Big Bang Theory: TV comedy

[Perpetual Man]

Yes, there are things I find problematic throughout (the one where Sheldon's sister turns up drives me up the wall) but it's become especially bad with Sheldon in later series. There was one in the latest series concerning sexual harassment in the workplace that almost turned me off the series completely.

Ah yes. I would love to disagree here and say it was just harmless fun, and perhaps it was for the first few seconds, but you are right Hoops, it was something that went to far and rapidly became cringeworthy and not in a good way.

I can see what they were trying to do, it just didn't work, and it got worse every time they had Sheldon interact with the Councillor it got worse. It made me feel uncomfortable and it the only time TBBT has done that.

 

[Ursa major]

I think I've mentioned before that Sheldon is the "monster" in this situation comedy, the main source/cause of the situations in which the other characters find themselves. One could say that Sheldon is the situation.

I doubt he's meant to be likeable; off hand, I can't recall him being anything other than the centre of his own universe. But being likeable isn't his purpose, which is to be a substitute for deus ex machine sources of comedic situations.

Such "monsters" don't have to be unlikeable, but I think it helps that they are, because there needs to be a reason why they are always screwing things up for others; one popular alternative - that the situation character is more than a bit dim (as in Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em**) - risks the audience laughing at someone innocently inadequate rather than someone who, as in Sheldon's case, thoroughly deserves being laughed at because he's intelligent enough to change if he wanted to. (He just doesn't see the need to.)

It's probably best to think of Sheldon as TBBT's version of Basil Fawlty, or the equivalent of one or other Steptoe (whether it was the father or the son varied depending on the episode) in Steptoe & Son. That he doesn't change (indeed can't bring himself to change***, as shown in the episode, The Closure Alternative), even when other characters do, is rather the point of the exercise.


** - Which only got away with it because of all the stunts; otherwise we're just laughing at someone stupid doing stupid things, which I don't think we ought to be encouraging, really.

*** - Either that, or he really is the prisoner of his mental condition, which again risks us laughing at someone who could be seen as mentally ill (at least to some degree).

 

[Nerds_feather]

Actually, that's one thing that bugs me about Big Bang Theory - I'm not sure which series I've started watching from - possibly 3 - but I find a general undercurrent of misogyny that makes me sometimes quite uncomfortable, especially expressed by the way the characters put Penny down, and not just Sheldon.

Yes, there are things I find problematic throughout (the one where Sheldon's sister turns up drives me up the wall) but it's become especially bad with Sheldon in later series. There was one in the latest series concerning sexual harassment in the workplace that almost turned me off the series completely.

Yeah, that is true.

Of course adding Amy and Bernadette changes the "guys smart/girl dumb" dynamic, but that sexual harassment episode is definitely problematic.

 

[CrumpleHornedSnorkak]

Actually, that's one thing that bugs me about Big Bang Theory - I'm not sure which series I've started watching from - possibly 3 - but I find a general undercurrent of misogyny that makes me sometimes quite uncomfortable, especially expressed by the way the characters put Penny down, and not just Sheldon.

I can see what you mean, but at the same time, Penny does her fair share of mocking the guys for being 'nerdy' and 'uncool'.

 

[Perpetual Man]

There was quite an interesting mini interview with Mayim Bialik -Amy - in the latest SFX where she talks about being made a regular and being part of the cast.

It was quite amusing to read that she is the only cast member who gets all the jokes, because the others are all actors doing a job, but she is a bonafide card carrying geek, and a highly educated scientist as well...

 

[stormcrow]

I enjoy Big Bang Theory hugely...and whilst I'd agree the focus has changed, that's possibly why it hasn't stagnated.

On the thorny issue of Sheldon's behaviors and attitudes - I love him, possibly for the reasons others have touched on above - we love dysfunctional heroes/monsters here! Personally, I'd suggest he suffers from Aspergers syndrome - all the signs are there; my youngest is also a sufferer of this condition and Sheldon's behaviors can seem very familiar at times, though I don't find the show any less funny for that.

Favourite character? Penny. Hilarious foil: rather like Polly Sherman in Fawlty Towers.

 

[StormSeeker]

I wasn't keen on the introduction at Amy at first in one of the finales. I thought " Oh God I might end up hating this show..."

And oh my word, I adore her. Without her the show may have really fizzled out!! Comedy gold.

 

[Ursa major]

Thinking about Amy - who was introduced as a female Sheldon - I see her more as a kind of pon-farr Sheldon, someone who wants (or wanted) to be in control of her own little environment, but whose untidy humanity has broken through the veneer.

She is thus interesting as a character in herself (like the others who inhabit Sheldon's world); Sheldon, by contrast, is less of a character than the source of the situation in this situation comedy.




(I'm sure Sheldon would approve of the use of Spock as a reference.)

 

[REBerg]

This show was only toying with science fiction, until this season opener.

Spoiler

Yup. With Astrophysicist Leonard and Aspiring Actress Penny actually tying the knot, TBBT has truly entered the realm of sci-fi (or fantasy?). As Leonard better put it, a gorgeous blonde landing a near-sighted scientist gives hope to gorgeous blondes everywhere.

 

[Brian G Turner]

Has Season 10 started??

Season 9 ended very strangely - from nowhere, Sheldon and Amy were kissing - a degree of physical intimacy I hadn't thought they'd shared.

 

[REBerg]

The new season started Monday, Sept. 21, in the US. Not sure when it airs in the UK.
One of the few shows I watch that makes laugh out loud every episode.

 

[hardsciencefanagain]

I notice a tendency in most series to become progressively worse and less original.TBBT is,alas,no exception.
Best unseen character ever:Howard's Mom

 

[thaddeus6th]

Stopped watching after about season 4 (whichever it was which had Howard in space near the start). Didn't think it fell off a cliff, I just got too used to it (same happened with the Sharpe books after a while).

 

[Dennis E. Taylor]

Watched the season opener last night. I wasn't thrilled. The characters are always human, and they suffer and bleed and such, but there just seemed like a little too much angst this time. It felt a little forced.

Having said that, it's one episode. There've been other episodes I didn't care for. It's the overall season that'll determine if the show has finally gone over the cliff.

 

[REBerg]

9.03 The Bachelor Party Corrosion

Most memorable quote of the episode nominee:

"My mom said pierced ears were for whores, pirates and genies."

--Amy Farrah Fowler

 

[Temperance]

Personally the main problems seem to be;

Penny just looks bored, really she barely seems capable of turning up.

Now it has a relatively fixed cast everyone needs their screen time, doesn't need to fit the story but must cut to a couple of them doing something random which just breaks the flow.

Sheldon is no longer poorly socialized/on the spectrum, now he's just a bit of a dick.

 

[The Ace]

Sheldon does have his moments;

"I am playing bongos, walking down the stairs."

Series of horrible thuds.

"Never play bongos, walking down the stairs."

 

[thaddeus6th]

That was a good line, but didn't the bongos make an appearance about 4 years ago?

 

[The Ace]

That was a good line, but didn't the bongos make an appearance about 4 years ago?

Yes, but I only saw it last week.

Seemingly, series 9 begins on E4 on Thursday 22nd October.

 

[Jo Zebedee]

We love Sheldon in this house. But we're, um... Tolerant of Asperger's Syndrome, as some of you know (read for that find it adorable, quirky and fun), and we have him pretty well nailed as such.

Anyhow my kids watch it a lot and I don't see the sexism thing as a big thing (though occasionally ill judged as noted above) as, by and large, the female characters hold their own. And, Penny, it should be said is the female Sheldon and could change if she felt she wanted to - I think she gives a good example of a female who doesn't feel the need to be part of the 'in-crowd' - a good message for any aspergic girls (see above.)