Thank you IceniQueen. I have said something similar myself.
PS: I also don't like Game of Thrones... I stopped watching very early after they killed that poor dog unjustly. I don't like shows that celebrate tragedy or evil, which is why I also hate most reality shows.
Wait, how does that "celebrate tragedy and evil"?
The wolf died, it was sad. Do you just not like it when bad things happen in shows?
I like happy endings true... But I was having a hard time finding someone worth cheering for. There were SO many evil people and very few good ones. And the show seemed to be all about the evil people going at each other while crushing the good people underfoot. I realize I didn't see that many episodes but the wolf incident proved that one of the people I thought was good was actually just neutral fully capable of evil when it was expedient. And so I turned it off permanently before they had a chance to turn everyone on the show evil.
one of the people I thought was good was actually just neutral fully capable of evil when it was expedient. And so I turned it off permanently before they had a chance to turn everyone on the show evil.
We all have different areas where we draw the lines between "good" and "evil" -- and some people's gray area in the middle is bigger. From what you've said, you seem to draw a fairly hard line, and leave a VERY small area delineated as "good" -- which means that part of the problem isn't necessarily the show, but your own preconceptions. I'd guess that probably 90% of the audience views the character you're referring to as "lawful good."
That said, I'm sort of ambivalent about "GoT" on TV; it's fairly interesting, but not something I'd go out of my way to see. My wife, on the other hand, is a rabidly fanatical fan all of the sudden. Dunno what that says about us as people, except in terms of "good" and "evil," she's a LOT closer to the former and further from the latter than I am.
[derail] Have you read the books, Kirth? The characterization's more nuanced, but the world's no less grim; more so, if anything [/derail]
[derail] Have you read the books, Kirth? The characterization's more nuanced, but the world's no less grim; more so, if anything [/derail]
Yeah, all except the latest one. I quit when I realized there was no conceivable way that GRRRRRRRRM was ever going to finish the series. The thing is, the novels seem to be pretty closely based on the English War of the Roses and/or that sort of social interaction and time period -- and people back then were not nice, to put it mildly. Steve Pinker's The Better Angels of Our Nature has a lot to say about this kind of thing, but basically we're living in an age now in which we judge as "nasty" or even "evil" a lot of things that our ancestors viewed as "praiseworthy" -- and we don't even have the words anymore describe some of the things people did to one another back in the day. I take the grimness in GoT as a reminder.
So you haven't through the Reek/Theon experience in A Dance with Dragons? It's fifty million pages, but it's worth it, all things considered. But yeah, GoT definitely has a "This is horrible!" "I'm sorry, you thought 'rape and pillage' was metaphor?" vibe.
Edit: Ah, Red Riding. I saw that after the first season of Downton Abbey, and was all, "Oh, hey, Michelle Dockery, that's Lady Mary, and Sean Bean, he's--oh dear God WHY?!"
Ah, Red Riding.
Parts 1 & 2 together constitute my absolute favorite crime/noir drama of all time. Part 3 I didn't care for as much, because it seemed like the story was pretty well wrapped up by then.
If we're going to talk about Stars Wars, I have to mention Darths & Droids; it's a moral necessity!
Then you cannot say that geeks laugh at the jocks and the jocks laugh at the geeks that is a stereotype and then you are just as guilty of what you say the show does.No. As the saying goes: exceptions confirm rules.
So I blow that theory out of the water.
You do know what that saying means, do you?
It is really as simple as this. There are many who LOVE this show and think it is funny. There are many who do NOT like the show and think it is stupid. it has nothing to do really if you are geek or jock, it has much to do if you think the situations are funny. Maybe because you have found yourself in that situation or knew someone in that situation. Then again you might be offended because you have been in that situation and felt 2" tall and people laughed at you and maybe that hurt.
No, it is not as simple as that. It is viable to talk about how the show reflects society. Bullying is prevalent in all layers, and shows like BBT convey at least one sentiment that's the reason for bullying: that is is okay to ridicule and look down on those that are different.
And if you think that bullying someone is funny, you should feel bad.Several people in this thread, including AD, have said that they see the portrayal of the "boneheads" in BBT as more negative as the portrayal of the "geeks". That's because they think that it is more favorable to be a "geek". They identify more with that side of the show.
However, I don't think the "geeks" watching the show are the majority. Who do you think the majority identifies with? Who do you think these viewers laugh about?
Nuances do not matter, especially if you don't know anything about the social group you do not belong to. What matters is how people's prejudices are reinforced. By watching 5 minutes of one episode of BBT, one can identify the respective groups in the show, and that's it. Do you believe that most people will actually think further than that?
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Then you cannot say that geeks laugh at the jocks and the jocks laugh at the geeks that is a stereotype and then you are just as guilty of what you say the show does.No. As the saying goes: exceptions confirm rules.
So I blow that theory out of the water.You do know what that saying means, do you?
It is really as simple as this. There are many who LOVE this show and think it is funny. There are many who do NOT like the show and think it is stupid. it has nothing to do really if you are geek or jock, it has much to do if you think the situations are funny. Maybe because you have found yourself in that situation or knew someone in that situation. Then again you might be offended because you have been in that situation and felt 2" tall and people laughed at you and maybe that hurt.No, it is not as simple as that. It is viable to talk about how the show reflects society. Bullying is prevalent in all layers, and shows like BBT convey at least one sentiment that's the reason for bullying: that is is okay to ridicule and look down on those that are different.
And if you think that bullying someone is funny, you should feel bad.Several people in this thread, including AD, have said that they see the portrayal of the "boneheads" in BBT as more negative as the portrayal of the "geeks". That's because they think that it is more favorable to be a "geek". They identify more with that side of the show.
However, I don't think the "geeks" watching the show are the majority. Who do you think the majority identifies with? Who do you think these viewers laugh about?
Nuances do not matter, especially if you don't know anything about the social group you do not belong to. What matters is how people's prejudices are reinforced. By watching 5 minutes of one episode of BBT, one can identify the respective groups in the show, and that's it. Do you believe that most people will actually...
Then I guess don't watch TV as I find bullies in EVERY Show. That includes every cop show on the planet. And sexist, and racist. You cannot get away from t. Even "Reality" always has the one person made out to be a bully.
Do you like Ted Nugent? BULLY? Do you like Dave Mustaine? BULLY. Most every Rapper out there BULLY! SO music has it to.
So if you think BBT is about bullying, then you might as well not watch TV, or movies, or music vids (if you can find any). They are full of what you feel bullying is.
And yes I DO know what exceptions to the rule mean. Do you?
My guess...and it is just that, you've been bullied, you may have been treated like one of these guys. I think many of us can say we where bullied. I do not seeing bulling in the show. I see laughing at myself and my life and what I have been through.
In my life, I have been bullied, threatened, discriminated against many times, made fun of, attacked physically, mentally and verbally. I know what it is like more than many others.
So for me... as I said Like the show, love the show hate it, what ever. If is suxed, and was as bad as many post here say, then the show would NOT be a hit like it is.
OH and I'm female!!!
<--- just posting again to say I still love the show. Too many people get uppity about the slightest things in this day and age.
Heck, even a seven year old "playing make believe" by pretending to throw a grenade to save the planet, gets suspended from school (this was recent news), the kid didn't even upderstand why he was "dispended" (the kids own words). School violence is tragic, but people go to far with all this.
Easiest solution for all, if you like it, keep watching. If it offends, change the channel, with current technology you can change the channel without even getting up! How cool is that?
<--- just posting again to say I still love the show. Too many people get uppity about the slightest things in this day and age.
Heck, even a seven year old "playing make believe" by pretending to throw a grenade to save the planet, gets suspended from school (this was recent news), the kid didn't even upderstand why he was "dispended" (the kids own words). School violence is tragic, but people go to far with all this.
I made the mistake of linking to the "Paper Gun" article and reading the comments. That's okay I didn't need those braincells.
Here let me share the dumb.
WHY were these things done the mother asked. Because THAT is the proper way to conduct a re-education camp. None of that mamby pamby 'silent treatment' or 'shunning' of the person. Get right into the disgrace and demoralizing, AND start early in their lives. The politically correct self righteous Liberals are only STARTING their camps. Chicken nuggets bitten to appear to have the SHAPE of a weapon, pointing your finger at someone else, uttering the word 'Bang' during recess will be replaced with spying on your friends for extra points, tattling on your parents conversation for a higher grade. THESE are the NEW RULES of the Left... Enjoy your New World Order folks....
Picking on defenseless little children is stock in trade for the Far Left. Belittling, making fun of and humiliating children is part of the learning process. How else do these kids come out as brainwashed, no talent, no ambition wards of the state. A viable democracy requires an educated adult population. Mindless sheep is all that is required of a totalitarian state.
Wait until the kids tell their teachers about their parents saying bad things about the chosen one, about how they listen to Rush, and watch FoxNews. Wait until the parents are arrested and their guns confiscated, maybe even sent to a FEMA camp for reprogramming. Guns in the household, will be determined to be a form of child abuse, child endangerment, watch what I tell you, it's the next thing on the horizon.
The USA has gone communist, and most people think it's too farfetched to believe.
All different posters too.
Then I guess don't watch TV as I find bullies in EVERY Show. That includes every cop show on the planet. And sexist, and racist. You cannot get away from it. Even "Reality" always has the one person made out to be a bully.
True. We are discussing BBT, though, a show that basically bullies its characters, because it treats them with disrespect, thereby offering the real world bullies material to do the same to other people.
So for me... as I said Like the show, love the show hate it, what ever. If is suxed, and was as bad as many post here say, then the show would NOT be a hit like it is.
"S%@& is delicious. Billions of flies cannot err."
Popularity means nothing in terms of quality.
Oh, and I find your attempts at household psychology quite amusing.
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Then I guess don't watch TV as I find bullies in EVERY Show. That includes every cop show on the planet. And sexist, and racist. You cannot get away from it. Even "Reality" always has the one person made out to be a bully.True. We are discussing BBT, though, a show that basically bullies its characters, because it treats them with disrespect, thereby offering the real world bullies material to do the same to other people.
So for me... as I said Like the show, love the show hate it, what ever. If is suxed, and was as bad as many post here say, then the show would NOT be a hit like it is.
"S+$~ is delicious. Billions of flies cannot err."
Popularity means nothing in terms of quality.
Oh, and I find your attempts at household psychology quite amusing.
I guess then the Scorpions SUCK since they are so popular
And that is OK I really find our thoughts and opinions worth less than a spit in the bucket.
If German TV was so good us Yanks would be watching it, instead you guys seem to watch our TV.
About the only good thing to come out of Germany is the music and WAY Over priced cars that still do not compare to the quality of the Japanese.
ON And when I say music I do mean Scorpions, UDO, Doro, Xandira and many other metal bands.
Popularity means nothing in terms of quality.
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IMHO, the writing on the show is top notch quality. My guess is that the quality writing is in part to blame for the show's immense popularity. That's my opinion, you are entitled to your own of course.
I just don't understand how some people who despise a television show feel the need to rage about it and try and get others to come around to their way of thinking because its obviously "badwrongfun" because they say so.
I guess then the Scorpions SUCK since they are so popular
The Scorpions do suck, but not because they are so popular (whatever gave you that idea?), but because they didn't have an original idea during their whole career.
If German TV was so good us Yanks would be watching it, instead you guys seem to watch our TV.About the only good thing to come out of Germany is the music and WAY Over priced cars that still do not compare to the quality of the Japanese.
ON And when I say music I do mean Scorpions, UDO, Doro, Xandira and many other metal bands.
I seriously don't know where that hostility suddenly comes from, besides the fact that this has nothing to do with the discussion.
(German TV does suck, btw, as does most of TV world wide, even in the US. It's just that buying up s$+%ty US shows is much cheaper than producing your own.)
IMHO, the writing on the show is top notch quality. My guess is that the quality writing is in part to blame for the show's immense popularity. That's my opinion, you are entitled to your own of course.
We both are entitled to our opinion, of course. I think that "Community" had top-notch writing for much of the first 3 seasons, for example, and I don't think that BBT comes anywhere near it.
I just don't understand how some people who despise a television show feel the need to rage about it and try and get others to come around to their way of thinking because its obviously "badwrongfun" because they say so.
Normally, I would not be invested in such a discussion. Thing is, I think BBT is downright toxic. It perpetuates negative stereotypes and offers bullies ammunition. It's the same with "Two And A Half Men". It's Lorre's style to use the lowest common denominator to make his shows successful.
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Normally, I would not be invested in such a discussion. Thing is, I think BBT is downright toxic. It perpetuates negative stereotypes and offers bullies ammunition. It's the same with "Two And A Half Men". It's Lorre's style to use the lowest common denominator to make his shows successful.
Bullies don't need "ammunition" handed to them. All you need to bully someone is A.) Someone you don't like and B.) The ability to carry out bullying them.
All this focus on anti-bullying these days is ridiculous. It's come to the point that people can't even watch a g$# d#@ned TV show without people showing up to berate them about how much of an idiot and/or failure of a human being they are for enjoying a comedy.
Normally, I would not be invested in such a discussion. Thing is, I think BBT is downright toxic. It perpetuates negative stereotypes and offers bullies ammunition. It's the same with "Two And A Half Men". It's Lorre's style to use the lowest common denominator to make his shows successful.Bullies don't need "ammunition" handed to them. All you need to bully someone is A.) Someone you don't like and B.) The ability to carry out bullying them.
Okay, let me rephrase it: BBT gives bullies a kind a authority, or justification. It's shown on a major network, emphasizes their ways of thought, and a lot of people like it. Therefore, it "must" be okay to do the same thing the show does.
All this focus on anti-bullying these days is ridiculous.
Is it not worthwhile to prevent people from hurting others physically and psychically?
It's come to the point that people can't even watch a g&+ d##ned TV show without people showing up to berate them about how much of an idiot and/or failure of a human being they are for enjoying a comedy.
Please show me where I did that.
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Okay, let me rephrase it: BBT gives bullies a kind a authority, or justification. It's shown on a major network, emphasizes their ways of thought, and a lot of people like it. Therefore, it "must" be okay to do the same thing the show does.
The same thing the show does? You mean show obvious cartoony stereotypes get up to "wacky hijinks"?
Is it not worthwhile to prevent people from hurting others physically and psychically?
It's more worthwhile to teach them to stand up for themselves instead of coddling them like they're fragile little eggs.
Please show me where I did that.
to use the lowest common denominator to make his shows successful.
"The large number of people in society who will accept low-quality products and entertainment"
I.E. "I've already made up my mind that it's s#@*, and anyone who likes s$$~ must have something wrong with them".
And you've been consistently condescending and dismissive to anyone who disagrees with you ("I find your attempts at household psychology amusing" indeed.).
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I think Big Bang Theory is one of the funniest shows on TV right now. All this 'pomotes bullying or stereotypes' stuff is, in my opinion, such rubbish. It's just a shoe, and a finny, well-written one at that.
I'm frankly kind of shocked that this thread is still going, even though it is mainly because of a very small number of vocal people continuing to speak negatively about the show (heh, welcome to the internet, I guess)
It's just a shoe
A "really big shoe", at that.
- Ed Sullivan
Just to point out, this is the internet so its hard to always read correctly but when I read this line from you, sir/ma'am, you sounded like a bully to me.Oh, and I find your attempts at household psychology quite amusing.
Why? I really found myself smiling at that, because it was an obvious attempt to rile me up.
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Why? I really found myself smiling at that, because it was an obvious attempt to rile me up.Just to point out, this is the internet so its hard to always read correctly but when I read this line from you, sir/ma'am, you sounded like a bully to me.Oh, and I find your attempts at household psychology quite amusing.
You and I are not using the word "obvious" in the same manner, it seems.*
*EDIT - Or maybe we are and you're just Bruce Wayne/Sherlock Holmes at detecting stuff and I'm still on Par with Joe or Steve from Blue's Clues who needs the guidance from a 2d dog to guide me to what's "obvious". I will not deny the strong possibility this is the case.
It's cool you don't like the show though. I want that to be clear above everything else. I might not agree at all with some moral standing behind it but I hope there are awesome shows you do enjoy and have fun watching.
Too much crap in this world not to have a good sitcom/comedy show to laugh with/at.
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Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
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Liking the Big Bang Theory is bad, and you should feel bad if you like it. As the only objective arbiter of opinions on the internets, I alone am entitled to pass judgment on you and your taste. Hang your head in shame, for on this day you dishonor yourself, your family, the internet, civilization at large, and future generations of yet to be born Americans with your terrible taste in half-hour sitcoms, the highest and most exalted form of art ever produced by mankind.
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The laugh track accompanying what were apparently supposed to be jokes, but were just (very, to the point of being anachronistic) dated geek culture references, kind of turned me off. It was like watching a bunch of people sit around and mention random stuff from the past and then cracking up for no apparent reason, which seems less like 'comedy' and more like 'watching very stoned people, when you're not very stoned.'
I thought laugh tracks went out of fashion around the time of Laverne and Shirley.
Even the characters the show seemed to want me to find sympathetic were varying levels of smarmy and douchey to each other, which made me think that, if they were real people, they probably should find less toxic friends.
It's a strange show. I like 'geek' characters like Willow, from Buffy, or Fargo, from Eureka, or Claudia from Warehouse 13 (or pretty much any genre geek not played by Felicia Day...), despite their occasional descents into extreme geekishness, but the Big Bang Theory crew seem kind of nasty to each other, and everyone around them.
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Put me in the like column for BBT. Is it brilliant no, but its a simple, farcical comedy that leverages some tropes for good effect and has a few genuine funny moments per show. Sometimes things really are as simple as that. No need to go looking for subtext. I find that people often search out reason to be offended.
I have the same issue with people who take their single womens studies class and apply to every piece of film they watch, Just begging for a weak female protagonist, or a strong female lead who is not feminine enough...or a camera angle that exhibits "the male gaze"
or People who sift through every character in a novel that matches some race/ social/ or economic profile that they fit just begging for some sort of unflattering portrayal. They agonize over the opportunity to be offended to the point that they will find it...if intended or otherwise.
I fit many of the tropes that Big Bang trots out and I find them funny. Because I can laugh at myself and not get offended, and because I am a well rounded enough person that my hobbies do not define who I am. They present all the characters in a both positive and negative light with enough regularity that it doesnt come off as picking on our culture to me, nor do I think it feeds any sort of bully fire to any more of a degree than already existed.
I thought laugh tracks went out of fashion around the time of Laverne and Shirley.
Even the characters the show seemed to want me to find sympathetic were varying levels of smarmy and douchey to each other, which made me think that, if they were real people, they probably should find less toxic friends.
It's a strange show. I like 'geek' characters like Willow, from Buffy, or Fargo, from Eureka, or Claudia from Warehouse 13 (or pretty much any genre geek not played by Felicia Day...), despite their occasional descents into extreme geekishness, but the Big Bang Theory crew seem kind of nasty to each other, and everyone around them.
Good grief please learn to ignore the laugh tracks at least till Hollywood wises up and stops using them. You will enjoy far more shows then.
They are nasty to each other at times. But if you watched the show you would realize they always pull together in the end and forgive. This is positive not negative.
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I thought laugh tracks went out of fashion around the time of Laverne and Shirley.
Even the characters the show seemed to want me to find sympathetic were varying levels of smarmy and douchey to each other, which made me think that, if they were real people, they probably should find less toxic friends.
It's a strange show. I like 'geek' characters like Willow, from Buffy, or Fargo, from Eureka, or Claudia from Warehouse 13 (or pretty much any genre geek not played by Felicia Day...), despite their occasional descents into extreme geekishness, but the Big Bang Theory crew seem kind of nasty to each other, and everyone around them.
Good grief please learn to ignore the laugh tracks at least till Hollywood wises up and stops using them. You will enjoy far more shows then.
They are nasty to each other at times. But if you watched the show you would realize they always pull together in the end and forgive. This is positive not negative.
I ignore the laugh track too. I barely even notice it anymore but it doesn't bother me one way or another. Love BBT, Love How I met your Mother, Community, Archer, Family Guy, and South Park.
I gather that, if one believes that Sheldon actually does have some sort of autism-spectrum disorder, people may be uncomfortable with that, and the jokes about Indian and Jewish culture with regard to Raj and Howard may rub some people the wrong way. (I'm not that sensitive to such humor, so I don't sympathize, but I can see how others might.)So, what's everyone's take? Do you like the show or hate it? And if you're someone who's offended by it, why do you feel that way?
Mostly, I find Sheldon a bully, and I seriously doubt he'd last long as a "friend" to any group of nerds, as they'd shun his butt. As in Cold Shoulder Treatment. Any psychologist would have his butt terrified, because they'd have his little number without even trying. He's the most massively insecure twit I've seen in a long time on any sitcom.
The blond lead woman I could do without, since she really doesn't belong there. She's supposed to give "normal" people someone to identify with, but really she's amazingly boring and I can't see the actress as being interesting enough to be a "it" girl.
The rest of the characters I actually like. They seem like decent folk. Being a nerd isn't simply being intellectually orientated. All it really means is that the writers have to be bright, and to avoid the typical stereotypes that so many sitcoms indulge in (stupid redneck men guzzling beer and football fanatics etc).
The other blond, the actress real name is Melissa Rausch. Now, SHE could possibly be the "it" girl. She's intelligent, got a personality, and physically attractive (unlike the only brunette on the show).
I dunno. I could take or leave the BBT show. Mostly I have left it, having stopped watching TV altogether aside from Daily Show/Colbert Report.
having stopped watching TV altogether aside from Daily Show/Colbert Report.
I'm in the same boat. Im down to Daily Show/Colbert/Supernatural/Walking dead/Bill Maher. I suffered through BSG during its run but it was almost too preachy to endure. Was so sick of it by the time it was over that I didnt even touch 'caprica' and I'm having a hard time wanting to think about this 'young adama origin story' show that i've been hearing about.
I sure wish they'd have kept at the BBC show 'Dirk Gently' because I think the cast had good chemistry and they were fairly loyal to the source material.
kmal2t, the other characters could have been given more depth had the writers turned their time on them instead of Sheldon.
It's just that Sheldon is so damned irritating because of his tendency to bully...
His girlfriend is okay, not much of a looker but definitely more interesting than the lead blond.
Vincent, I stopped watching Walking Dead because of the more mindless qualities of the lead characters, and I am not talking about the zombies. Also, too few zombies.
Yeah, the new Battlestar Galactica wasn't tolerable either. What turned me off is the constant "we are on the edge of total disaster" every 5 seconds. And the characters didn't have much personality, so I didn't give a damn about whether or not they survived. So I just stopped caring since they seemed so screwed over that there simply was no hope.
Yeah, the BBT story and characters ARE pretty stereotyped. But, I gotta admit, this is one of the few sitcoms that acknowledge nerds exist without turning them into cartoonish supernerds aka Urkel.
I've watched a few episodes of BBT recently and found it extremely underwhelming. There are occasional actual laughs, but most of the time the show seems to be indulging in lazy stereotyping. The episode on this afternoon, for example, had the Indian character being threatened with deportation and him going on at length about how he hates India because it is so crowded and you can only get curry sauce in Mumbai's McDonalds. Some of the audience seemed to be on the verge of some kind of coronary incident due to the level of hilarity, but it just seemed lazy and ignorant to me.
On the other hand, I am a massive fan of COMMUNITY. It's a show that's simply funnier, is much more sharply-written and much cleverer, as well as being slightly darker. One of the things that really sets it apart is that the so-called 'normal' characters (Jeff, Pierce and Britta) are shown to be just as obsessive and pednatic as the allegedly 'geeky' characters, and it pushes the message that everyone is a geek about something and there is no real segregation.
BBT seems to enforce out-of-date ideas about geek culture. It always struck me as interesting that as long ago as 1997 Willow in the very first season of BUFFY could confidently say that, "Geeks are in!" and it was true, whilst BBT in 2013 seems to be saying they are still weirdos meant to be the butt of jokes.
Another issue, being British, is that our go-to 'geek' comedy is the 1999-2001 series SPACED, the series that launched the careers of Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (SHAUN OF THE DEAD, HOT FUZZ and this year's THE WORLD'S END). That was a really clever, really intelligent show about geek culture that constantly inventive, smartly-shot and outright hilarious whilst also having really great character development and some genuine moments of pathos and cartharsis. COMMUNITY is pretty much the direct spiritual sequel to it. BBT feels by contrast like a throwback to lazy 1970s sitcoms.
As an aisde, someone earlier in the thread pointed out that the characters of George and Kramer in SEINFELD were unrealistic sitcom characters. I found this amsuing as both characters are based on real people (Larry David and Kenny Kramer) and, if you've ever seen real interviewers or documentaries about them, SEINFELD really dialled back both characters from real life. Truth is often much stranger than fiction.
Keep in mind that comedy is subjective, so this is just my opinion.
I think the BBT characters are not stereotypes. Yes, they display some stereotypical behavior, but are realistic characters themselves. They have more than flat personalities and each one has shown many facets during the course of the series.
Compare this to How I Met Your Mother, where the characters never change or break from their assigned niches.
Compare this to How I Met Your Mother, where the characters never change or break from their assigned niches.
I take it you never watched past like season 3 or so?
I've watched a few episodes of BBT recently and found it extremely underwhelming. There are occasional actual laughs, but most of the time the show seems to be indulging in lazy stereotyping. The episode on this afternoon, for example, had the Indian character being threatened with deportation and him going on at length about how he hates India because it is so crowded and you can only get curry sauce in Mumbai's McDonalds. Some of the audience seemed to be on the verge of some kind of coronary incident due to the level of hilarity, but it just seemed lazy and ignorant to me.
On the other hand, I am a massive fan of COMMUNITY. It's a show that's simply funnier, is much more sharply-written and much cleverer, as well as being slightly darker. One of the things that really sets it apart is that the so-called 'normal' characters (Jeff, Pierce and Britta) are shown to be just as obsessive and pednatic as the allegedly 'geeky' characters, and it pushes the message that everyone is a geek about something and there is no real segregation.
BBT seems to enforce out-of-date ideas about geek culture. It always struck me as interesting that as long ago as 1997 Willow in the very first season of BUFFY could confidently say that, "Geeks are in!" and it was true, whilst BBT in 2013 seems to be saying they are still weirdos meant to be the butt of jokes.
Another issue, being British, is that our go-to 'geek' comedy is the 1999-2001 series SPACED, the series that launched the careers of Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (SHAUN OF THE DEAD, HOT FUZZ and this year's THE WORLD'S END). That was a really clever, really intelligent show about geek culture that constantly inventive, smartly-shot and outright hilarious whilst also having really great character development and some genuine moments of pathos and cartharsis. COMMUNITY is pretty much the direct spiritual sequel to it. BBT feels by contrast like a throwback to lazy 1970s sitcoms.
As an aisde, someone earlier in the thread pointed out that the characters...
No. As the saying goes: exceptions confirm rules.
So I blow that theory out of the water.
I also laugh at both sides. Another data point against the theory.
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The show uses negative characatures of geek culture and makes a mockery of them.
It confounds the problems normal people have with geek culture, giving people a predisposition about how geeks should act, and it does so in such a way that causes people to have negative initial reactions.
It makes negative behavior seem normal and accepted. Even behavior that geek culture is trying to reduce.
This resonates with my feelings toward the show.
Major reasons to dislike BBT:
1)It's not funny! They record a live audience that laughs on command to let us know when something is a joke, which is somewhat ridiculous/insulting. References are often wrong, or suffer from Family Guy syndrome.
2)I'm a geek. I'm a physicist. Those characters are neither of these things. I know many geeks, and many physicists. Even saying that the characters of this show are exaggerations of realistic characters is a huge stretch. Yet every non-geek, non-scientist friend or family member will ask me about this show. Even my family has started to assume I must be similar to these ridiculous TV caricatures...
3)Female characters are weak, or simply sex objects. Physics has enough of a problem attracting females to the field without this show's influence. The girls in the show are mostly there for male characters to stare at with their tongues out.
There are plenty of quality TV shows, and this one isn't worth my time. Maybe if I were one of the millions of Americans who live sedentary lives and watch TV for 4-5 hours until sleep, day after day... but still, probably not.
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I have to laugh at people who say this show doesnt depict gamers the right way. Im a gamer who hangs out with a lot of non gamers. I feel like im one of those people who can cross over between the gamers world/non gamer worlds with ease
1. There have been many times i have walked into a comic book store/game store and seen the super hero statues and though about buying one for a desk or shelf. Theres a huge market for this stuff and im sure theres people on the boards who have some or a lot.I for one dont have the money or desire to display statues as trophies.
2. D&D rules lawyers-We all have known a DM or player whos a rules lawyer or maybe someone who is uninentionally annoying at a game session-sounds like Sheldon can be.
3. Super rare magic cards/heroclix/limited edition comic book covers or miniatures-Ebay tells me that it exists and therefore makes me laugh when the actors go crazy for them during an episode. I have gone to a local game store and seen grownups at a pokemon card tournament.
4. If your at your local flags during a gaming night (80%+ mostly men playing and thats being very conservative in most situations) and an attractive blonde walked in the entire place would watch (you can deny it if you want). I would turn around and if single would do my best to impress her. There are a lot of attractive women that i know who are watching Game of Thrones and many love it that i can talk about this show with them.
5. Most straight males between certian ages will measure up a women based on her attractiveness. Its the same way on the womens side. If you dont ever see this then its time to venture outside your circle.
6. My wife cant understand the fascination i have with miniatures and sitting around a table roleplaying and would rather have me do anything else besides playing Skyrim. She has a boderline interest in Scifi as im sure most of society does.
7. There are tons of people who go to conventions dressed up as their favorite comic book hero/movie creature. I would laugh out loud if my friends did this
8. I have played all night gaming marathons and become obsessed with games like angry birds, skyrim, etc. People take their gaming very very seriously
9. I have friends who have called tv network complaining that why was their favorite tv show postponed due to a sports playoff game. Or how upset people got over 4th edition. Same with tv shows being cancelled.
10. I have seen many gamers who have some type of social anxiety such as shyness who would have the same problems as many of these characters do.
11. I live near MIT and they are always doing crazy things. Most of my science professors were on the crazy side.
12. All comedies have a laugh track. Not sure why but with a good/excellent comedy im usually laughing before the laugh track starts.
I loathe this show and am bitter to the fact that it has as large of an audience as it does because there have been many better shows that have come and gone during it's rein of comedy horror. Shows like the IT Crowd, Arrested D (this might pre-date it), and soon to be cancelled Community.
It annoys me that because my friends & family know I’m into RPG’s, comics and assume I love the BBT. I constantly hear about Shelton and the gang in conversation. I realize they think this might be a window into my activities but BBT is to nerd culture as Chuck is to real spywork.
I'm aware it BBT is filmed before a studio audience and I’m confused to what they are laughing at. Why is Bazanga funny? Should I be laughing? What is wrong with this audience?!!