Why do some nerds hate Big Bang Theory?

[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!!!

 

[Lone Skankster]

I personally just skip to the parts with Neil Patrick Harris. After that, i'm done with it.

 

[Saelune]

because their audience laughs at every sentence and half the jokes are just technobabble the average person wouldn't understand.

also stereotyyyypes

Ever see television targeted at blacks?

 

[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.

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.

Right....you watched a whole season. And I was basing my comment off of what a lot of the people in this thread were saying.
A lot of people simply said: I don't like sitcoms so I don't like this show (or something to that affect).
And seriously, the people saying that the show just makes people laugh a nerds and paint them in a bad picture don't understand why the show is popular. It's because a lot of people actually LIKE the characters and grow attached to them. Nobody would sit around and watch a show for four seasons because it's just laughing a pathetic nerds. They get to know the characters and then find humor in the various situations which they are put in.
I will concede this though. I have read the thread and have seen many people recommending the show "Comunity." I decided to watch the pilot episode and I must say that if it keeps up at that hilarious pace, I will definitely consider it a big step up from the Big Bang Theory.
Anyway, didn't mean to ruffle feathers with my initial post I was just annoyed at how generic the comments were about why people didn't like the show. It just seemed to me that the majority of the people watched a bit of an episode and were determined to hate it from the start.

 

[shannon.archer]

When you actually understand the techno-babble you realise that it isn't actually that smart and is really quite shallow. I mean year 12 physics and some additional reading and you pretty much know everything that comes out of sheldon's mouth. otherwise it's just poor and repetitive stereotypes.

 

[William Ossiss]

Being British make you a fan of Doctor Who.

Blasphemy!

on a more serious note, i happen to love big bang theory. i also consider myself a nerd.
but what is this jersey shore thingy you mention?

 

[kebab4you]

Because any real "nerd" would understand these ppl are not nerds, and as thus just making bad jokes about D&D,RPing et.c which is just meant to be offensive ...

but what is this jersey shore thingy you mention?

A horrible show, think real life tv, done by idiots and whores.

 

[WolfThomas]

I don't hate the show, I don't really watch it. But you know who I do hate?

Leonard.

Bear with me, he's the closest thing to a protagonist the show has and the character who male viewers are supposedly meant to empathise with. Now I can get past the fact he's whiny, neurotic and his voice hasn't broken. But he constantly abandons his friends and convictions, just on the possibility of being with Penny. He has absolutley no moral fortitude. I watched one episode where Penny makes an offhand comment about comics and he starts selling his collection. Ignoring that the largest market for comics (now) is adults, that some comics are considered great works of literature (Watchmen, Sandmen etc) and that there's the value of collecting something. Penny says comics are for kids (paraphrased) and he gets rid of them. There's countless other times where he compromises his beliefs (one where Penny's into mysticism and the like) just for the chance to have or continue having sex.

I hate Leonard.

 

[Mallefunction]

It seems like something written about nerds, rather than by nerds. And it's a little bit patronising.
And I just don't think the show's that funny.

This is pretty much how I feel about it. Most of my friends say the same thing. It's like those high school shows. No one I know in high school actually watches and likes stuff like High School Musical, it's always people younger than the age group or better yet, someone who isn't actually in that demographic. It's almost like spectators at a zoo. They aren't nerds so they watch the Big Bang theory as if they can somehow glean what 'our world' is like.

 

[Mr. 47]

Same reasons why some Canadians don't like hockey. They have opinions.

 

[infohippie]

I don't hate the show, I don't really watch it. But you know who I do hate?

Leonard.

[...]

I hate Leonard.

I gotta agree there. I like the show but sometimes I want to scream at Leonard to man the fuck up and stop being such a whiny little *****. TBH, Sheldon is the character with the most appeal for me.

 

[DustyDrB]

"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!

So is it a case of a light blinking to let the audience know when to laugh? I didn't know shows like that still filmed live.

Oh well, Big Bang Theory is still the enemy. Long live COMMUNITY!!!

And Welcome to the Escapist. Stay out of the basement, the poll-eating monster doesn't like it when people interrupt his noms.