# Which is Funny. XKCD or The Big Bang Theory? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 24, 2012, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777 "2012-04-24T04:30:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777/1 "2012-04-24T04:30:26Z")
I noticed an adverse reaction to a TBBT link in a XKCD thread. I would have thought there is a large number of people that were fans of both. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777/2 "2012-04-24T04:35:34Z")
Both. In Cafe Society I learned lots of people don’t like TBBT because they think it’s dumbing down science and other geeky stuff to make dumb people feel smart (or something). I can see how there’s probably a crossover between people who don’t like dumb people feeling smart, and people who like XKCD. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777/3 "2012-04-24T04:47:28Z")
I chose neither are funny but that’s not really indicative of my true feelings. Neither are funny now but earlier in their runs, I enjoyed them. XKCD, especially, I got turned off when he started dipping back to the sex joke well over and over again. ---
**Author:** ![Baffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baffle)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777/4 "2012-04-24T05:18:02Z")
BBT tends to make the really obvious science-related jokes that have been told for years and years. The kind that real physics majors have heard a million times before and would groan at if they ever heard. XKCD isn’t perfect, and it seems to have dropped off a bit lately, but when it’s good, it’s really good, fresh, and original. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777/5 "2012-04-24T05:27:04Z")
Yoink. IMHO -\> Cafe Society. - Gukumatz, IMHO Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777/6 "2012-04-24T05:39:01Z")
Even though BBT throws in geek jokes, I still feel like it’s laughing at us and not with us. xkcd is a celebration of the geek life and moreover, it assumes the reader is already super nerdy whereas BBT is more ‘look at these nerds!’ ---
**Author:** ![wheresmymind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@wheresmymind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheresmymind)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777/7 "2012-04-24T05:42:40Z")
Only XKCD. I’m one of the people **Eliahna** ’s referring to (sort of). TBBT is a sitcom that features smart/nerdy characters. This doesn’t make it a “smart” comedy. Arrested Development never mentioned pi or Schrodinger’s Cat or the Uncertainty Principle, and despite being rather formulaic managed to be twenty times “smarter” than TBBT. Heck, My Name is Earl, even Home Improvement were better sitcoms than TBBT. ---
**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:** [April 24, 2012, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777/8 "2012-04-24T05:45:04Z")
XKCD isn’t always on but when it’s good, it’s great. I’ve never seen TBBT be good. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777/9 "2012-04-24T05:46:59Z")
I haven’t seen much BBT and have been thinking of starting a thread asking about it. But I’m lazy, so I figure I’ll ask here. The little I’ve seen reminded me of King of Queens, Everybody hearts Raymond, Will i Grace, Tool Time, that sort of thing–except with science geek stereotypes and references (which is what got me to pay attention in the first place). Exceedingly not my cup of tea (not that there’s anything wrong with that). Of course, come to think of it I’ve only seen a very few episodes of the other shows too, but again, not my thing. I was expecting/hoping for more of a Better Off Ted, Arrested Development or 30 Rock vibe from BBT, or a wit similar to the Office or P&R. Heck, even Scrubs seemed less sitcomish. All very different shows, of course, but hopefully the constellation will help get across the general categorical differences I’m using to pigeon-hole the shows. Actually, given Lem and Phil’s roles on Better Off Ted, maybe that \*is \*a good comparison. So I went with only XKCD. It’s not always on, but when it is, it can be fantastic. It also has a range–general humour, esoteric math/science quirks, a few philosophical perspectives, and some great eye candy (i.e. fine-tuned charts). Or should I give BBT a second chance? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777/10 "2012-04-24T05:51:33Z")
Both at least can be funny, but of the two only XKCD is _clever_. The comparison of _The Big Bang Theory_ to _Everybody Loves Raymond_ is a good one IMO. Both are/were very character-driven in their humor. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777/11 "2012-04-24T05:55:59Z")
I’ve only checked out BBT theory a few times, every time I did, the jokes were: nerds are socially awkward and can’t play sports. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 6:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777/12 "2012-04-24T06:03:53Z")
I’ll admit I haven’t watched BBT extensively, but when I did watch it everything seemed off. The timing, the laugh tracks. Even the jokes didn’t really feel nerdy, they felt like the kind of jokes that faux-nerds make. You know, like that one girl who only plays D&D or Magic: The Gathering as an excuse to meet nerdy boys even though she doesn’t really like it. Or that one guy whose entire gaming experience is Madden and tries to pass off the fact that he owns an Xbox as making him a nerd. (Not that these people aren’t necessarily nerdy in other ways, but a lot of them really aren’t). I don’t think that necessarily makes it **bad** , but I think it gives it a different (though obviously at least **somewhat** overlapping) audience from XKCD. That said, for me XKCD is a lot funnier, although XKCD has been in a rut for a long while now, with only the occasional funny, clever, or relevant strip. ETA: Though XKCD can, admittedly, drift into faux-nerd territory when Randall starts writing jokes about a field he really has no first hand knowledge of. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 7:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777/13 "2012-04-24T07:34:09Z")
I voted for “Only TBBT” but really I do laugh at XKCD. XKCD is often funny, yet often only funny in the same way Sheldon tries to be funny. Say, like making a joke about a math variable being in the wrong place, or mistaking an up quark for a down quark. ---
**Author:** ![SticksAndString](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@SticksAndString](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SticksAndString)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 10:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777/14 "2012-04-24T10:57:37Z")
I like both. I was recently introduced to BBT by a friend of mine and now I kind of like it. I don’t know whether it’s ever been stated officially that Sheldon is an Aspie, but it feels to me like he is one. And it’s done in a (IMO but I’m going to duck in case somebody throws a rotten tomato my way)way that feels familiarly spot on and not at all mocking. ---
**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:** [April 24, 2012, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777/15 "2012-04-24T11:00:58Z")
TBBT has a laugh track, and I’ve gotten so out of the habit of laugh tracks that when I watch a show with one, it’s really irritating, as though the show is elbowing me in the ribs and saying, “eh? eh? Funny, yeah?” I can’t even tell if the show’s funny, the laugh track dehilarifies it so. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777/16 "2012-04-24T11:04:21Z")
> [@Electric\_Warrior](#): > > Even though BBT throws in geek jokes, I still feel like it’s laughing at us and not with us. xkcd is a celebration of the geek life and moreover, it assumes the reader is already super nerdy whereas BBT is more ‘look at these nerds!’ This. I would also add that XKCD isn’t always supposed to be funny. Sometimes it can be very insightful and poignant. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777/17 "2012-04-24T11:41:47Z")
Sorry, I’m not one of the cool kids. I voted only TBBT. I have yet to find XKCD funny. Sometimes clever, never funny. I think Jim Parsons is brilliant in that role. Its not the writing its all him. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777/18 "2012-04-24T11:51:22Z")
I voted xkcd. A good friend of mine, chair of a math dept at a university reccommended BBT to me highly and lent me the first season. I just found it juvenile and pointless. Yes, they’re smart guys. But they’re really written stupidly. It’s the sort of entertainment that people who aren’t nerds seem to think would be funny. Feh. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777/19 "2012-04-24T11:59:53Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > XKCD, especially, I got turned off when he started dipping back to the sex joke well over and over again. Do you know who else dips back to the same sex joke over and over again?Hitler! ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777/20 "2012-04-24T12:03:59Z")
> [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > TBBT has a laugh track Does it? I was watching some bloopers in youtube and not only was there laughter, but occasionally, the actors would indicate (I thought) an audience and say “They laughed…” after blowing a line. Not that I care either way - I enjoy the show, or I have so far. Some of the bits are getting tired, and if they don’t get Raj talking to women or Sheldon being a tad more human, I’ll probably get bored and quit watching. But for now, it still makes me laugh. I like XKCD also, when it’s not too far over my head. I suspect I miss inside jokes on current fads that aren’t on my radar. Nothing I lose sleep over. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-is-funny-xkcd-or-the-big-bang-theory/619777.md?page=2)