It is entertaining and funny. I've recently watched some episodes, including repeats on TBS. However, I think the show is somewhat far-fetched and unrealistic. The main characters (Leonard, Sheldon, Penny, Howard and Raj), are aerospace engineers, physicists, microbiologists, all intellectual PHDs in something or other -- and one of the guest stars is a medical doctor. And one of them is an astronaut. Nevertheless, all of them act more like blue collar workers than the high-falutin intellectuals they are supposed to portray. People in those positions earn high salaries and would normally reside in upscale condos or apartments, however it appears they are all living in a rather old, brick, run-down apartment complex and must climb four flights of stairs in which they share apartments and facilities. And they seem to hang out at the cheese factory where Penny is a waitress. And Sheldon hangs out at a comic book store. I think that in reality, persons of such intellect do not dress or act like they do. But maybe they do. What do I know. Of course, I suppose the show has to be in the scenario in which the producer portrays them. They couldn't all reside at different addresses and still get the desired comedy affect. But still ... it's just kind of goofy and unrealistic.
Dear Nom.....if the show were not 'far-fetched and unrealistic', it wouldn't be funny! It wouldn't be a sitcom! If you are indeed from Spain, maybe there is a cross-cultural conflict and you don't understand our humor. In fiction writing, dramatic or comedic, we are asked to engage in 'suspension of disbelief'.....if we do that, then we can accept any premise presented to us within that context. Actually, it's no more unrealistic than all the mystery/crime/police procedural/detective/legal/medical dramas, and other sitcoms. If we want realism, we watch the news. All else is mindless escapism from humanity's miseries so that we can maintain our sanity. (Although, as Chico Marx once said, 'There ain't no sanity clause'...) You say the characters 'act more like blue collar workers than the high-falutin intellectuals'. Actually, no. Not at all. It's not a blue-collar/white-collar thing. It's 'high-falutin' intellectualism' vs. naive childishness. Actually, from my experiences back in my university days, these characters are not as far-fetched as you may think!! My circle of friends, which included physicists and mathematicians grad students and TAs, were totally wacky and often resorted to childish hi-jinks. That's what attracted us to each other. These characters are just drawn with exaggeration and hyperbole. That's why they're funny and this is one of the funniest, best-written sitcoms ever aired on TV. Expose yourself to more English-language humor -- movies and TV -- such as the Marx Brothers, Monty Python, Peter Sellers, Seinfeld, The Odd Couple, Lucille Ball, etc. -- then just suspend your disbelief, sit back, and enjoy!!!!!!!
Love the show. "The Cruciferous Vegetable Amplification"....I've seen that episode a dozen times and still LOL
I knew a number of people who were just as bizarre as these characters... being naive and intelligent seem to go together, they were so engrossed in their own little intellectual world they were oblivious to the real world around them, science was easy a social life was a challenge ...
Yes and no. Situation comedies are supposed to derive most of their humor from an odd but plausible situation. Relying on stereotypes, whether the stereotype is hurtful or not, are generally seen as very cheap humor
Amy: Sheldon, this isnt helping. Why dont you just let me get some rest. Sheldon: How can you sleep? Im not done making you feel better. I still have to put a cold rag on your head, sing to you and apply VapoRub to your chest. Amy: You, you want to rub something on my chest? Sheldon: Yes. All over it. Amy: Maybe we should start with that. Sheldon: Now youre being a responsible patient. Now, you may notice some tingling. Amy: Oh, Im counting on it. ----"The Fish Guts Displacement"
To some extent I agree with both you and CHARnobyl. Future scientists in college are daffy. But later on after they establish their professions, they are much more dignified (and I know some) than the actors portrayed in the Big Bang Theory( BBT). I agree that in sitcoms one has to not be too picky about the realism. Nevertheless, BBT, although clever, funny and entertaining, just simply has no "plausible situation" to relate too. These accomplished scientists and engineers (and I think one of them is an astronaut), have the demeanor, manners and economic status of illiterates who live under highway overpasses. They earn high salaries. Why do they share accommodations in an old apartment building with riveted steel-doors for security? (Rent is high in the Los Angeles area -- but not that high.) And why do they always seem to be a bit poor and on a tight budgets as though their incomes are similar to burger flippers? Yeah, it's far-fetched and unrealistic. But ... what the heck. All one can do is ignore the silliness and sit back and enjoy the show.
BTW, Southerners will appreciate Sheldon's description of "cotillion" "In the South, children are put through a process called cotillion, which indoctrinates them with all the social graces and dance skills needed to function in 18th century Vienna." In fact the ENTIRE "Agreement Dissection" episode is hilarious....featuring Amy drunk, Sheldon and Amy dancing, Amy kissing Sheldon for the first time, and Sheldon's brilliant "Let This Be Your Last Battlefield" "self-destruct" method of getting Leonard and Priya to agree to a new roommate agreement.
Sheldon: I can't sleep. Penny: What do you want me to do? Sheldon: Sing 'Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty.' Penny sings Sheldon: Okay, I'm sleepy now. Get out!!! ............................................................................................................................................................................. The bios say that Sheldon really is gay.
Humor is very subjective, obviously. To me, excellent writing = excellent humor. Everyone can fit into one or another stereotype, no? If one does not rely on stereotypes, on what then does one base a humorous situation? A head of cabbage? Hardly. For example, "All In The Family", arguably one of the most exceptional, well-scripted sitcoms in TV history, was based on several basic stereotypes -- the bigot, the ultra-leftie, the dingbat..... What you may call a stereotype, the writer calls a recognizable kind of character. Thus that is how we, in turn, relate to the characters and the situations because we can all say, 'oh, I know someone just like that!'. As for stereotypes being hurtful..... let's take the Archie Bunker bigot for example. Yes, I suppose caricature and ridicule are hurtful. But, for example, if a bigot knew he was a bigot, wouldn't he then try to change? To grow through open-mindedness and self-examination? Hardly. He wouldn't consider himself a bigot, and therefore not see himself mirrored in the character of Archie, and therefore not hurt by the ridicule! In real life, not fiction, have you ever seen a Jay Leno 'Jaywalking' segment? He does man-on-the-street interviews, asking people questions of what should be basic knowledge. Their level of ignorance and stupidity from many who profess to be products of higher education is indeed appalling. They are deservedly open to self-inflicted ridicule and are totally clueless about it! The universality of flawed characters -- what you call stereotypes -- is the essence, not only of comedy, but of great drama and tragedy, too. From the roots of 16th century Punch-and-Judy, or 18-century's Dr. Pangloss (Voltaire's 'Candide') to today's Big Bang friends; from Hamlet....or King Lear....Madame Bovary....or Lady Chatterley....to Willy Loman or Stanley Kowalski -- these are all great literary figures based on stereotypes of the flawed human condition. In my opinion, stereotyping isn't cheap humor, or cheap drama, for that matter.... Without it, there is .....nothing.... ***** Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury Signifying nothing.
When this show first started, I assumed it would be an idiotic stereotyping of nerds. But then I started watching it- it is a wonderfully witty comedy about people who are academically brilliant and socially clueless. An episode(re-run last night or so was with the 4 boys driving in the car, when it broke down: Leonard: "anyone know anything about internal combustion engines" (cue other three chiming in about yes about how engines work' Leonard- interupting "anyone know how to fix an engine Others- well no Love this show.
Yes, Jim Parsons is gay. "Sheldon Cooper" is not..in the season finale he admitted to Penny and Leonard that "some day" he planned on having a sexual relationship with Amy.
Let's not forget the most evil super-villain of all time.... Sheldon Cooper: I came here to defeat Wil Wheaton, the man who destroyed my dreams. But, I can't defeat Wil Wheaton, the man who loved his mee-maw. "The Creepy Candy Coating Corollary"
