# How do you feel about The Big Bang Theory? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 28, 2016, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484 "2016-03-28T21:03:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484/21 "2016-03-29T00:31:49Z")
I loathe it. Mostly because it’s a sitcom, and I pretty much hate sitcoms. and partly because it feeds the trope that you can’t be intelligent unless you’re a clueless nerd with a bad hairstyle who doesn’t know how to dress. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484/22 "2016-03-29T00:44:49Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > I do like some sitcoms - _Brooklyn 99_ and _The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt_ are current favorites. I actively dislike BBT, but not with enough energy to say I loathe it. Heh–these are my two favorite current sitcoms as well. Interesting to see that you dislike BBT like me–and **silenus** likes BBT but hates these two. I wonder if that’s in general true, that the humor of Brooklyn 99 and Kimmy is different enough from BBT that there’s not a lot of overlap in fans? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484/23 "2016-03-29T00:47:07Z")
I don’t care for it but, if it was showing in the doctor’s waiting lounge, I wouldn’t ask them to change the channel. To be fair, I’ve never seen a complete episode but then the bits I’ve seen never inspired me to watch a complete episode. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484/24 "2016-03-29T00:47:26Z")
I love it. It is awesome, but it’s not my favorite show. I might be willing to go with “It’s my favorite sit-com still producing new episodes.” ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484/25 "2016-03-29T00:56:25Z")
The early episodes were fairly good. Not on the level of, say, _Community_, but a lot better than most sitcoms. But hasn’t been that good in a while and in fact I’m wondering why I still watch it. So, I’ll occasionally watch a select rerun of an early episode, but never anything more recent. What box do you check on the poll for this? ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484/26 "2016-03-29T00:57:27Z")
It was my hate-watch show. I hate the character of Sheldon with the fiery passion of a thousand suns, but the rest of the cast was entertaining enough to keep me going. So I picked “other” ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484/27 "2016-03-29T01:03:28Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I picked the first option. The wife and I absolutely love it, but I’m not sure it’s my “favorite” show. I’m not sure what my favorite one is. That answer changes day by day. The only thing I dislike about the show is Sheldon’s mother. I grew up in Texas and knew countless people just like her. Trust me, they are not cute and lovable. They are horrible people. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484/28 "2016-03-29T01:06:21Z")
I still watch it every week but I’ve never been able to get past the “meh” feeling for it. I watch and love a lot of television, but not this show. I voted “it’s alright”. ---
**Author:** ![Lobot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ce7236/32.png) [@Lobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobot)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484/29 "2016-03-29T01:06:41Z")
I find it pretty inoffensive. I understand why people don’t like it, but it occasionally has some decent gags that rely on being a nerd or geek to fully appreciate. It’s not on the level of something like _Futurama_, but it’s also more than just poking fun at nerds. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484/30 "2016-03-29T02:09:05Z")
It’s the only sitcom I can think of where I can relate to some of the characters and situations. Nearly every other sitcom is about things I have no experience in. Even family-oriented ones like _Growing Pains_ or _Family Ties_ were all beyond my experience. Maybe _Roseanne_ would be closer to my life, though that kind of went too far the other way, and in any case I didn’t watch it. Anyways, I find _Big Bang Theory_ inoffensively amusing, and I smile throughout an episode more often than not. ---
**Author:** ![guizot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guizot/32/3636_2.png) [@guizot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/guizot)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484/31 "2016-03-29T02:14:11Z")
I watched one episode and was almost surprised by how completely mediocre and unremarkable it was–a run-of-the-mill, toss-away sitcom pretty much like any other. I don’t see why people get so into it. The fact that it may have “different” characters doesn’t make up for dull writing. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484/32 "2016-03-29T03:49:49Z")
Greatest sitcom of the age. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484/33 "2016-03-29T04:03:32Z")
There have been 201 episodes aired so far. > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > I watched about half a dozen episodes > [@dracoi](#): > > The four or so episodes I have sampled > [@Hampshire](#): > > I have no idea what day of the week or what network current episodes air on. > [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > But I was never a regular viewer, and I’ll never watch it anymore. > [@Skammer](#): > > I’ve seen 3-4 episodes > [@mhendo](#): > > I tried a few episodes (probably about a half-dozen or so), > [@Seanette](#): > > Never watched it, don’t have much interest. > [@Sattua](#): > > I tried watching a few minutes of it a few times. > [@Jackmannii](#): > > I’ve never watched new shows, only repeats. > [@jz78817](#): > > I loathe it. Mostly because it’s a sitcom, and I pretty much hate sitcoms. > [@Jophiel](#): > > I’ve never seen a complete episode > [@ftg](#): > > So, I’ll occasionally watch a select rerun of an early episode, but never anything more recent. > [@guizot](#): > > I watched one episode . It is one of the highest rated sitcoms currently on the air. Consider the expertise of the reviewers here. Should we move on to Dr. Who… I’ve never seen a full episode but I understand it involves a phone booth time machine. What a rip off of Bill and Ted. I’ll never watch it again… what a piece of trash. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484/34 "2016-03-29T04:16:37Z")
It’s enjoyable. Not the greatest sitcom of all time or even now, but good, relatively middle-of-the-road humor and one of the few current shows my wife and I can both agree on (the other one is Modern Family and then, beyond that, our tastes completely diverge), so I watch it, but it’s not must-see TV for me. I can see why people don’t like it, although I don’t quite understand the level of loathing I see directed at this show by some of its detractors. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484/35 "2016-03-29T04:18:29Z")
I love the show. The last season(s) are not the greatest, but it’s always difficult to stay with the basic premise for such a long time and also change it so that it’s still a good show. My favorite sitcom ever. I’ve never been bothered by the audience laughing, it is, for me, a “cool” thing to complain about. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484/36 "2016-03-29T04:25:04Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > It is one of the highest rated sitcoms currently on the air. Consider the expertise of the reviewers here. Donald Trump is one of the highest-rated politicians in the United States. You’ll forgive me if an appeal to the wisdom of crowds does not seem very attractive at this moment in time. I am happy to admit that i only have limited expertise with the show. As i said, i’ve probably watched about a half-dozen episodes right through, although i’ve also seen bits and pieces of other episodes. Thing is, if a show can’t convince me, with a half-dozen episodes, that i will find it entertaining, then i’m going to ditch it. It could be that this is my loss. I might end up missing the greatest TV show ever to grace the small screen. But the fact is that, in the current environment of awesome TV, i already have too much to watch, and i’m not interested in sticking with a program that doesn’t give me any real enjoyment. My DVR has the whole of Season 2 of _Fargo_ sitting there waiting to be watched; I’m only half-way through the most recent season of _Orange is the New Black_; Season 4 of _House of Cards_ is also waiting on Netflix for me; i haven’t yet started Season 2 of _The Knick_; i’m keeping up with the current seasons of _The Walking Dead_ and _Better Call Saul_; i’m looking forward to the return of _Game of Thrones_ and _Fear the Walking Dead_; and i’ve also been watching (either live or on-demand), comedies that i actually like, including _Broad City, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Modern Family, Master of None_, and _Louie_, as well as humorous political shows like _Last Week Tonight with John Oliver_ and _Full Frontal with Samantha Bee_. I try to restrict myself to an hour of TV a day, with maybe and hour and a half per day on weekends and holidays, so as you can see, i’ve got more than enough to keep me going. If i watch six episodes of a show, and itr hasn’t grabbed me at least enough to make me want to give it another chance, then it goes in the “No thanks” pile. If you find that strategy unreasonable, i’m going to struggle through and learn to live with your disdain. > [@Spud](#): > > Should we move on to Dr. Who… I’ve never seen a full episode but I understand it involves a phone booth time machine. What a rip off of Bill and Ted. I’ll never watch it again… what a piece of trash. Yeah, great analogy there. :rolleyes: Firstly, i never referred to Big Bang Theory as trash. I simply said that i found it to be not funny, so i decided not to continue watching. Also, the fact is that sitcoms like _Big Bang Theory_ have a formula, and if it doesn’t grab you after a half-dozen episodes, then you’re probably not going to like it. I am happy to admit the same thing about the comedies that i enjoy, such as _Brooklyn Nine-Nine_ or _Modern Family_ or any of the others that i mentioned. If you were to choose any of those shows, and watch six random episodes, i think you would get a very good feel for whether or not they were your sort of show. If it takes you longer than six episodes to make such an evaluation, that’s not my concern. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 4:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484/37 "2016-03-29T04:48:22Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Yeah, great analogy there. :rolleyes: That was intentional. :rolleyes: I have watched about two half episodes of Dr. Who because it just didn’t engage me. I watched them because I know so many people love the show. There have been dozens of threads about that show on this board and I have felt obliged to post to exactly zero of them. I won’t try to claim that because I gave it a feeble try and wasn’t hooked that the millions of others were wrong. Not everyone here feels the same. At the time of my post, almost half of the posters admitted to seeing at most only about 3% of the episodes aired. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484/38 "2016-03-29T04:56:48Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Donald Trump is one of the highest-rated politicians in the United States. Lots of people liked the trailer for Ishtar also. We’re talking about a show that has remained at the top of the ratings for nine seasons. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484/39 "2016-03-29T04:57:14Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > That was intentional. :rolleyes: > > I have watched about two half episodes of Dr. Who because it just didn’t engage me. I watched them because I know so many people love the show. There have been dozens of threads about that show on this board and I have felt obliged to post to exactly zero of them. I won’t try to claim that because I gave it a feeble try and wasn’t hooked that the millions of others were wrong. > > Not everyone here feels the same. At the time of my post, almost half of the posters admitted to seeing at most only about 3% of the episodes aired. You’re a master at rebutting claims that no-one has made. Neither i, nor anyone else that you quoted in your earlier post, made any mention of anyone being “wrong.” There is, as far as i’m concerned, no such thing as “wrong” when it comes to purely subjective aesthetic judgments like the ones we’re talking about here. And your point about not posting to the thread at all would make this whole poll useless. After all, for the most part, the people who watch a show regularly tend to be the people who find that show entertaining. People who don’t care for a show, or who actively hate it, are unlikely to keep watching it, for reasons that i am sure you can grasp, if you think about it for a little while. And yet the person who created this poll was clearly looking for input not only from fans of the show, but from people who don’t like it. I do not post in _Big Bang Theory_ threads where the purpose is to discuss the show. That is because i don’t like the show, and also because i don’t follow it, so would probably be unable to participate meaningfully in the conversation. But this thread simply wants an opinion about _BBT_, and having watched a half-dozen episodes, i had formed an opinion of it, just like you have formed an opinion of _Doctor Who_. If you answered a poll asking for opinions about _Doctor Who_, i would not tell you that you had no business participating. I hope that you have the ability to grasp the distinction i am making here. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2016, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484/40 "2016-03-29T05:01:49Z")
> [@Spud](#): > > We’re talking about a show that has remained at the top of the ratings for nine seasons. Again, the appeal to crowds is irrelevant. The question asked in the poll was “How do you feel about The Big Bang Theory?” It was not “How do you feel about fans of The Big Bang Theory”? It was not “Do you think that fans of The Big Bang Theory are wrong?” It was not “Do you think The Big Bang Theory is objectively trash, and that people who like it are idiots?” I was responding to the actual question that was asked, not to the fantasy questions that you seem to be engaging with. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-feel-about-the-big-bang-theory/750484.md?page=3)