Chuck Lorre's Big Bang Theory - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Cynthetiq · 03-20-2008, 08:41 PM

Does anyone here like to watch Big Bang Theory?

I find it quite funny and surprising how they do manage to get some very high level nerd/geek inside humor and seem to get it right and funny at the same time.

Watch just the first few minutes regarding them playing with an X10 sending the signal from their laptop around the world over a satellite down to a transatlantic cable to microwaves across the continent to turn on the lamp beside them.

What was also interesting was while I was trying to find the video online to watch on CBS.com. I couldn't find any of the first episodes pre-strike, but I remembered reading the vanity card of Chuck Lorre.

Quote:

CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #197
About a year ago I received a phone call from a mid-level CBS exec who began the conversation by saying he wanted to give me a head's up. Having been in this business a while I knew that "head's up" is code for, "we've decided to screw you, but didn't want you to hear about it from your agent... or urologist." In this case the head's up was that CBS was going to stream several episodes of Two and a Half Men on their web site. When I asked how they intended to pay the writers, actors and directors of those episodes, I was told that the streaming was considered "promotional," therefore no residuals would be forthcoming. (He didn't really use the word "forthcoming," I just think it's better story-telling if the bad guy is articulate.) I took a moment to let his words sink in, to let the moment play out, if you will. Then, for no reason whatsoever, I switched to a phony southern accent and asked, "Is there paid advertisin' on that ol' internet site you fellas are runnin'?" The exec was completely thrown off-balance by the utterly surreal quality of my good ol' boy act and blurted out, "Yes! I'm sorry! I know it's wrong, don't shoot me, I'm just the messenger!" (Actually, all he said was "yes," but once again I think good story-telling demands a panicked confession from the running dog of evil corporate bullies.) Anyhoo, this was the first time I knew a brutal strike was coming -- if you don't count the day, four and a half years ago, when I sat in Patric Verrone's backyard and listened to him lay out his plan to bring justice and fair play to show business.

A bonus is that the Barenaked Ladies sing the theme song.

Fremen · 03-21-2008, 12:47 AM

I love the show. I even spotted the guy that plays Sheldon in a gum commercial because I liked his character so much, and recognized him.

It's the commercial where the head of the gum manufacturer implores people to start on their second piece of gum.

Anyway, I missed the first part of that episode. Thanks for posting it, Cyn.

I liked the last part where the Chinese nerds are sitting at their laptop and the same thing happens to their lights. :-P

Atreides88 · 03-21-2008, 03:24 PM

I really like this show, just wish I had more time to watch it.

Martian · 03-21-2008, 03:33 PM

Unfortunately CBS is a highly patriotic corporation and therefore hates anyone who is not American. The upshot of this is that I'm unable to access their online streaming and because I rarely turn on my television for anything other than hockey games am therefore unable to watch the show. That's a shame, as it sounds like something I'd enjoy. Oh well. C'est la vie, as we hippie communist Canuckistani bastards say.

Atreides88 · 03-21-2008, 07:52 PM

Martian, here you go:

http://www12.alluc.org/alluc/tv-show...d=24704&from=B

Martian · 03-21-2008, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Atreides88

Martian, here you go:

http://www12.alluc.org/alluc/tv-show...d=24704&from=B

But, but...

Piracy is illegal! It would be immoral of me!

I'll start watching this weekend.

shoegirl · 03-22-2008, 04:32 AM

I absolutely love this show!!! If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.

Martian · 03-22-2008, 12:11 PM

I've watched the first couple of episodes. Thoughts:

The laugh track irritates me. Granted this is a beef with sitcoms in general and not just this one show. Nonetheless, if you feel that your audience needs a cue to know when to laugh, you must either think your audience consists entirely of drooling idiots or that your jokes aren't strong enough to stand on their own.

The characters are painfully one-dimensional. I'm willing to chalk this up to 'new show syndrome' and give the writers a chance to develop individual personalities for each character, but if it hasn't happened by the end of the first season it's probably not going to.

The show's premise itself seems somewhat limited. There's only so many 'nerds are socially inept' jokes you can do before it becomes stale.

I like that the writers aren't afraid to use nerd humour. I was partcularly amused by the comparison of the female lead's apartment with a fractal. I worry about the lifespan of the show, though; are physics and math jokes too obscure to be grasped by the wider audience? Will the writers continue with this type of humour at the risk of alienating a large percentage of the viewer base?

The interaction between the female lead and the male lead strikes me as formulaic. Once the writers run out of jokes to make about how awkward nerds are around girls they'll hook up (probably at the end of the second season, although they may be able to stretch it to the third; assuming, of course, the show lasts that long) which will lead to a reversal as the female lead finds herself lost within nerd culture. I do hope I'm proven wrong on this. I'd love to see a show where the main character doesn't get the highly attractive but slightly ditzy girl.

The show does seem to pigeonhole nerds. As much as I'd like to take issue with this, though, I'm not sure I can. I think anyone who's made the acquaintance of a few nerds probably realizes these portrayals, while slightly exaggerated, are essentially true-to-life.

The theme song is catchy. Bonus points to anyone who can explain the scientific inaccuracies of it to me.

Overall impression is favourable, but marginally so. I'd like it a lot better if they'd boot the laugh track and find a way to expand on the Friends-esque '90% of the action takes place in one apartment' feel of it.

03-21-2008, 12:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
Fremen With a mustache, the cool factor would be too much Location: left side of my couch, East Texas	I love the show. I even spotted the guy that plays Sheldon in a gum commercial because I liked his character so much, and recognized him. It's the commercial where the head of the gum manufacturer implores people to start on their second piece of gum. Anyway, I missed the first part of that episode. Thanks for posting it, Cyn. I liked the last part where the Chinese nerds are sitting at their laptop and the same thing happens to their lights. :-P __________________ Google

03-21-2008, 03:24 PM	#3 (permalink)
Atreides88 Insane Location: The South.	I really like this show, just wish I had more time to watch it. __________________ "There is no need to suppose that human beings differ very much one from another: but it is true that the ones who come out on top are the ones who have been trained in the hardest school." -- Thucydides

03-21-2008, 03:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	Unfortunately CBS is a highly patriotic corporation and therefore hates anyone who is not American. The upshot of this is that I'm unable to access their online streaming and because I rarely turn on my television for anything other than hockey games am therefore unable to watch the show. That's a shame, as it sounds like something I'd enjoy. Oh well. C'est la vie, as we hippie communist Canuckistani bastards say. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

03-21-2008, 07:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
Atreides88 Insane Location: The South.	Martian, here you go: http://www12.alluc.org/alluc/tv-show...d=24704&from=B __________________ "There is no need to suppose that human beings differ very much one from another: but it is true that the ones who come out on top are the ones who have been trained in the hardest school." -- Thucydides

03-22-2008, 12:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
Martian Young Crumudgeon Location: Canada	I've watched the first couple of episodes. Thoughts: The laugh track irritates me. Granted this is a beef with sitcoms in general and not just this one show. Nonetheless, if you feel that your audience needs a cue to know when to laugh, you must either think your audience consists entirely of drooling idiots or that your jokes aren't strong enough to stand on their own. The characters are painfully one-dimensional. I'm willing to chalk this up to 'new show syndrome' and give the writers a chance to develop individual personalities for each character, but if it hasn't happened by the end of the first season it's probably not going to. The show's premise itself seems somewhat limited. There's only so many 'nerds are socially inept' jokes you can do before it becomes stale. I like that the writers aren't afraid to use nerd humour. I was partcularly amused by the comparison of the female lead's apartment with a fractal. I worry about the lifespan of the show, though; are physics and math jokes too obscure to be grasped by the wider audience? Will the writers continue with this type of humour at the risk of alienating a large percentage of the viewer base? The interaction between the female lead and the male lead strikes me as formulaic. Once the writers run out of jokes to make about how awkward nerds are around girls they'll hook up (probably at the end of the second season, although they may be able to stretch it to the third; assuming, of course, the show lasts that long) which will lead to a reversal as the female lead finds herself lost within nerd culture. I do hope I'm proven wrong on this. I'd love to see a show where the main character doesn't get the highly attractive but slightly ditzy girl. The show does seem to pigeonhole nerds. As much as I'd like to take issue with this, though, I'm not sure I can. I think anyone who's made the acquaintance of a few nerds probably realizes these portrayals, while slightly exaggerated, are essentially true-to-life. The theme song is catchy. Bonus points to anyone who can explain the scientific inaccuracies of it to me. Overall impression is favourable, but marginally so. I'd like it a lot better if they'd boot the laugh track and find a way to expand on the Friends-esque '90% of the action takes place in one apartment' feel of it. __________________ I wake up in the morning more tired than before I slept I get through cryin' and I'm sadder than before I wept I get through thinkin' now, and the thoughts have left my head I get through speakin' and I can't remember, not a word that I said - Ben Harper, Show Me A Little Shame

03-22-2008, 04:32 AM	#7 (permalink)
shoegirl Addict Location: Ohio	I absolutely love this show!!! If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.