Why do some nerds hate Big Bang Theory?

[Xanadu84]

I think it's because the show is trying to be a mix between jokes for self-aware nerds, and a tongue in cheek self-parody of outdated nerd stereotypes. But in practice, those outdated nerd stereotypes arn't so much quaint and old fashioned as...actively assumed by a lot of the population. Makes appreciating the parody a little harder.

But yes, Community is a MUCH better show, and nails "Nerd humor" with a lot more precision. In terms of mainstream television, only Community and Futuramas, "Benders Game" have managed a good representation of actual tabletop RPGs.

 

[Bran1470]

What the hell is the Big Bang Theory?

 

[RedDeadFred]

Most people who don't like it probably haven't even watched a full episode or have any clue what any the the character's personalities are like.
Most people who don't like it probably just go: "oh, another sitcom" or "this is too mainstream for me and I like to be cool by hating everything mainstream."
I don't think it's nerds who hate it.
The entire circle of friends with whom I hang out with are pretty nerdy and love the show.

Some people just really don't like sitcoms though and to be honest I hated them until one of my friends convinced me to watch a few episodes of this show.

 

[infohippie]

I gotta say, I rather enjoy it myself. I don't get the hate. It's just a sitcom, but at least it's better than crap like Friends.

And who didn't find hilarious Leonard's joke in season 1 about the spherical chickens in a vacuum?
I know it was meant to be funny that they found it funny, but I thought it was a good joke in it's own right if you know any physicists.

 

[loc978]

Wait, there are nerds who still watch TV?
...how very 90s of them.

I've heard of the show, but have no desire to learn more about it, much less watch it.

 

[Sud0_x]

I bought the first two seasons on a whim and loved it.
Lately, however, it's been a bit of a grind. The show just isn't as intelligent as it thinks it is and, as said by others, it can come off a little offensive and mean-spirited at times.

Also, say what you want about hating on the popular, it just shits me when people quote the most inane and unfunny things at me all day. "BAZINGA!".
Congratulations fucker.
^Directed at nobody here.

To otherwise contribute to ongoing discussion; I don't even notice laugh tracks any more.

So yeah.... take from that what you will. I still enjoy the show to an extent but I don't think it'll last for me.

Edit: Just adding, Kaley Cuoco's acting is painful to watch.

 

[PolloDiablo]

"My new computer came with Windows 7" *laugh track*

It's a show for thickies. A geek liking BBT is like a black guy liking this:
http://youtu.be/UfiNT6AKG0s?t=3m43s

 

[zelda2fanboy]

How dare someone make light of my lifestyle choices in a successful manner! It's a good show. Not as laugh out loud last season as others, but Sheldon's girlfriend is one of the greatest sitcom creations in recent television history. In fact, I'd go so far to say that it's the only well written and funny (traditional studio live) sitcom on TV right now. It's a dying art and it's nice to see someone still performing it as well as they do.

If you think this show was popular before, wait until it has been in syndication for awhile.

 

[ZeroMachine]

For example: Why is it called "The Big Bang Theory"? Because it sounds "science-y"? There's your problem right there.

Because it's about nerds and the hot neighbor they all want to fuck (or, as the title would have it, Bang).

It's stupid on so many levels that I get tired thinking about it.

 

[Bunnymarn]

It lacks the balance of characters that other shows have. There's either the nerds, who are all socially inept, or Penny, who's the complete opposite. The only one close to being in between that is Leonard, and he more often than not falls into the former camp. All the characters on the show are the same, apart from Penny.

Other shows however, have that balance. Seinfeld has Jerry and often Elaine to maintain the balance, allowing George and Kramer to do their thing without it being annoying. IT Crowd has Roy as a half-way point between Jen and Moss. Even The Wild Thornberrys had a successful balance with the characters.

It's all about striking a balance (in a show like this), and Big Bang Theory fails at that. It'd be like watching an hour and a half of Jack Sparrow running around without an opposite character or balanced character to level it all out; it's entertaining for a little while, but then it just gets boring and annoying.

 

[Move127]

I'm currently living in China, and I've found that most of the nerds I know over here love BBT. Some of them have watched the entire series 4 or 5 times. Possibly because of a stereotype difference.

 

[Lisa Janine]

"The Big Bang Theory" does NOT use laugh tracks. It's filmed in front of a live studio audience. You can even get tickets to watch a taping! It's filmed on set in Burbank, California. http://tvtickets.com/fmi/xsl/shows/browserecord.xsl?&Show=bang+theory

Also, this is my first post, so I don't know what it says about me that I was like, "NO WRONG MUST COMMENT." Hi Escapist!

 

[ZeroMachine]

Most people who don't like it probably haven't even watched a full episode or have any clue what any the the character's personalities are like.
Most people who don't like it probably just go: "oh, another sitcom" or "this is too mainstream for me and I like to be cool by hating everything mainstream."
I don't think it's nerds who hate it.
The entire circle of friends with whom I hang out with are pretty nerdy and love the show.

Some people just really don't like sitcoms though and to be honest I hated them until one of my friends convinced me to watch a few episodes of this show.

I'm a nerd, and watched a whole season, and all it did was leave a bad taste in my mouth. It had a few moments that made me chuckle, so I wanted to give it a chance to build, but after everything, I still found it thoroughly unfunny.

So way to go on that baseless accusation there. Most people that don't like it that I've met have watched it and didn't like it. The "people that don't like it just never saw it" argument is just as tiresome as "this is too mainstream for me and I like to be cool by hating everything mainstream." Or making baseless accusations about people doing just that.

 

[ZeroMachine]

"The Big Bang Theory" does NOT use laugh tracks. It's filmed in front of a live studio audience. You can even get tickets to watch a taping! It's filmed on set in Burbank, California. http://tvtickets.com/fmi/xsl/shows/browserecord.xsl?&Show=bang+theory

Also, this is my first post, so I don't know what it says about me that I was like, "NO WRONG MUST COMMENT." Hi Escapist!

That's still commonly referred to as a laugh track. Any show with the laughter in the background is considered a "laugh track sitcom".

Just sayin'.

 

[thublihnk]

Poorly written, laugh track reliant show produced by the same guy who made 2 and a Half Men--and it shows.

 

[Lisa Janine]

That's still commonly referred to as a laugh track. Any show with the laughter in the background is considered a "laugh track sitcom".

Just sayin'.

Well, I saw a lot of people referring to it as "canned laughter," which it isn't. That is prerecorded generic audience laughter. So...we're both right?

 

[bluestarultor]

The reason I find Big Bang to be terrible isn't because of some "Oh, you just hate it because you're a nerd and it hits too close to home!" thing, but simply because whenever I watch an episode I find almost nothing funny in any of it. Also, the characters are an unlikable bunch of utter tits...

I was going to say something to this effect. In fact, the only instances it ever shines for me is when it DOES hit close to home, like when Sheldon(?), the character I hate most for being completely unlikable ends up helping people in a computer store. I think that's about the only thing I've ever seen of the show that I liked. I've never bothered with a full episode, but out of hours of clips, I'm 99% of the time filled with disgust at the characters and poor writing. My mom? She thinks it's hilarious. Me? I think that Bones is an infinitely better portrayal of geeks as real characters using most of the same basic stocks and one of the better shows on TV. It's not that the stereotypes can't be funny; it's just that Big Bang Theory mishandles it fantastically.

 

[ZeroMachine]

That's still commonly referred to as a laugh track. Any show with the laughter in the background is considered a "laugh track sitcom".

Just sayin'.

Well, I saw a lot of people referring to it as "canned laughter," which it isn't. That is prerecorded generic audience laughter. So...we're both right?

Sounds good to me. Yeah, definitely ain't canned laughter. But it is a laugh track.

Aren't compromises great?

 

[pearsmb06]

It's a shitty show. That's why we hate it.

 

[Sud0_x]

So I just watched the clip with the laughter taken out...
I'll never be able to watch this show the same way again.

It truly is quite poor if you're being critical.
I used to just watch it for entertainment's sake but I was already to the point of being rather disillusioned with it and it's now gone over the edge.

YOU TOOK MY INNOCENCE!!!