"The Big Bang Theory" Pilot Review
Fall TV Comedy About Theoretical Physicists is Anti-Intellectual Tripe
"The Big Bang Theory" may have been the worst sitcom I have ever watched. The show is about two theoretical physicists, Leonard and Sheldon, who have an attractive girl, Penny, move across the hall from them. Much of the humor, and by humor I mean points when the laugh track was inserted, comes from the social ineptitude of Leonard and Sheldon and their semi-obscure references to theoretical physics and nerd culture. I giggled once or twice, but didn't find it all that funny.
The actors aren't bad. Johnny Galecki plays Leonard the one who, of course, falls for the cute new neighbor Penny, played by Kaley Cuoco. Sheldon, played by Jim Parsons, is the roommate who isn't interested in Penny. Oh, and he is slightly more neurotic than Leonard. The actors pull off the characters believably, unfortunately the characters aren't likable. Leonard is awkward. Sheldon is awkward and far too neurotic to even be as charming as Leonard just barely is. Penny seems sweet, yet at the same time she seems to be taking advantage of her inept new neighbors.
The show strikes me as being anti-intellectual. I'm not trying to accuse the writers or producers of being anti-intellectual, but the tone of the show strikes me as being such. The smart guys are all completely socially inept, either being unable to talk to women or being so completely over the top as to making you grown and want to poke out your eardrums so you don't have to try and process the garbage just spewed. They reference such nerdy things as playing games like World of Warcraft, having no social interaction beyond internet chat and MySpace, Star Wars, and blogging. Because of course that is what makes a theoretical physicist. These men are presented as just being inept, cloistered nerds, who need someone to introduce them to the way the real world is. Now, I will gladly admit that this is not completely out of the realm of reality. It is somewhat representative of nerdy people, but it's not much more than a caricature for a cheap laugh. That works for short skits, but as the main characters of a sitcom they're just flat punchlines. It encourages a perception of scientists and other intellectuals as having no connection to the real world and perpetuates the nerdy victim of bullying stereotype.
For all my issues with the characters and the weak plot I could have accepted the show if it was funny, but it wasn't. The most entertaining thing that happened was the two main characters getting pantsed. There wasn't a single funny or even well-delivered joke during the entire episode. "The Big Bang Theory" isn't even salvageable from what I've seen and the best that could be hoped for is that it experiences a "Big Crunch" and just quietly disappears from the airwaves.
The actors aren't bad. Johnny Galecki plays Leonard the one who, of course, falls for the cute new neighbor Penny, played by Kaley Cuoco. Sheldon, played by Jim Parsons, is the roommate who isn't interested in Penny. Oh, and he is slightly more neurotic than Leonard. The actors pull off the characters believably, unfortunately the characters aren't likable. Leonard is awkward. Sheldon is awkward and far too neurotic to even be as charming as Leonard just barely is. Penny seems sweet, yet at the same time she seems to be taking advantage of her inept new neighbors.
The show strikes me as being anti-intellectual. I'm not trying to accuse the writers or producers of being anti-intellectual, but the tone of the show strikes me as being such. The smart guys are all completely socially inept, either being unable to talk to women or being so completely over the top as to making you grown and want to poke out your eardrums so you don't have to try and process the garbage just spewed. They reference such nerdy things as playing games like World of Warcraft, having no social interaction beyond internet chat and MySpace, Star Wars, and blogging. Because of course that is what makes a theoretical physicist. These men are presented as just being inept, cloistered nerds, who need someone to introduce them to the way the real world is. Now, I will gladly admit that this is not completely out of the realm of reality. It is somewhat representative of nerdy people, but it's not much more than a caricature for a cheap laugh. That works for short skits, but as the main characters of a sitcom they're just flat punchlines. It encourages a perception of scientists and other intellectuals as having no connection to the real world and perpetuates the nerdy victim of bullying stereotype.
For all my issues with the characters and the weak plot I could have accepted the show if it was funny, but it wasn't. The most entertaining thing that happened was the two main characters getting pantsed. There wasn't a single funny or even well-delivered joke during the entire episode. "The Big Bang Theory" isn't even salvageable from what I've seen and the best that could be hoped for is that it experiences a "Big Crunch" and just quietly disappears from the airwaves.
Published by Sean Mannion
I am a screenwriter and independent filmmaker living in Brooklyn, NY. I have a background in writing and technology. View profile
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13 Comments
Post a CommentThis update is added in order is to address a recent sophisticated yet simultaneously clumsy attempt to try to discredit the Theory of the Big Bang/Big Crunch Infinite Cycle of the Universe and to render confusion in a paper and book by Stephen Hawking crony, Robert Penrose, plus some political updating:
Materialist Analysis of Theoretical Astrophysics
The Capitalist Dictatorship Deliberately Falsifies Basic Science!
Stephen Hawking, Michio Kaku, Wendy Freedman, Dennis
Overbye, Nicholas Wade, Brian Greene, etc. Are Exposed as Liars!
Self-Described Neo-Creationists Hawking and Kaku Are
Leading a Takeover Attempt of Theoretical Astrophysics!
Today basic medicine, science including climatology, astrophysics and even both Einsteins Special Theory and General Theory of Relativity are brazenly and routinely falsified at the direction of genuinely Fascist elements for political/religious reasons. These scientifically fabricated and bizarre distortions are mixed in with some act
Respectfully, only Sheldon is a theoretical physicist. Leonard is an applied physicist. Sheldon is FOREVER harping on the fact that Leonard is a lesser form of being because he plays with lasers instead of attempting to come up with the universal equation that explains all life. And having dated a phsicist who was more into physics education than his theoretical physicist friends I'd have to say that the dynamic between Sheldon and Leonard bears out in real life.
That said I love BBT but it does have its off moments. The episode with the ball pit will go down in my all time fav tv moments.
cheesy, worn, and obvious jokes typical of a cbs comedy. if you enjoy comedy on cbs, please notice the social cues people give you when telling a joke at a social event. you are not a funny individual. As for the "comedian" please notice the reactions of your audience and move on to a more realistic career. It's Always Sunny, 30 Rock, The Office, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The League and a few episodes of Louie (non-exhaustive list) are shows that actually come at comedy from a unique angle without following the beaten sitcom path that big bang theory's awfulness stays firmly upon. for being a comedy about nerds, it's a show with obvious jokes written for people who enjoy having a laugh track tell them what they're supposed to be laughing at--a show made for idiots.
laugh*
You're all retarded. Coming from a comedian's point of view, this show is VERY funny. You need to have a very good sense of humor and know how to make people life in order to fully enjoy this.
You people are over-analyzing this show. It's damn awful, that's all there is to it; and for some reason it catches on for people who have to have jokes handed to them. The jokes in this show aren't funny because they're spoon fed. Not to mention the show's cheesy as hell.
Well how to u feel now Uncle Sean. The shows now a HUGE hit! Just proves that your intuition into reviewing shows is way off.
did u guys ever watch any of the later episodes? if u think this is the worst sitcom, u need to open your eyes.
Hmm... I also couldn't disagree more. I think it's cute, and while it does rely on sterotypes... it's sterotypes that many people can say, "Hey, I know that guy!" It's one of my favorite shows, mostly because you do have to be smart enough to "get" the jokes. TV Guide asked of the main character's ex girlfriend's defection to North Korea, "How is that funny?" Well, this show is for people that get how it's funny to want to defent to N.Korea to get away from a guy.
I basically agree with the review, except it's hardly the worst sitcom I've ever watched. I don't hate it, but am rather disappointed. Coming on the heels of Dharma and Greg, and Two and a Half Men, I had high expectations from Chuck Lorre Productions of another show I would love.
Instead, I find it mostly boring. It's just not funny to me, because in my line of work I know people who are like that and it's kinda painful to watch. The main characters just don't interest me. In reality, I would find them annoying to be around.
But hey, it's all subjective. If you like it, you like it, and shouldn't have to defend yourself to anyone.