Review: Big Bang Theory (new TV show)

[yesthattom]

I watched a sneak-peak for “Big Bang Theory”. It broadcasts this week. The plot is that two über-nerds, physics PhD male students collide with a beautiful young girl who isn’t super smart. Sort of Revenge of The Nerds meets Beauty and the Beast.

The jokes were horrible stereotypes of geekiness. Trite, shallow: Geeks are celibate, can’t get laid but want to; beautiful women aren’t smart, are always romantic, and tease men without realizing it but otherwise don’t want sex. Ha ha ha. How original... NOT.

However, for some reason I absolutely loved the show!

I think it was because the dialog was so good. The nerds talk in analogies and references to über-geeky things. It’s obvious they have some real PhDs (or maybe grad-school drop-outs) on the writing staff. It’s excellent. Listening to them talk was like solving puzzle after puzzle... always trying to figure out the reference or scientific principle they’re analogizing in time for the next one. As a geek, it feels good to surf these mental challenges one after the next; sort of like the good feeling one gets by yelling out the correct response before the contestant on Jeopardy.

It might get old fast. Successful shows that started this way quickly reveal a much deeper show after a few episodes. Remember that Ally McBeal was promoted as a show with funny video effects, but after the first episode dug in and produced some compelling plots with minimal video effect gimmicks (and the ones that did stick around were key to the plot; rarely gratuitous)

Comments

[naudia.livejournal.com]

Sounds like something to give a sniff or two, which is to say check out. Tivo is wonderful for these possibly great, but usually short running shows. The public can't handle smart. May I inquire as to the network?

Oh.. HUGS! Terribly sorry to have missed your BBQ! I know it was a while back, and Tori passed the mesage, but it would have been good to chat :)

[yesthattom.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can't remember life before Tivo (yes I can... I'm in a hotel right now for a week and have to watch whatever crap is on when I'm free to watch TV. ugh)

We missed you at the BBQ. We'll have to have another one so you can attend :)

[naudia.livejournal.com]

LOL Porn not enough for you? Or is that stuff pay per view..Can't remember. Now, someone having a BBQ, just so I could come...I don't know, I just don't see it ;) I don't even know if the weather is predictable enough to have any more this year :-( If you must be in a hotel, here's hoping your bed is soft, the air is clean, and they have a pool :)

[awfief.livejournal.com]

Ally McBeal was a wonderful show about how neurotic women could be. I watched it from the first episode, and loved it. That combination of "I'm smart, dammit, and don't *need* a man, but want one, and holy cow I'm crazy!" really appealed to me.

The dancing baby thing happened early on in the first season, sadly. I think it drew the show towards more of the craziness and less of the reality that I could relate to.

Then again, I watched 90210 from the first season, where every episode dealt with an issue and had a moral.