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RE:AKA every episode of the Big Bang Theory (i.imgur.com)

submitted ago by yannisv

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[–]Gardimus 21 points22 points ago

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Big Bang Theory isn't the worst show in the world. I will watch a rerun while I'm cooking dinner. I just won't plan my evening around watching a new episode like I would with say 30 Rock or Archer.

Big Bang Theory is about nerds. That doesn't mean its written by nerds. I don't care about the subject matter when it comes to making me laugh. I care about the quality of humor. Big Bang Theory is no different than any other standard comedy when it comes to writing.

At this point, I've seen enough comedies in my life that I don't find the premise of 1-Character acts weird 2-Relatively more grounded character points it out in an insulting manner 3-Laugh track

Middle school kids could write some of those gags.

[–]bonafide10 10 points11 points ago

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If you don't like the show then you don't like it. Television is subjective, so all shows will not meet everyone's standards and tastes. I just don't understand why some people on reddit choose to single out the show and vilify it.

[–]Gardimus 6 points7 points ago

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Why hate nickleback so much when their is some guy working at a tattoo parlor with a far worse sounding death metal band?

Exposure is a big factor. There are far less funny shows than BBT or Two and a Half Men, but these shows aren't seen as the shows to emulate. BBT, 2 1/2M are very successful yet show no progress in the art of comedy. I've found myself caring much less about whats on TV than I use to. Its not that TV has become worse, it just hasn't become better. I don't feel I'm too good for TV or anything. I'm not trying to avoid it, its just not drawing me in. BBT is one of the reasons why. Its taking up space and money that could otherwise go to something I would like more.

[–]bonafide10 0 points1 point ago

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I don't hate Nickelback at all. I'm a little jealous that they have more money than I will ever make, but thats it. I don't enjoy their music so I don't listen to it.

I watch re-runs of BBT every now and then, so I obviously don't dislike the show. I don't find it groundbreaking or anything, I just find it good for a quick laugh when I'm bored and looking for something to watch.

I would venture to guess that BBT isn't trying to break any boundaries with its comedy. Its just trying to be a quick fun 30 minutes in someones day. There are plenty of channels that still make thought provoking television like HBO or AMC, but not all television has to be thought provoking.

[–]JTHipster 0 points1 point ago

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Now imagine if everyone asked if you liked nickelback and you said no, only to have them respond by saying "but you're canadian, you'd love it!"

[–]bonafide10 2 points3 points ago

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It sounds like you have more of a problem with the people you know than the show itself.

[–]JTHipster 0 points1 point ago

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I just don't find it very funny.

[–]bonafide10 2 points3 points ago

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Then don't watch it.

[–]newnameforeverything -1 points0 points ago

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The same thing could apply to you. Don't like people complaining or criticizing the show so fervently? DO NOT READ THEIR POSTS.

I guess the point I'm trying to make here is: do whatever the hell you want to do and let other people do the same.

[–]bonafide10 1 point2 points ago

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You're right.

I'll stop trying to stimulate a discussion in this circlejerk of a thread.

[–]fenwaygnome -1 points0 points ago

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Because it represents "us" in an negative light with stereotypes which don't apply to the majority of "us".

[–]bonafide10 3 points4 points ago

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really? You're worried that a sitcom may or may not portray nerds in a great way? Why do you even care how a television that you don't even watch portrays a group of people that may associate yourself with?

House doesn't accurately portray what being a doctor is like. CSI doesn't accurately display what cops and crime scene people do. TV has always taken stereotypes and overblown them for comedic or dramatic effect.

[–]fenwaygnome -2 points-1 points ago

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And I don't like those shows.

[–]bonafide10 1 point2 points ago

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Do you see Doctors crusading against House? Do you see Cops getting pissed off at CSI? Maybe they just understand that sitcoms and dramas aren't there to be 100% accurate. They are there to entertain people, and judging by which shows are popular nowadays they do a pretty good job of it.

Also, just because a show has so called nerds in it, doesn't mean it is marketed towards nerds. Maybe you just aren't the target audience?

[–]ReefaManiack42o 0 points1 point ago

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Personally, I've always felt BBT was more for a nerds parents and not nerds.

[–]fenwaygnome -1 points0 points ago

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Yeah, I've heard plenty of cops talk about how dumb cop shows are and I'd imagine doctors think House, MD is pretty ridiculous.

I'm not exactly going on a Jihad here, man, I'm just saying I don't like the show.

[–]bonafide10 0 points1 point ago

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I'll admit that I don't know any doctors very well, and I only know 1 cop. But he watches both CSI Miami and law and Order almost daily. They're his favorite shows. Obviously that is not really a sample size worth anything but its the only experience that i can mention.

Also, I wasn't trying to make it out like you were going on a jihad, its just that some of the comments on this thread are making it seem like the show's popularity and its portrayal of "nerds" is really upsetting people.

[–][deleted] 13 points14 points ago

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If I hear "You should watch Big Bang Theory, it seems like the kind of show you would like!" one more time, I'm gonna have to cut a hoe.

[–]strangedesign9 3 points4 points ago

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My mom used to say Chuck reminded her of me. If I ever hear that about any character featured on this show, I will Cartman this show off the air.

[–]superevie 0 points1 point ago

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I got told that by three separate people at a party a few night's ago, and I almost entered rage mode.

[–]CaptainBellamy 11 points12 points ago

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Yes!

I have a friend who acts uncannily like Sheldon. He even chooses his breakfast cereal based on fiber content. I watched a couple of episodes of the Big Bang Theory with him, and he didn't understand the humor.

Of course, he doesn't understand sarcasm either (although he set goals and developed a plan to understand it).

[–]CrunxMan 11 points12 points ago

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Because its odd to choose cereal based on nutritional content/fiber?

[–]ProximaC 0 points1 point ago

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Not if you're over 50 and have a hyperactive colon.

[–]lostboyz 8 points9 points ago

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Has your friend been diagnosed with aspergers by any chance?

[–]stferago 15 points16 points ago

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This. Normal people don't behave like those idiots on BBT. They're a poorly conceived caricature of a made-up stereotype. It would be one thing if at least some normal nerds were like that, but the only people who would ever act like it are people with social disorders like aspergers.

[–]bonafide10 6 points7 points ago

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So? Why should people care if its made up stereotypes or the way people don't normally act? If they find that funny then the show is doing its job.

[–]TheShader -1 points0 points ago

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I think the point is that since the show uses made up stereotypes that it just makes it that much more hard to identify with the kind of audience that is supposedly being portrayed in the show.

Imagine if they made a show that was like Yogie the Bear, but instead of a bear it was a black guy, and instead of picnic baskets he was always out to steal watermelon. Now, imagine if you sat your black friend down and said,"You're going to love this new show. The main character is just like you!"

[–]bonafide10 1 point2 points ago

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So if you're comparing it to racism does that mean that you are legitimately offended by how "nerds" are portrayed on the show? I guess i've never taken sitcoms seriously enough to be offended by them.

[–]TheShader -1 points0 points ago

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I'm offended that some writer out there would think they can relate to me by tossing in a random 'Han Solo frozen in carbonite' comment midconversation, and calling it humor, yes.

[–]rocketwidget 2 points3 points ago

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Most comedy shows that I like (30 Rock, Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm, It's Always Sunny) are full of people being outrageous caricatures, or at least behaving incredibly abnormally. I'm not necessarily defending TBBT here, but realism isn't the quality most people want in their funny, just saying.

[–]ProximaC 1 point2 points ago

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They're a poorly conceived caricature of a made-up stereotype.

Congratulations, you've discovered the underlying motif of pretty much every sitcom ever made.

[–]WreckerCrew 0 points1 point ago

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Wow...a 30 minute sitcom that is made up of stereotypes....who would have thunk it.

[–]CaptainBellamy 0 points1 point ago

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He hasn't, but his mannerisms do have a lot in common with some high-functioning Aspergers people I know.

[–]noizes 0 points1 point ago

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...

I have a friend that calls me Sheldon. I do none of the odd little things Sheldon does. He basis this completely on how I interact with girls.

Poorly.

[–]andrewsmith1986 31 points32 points ago

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THEY AREN'T REAL NERDS, WE ARE REAL NERDS!

That is the mentality. Add to it the fact that it is "cool" to make fun of big bang theory and you get the general idea.

One big circlejerk of "Oh, you like arrested development/buffy/firefly, too?" "Why'd they cancel them, NO ONE APPRECIATES SHIT THAT I LIKE"

[–]Renmauzuo 7 points8 points ago

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Heh, I believe you are correct. It's a bit bleh how so many self identified nerds are drawing rather elitist lines and claiming "You're not a real" nerd. We don't have ownership of the word, or being "nerdy."

Also, I'm going to stick my neck out: I don't watch tv regularly, but I've seen a few episodes of Big Bang Theory here and there and I did enjoy it. Honestly I didn't even notice the laugh track until I saw complaints about it on Reddit.

[–]Scrayton 1 point2 points ago

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Some of their jokes can be hilarious. But sometimes it seems they're just trying too hard to insert as many jokes as possible into the show.

[–]sadistic4 17 points18 points ago

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no, for me its just that i'm sick of "nerd" becoming cool, so everyone goes OMG I GET THIS JOKE ABOUT GRAVITY, IM SUCH A NERD!!!! I WATCHED TRANSFORMERS THE MOVIE IM SUCH A NEEERRRD!

[–]nidarus 3 points4 points ago*

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no, for me its just that i'm sick of "nerd" becoming cool

I don't know about you, but I don't mind being something cool. Certainly beats being pathetic and disgusting, as nerds were perceived back in the '80s and early '90s.

[–]sadistic4 -2 points-1 points ago

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I'm fine with it being cool, but I'm not fine with everyone trying to mimic the hell out of it. And i've never really given a shit what someone thinks of me, so being perceived as disgusting didn't really bother me.

[–]andrewsmith1986 17 points18 points ago

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So what, let them have their fun.

[–]Nlelith 5 points6 points ago

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Well, then let us have our fun.

[–]sadistic4 7 points8 points ago

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Its irritating as hell, though. I can't stand it. It'd be like a person changing thier tire and saying OMG IM A MECHANIC! or I actually flossed today! I AM TOTALY A DENTIST.

[–]DivinePotatoe 38 points39 points ago

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I AM TOTALLY A GYNECOLOGIST!

[–]nidarus 1 point2 points ago

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Except that unlike being a nerd, these actually require skill and qualifications.

You just like video games and sci-fi movies. Get over yourself.

[–]sadistic4 -3 points-2 points ago

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....you don't even know who I am... I'm an IT major, have been building computers since junior high, and have more important things to do than feed a troll over the internet. good day.

[–]nidarus 0 points1 point ago

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Yeah... I stick to my advice

[–]TheGazelle 9 points10 points ago

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So you're saying that to be a nerd, one necessarily has to be an elitist prick?

In that case, fuck being a nerd. I think I'll stick to just being a person, and let people label me however they bloody well please.

[–]cwknight 7 points8 points ago

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This right here is why I don't self-label as a nerd anymore.

[–]TheGazelle 2 points3 points ago

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I don't self label as anything. Never really have.

Way I see it, whatever I do, people are going to label me and try to fit me in some steretypical mold or another, be it good or bad, so why bother helping them by giving them the molds to fit me in?

[–]crash331 3 points4 points ago

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So you're saying that to be a nerd, one necessarily has to be an elitist prick?

Essentially, yes.

[–]WreckerCrew 0 points1 point ago

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Wow, you are a sad little man.

[–]crash331 0 points1 point ago

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I wouldn't call myself a nerd, nor an elitist prick. Just my observation of "nerd culture" these days.

[–]stitchy1503 -1 points0 points ago

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Yeah I'm with this guy! You should have to get a degree or something to be a nerd! Keep this exclusive!

[–]prollyjustsomeweirdo 2 points3 points ago

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Sooo...you are saying you were a Nerd before it was cool? You're no longer a Nerd, you are a hipster.

[–]sadistic4 0 points1 point ago

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no, I'm saying I'm tired of stupid people saying they're a nerd after watching the history channel for 20 minutes

[–]prollyjustsomeweirdo 0 points1 point ago

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Yeah okay then. Nerd is a really watered term though. I feel you can't proclaim yourself a Nerd. Others have to do that.

[–]rocketwidget 1 point2 points ago

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Buffy had a great run (seven seasons!) with a well planned conclusion. People complaining about it being cancelled are whiny pants.

[–]BlazerMorte 1 point2 points ago

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It's cool to make fun of BBT? Because everyone assumes I love the show, and when I tell them I don't care for it much, they seem shocked.

[–]fletcher42 -1 points0 points ago

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Well to me, NERD stands for Not Even Remotely Dorky...so thank you, thank you very much.

[–]Huggle_Shark -1 points0 points ago

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buffy ran its course, it should have been dropped after season 4

[–]zakgalifimackis 23 points24 points ago

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I don't care if it's "cool" to hate on this show; I watched an episode of Big Bang Theory on a plane a week ago and it was as if the writers of Everybody Loves Raymond got together and said "HEY! Let's make a show about nerds that's even less funny than the first one!" It was the John Wilkes Booth to the Abraham Lincoln of funny.

[–]stferago 39 points40 points ago

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As a nerd who spends most of his time with other nerds, I have no shame in anything. I would love to watch a TV show made by nerds that accurately portrayed nerd culture.

The Big Bang Theory is written by people who know nothing about what it's like to be smart. It's almost like they have a list of the top 10 nerd stereotypes and try to meet a quota with each episode.

[–]fuckthemusics 60 points61 points ago

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Being a nerd doesn't mean that you are smart.

[–]dclowd9901 5 points6 points ago*

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Funny shows that appeal to smart people:

1) Arrested Development

2) 30 Rock

3) Community

4) Portlandia

5) Parks And Rec

6) Archer

7) Futurama

All have in common:

No laugh track

Jokes fly by at 100mph

Continuity and callback humor

Wordplay

Poke fun at common tropes

Plenty of darkness

[–]Propane 2 points3 points ago

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  • Seinfeld
  • How I Met Your Mother

Laughtracks don't ruin a show.

[–]dclowd9901 0 points1 point ago

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They do for me. I don't need to know when to laugh, and the laughing usually interrupts the flow of the show. The creators of AD had said in the commentary for their show's DVDs that they wanted to cram as many jokes as humanly possible into the show as they could, and a laugh track would've removed their ability to do that. That's not to say shows like Seinfeld, Cheers or Friends weren't funny, but I think it's safe to say that they had probably a broader appeal than most of the shows on my list.

[–]Shintasama -1 points0 points ago

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Seinfeld isn't funny without the laugh track either.

[–]cronusEatsBabies 0 points1 point ago

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I need to add Corner Gas to this list. I've heard it called "Canada's answer to Seinfeld", but I find that demeaning to Corner Gas.

[–]rickiibeta 0 points1 point ago

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7) Modern Family

[–]dclowd9901 -1 points0 points ago

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Indeed! I knew I was forgetting one.

[–]rickiibeta 0 points1 point ago

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My wife an I just watched the first two seasons, it's now one of our favorite shows alongside Parks and Rec, Raising Hope, and The Office! They really push a lot of jokes out at a time.

[–]enkafan 2 points3 points ago*

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I feel that complaining that the big bang theory isn't written for nerds or by nerds is like UPS drivers complaining that King of Queens isn't written for or by UPS drivers. I do get the frustrations of people telling you that you'd like the show just because you are smart. But I'm sure UPS drivers get told they'd like King of Queens because it involves a UPS driver which has to piss them off too.

[–]notnarb 1 point2 points ago

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I'm not regularly informed by UPS drivers that I must not appreciate King of Queens because I'm not a UPS driver.

[–]ddunit 8 points9 points ago

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Watch IT Crowd.

[–]TheShader 1 point2 points ago

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Four, I mean five, I mean fire!

[–]dclowd9901 -1 points0 points ago

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IT Crowd is no funnier. No idea why it's so beloved.

[–]rickiibeta 13 points14 points ago

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The Big Bang Theory is written by people who know nothing about what it's like to be smart.

This. Thank you for saying what needs to be said.

People tell me all the time that I would like the show. I tell them I've seen it and it's quite clear that their writers have no idea what they're talking about; they're not smart.

It's also irritating that since I have a degree in mathematics people assume I love Numbers. No, I hate it because I understand maths and the writers do not.

[–]econometrician 0 points1 point ago

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Some of their statements about Fourier transforms and Bayesian probability have been spot on, but I know nothing about physics to make any claims about what they usually talk about. As far as the actual equations written on the board, they're usually lame summations but I like this show 'cause I can relate, like a thug.

[–]Wazowski 3 points4 points ago

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The Big Bang Theory is written by people who know nothing about what it's like to be smart.

That's Big Bang Theory according to stferago.

No question about [what TV show I'd want to be a regular guest on]: Big Bang Theory. The characters are playful and I can relate to every one of them, either from personal experience or from close friends and colleagues.

That's Big Bang Theory according to Dr Neil deGrasse Tyson.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, though. You probably spend more time with smart people than he does.

[–]thezerofire 1 point2 points ago

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To be fair though, from the other "AKA Big Bang Theory" thread, it seems like there's quite the divide between older "nerds" and younger ones. It seems like the older population likes the show quite a bit more than the younger one. Maybe there has been a shift in nerd-culture

[–]donnerpartyof1 -3 points-2 points ago

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SO BRAVE

[–]Dicks_Get_Decaf 9 points10 points ago

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Or it's just a really shitty "comedy". That could be it too.

[–]T_L_D_R 0 points1 point ago

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Pretty much. I've never seen such a huge discrepancy between success and quality as this and 2 & 1/2 Men. Not even Paris Hilton or the cast of Jersey Shore.

[–]hooliganking 9 points10 points ago*

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It is funny to see Reddit complain about TBBT. Overuse of memes, repetition of same templated jokes, same comments getting upvoted and circlejerks about how big a circlejerk Reddit is. Exactly like TBBT. same jokes, same theme with sexual innuendos ALL.THE.TIME.

I like Reddit. I like TBBT too.

Edit: and for the umpteenth time - you know how when you don't like Religion you dont follow it? similarly, if you do not like a show - don't watch it.

[–]mesmereyes 4 points5 points ago

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Reddit doesn't seem to agree with your logic on that edit. Check out r/atheism. "If you don't like religion...mock it endlessly!"

[–]TheShader 0 points1 point ago

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I actually do not watch, or even comment on, TBBT. I mean, aside from times like this in which someone makes some comment about me not liking it.

Generally, though, I don't even see people commenting on the show too much on Reddit. Yeah, every now and again I'll see some reference to the show, but I rarely have ever seen such references get downvoted to Hell/have loads of negative comments. In fact, I'm not even sure where this whole 'Reddit hates TBBT' comes from. From what I've seen, and is even fairly evident in this thread, there is a good mixture of people who do and do not like the show on Reddit.

[–]brockvenom 1 point2 points ago

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I think it had more to do with the fact that laugh tracks suck.

[–]BelugaTaquito 1 point2 points ago

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Leonard and Sheldon can afford a fairly nice apartment in one of my favourite cities, and they've both had more sex than me in the last two years, so acting like those two guys would actually be a step up.

[–]MadBum 9 points10 points ago

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Well, also by that same token because they're not the least bit funny.

[–]virulentRant 8 points9 points ago

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Actually, I'd say the show can be funny at times, and I often find myself laughing at jokes that the studio audience doesn't get.

It would be better without the studio audience, honestly, because it's like they're trying to sway your opinion via peer pressure. I don't particularly care for it, but yeah.

Subtlety is what is required for this show, and they don't pull off subtle.

[–]crapplepie 4 points5 points ago

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and I often find myself laughing at jokes that the studio audience doesn't get.

Their "studio audience" consists of a group of people with a LAUGH sign, enhanced with a laugh track.

[–]virulentRant 0 points1 point ago

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I thought that's what studio audience meant.

[–]KiXpiX -2 points-1 points ago

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I thought that they had a "Laughing machine". And when it doesn't laugh, it's because the punchline hasn't been said yet.

[–]immoralminority 4 points5 points ago

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I hate the Big Bang Theory because it's not as funny as Community, but because they use nerds everyone assumes BBT is a "smart comedy" and it gets 5x the viewers. Now my favorite show is on hiatus.

[–]wtfOP 4 points5 points ago

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The show tries way too fucking hard and it's just sad watching it.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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I watched an episode of Big Bang Theory a few weeks ago because some of my friends love it. It seemed like the acting and jokes were forced, plus the laugh track was so loud and played constantly.

I didn't think it was funny at all.

[–]hooliganking 2 points3 points ago

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One of your more appreciated shows - Seinfeld had a laugh track. Now you will argue how it was taped in front of a live audience. TBBT is also taped in front of a live audience.

Are the jokes a little forced? yes. Is it funny? sometimes. Does it use a laugh track? No.

[–]gtllama 1 point2 points ago

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They mike the audience to record their laughter. Then they mix this audio track containing laughs into the final audio for broadcast. It is literally a laugh track. What it is not is canned laughter. Of course, even shows with a live audience have to edit the laugh track because of multiple takes, and adjust the volume levels. Sometimes they add in a little pre-recorded laughter to "sweeten", although Chuck Lorre claims he doesn't do that.

None of which makes the jokes any funnier.

[–]TheShader 0 points1 point ago

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It doesn't matter where the laughter comes from. They have an audio track dedicated to laughter. That is a laugh track. Just as they have a dialog track for the lines the actors are saying. 'Laugh track' does not mean 'prerecorded laughter'.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

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Interesting, didn't know that. I don't mind a laugh track, or laughing from a live audience, but TBBT seems to pause every 3 seconds for the laughs. It just gets annoying, especially since most of the jokes weren't funny IMO.

[–]hooliganking 0 points1 point ago

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I agree with you. It is annoying. But then again let's not forget it is a sitcom, not a stand up comedy routine. The act needs time to build up and if you keep watching it regularly, it grows on you and you will hardly notice the laughter in the background. a lot of us saw 10 seasons of FRIENDS that way and loved it. A show cannot be and should not be judged by viewing just one episode. Humour after all is "to each his own". To me after 4 seasons, and i watch them downloaded, one episode after the other, one full season at a time, these are people whom I practically know. I know how a character is going to react and to me some of it is funny in a situational way. Like when I come home and poke my sleeping cat, it jumps up like it is being murdered. I find it funny. every day for 5 years. It is still funny. similarly. when Raj can't speak to a girl, I find it funny. And the show is entirely not stupid. There's one episode, LINK, where Sheldon's Halloween costume is teh Doppler Effect. beautifully done. He drops a hint. Classic. I highly doubt how many regular people caught that. The youtube comments are proof. People became interested in knowing what that is. The show sparked interest in science in some minds. What interesting fact did I ever get from Arrested Development? That there's always money in the Banana stand? or Steve Holt \o/ ? Reddit points for quoting? phssss... How true is it when a drunk girl at a party comes and announces, " how wasted am I" and she is seen as "cool", "happening", "partying" while idiots like us, portrayed by a dumbstruck Raj, nods along and is incapable of a move? The show is better than it gets credit for. Someone mentioned in a different thread that it got more young people enrolled in Physics at universities because now Physics is cool! TBBT made that happen. For goodness sakes, Neil deGrasse Tyson loves that show - as quoted by him in his 1st AMA. Atleast TBBT represents nerds in a better way. would you rather be shown as a lab-coat donning criminal mastermind instead? Isn't it a victory for all nerds when Leonard sleeps with that hot-ass Penny? Fuck yeah! TBBT has made nerd life more sociable. and all Reddit wants is to stick to its little rabbit hole! So it not being stand up comedy funny can be taken with a pinch of salt. It is not an entirely terrible show.

tl;dr - King Kong will rise again!

[–]iuy78 0 points1 point ago

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Put this in advice animals

[–]lostboyz 0 points1 point ago

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I just think they've either been going downhill or it has run it's course. I did enjoy it in the beginning, but I can't watch it now. The jokes are obvious and repetitive.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

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Agreed, it used to be a reasonably funny show about guys that liked the same shit I like (the pop culture stuff, not the advanced math, I won't pretend to be that smart). Now all they do is talk about their relationships and make fun of the same nerd stuff that made their show popular to begin with.

[–]endercoaster 0 points1 point ago

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I have this tendency to keep watching good shows after they've stopped being good. Did it with Heroes, did it with The Office, and I will confess to doing it with Big Bang Theory.

[–]lostboyz 0 points1 point ago

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I'm the same way but there comes a point (actually all of those shows listed) that I will stop watching mid episode and rid my computer of every remnant of it, except the office I trimmed that to episodes I like.

[–]justobella 0 points1 point ago

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I'm not a nerd! Nerds are smart...

[–]SUPERKAMIGURU 0 points1 point ago

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Oh god, please no.

[–]Josh2021 0 points1 point ago

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The show just makes it's humor off of stereotypes.

[–]Luckyone1 0 points1 point ago

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I am a nerd, and a friend told me to watch it because it's "the best show you will ever see." Watched 3 full episodes with my roommate who threatened to kick me out if we watched another episode. It's almost as bad as two and a half men.

[–]Shnazzyone 0 points1 point ago

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Sorry Keanu, It's just redditors know when they're being pandered to and they don't like it. It's like they have some reference book called, "Nerd stuff" and they close their eyes, flip through the book and point at a paragraph in that book. After reading the paragraph they do their best to write a joke from that.

[–]TheShader 1 point2 points ago

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From what I've seen, this is exactly their method.

"Start conversation about [insert subject]"

"Make comment back referring to [subject]"

"Defensive comment back, supporting [subject]"

"Randomly forced comment that doesn't even relate to [subject] about Han Solo being frozen in carbonite"

Rinse, repeat.

[–]Shnazzyone 1 point2 points ago

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Now you know your calling!

NOW GO! CBS needs your sitcom writing talent!

[–]CommonMan_Mike 0 points1 point ago

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Nerds would have fixed that elevator by now. Fuck walking up 3 flights of stairs past the intial moving in phase.

[–]MaRmARk0 0 points1 point ago

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Everyone around me does like BBT. I watched 10 minutes of one episode and I've deleted everything. Srry but it's BS.

[–]bigmeech 0 points1 point ago

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No

[–]kabukistar 0 points1 point ago

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If that were true, we would like that show.

[–]boxxa 0 points1 point ago

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The show is entertaining and there is a lot more humor in it than the dialog. The show spends a lot of time and has real consultants making the backgrounds and stuff on the white boards entertaining for people who can understand them.

[–]amcdon 0 points1 point ago

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DING DING DING DING DING

[–]Whitworth 0 points1 point ago

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TBBT is funny because stereotypes are funny and real nerds are not.

[–]minzeb45 0 points1 point ago

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I've only seen bits from a few episodes, so I may be wrong, but it seemed like the majority of the humor was supposed to be derived from making references to things that nerds like. Only, the way they did it was by directly referencing the nerdy thing, like just mentioning a comic book character is enough for a laugh. Except that it's not. Mentioning a sci-fi movie is not a joke. Having characters in situations that mirror situations in a sci-fi movie could be funny. Community is really good at that. But if TBBT tried something any more subtle than spelling everything out, the people that watch it who aren't actually nerdy wouldn't get it, and the show wouldn't do as well. Thus is the conundrum.

[–]illuminatedwax[M] 0 points1 point ago

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meme, removed

[–]zodar 0 points1 point ago

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That isn't how anyone acts in real life. It's a hammy sitcom with a laugh track. Who sits around with their friends and does the setup-setup-punchline waltz all day?

I'll give the writers credit for their vocabulary, though; it's better than anything else on TV.

[–]Grassysaq 0 points1 point ago

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The main characters are pretty much all too obnoxious, stupid, or annoying for me to enjoy this show. Sheldon is the absolute worst. I've watched the first 2 seasons with friends and it had its moments but they are definitely trying too hard to cater to the hip nerd demographic.

The IT Crowd is a far better show IMO.

[–]Shintasama 0 points1 point ago

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Any comedy that people wouldn't know when to laugh if their wasn't a laugh track isn't funny. It's just sad. It needs to stop trying soo hard at making people think it's funny and actually be funny.

[–]HooptyDooDooMeister 0 points1 point ago

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A "smart show" will have punchlines that are more clever than broad. The setups being esoteric is irrelevant. Therefore, BBT is a mediocre comedy.

BBT:Esoteric Science ::Family Guy:Pop Culture References

[–]highguy420 1 point2 points ago

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Google "big bang theory without laugh track" and watch it.

[–]Lu-Tze 11 points12 points ago

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First, it is a live audience and not a laugh track. Second, if you take out laughs from anything that has laughs, you get long awkward pauses while the actors are waiting for the laughs to ebb. If those pauses weren't there, the usual show would have people talking (inaudibly) through the laughs.

It is the same reason why Garfield Minus Garfield is so dark - not because there is anything specifically wrong with Garfield.

[–]Hedja 1 point2 points ago

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A live audience with feathers rubbing under their feet at every pause.

A comedy show can easily be comedic without having laughing periods. Also, most shows like TBBT have way too many pauses for laughing.

[–]rocketwidget 0 points1 point ago

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There is something specifically wrong with Garfield (it's the worst kind of "humor"), but that's outside of the point you were making.

[–]phillyfun 1 point2 points ago

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Or post a link.

[–]Dmoneater 0 points1 point ago

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Painful.....

[–]Bartleby986 -1 points0 points ago

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What jokes?

[–]coottenhimer 0 points1 point ago

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no, it's because TBBT sucks and isn't funny.

[–]shadoworc01 -1 points0 points ago

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I think this falls apart because of how many redditors like it.

[–]th3namelessguy -2 points-1 points ago

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R/ADVICEANIMALS

this is the 3rd meme I see on this subreddit today and they all get upvoted. Reading the rules ---------->

might help.

[–][deleted] ago

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[deleted]

[–]th3namelessguy 0 points1 point ago

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I can only read the sidebar which says

Please No Memes - Go to /F7U12 instead.

I don't see any rule that says "except for replies"

Besides, this post isn't really funny whatsoever.

[–]yannisv[S] 0 points1 point ago

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Ah, oh, yeah, thanks for clearing that out...

[–]rhino-x -4 points-3 points ago

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It could also be that this show just totally and completely SUCKS.

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