3 ms·

does anyone actually watch this show? I've tried several times to get into it, but I just don't find it funny at all. Sure hearing startup names being thrown ar

by rip747 12y ago

does anyone actually watch this show? I've tried several times to get into it, but I just don't find it funny at all. Sure hearing startup names being thrown around (like Github) and knowing who they are is present day nostalgia, but not enough to make me committed to the show. I compare the likeness of Silicon Valley to "the Big Bang Theory"; those who are into those fields find them more annoying then funny.

shamino 12y ago
I'm into the fields talked about in "the Big Bang Theory" and don't find it funny, but I'm also into the fields depicted in "Silicon Valley" and find it funny. I think the humor is better in this show. One of my friends is a doctor, and couldn't watch "Scrubs" because it was a little too close to home... maybe that's the case here ? Anyways, I'm embracing the poking fun of our culture!
asaddhamani 12y ago
As someone who watches it, I actually kinda like it. Its pretty funny.
minimaxir 12y ago
The show has received great ratings, both in critical reviews and in viewership. (although a lead-in from Game of Thrones might contribute to the latter).
beachstartup 12y ago
> but I just don't find it funny at all. that's because you're who they're making fun of. this entire show is satire.
- doktrin 12y ago
  I'm pretty far from SV, both culturally and geographically, and I find the show so-so at best.
Udo 12y ago
I second your feeling about Big Bang Theory, but I don't think SV is that bad. Personally, I liked the competing show "Betas" a lot better because it had subjectively more soul and better dramaturgical timing, but other than that Silicon Valley is mildly entertaining. Compared to BBT there is not a lot of pretentiously presented flavor text with at best a tenuous connection to real science, so I think Silicon Valley might at least have better expert consultants than most professional-themed drama and comedy shows. That still doesn't mean one can or should expect total factual accuracy from a TV show, it's still just entertainment - it just has to be enough to make you believe for a few minutes.
mikegioia 12y ago
I love this show. Not only does it accurately portray the SV startup scene, but it has a well-written story line. You can't really compare this to Big Bang Theory. I've seen nearly every episode of Big Bang and that is way, way more sitcom-style than Silicon Valley. Big Bang has a lot of nickle jokes related to science fields, with situational comedy surrounding the characters thrown in. Silicon Valley is not a sitcom, and the episodes follow a well-researched story line.
- pachydermic 12y ago
  Does Silicon Valley have a laugh track? I don't remember one from the first episode, but I watched that a couple of weeks ago. Often (not always, though) shows with laugh tracks are an entirely different level of "not funny". It's bad when the show creators have to rely on cheap psychological gags to trick you into enjoying yourself. Silicon Valley operated at a higher level than that, although I still found a lot of its humor just referential and not too humorous or too easy. Honestly, just reading hacker news every day provides you with way more satire than the show does... I didn't watch anything past the first episode, so I can't speak to the story which you seem to like - I was just looking for a comedy show. But tastes do differ. Especially when it comes to comedy. I'm glad you liked the show. I wouldn't compare it to Big Bang Theory, but I wasn't a fan.
  - munger 12y ago
    Couldn't agree with this more. I cringe at laugh tracks that literally get set off after each line of dialogue in many exchanges, especially when it is not even a joke and not funny. Compared to that, SV is much much better in my opinion. I can't even watch BBT because the laugh track is so grating and don't get me started about "Bazinga", the most trite manufactured catch-phrase ever created.
  - mikegioia 12y ago
    No, fortunately there's no laugh track on SV. I'd be surprised if HBO ever used one, though it could have worked on Curb Your Enthusiasm.
  - 12y ago
ximi 12y ago
The first two episodes had their funny moments, but the sum of a few laughs and some "present day nostalgia" moments still didn't make for a great show. However the third episode that aired Sunday was pretty good, several laugh out loud moments (most of which weren't actually related to technology in any way, just good comedy). I feel now that the basic premise of the show has been established (which may be pretty obvious to us, but probably not to the average Joe) and you have an idea of who the characters are Mike Judge's true strengths can start to shine. I do agree that there are more than a few cringe moments if you have some knowledge of the tech and startup scene (the more you have, the worse it gets), but if you can see past that and they keep the momentum from the last episode I think we're in for a pretty nice show that is treating a topic that hasn't gotten all that much attention from main stream media so far and to be perfectly honest, could use a little bit of poking fun at.
drmarianus 12y ago
I have mixed feelings. There are some laughs that I really enjoy, but the main character is just so awkward. I realize it's meant to represent the programmers out there who are exactly that awkward, but I just can't stand it in real life or on the big screen. I find the supporting characters much more funny and enjoyable.

by rip747 12y ago

shamino 12y ago

I'm into the fields talked about in "the Big Bang Theory" and don't find it funny, but I'm also into the fields depicted in "Silicon Valley" and find it funny. I think the humor is better in this show. One of my friends is a doctor, and couldn't watch "Scrubs" because it was a little too close to home... maybe that's the case here ? Anyways, I'm embracing the poking fun of our culture!

asaddhamani 12y ago

As someone who watches it, I actually kinda like it. Its pretty funny.

minimaxir 12y ago

The show has received great ratings, both in critical reviews and in viewership. (although a lead-in from Game of Thrones might contribute to the latter).

beachstartup 12y ago

> but I just don't find it funny at all. that's because you're who they're making fun of. this entire show is satire.

doktrin 12y ago
I'm pretty far from SV, both culturally and geographically, and I find the show so-so at best.

Udo 12y ago

I second your feeling about Big Bang Theory, but I don't think SV is that bad. Personally, I liked the competing show "Betas" a lot better because it had subjectively more soul and better dramaturgical timing, but other than that Silicon Valley is mildly entertaining. Compared to BBT there is not a lot of pretentiously presented flavor text with at best a tenuous connection to real science, so I think Silicon Valley might at least have better expert consultants than most professional-themed drama and comedy shows. That still doesn't mean one can or should expect total factual accuracy from a TV show, it's still just entertainment - it just has to be enough to make you believe for a few minutes.

mikegioia 12y ago

I love this show. Not only does it accurately portray the SV startup scene, but it has a well-written story line. You can't really compare this to Big Bang Theory. I've seen nearly every episode of Big Bang and that is way, way more sitcom-style than Silicon Valley. Big Bang has a lot of nickle jokes related to science fields, with situational comedy surrounding the characters thrown in. Silicon Valley is not a sitcom, and the episodes follow a well-researched story line.

pachydermic 12y ago
Does Silicon Valley have a laugh track? I don't remember one from the first episode, but I watched that a couple of weeks ago. Often (not always, though) shows with laugh tracks are an entirely different level of "not funny". It's bad when the show creators have to rely on cheap psychological gags to trick you into enjoying yourself. Silicon Valley operated at a higher level than that, although I still found a lot of its humor just referential and not too humorous or too easy. Honestly, just reading hacker news every day provides you with way more satire than the show does... I didn't watch anything past the first episode, so I can't speak to the story which you seem to like - I was just looking for a comedy show. But tastes do differ. Especially when it comes to comedy. I'm glad you liked the show. I wouldn't compare it to Big Bang Theory, but I wasn't a fan.
- munger 12y ago
  Couldn't agree with this more. I cringe at laugh tracks that literally get set off after each line of dialogue in many exchanges, especially when it is not even a joke and not funny. Compared to that, SV is much much better in my opinion. I can't even watch BBT because the laugh track is so grating and don't get me started about "Bazinga", the most trite manufactured catch-phrase ever created.
- mikegioia 12y ago
  No, fortunately there's no laugh track on SV. I'd be surprised if HBO ever used one, though it could have worked on Curb Your Enthusiasm.
- 12y ago

ximi 12y ago

The first two episodes had their funny moments, but the sum of a few laughs and some "present day nostalgia" moments still didn't make for a great show. However the third episode that aired Sunday was pretty good, several laugh out loud moments (most of which weren't actually related to technology in any way, just good comedy). I feel now that the basic premise of the show has been established (which may be pretty obvious to us, but probably not to the average Joe) and you have an idea of who the characters are Mike Judge's true strengths can start to shine. I do agree that there are more than a few cringe moments if you have some knowledge of the tech and startup scene (the more you have, the worse it gets), but if you can see past that and they keep the momentum from the last episode I think we're in for a pretty nice show that is treating a topic that hasn't gotten all that much attention from main stream media so far and to be perfectly honest, could use a little bit of poking fun at.

drmarianus 12y ago

I have mixed feelings. There are some laughs that I really enjoy, but the main character is just so awkward. I realize it's meant to represent the programmers out there who are exactly that awkward, but I just can't stand it in real life or on the big screen. I find the supporting characters much more funny and enjoyable.