4 ms·

Getting Geekier: The Evolution of “The Big Bang Theory”

27 points by Sandman 17y ago

yashodhan 17y ago
I don't usually tell people this but the Indian geek on BBT is my cousin. And no disrespect to my cousin meant but I'm just not a fan of the show; mainly because I don't enjoy laugh track-aided sitcoms (exception being Seinfeld) and that I found the first season's humor very run of the mill. But perhaps things have changed. I mean, Summer Glau guest starred so it can't be that bad. I think I'll start following the show and support my cuz now. He's actually incredibly talented. :)
- kierank 17y ago
  It's not a laugh track as such. It's an actual studio audience laughing.
  - ryandvm 17y ago
    Be that as it may - I cannot handle the forced laughter of these shows. I wouldn't even chuckle at the crap they are guffawing at. Years ago my dad ruined sitcoms for me by suggesting that I make myself laugh whenever the crowd laughs. Try it - you'll realize how stupid the writing on these shows really is.
Maro 17y ago
My major concern, which may kill the show for me in the long term is that the Leonard's character has been reduced to an "interpreter bridge" betweeen the Sheldon character and the rest of the world --- the character no longer stands on its own. Also, lately they had some dull episodes, with 2 of the 4 guys having (being locked down by) girlfriends.
- necrecious 17y ago
  Sheldon is the funny guy in the pair, and Leonard is the straight man. That dynamic was even in the first episode. What made Leonard more interested before was his quest for girls/Penny. Now he has Penny, he is a less interesting character because he has no point of view driving stories.
- deleted 17y ago
  [deleted]
dangrossman 17y ago
I might've considered tuning in if they offered some episodes on Hulu or their own site so I could check it out first. Given the majority of prime time TV is available online now, I have enough to fill my time that the networks that won't stream aren't worth my time.
- shrikant 17y ago
  Try http://tvgorge.com http://tvgorge.com
pasbesoin 17y ago
My father's become hooked and has tried to "sell" me on it, a few times. I think some of the description here of season 1 echoes some of my concerns and a principal hesitation against following the show, myself. Without even having seen much of it, based on the overall treatment of "geeks" in commercial media, I assumed I would most likely be quickly put off. Also, I didn't really want to get hooked on another TV show. Thoughts of (intellectual and social) "empty calories." But maybe this is worth a go. Although one other comment here http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1124594 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1124594 gives me concern that the show may be trending down -- something that seems to happen to many good shows by season 2 or 3. (In some specific cases I'm familiar with, this seems to correspond with studio and network executives involving themselves in the creative aspects in attempts to increase marketshare and optimize demographics, and/or with initial principals and writers moving on.)
pleaseno 17y ago
This show is like watching 2 and a Half Men. It's the same joke over and over with zero depth. Sure, they throw in more obvious geeky references, but that doesn't change the obviousness and blandness of the humor. This show would have so much potential if the jokes had a shred of cleverness to them.

27 points by Sandman 17y ago

I don't usually tell people this but the Indian geek on BBT is my cousin. And no disrespect to my cousin meant but I'm just not a fan of the show; mainly because I don't enjoy laugh track-aided sitcoms (exception being Seinfeld) and that I found the first season's humor very run of the mill. But perhaps things have changed. I mean, Summer Glau guest starred so it can't be that bad. I think I'll start following the show and support my cuz now. He's actually incredibly talented. :)

kierank 17y ago
It's not a laugh track as such. It's an actual studio audience laughing.
- ryandvm 17y ago
  Be that as it may - I cannot handle the forced laughter of these shows. I wouldn't even chuckle at the crap they are guffawing at. Years ago my dad ruined sitcoms for me by suggesting that I make myself laugh whenever the crowd laughs. Try it - you'll realize how stupid the writing on these shows really is.

Maro 17y ago

My major concern, which may kill the show for me in the long term is that the Leonard's character has been reduced to an "interpreter bridge" betweeen the Sheldon character and the rest of the world --- the character no longer stands on its own. Also, lately they had some dull episodes, with 2 of the 4 guys having (being locked down by) girlfriends.

necrecious 17y ago
Sheldon is the funny guy in the pair, and Leonard is the straight man. That dynamic was even in the first episode. What made Leonard more interested before was his quest for girls/Penny. Now he has Penny, he is a less interesting character because he has no point of view driving stories.
deleted 17y ago
[deleted]

dangrossman 17y ago

I might've considered tuning in if they offered some episodes on Hulu or their own site so I could check it out first. Given the majority of prime time TV is available online now, I have enough to fill my time that the networks that won't stream aren't worth my time.

shrikant 17y ago
Try http://tvgorge.com http://tvgorge.com

pasbesoin 17y ago

My father's become hooked and has tried to "sell" me on it, a few times. I think some of the description here of season 1 echoes some of my concerns and a principal hesitation against following the show, myself. Without even having seen much of it, based on the overall treatment of "geeks" in commercial media, I assumed I would most likely be quickly put off. Also, I didn't really want to get hooked on another TV show. Thoughts of (intellectual and social) "empty calories." But maybe this is worth a go. Although one other comment here http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1124594 http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=1124594 gives me concern that the show may be trending down -- something that seems to happen to many good shows by season 2 or 3. (In some specific cases I'm familiar with, this seems to correspond with studio and network executives involving themselves in the creative aspects in attempts to increase marketshare and optimize demographics, and/or with initial principals and writers moving on.)

pleaseno 17y ago

This show is like watching 2 and a Half Men. It's the same joke over and over with zero depth. Sure, they throw in more obvious geeky references, but that doesn't change the obviousness and blandness of the humor. This show would have so much potential if the jokes had a shred of cleverness to them.