# What the fuck is going on with this Big Bang Theory shit being shoved down my throat? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 22, 2011, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717 "2011-11-22T04:38:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717/61 "2011-11-22T15:57:14Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > [Still the best](http://xkcd.com/386/)by a country mile. I would ascribe that type of humor to be equivalent to Big Bang Theory. I could see any one of the main nerds saying that exact same thing. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717/62 "2011-11-22T15:57:45Z")
> [@Larry\_Mudd](#): > > Have you ever met one of these viewers? It’s pretty plain that the show is designed to appeal to the broadest possible spectrum of prime-time viewers, and doesn’t require any arcane knowledge. I’ve had a few people recommend BBT to me based on how smart it is, so yeah. Also, the highest rated comment on the youtube video I linked to was a guy patting himself on being smart enough to have heard of the science name dropping. That’s exactly my point - this show is a lowest common denominator shitfest that’s formulaic and isn’t any smarter than the dumbest of sitcoms, but because its chosen method of comedy is to name drop things that dumb people think sound like the sort of thing smart people would laugh at, it convinces its audience that it’s somehow smarter than other sitcoms. It’s almost like they have a guy on staff that the writers ask “ok, give us some sort of science or nerd term and we’ll work it into the script somehow!” and all the viewers think this makes the show _Frasier_ or something. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Righteous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Dr.Righteous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Righteous)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717/63 "2011-11-22T16:02:50Z")
I like the show but I understand why people might feel like they’re being bombarded with it. Here in the NY area we have: [ul] [li]Original episodes once a week on CBS[/li][li]Daily Syndication on Fox and My9, in both early fringe (between the local news and primetime) and late fringe (between prime and late night)[/li][li]Daily Syndication on TBS [/ul][/li] You could watch 15 episodes in one day, depending on whether it was one of those nights where TBS strips together multiple episodes in a row. That’s a whole lotta one show - who do they think they are, Law & Order? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717/64 "2011-11-22T16:03:06Z")
> [@Great\_Antibob](#): > > “But it’s so funny. And those guys are just like you and all the other nerds I’ve met.” > > “No, they’re not. They’re unfunny caricatures taken to extremes. And the ‘nerd culture’ references are often painful and forced.” Nah. Steve Urkel, Revenge of the Nerds, Napoleon Dynamite… those are forced, unfunny caricatures. I’ve known (and/or been) each of the characters from TBBT at different times in my life. I like them. And obvious or not, I enjoy the fact that nearly all of the geek references are genuine, instead of some writer’s concept of what science, science fiction, and comic book fandom are like. ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717/65 "2011-11-22T16:06:25Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > It’s almost like they have a guy on staff that the writers ask “ok, give us some sort of science or nerd term and we’ll work it into the script somehow!” Other way around. According to the DVD extras, they’ll insert a note like “Insert science stuff here” into the script, then turn it over to a science consultant to flesh out. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717/66 "2011-11-22T16:08:40Z")
> [@Larry\_Mudd](#): > > Have you ever met one of these viewers? It’s pretty plain that the show is designed to appeal to the broadest possible spectrum of prime-time viewers, and doesn’t require any arcane knowledge. Actually, yeah. All the people who ask me to watch do so because it’s a “realistic” portrayal of nerds (albeit with some creative license for sitcoms), and that the cast are just like the nerds they know in real life (and there are quite a few of these in my circle of acquaintances). And, yes, they feel vaguely superior that the nerds on TV behave superficially like the nerds they know in real life. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717/67 "2011-11-22T16:14:05Z")
> [@Cartoonacy](#): > > Other way around. According to the DVD extras, they’ll insert a note like “Insert science stuff here” into the script, then turn it over to a science consultant to flesh out. My phrasing might not have been clear but that’s what I meant. They have some guy on staff whose job it is to essentially make up science-based props for them to insert into the script. Actually, quite like star trek, where the scripts actually read Geordi LaForge: Well, if we can [technobabble], we might actually be able to make our way out of this mess! And then someone inserted sciencey-sounding nonsense into the script later. That’s different from BBT because so far as I’ve seen, what they insert isn’t nonsense, it makes sense in context, it just isn’t funny. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717/68 "2011-11-22T16:25:04Z")
So the only legit way to pull it off would be to have it written by a funny scientist, expert in multiple fields, who can write a weekly comedy script. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717/69 "2011-11-22T16:29:32Z")
I agree about removing the laughter track, its intrusive and irritating. It works even better without it IMO. I can imagine that some people feel threatened by geek based humour, recognising some of the references, but agonising over how many of the others that they’ve missed . I can see this not enhancing their enjoyment of the show. As to it referencing situations and jokes to things or people that are familiar to the audience, this is applicable to ALL comedy. If it wasn’t it wouldn’t be funny to that particular target audience. Humour related to individual British footballers would be totally irrelevant to virtually all Americans and as such would be totally unfunny to them. The shows good. It will not always be funny, but its funny now. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717/70 "2011-11-22T16:52:03Z")
You nailed it, the criticisms in this thread are all about how we don’t get all of the super smart references like you. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717/71 "2011-11-22T16:54:50Z")
> [@Lust4Life](#): > > I can imagine that some people feel threatened by geek based humour, recognising some of the references, but agonising over how many of the others that they’ve missed. I consider myself a geek/nerd/whatever. My problem is that I usually find the average nerd joke to be just less funny than the average “regular” joke. I don’t get much humour benefit from saying “Aha! I recognize that reference”. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717/72 "2011-11-22T17:06:34Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > I don’t get much humour benefit from saying “Aha! I recognize that reference”. That just means you’re secure in your own assessment of your intelligence. Getting “smart references” that aren’t actually funny but laughing at them anyway is more about convincing yourself (or others) about how smart you are, not about those things actually being funny. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717/73 "2011-11-22T17:09:32Z")
Seriously, calm the fuck down. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717/74 "2011-11-22T17:11:10Z")
I start a thread every week for the current new episode. I’m sorry if you feel that TBBT is being “shoved down your throat.” I suggest you don’t click on the threads. ---
**Author:** ![SenorBeef](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senorbeef/32/2220_2.png) [@SenorBeef](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SenorBeef)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717/75 "2011-11-22T17:11:53Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > Seriously, calm the fuck down. Why do people say that on message boards? Do you think I’m sitting at the keyboard in a rage, flailing at it? I’m perfectly calm. It’s a dispassionate analysis that people that get elitist about how smart they are for appreciating such a dumb thing deserve to be beaten with an irony bat. > [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I start a thread every week for the current new episode. > > I’m sorry if you feel that TBBT is being “shoved down your throat.” > > I suggest you don’t click on the threads. Was there somewhere in which someone said that the existance of SDMB threads was the problem, or even referenced them? ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717/76 "2011-11-22T17:12:52Z")
curious why the original post didn’t go to the Pit - tone was awfully strong for civilized Cafe Society. (I just avoid posts about topics I’m not interested in - and there are many) whoops - to address the OP - I just avoid reruns on TV of shows I don’t like. Friends & Seinfeld are on every day but they’re not shoved down my throat; I just don’t watch them. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717/77 "2011-11-22T17:13:21Z")
Perfectly calm? ---
**Author:** ![Svejk\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@Svejk\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Svejk_1)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717/78 "2011-11-22T17:13:43Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > In particular, about half the time they nail Sheldon’s Asperger’s/OCD on the head. But like all things Lorre, too often they go to extremes. I actually find their portrayal of his supposed disorders off base to the point of being slightly offensive. I can’t really put my finger on it but it’s just way over the top and in my view does not do an decent job of portraying what the people with Asperger’s that I know deal with on a daily basis. I’m fine with making fun of people and their disorders when it’s done in a way that at least shows who they are in a reasonably accurate way, but what they do here is just make a complete straw man caricature out of Sheldon and then laugh at that. Not funny or respectful, IME. Add to that the fact I don’t really find the show all that funny as it is, and you’ll understand that I try and avoid it. I don’t think it’s should be taken off the air or something, I don’t feel that I’m entitled to not being offended, and I guess there’s lots of people that don’t care, but as it is, I’ll avoid the show. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717/79 "2011-11-22T17:15:34Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > It’s almost like they have a guy on staff that the writers ask “ok, give us some sort of science or nerd term and we’ll work it into the script somehow!” and all the viewers think this makes the show _Frasier_ or something. Ha. _Now_, I think I begin to see your point. When _Frasier_ was in its hey-day, I was really sick of everyone telling me I ought to watch it because it was meant for me and was\* the smartest thing ever.\* I have probably seen about as much of _Frasier_ as you have seen of _The Big Bang Theory_, and our impressions are probably just about the same. Absolute garbage/can’t stomach the laugh track telling me that incredibly lame jokes are actually _hysterical_/yadda yadda yadda. (To be clear I have seen isolated bits here and there and only one complete episode, which I was required to sit through _for work._ Jesus.) But yes, I can see how you can be completely turned off a show when you frequently hear people telling you that it’s very smart and you will totally identify with it because it is MADE FOR YOU, because you are and then you look at it and it’s an American network sitcom intended for general audiences and relying on all the same tropes and devices as every situation comedy before it, and not exceptionally clever at all. I would likely feel the same way if people had spoken to me that way about _The Big Bang Theory_, but I have never heard anyone praise it for any other reason apart from that it is actually quite funny, as far as sitcoms go. Personally, I like the poop jokes. ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2011, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717/80 "2011-11-22T17:20:06Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > I actually find their portrayal of his supposed disorders off base to the point of being slightly offensive. I can’t really put my finger on it but it’s just way over the top and in my view does not do an decent job of portraying what the people with Asperger’s that I know deal with on a daily basis. This is, in my opinion, a valid criticism. Here we have a decent human being who recognizes something he does not like and accepts it at face value. He does not berate others for liking something he does not, nor does he project his own insecurities onto others to make himself feel better. Yay, guy whose name I can’t pronounce. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-the-fuck-is-going-on-with-this-big-bang-theory-shit-being-shoved-down-my-throat/603717.md?page=5)