The Big Bang Theory?

[AstylahAthrys]

I like the show. It's had it's ups and downs, and I think there was a period a season or two ago where it was pretty rough, but I enjoy it. Yeah, I've gone "that's wrong" a few times and it's not the smartest thing ever, but I like it more than most other things on TV, but I really don't like sitcoms that much. Not everyone's cup of tea, I know, but I get a couple laughs out of it. I think some nerds, not all, but some, might feel like they're being made fun of, and that's why they don't like it, and I think that's silly, but I can understand that it's not appealing someone's sense of humor completely.

Also, I don't even notice the laugh tracks. How strange.

 

[Kingjackl]

I think it's always been a popular show, although they do tend to spring up on people who aren't paying attention. I remember discovering Top Gear in 2009 and thinking "how the hell did I miss this?"

As far as comedy goes, it's definately above average for an American sitcom, with no shortage of funny moments (even if they seem to rerun the same 12 episodes every month). I do think it's hilarious that the only people I've seen who actively hate it are other nerds, presumably uncomfortable with the fact that it hits a little bit close to home. I even heard one geeky guy I know complain that the show is too 'unrealistic'. I'm not sure what he meant by that, but I presume it was "I'm secretly pissed off because all the geeks on this show get so much more sex than I do."

 

[miketehmage]

I like it. I do sometimes cringe because of how stereotypical it can be, and it is starting to get a bit stale now, but I do enjoy the show.

Some of us can look past the fact that they get the references wrong you know?

 

[Xannidel]

I watched the first 4 seasons and I loved them all. I have yet to see the 5th episodes but i am sure I will see it sooner or later. I personally do not see how people can get offended by this show, it has some nerd humor in it also with some romance and all in all a nice show. I will admit Penny can be a little annoying at times but she is also needed on the show to kind of appeal to those who do not get all the things that Sheldon is talking about.

 

[Strain42]

Here's how I've always seen Big Bang Theory.

It is a stupid show about smart people. Which isn't good.

Then take a show like Community which is a smart show about stupid people.

The latter is always better.

Also, I don't mind shows with laugh tracks, some of my favorite shows of all time have had laugh tracks. The problem is when it becomes over-abused and removing it would actually remove about half of the episode.

My thing with BBT is that I refuse to clap and smile just because somebody references something I care about. If a character I can't stand makes a Firefly reference...it's still a character I can't stand.

 

[lord.jeff]

The main characters are unlikable and most the jokes are just hey look we know about this show, I get more laughs browsing thinkgeek's tshirts.

 

[KingHodor]

snip

By the way - and this is COMPLETELY off topic - did you get your user name from Hodor from GOT/ASOIAF?

Yup, ASoIAF (i.e. the books). First used it ages ago when we were having 8-player Halo LAN matches on our Xboxes.
As a fellow speaker of the German language, you are probably aware of the humoristic value of the similarity between the name and the German word for "testicles".

Also, just for kicks, I liked to imagine Hodor always speaking his name with clean pronunciation and full of gravitas. Then a few weeks ago, I noticed that whoever was responsible for the abysmal German dub of GoT apparently had the same idea.

 

[OriginalLadders]

I may be biased since I actually enjoy the show, along with Scrubs, Malcolm in the Middle, Frasier and Seinfeld. Also I'm of the opinion that the vast majority of American (and British, for that matter) sitcoms are unbearable drivel. Make of that what you will.

I haven't read the entire thread but I've noticed two general trends; those who dislike the show will point out flaws that are common to nearly all sitcoms, call the show shit and say that anyone who likes it is an idiot, whereas those who like the show will say that it's not brilliant but highly enjoyable and that the flaws that have been pointed out are common to nearly all sitcoms.

The latter view seems much more reasonable to me.

 

[Frozen Donkey Wheel2]

Meh. Not totally awful, but not particularly good either. It depends on a laugh track for a lot of it's humor (a trend that must be destroyed with hammers) and there's never a whole lot of character development or big change-ups in the plot. Also, someone up there described it as "nerd black-face" which is actually pretty accurate.

Although I do have to give props to Jim Parsons. I saw an episode where he attempted to give someone a reassuring smile, and it was one of the funniest things I've ever seen on TV. It's not his fault he has to work with cheap writing.

 

[Hitokiri_Gensai]

Speaking as a nerd, and a Theoretical Physics major, its hilarious. That was so me and my friends in high school.

That and Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki are HOT.

 

[Superior Mind]

It's a dumb comedy with one dimensional characters. It's absolute brain-rotting TV - and sometimes it is good to sit down and watch completely mindless crap that doesn't even trust you to know when to laugh.

Really though, Chuck Lorre makes particularly shit TV. Definitely prefer people like Bill Lawrence or David E Kelly who can make things humourous without a laugh track.

 

[solemnwar]

the laugh track is overused

It depends on a laugh track for a lot of it's humor

It's not a laugh track, it's a live studio audience.

 

[General Twinkletoes]

the laugh track is overused

It's not a laugh track, it's a live studio audience.

That are told when to laugh.

 

[Mr.Squishy]

I had no idea it had such a strong hatedom here. Now I'm almost scared to admit that I find it funny, much more so than anything on TV today, with the exception of MLP.

 

[solemnwar]

the laugh track is overused

It's not a laugh track, it's a live studio audience.

That are told when to laugh.

I own the DVDs, and seen the bloopers, they definitely appear laugh when they want (there's a scene in one season where Leonard says something nerdy, not really funny at all, and the scene ends up getting disturbed when someone laughs REALLY loud and he goes "really?").

 

[wizzy555]

I personally don't see the magic that everyone else seems to be getting. All I saw in the few episodes I watched was an extreme exaggeration of nerd/geek culture centered around characters representing the most stereotypical nerd/geek roles I have ever seen. What about you guys?

I share your opinion on the show. As far as "geek comedy" is concerned, it appears impossible for other shows to at least get close to The IT crowd (UK), or, to a lesser extent, Coupling (also UK, the US version sucks).

The writers of the IT crowd don't anything about IT. Big Bang theory usually gets the physics and philosophy correct.

How is coupling a geek comedy?

 

[userwhoquitthesite]

they keep getting the references wrong

They won my respect forever when they had the right sound effects for sheldon playing Mario 64 on his laptop.
Otherwise, it's just pandering and product placement

 

[Vault101]

Because people are idiots and want to feel theyre watching a "smart" comedy.

..wait

people actually think the comedy is somehow smart/clever purely because its subject matter is a group of (painfully steryotypical) nerds?

.....fuck

I will admit the show does go a few notches above "durr hurr nerds like star wars OMG" and had its moments...but it still has that painful "make fun of nerds" thing that I just can't stomach

 

[lettucethesallad]

I've always found Chuck Lorre shows to be incredibly misogynistic. Frankly, the only honest character is Sheldon, who's at least a dick in an honest way. Penny is portrayed as a mindless blonde who will happily change everything about herself to suit the needs of whatever man she's currently chasing. Leonard will lie and manipulate to get a woman into bed. The second Raj gets drunk, he turns into a giant douche. Howard acts like his fiance is a maid and still lives with his mother, who's portrayed as an overbearing monster pretty much.

Quite frankly it's embarrassing.

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

I do often shake my head at some of the stuff they do, but the show can be quite quotable. I also enjoy the commonality between myself and the characters on the show.

Example: Star Wars: Old Republic came out. My wife asked me what I want to play that "single player MMO, WoW rip off of a game" I said "But it has lightsabers!"

Then we watched Big Bang Theory and Sheldon said the same thing. My wife through her arms up in the air and just said "Really?".