TV: The Big Bang Theory fans!

DaveC426913

Right. My point being that, if you have to go back - what 40 years? - then a show that falls short of all-time classics is not doing badly at all. TBBT could be the best-acted show in a quarter of a century and still fall short of these comparisons.

Ivan Seeking

Oh yes, can't forget MTM.

jmason52

TBBT is the only show I watch that's not on the science or history channel.
Sadly, I really identify with Howard (its a good thing I enjoy brisket on Sundays with the family. lol). My favorite epsiode was when Howard snuck a date into the tracking room to let her drive the Mars (?) rover, and he got it irretrievably stuck. <hears> "I KNOW MA, BUT I WAS SURE IT WOULD WORK..."

NobodySpecial

Don't know how many of these played in America - and a few of them are a bit 'British' in their humor to travel well.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sitcom/winner.shtml
Only Fools and Horses (1981–2003)
Blackadder (1983–1989)
The Vicar of Dibley (1994–2007)
Dad's Army (1968–1977)
Fawlty Towers (1975–1979)
Yes Minister / Yes, Prime Minister
Porridge (1974–1977, 1978)
Open All Hours (1973, 1976–1985)
The Good Life (1975–1978)
One Foot in the Grave (1990–2000)



The big differences seem to be that UK sitcoms are generally written by a single writer or a pair rather than large teams and a lot of the actors appearing are world class stage or screen stars (presumably because given the UK film industry this is the onyl work they could get)

G01

This show has done wonders for my social life.

Now, when I go out to bars all the ladies say to themselves, "Wow! He's is nowhere near as geeky and social awkward as those physicists from that TV show! He's must be a real catch!!"

turbo

Want a funny sit-com with decent acting? Just watch anything starring Bob Newhart. Buttoned-down genius.

oddcitations

I feel Gilbert's acting really isn't that bad. From her original personality(which is that of a nice, interested person) and I think to pull off a snide, detached super-geek would be generally difficult, I mean, to deal with all the fast and long technical jargon. It's not like Twilight, Kristen Stewart's actual personality is dull, quiet, annoying and insanely awkward.

Yeah, Sheldon's mom never ceases to impress me.

Ivan Seeking

No doubt the script would challenge any actor at times. Jimmy was referring to this clip, which is one of the most poorly executed scenes. Sheldon was good, but Gilbert REALLY didn't pull it off.



On the other hand, when Penny had her moment in the nerd limelight - go to the 6:00 mark - I thought she managed it pretty well.

Kevin_Axion

I feel like such a nerd watching that show because the use of the scientific jargon is for comedic purposes but I know exactly what they're saying. So if Sheldon says something outrageous I'd sit there and think about it for a moment and then ultimately miss the punchline, anyways, it's an awesome show. The LQG vs String was classic and the writers are superb, they really do their research.

oddcitations

You do have a point there. Penny makes an amazing nerd. :\ I think it lies in the speed of her speech, coupled with a monotonous quality that makes it so, NERDY. Gilbert doesn't really have that, but, I still think she pulls of snide and apathetic very well. Yeah, Sheldon's pretty epic.

DaveC426913

For me, it's Penny's eyebrows - they're like a Golden Lab's. It's quite comical.

Ivan Seeking

She is good in that role. She was born for the role of Darlene, on Roseanne.

I love the banter between her and Sheldon.

Ivan Seeking

She also has this all-knowning smile that puts her above the intellectual fray. It would be easy for her character to seem stupid and out of place, but she usually maintains an air of superiority that makes her seem invulnerable.

Lorre and Prady had two different visions for a show. One concept was for the Penny character, and the other was for the nerds. Somehow they've managed to merge the two concepts successfully.

This is one obvious problem with the premise of the show. While we all know physicists aren't the most highly paid people in the world, there is no way a minimum wage waitress would be living in the same apartment as two post-docs at Cal Tech, esp not in Pasadena! She would be living in Van Nuys or some other low rent district.

For that matter, I defy anyone to find an apartment like Leonard's and Sheldon's, in Pasadena. At the least, a place like that would cost a fortune.

Mépris

I would be quite contended to live in an apartment of this kind when I'm their age. : D

Anyone else a little pissed as to why there was no new episode last week? I've had to make do with watching episodes from season two again, which then again, is not necessarily a bad thing!

"Leonard! 'Trouble' is my middle name! Actually...it's Lee but I prefer 'Trouble'!" (always cracks me up!)

Rajesh, when drunk, is boss.

On a related note, how quickly would you think Leonard was done with high school/university for he to have gotten his PhD at 24? Generally, most people would be done with a 3-4 year BSc by that time.

PhysDrew

Absolutely my favourite show on tv. It doesn't really have a big following in Australia from what I know, but it's catching. Sadly I'd say I'd relate more to Howard! Just not quite as smart as others nor as I would like to be! ("I have a masters degree you know.." "Who doesn't")

joelupchurch

In Leonard's family a PhD at 24 makes him an underachiever.

I don't understand why you think it would be so hard to get a PhD at 24. I got a BS at 21 and I didn't skip anything, it was just the way the calendar worked out. I knew people who graduated in three years instead four by taking summer courses. Going straight in to Master level courses and a Phd at 24 seems perfectly doable.

For that matter, I knew one guy who passed 6 AP exams and skipped his freshman year.

Ivan Seeking

Over the years my dentist and I have gotten to be buddies. The last time I was in I mentioned TBBT and asked if he watched. He had gone to Hawaii recently and reponded by saying that he had some pictures to show me from his trip. Ummmmmm....okay....

After we were done he broke out some photos of he and his family posing with Jim Parsons and Simon Helberg [Sheldon and Howard]. Parsons and Helberg were vacationing together and staying at the same hotel. My dentist and his family even had a chance to spend a little time them over the week. His kids are huge fans so it was big deal for them. He said both actors were extremely friendly, down to earth, and glad to spend a little time hanging out.

Pretty cool.

Helberg was there with his girlfriend and Parsons was with his significant other, so no gossip news here.