While it has its flaws like any show, I really like The Big Bang Theory. Now, even the most popular shows have their detractors, but what I don't get is why so many nerds seem downright angry about the show, calling it a "nerd minstrel show" or "nerdface." Sure, the show uses its share of old-fashioned stereotypes, but I don't see what's supposed to be so offensive. The nerds in the show are successful in their fields and even do pretty well in romantic relationships. Are jokes about nerds being socially awkward really that offensive? Hell, I'm an Aspie and think Sheldon is a great character.
Why do so many nerds hate The Big Bang Theory?
- Thread starter TalkieToaster
- Start date
It's probably because they get tired of the "nerd stereotype" and dislike being seen as socially inept people who spend all their time obsessing about comic books and tv shows.
But you're right. The guys all have successful careers and have been in romantic relationships.
People like to complain for the sake of complaining.
But you're right. The guys all have successful careers and have been in romantic relationships.
People like to complain for the sake of complaining.
It is as if some people do not understand how situation comedies work, IMO.
As a comparison, if you look at other very popular, successful sitcoms in which the main character is a 'typical'(?) non-nerd male who -instead- loves sports, drinking beer, fast cars, and other 'typical', 'average guy' interests, the men are made to look like lovable, somewhat-idiots.
Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor and Ray (Romano) Barone and Sam Malone, as examples.
I don't recall a protest amongst 'real men' about how these characters were portraying them in an unfavorable light. [And if anyone did, most folks would find those complaints quite silly.]
I would also point to effete Frasier Winslow Crane as an example of a non-typical male character who audiences loved and watched for years, but that character also was shown to have some quite ridiculous quirks and behaviors that provided laughs for the audience.
I don't think we 'nerds' are used to being center stage in a sit-com, and this stings some folks more than I feel it should, IMHO.
As a comparison, if you look at other very popular, successful sitcoms in which the main character is a 'typical'(?) non-nerd male who -instead- loves sports, drinking beer, fast cars, and other 'typical', 'average guy' interests, the men are made to look like lovable, somewhat-idiots.
Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor and Ray (Romano) Barone and Sam Malone, as examples.
I don't recall a protest amongst 'real men' about how these characters were portraying them in an unfavorable light. [And if anyone did, most folks would find those complaints quite silly.]
I would also point to effete Frasier Winslow Crane as an example of a non-typical male character who audiences loved and watched for years, but that character also was shown to have some quite ridiculous quirks and behaviors that provided laughs for the audience.
I don't think we 'nerds' are used to being center stage in a sit-com, and this stings some folks more than I feel it should, IMHO.
@TalkieToaster: We had a seven-page "How Do You Feel About TBBT"thread (as opposed to a discussion of current eps thread) active just days ago, which could have easily been found by running a thread title search. You could have added your thoughts there. 
I did a Google search for trekbbs+big+bang+theory and found the season 9 discussion, but was too lazy to look further. Anyway, I figured if there was another thread that covered what I was posting about then someone would link to it, and I was right. Thanks for doing that, it was good to see what people's thoughts were on the topic.@TalkieToaster: We had a seven-page "How Do You Feel About TBBT"thread (as opposed to a discussion of current eps thread) active just days ago, which could have easily been found by running a thread title search. You could have added your thoughts there.
Far as I'm concerned, TT, "How do you feel about it?" and "Why do you feel that way?" are two different questions, so I see no reason why you shouldn't have started a new thread with the second question. Course, I ain't a mod, so feel free to take that opinion with as many grains of salt as you please.
As to why I hate BBT, I understand that those who love it tend to think that the show is laughing with the nerd audience, or was at some point in its run. I happen to be of the opinion that that sentiment is utter bullshit. There is nothing - nothing - about the show's humor that indicates the creators wanted to share some jocular self deprecating humor with a usually dismissed segment of the television viewership and everything to indicate the pitch went something like this: "Hey! You know those idiots that worship Spock and wear superhero costumes at conventions? I bet we can get five or six seasons outta putting the dorkiest versions we can come up with all in one sitcom!"
And yes, I do know how sitcoms work, and how they work renders the "girlfriends and great jobs" arguments irrelevant. It's a situation comedy, which means you need a situation to spring from, and you can't do relationship situations without relationships, and you can't do workplace situations without jobs. The fact that they all have girlfriends and jobs is just the cost of doing business, less a matter of "See? Nerds can have these things too!" and more a matter of "Let's give one of them a hot girlfriend and see how the others fuck it up!" (The basis of the whole goddamned show!)
It's not a minstrel show? People putting on gross stereotypes for other people who believe those stereotypes is the definition of "minstrel show!"
And even if you set all that aside, I HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE Sheldon. Utterly and completely. He's an asshole, and he's not even a tolerable, entertaining asshole. And it's not because he's a nerd or has any inability to properly relate to people. He just goes out of his way to alienate every person stupid enough to try and interact with him, and it makes me want to rip off his head and piss down his throat every time I see him on screen.
Okay, so them's my reasons. You people who like it so much, can keep it and God Bless ya!
As to why I hate BBT, I understand that those who love it tend to think that the show is laughing with the nerd audience, or was at some point in its run. I happen to be of the opinion that that sentiment is utter bullshit. There is nothing - nothing - about the show's humor that indicates the creators wanted to share some jocular self deprecating humor with a usually dismissed segment of the television viewership and everything to indicate the pitch went something like this: "Hey! You know those idiots that worship Spock and wear superhero costumes at conventions? I bet we can get five or six seasons outta putting the dorkiest versions we can come up with all in one sitcom!"
And yes, I do know how sitcoms work, and how they work renders the "girlfriends and great jobs" arguments irrelevant. It's a situation comedy, which means you need a situation to spring from, and you can't do relationship situations without relationships, and you can't do workplace situations without jobs. The fact that they all have girlfriends and jobs is just the cost of doing business, less a matter of "See? Nerds can have these things too!" and more a matter of "Let's give one of them a hot girlfriend and see how the others fuck it up!" (The basis of the whole goddamned show!)
It's not a minstrel show? People putting on gross stereotypes for other people who believe those stereotypes is the definition of "minstrel show!"
And even if you set all that aside, I HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE Sheldon. Utterly and completely. He's an asshole, and he's not even a tolerable, entertaining asshole. And it's not because he's a nerd or has any inability to properly relate to people. He just goes out of his way to alienate every person stupid enough to try and interact with him, and it makes me want to rip off his head and piss down his throat every time I see him on screen.
Okay, so them's my reasons. You people who like it so much, can keep it and God Bless ya!
I never heard anyone complain about this show until it started getting extremely popular. In my opinion, I think a lot of people can't stand the fact that these guys have successful careers AND romantic entanglements. Maybe it's jealousy over fictional characters? The same people who say they can't stand the show because of the way it portrays nerds are the same people who argue about minutiae on a Star Trek message board for years. I don't get it.
People always suggested I watch this show because they thought I'd like it(ya know 'cause I'm nerdy). I don't hate it, and will even watch it if there is nothing else on. That said, there is a certain inauthenticity to the characters that's irksome. They don't feel like real geeks or nerds, and it does feel like laughing at them rather than with them.
In general, I'm not a big Chuck Lorre fan and his style is probably more damaging to my enjoyment than it being a 'nerd minstrel show'
In general, I'm not a big Chuck Lorre fan and his style is probably more damaging to my enjoyment than it being a 'nerd minstrel show'
Same here. I couldn't care less how the nerds are portrayed, I just find the show to be mostly unfunny. I don't hate the show, I just don't like it so I don't watch it.
I think both are true. It is a very weak, generally un-funny sitcom that plays way too broadly pretty much all of the time. People that want to see an actual nerd-friendly sitcom that's well-written should watch Community instead.
And while "average" guys like Sam Malone, Ray Barone, & Tim Taylor have also been on sitcoms, their "average-ness" wasn't the centerpiece of the joke the way that it is on Big Bang Theory.
As for Frasier, I give that show a pass because it pretty much laughed at everyone on the show equally. Yes, Frasier & Niles were ridiculously prissy at times but the show also constantly made fun of Roz's sex life and Bulldog's chauvinism and Simon's slobbery & thievery and Martin's frequently tacky, chintzy taste. Plus, there were some characters that were so geeky or prissy that even Frasier couldn't take them seriously, like Gil & Noel. And sometimes, we even got inter-nerd-faction warfare:
Frasier: "Noel, surely you realize that Star Trek is just a TV show."
Noel: "So was Brideshead Revisited!"
Frasier: [furious, then] "You're angry, so I'm going to ignore that."
I like the show and like to laugh along but I admit part of me gets a bit miffed at the way it perpetuated the stereotype that geek girls don't exist. I did like that they eventually introduced two women who happened to be scientists and Raj's horror movie fan girlfriend but somehow its still not enough.
I sat in the audience for a taping a couple years ago. It's legit laughter.
I hate it because it's unfunny as fuck. The jokes are lame and lazy, fitting into the worst episodes of Family Guy. I'm not overly impressed with the acting and, dear God, there's no excuse for audience laughter in sitcoms anymore.
I like the show, but I have two observations:
1) When it first began, my impression was that every single line was said for a laugh instead of for story. I prefer the story to motivate the humor instead of the humor driving the story. It needs more sincerity. My second impression was that there was a commercial every 30 seconds. So now I never watch it on TV. I wait until the next year for the DVD to be released, then watch the season.
2) The writers make Sheldon say some painfully and incredibly mean things and then excuse it with a humorous one-liner. It's like punching your spouse or friend, then making a joke about it. Based upon other moments of clarity from Sheldon, I simply cannot believe he doesn't know what he's saying. I only see mean-spirited writers behind him when they do that. It's not funny.
1) When it first began, my impression was that every single line was said for a laugh instead of for story. I prefer the story to motivate the humor instead of the humor driving the story. It needs more sincerity. My second impression was that there was a commercial every 30 seconds. So now I never watch it on TV. I wait until the next year for the DVD to be released, then watch the season.
2) The writers make Sheldon say some painfully and incredibly mean things and then excuse it with a humorous one-liner. It's like punching your spouse or friend, then making a joke about it. Based upon other moments of clarity from Sheldon, I simply cannot believe he doesn't know what he's saying. I only see mean-spirited writers behind him when they do that. It's not funny.
I don't find it funny because it's generic sitcom garbage. It's not painful, but it isn't good. Just easy laughs and no attempt to actually be clever. It's a bit like Arby's, it stays in business so I assume that people go there. But I'd rather pick something better.
::Cue old riff from the Daily Show::
Arby's: It's what cows taste like...after they're dead.
Arby's: It's what cows taste like...after they're dead.
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