The Big Bang Theory

    

    My review is about Emmy Award winning sitcom The Big Bang Theory. Maureen Ryan gives this series a disappointing 20 overall rating for its first season. http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2007/09/im-not-sure-wha.html I suppose his main issues with the TV show is that the main characters are being ridiculed too much, the jokes are not funny, and there are far too many geek stereotypes, (whatever that means).

     I do not quite understand how he can argue that the characters are being made fun of too much when A.) It’s a comedy show and B.) They are making fun of their selves. Honestly, the purpose of a comedy show is to be funny. Ridiculing other people is one of the best methods of comedic relief. How is making fun of the main characters a problem? There is no one else to make fun of in the first season anyways because the audience has to get to know the main characters before the director starts to introduce supporting characters. And how many supporting characters can you actually have in a 30 minute sitcom? You only have so much time for one episode that is going to be shown once a week. Think about that. Also think about, if there isn’t much room for other characters in the first season, who else is going to ridicule the main characters in the show besides themselves! It’s not like the producer is making fun of them or the camera man, it’s the people actually in the show.

     Mr. Ryan also said that the jokes that the big bang theory say are not that amusing. This is strictly an opinion and is subject to one’s perspective on what is and is not funny. But more specifically he says that their jokes are overused and worn out throughout the season. I quite frankly do not know what he is talking about because he fails to present his audience with an example or any kind of proof for his premise. That shows how much Ethos he has.

     Then last, but not least, he says that the show makes too many geek stereotypes. He argues that there are “references to Stephen Hawking, all manner of mathematics and Darth Vader shampoo.” He also refers to their use of online gaming jargon. First of all, stereotypes are funny because they are true. It’s just some are more appropriate to joke about than others. These geek stereotypes are appropriate because nobody is throwing their hands up and complaining about the jokes that are made on this sitcom. If a group of people were sensitive to these jokes then I am sure the producers would take that into consideration or else the show would get cancelled. Geeks are usually very smart people, at least that is how they are portrayed as in the show, and smart people admire other smart people and their accomplishments. So why wouldn’t they admire Stephen Hawking. Geeks go to Comic-Con and enjoy Science Fiction. So why wouldn’t they like Star Wars and Darth Vader. 

     The stereotypes are not what make the show funny. The writing from the producers and the humor from the cast who portray these stereotypes are what make the show funny. Plus, if the show is about geeks and the everyday life of a group of geeks, it would be kind of misguided to stereotype another group of people, wouldn’t it?