Nerd culture, somewhere down the line there is a strong enough slice of people in that culture that think stuff like "The Tester" is a good show or even a good concept for a show...

[Loyal]

Someone explain "Bazinga" to me because I want to know but can't be bothered to look it up and sure as shit can't be bothered to actually watch the show for it. This is literally the one and only thing I want to know about the show.

[Bells]

It's just a buzz word made up to create some sort of Pop Culture FROM the show instead of the show just repeating references from others.

it's Sheldon going "Psych!"

[Kim]

What I'm gathering from this thread is that Bells is calling us HYYYYYYPPPPPSST-TURs in an attempt to defend his honor.

Don't worry, Bells.

You like Big Bang Theory.

You have no honor to defend.

[Grandmaster_Skweeb]

Yeah, bazinga is the Don't have a cow, man, burn, or whatchu talkin'bout, willace of this generation's tv. Or at the very least trying desperately to be.

When I was babysitting my niece and nephew a few weeks back I decided to check out what all the buzz is about with this show. Watched it without letting any previous bias alter my opinion (That is to say it was really fuckin tough not to hate the show almost immediately when Sheldon opened his festering gob and spewed forth a pile of verbal puke what is passably considered humor somehow) and I guess I can see why the everyday joe schmuck would like it, but then again joe schmucks think watching Honey BooBoo is quality entertainment so that isn't really saying much.

Which goes back to my standing that no tv at all is the best tv.

[Professor Smarmiarty]

Sheldon wouldn't last as an academic- he's not going to be pulling in grants because hes too arrogant to write a grant proposal, everybody is going to hate him, he's not going to be able to collaborate with anyone, he can't take criticism- he'll be fired within 10 minutes.

[BloodyMage]

Originally Posted by Lumenskir

Pretty much what the title says.

It Is Clearly The Worst
Exhibit A - The Problem With The Big Bang Theory

Except, no, the show regularly sets up reasons to laugh at Penny, like how she never has seen Lord of the Rings or that she's proud of being able to hogtie a pig in seconds or that she drinks excessively. And all of those guys are basically bloated versions of average geeks and nerds. Leonard is the typical geek, with glasses and lacking cool clothes that is just a little too shy, Howard is the one who over compensates for his lack of physical stature and charm with over confidence. Raj is the one with the kinda cool job (stars!), and has other interests not typically geeky, such as cooking. Most of his jokes and humour come from possibly being gay, which has nothing to do with his nerdiness. Sheldon is just the pompous ass that we all know that has to be right about everything and doesn't seem to care or even know how to act in other situations. These kinds of people do exist, the show has just over exaggerated these qualities as every sitcom since the dawn of man has done. And the thing is, they all still end up in relationships. And not pity relationships but strong relationships independent of their personal interests. Howard recently got married and got to be an astronaut. Leonard has dated Penny and other hot chicks including a doctor and a lawyer, picked up a girl at the comic book shop and Sheldon' assistant is shown to find him attractive. Most of these came after his first relationship with Penny so you could argue that it gave him a confident boost. And in the occasions when the relationships fail, it's rarely do with his geek interests. In fact, the relationship with Penny ended because she was insecure and had commitment issues. So no, I don't feel cooler than any of these guys.

Originally Posted by Lumenskir

Exhibit B - Ok, this is probably covered by the subtext of the link above, but I think a specific example speaks volumes:

So, there's an episode where the nerds get a box of movie memorabilia. In the box is the authentic ring prop used in the Lord of the Rings movies. The nerds basically spend the whole episode fighting over it.

In the middle of the episode, the girl comes over, sees them fighting over it, and asks what they're fighting over. The nerds have to explain to her what the ring is, and then what Lord of the Rings is.

So, the show wants me to believe that the girl, who is trying to be an actress in Hollywood, has no idea what Lord of the Rings is. You might remember Lord of the Rings as the movie series that made, conservatively, all of the money in the world. It eventually won every Oscar. Literally everyone saw it. But the only joke they could muster was her bafflement at "the Lord of the Rings thing."

To be fair, there are plenty of people who may know of The Lord of the Rings but for one reason or another never watched the films. Maybe they don't like fantasy or they watched the first film and were bored so skipped the rest. There are people like that and I know some like that and even if you did know about the film series it would still be pretty weird to walk in on a bunch of people fighting over a replica ring.

Originally Posted by Lumenskir

Exhibit C - Raj

No, It Is Just The Unfunniest Show on Television

Exhibit A - I like many funny shows. I've watched many episodes of BBT. I've been able to predict exact punchlines based on the lazy setups, I've been able to comprehend why some writer thought it should be seen as funny, but I've never laughed once.

That doesn't necessarily make the show unfunny. It just makes you clever.

Originally Posted by Lumenskir

Exhibit B - My douchebag housemate loves it.

Case closed, but extra evidence welcomed.

Who cares what your housemate likes/doesn't like?

Also, kinda have to agree with Bells in the fact that it feels like a lot of you would rather be watching a documentary about science than a sitcom with science. Which is great, there's nothing wrong with documentaries about science. But sitcoms have always used rule of funny regarding this kind of thing. Big Bang Theory isn't the first and it certainly won't be the last.

[Kim]

Except, no, the show regularly sets up reasons to laugh at Penny, like how she never has seen Lord of the Rings or that she's proud of being able to hogtie a pig in seconds or that she drinks excessively.

These all seem like really shitty reasons to laugh at someone.