OT: Sens Lounge LXXVIII | The Big Bang Theory Is Objectively Terrible Edition

[Micklebot]

Just to re-iterate to Qward's point. It's neither fully recorded nor fully live. It's a mix of both.

I can understand why people don't like laugh tracks, however it does serve a purpose other than to tell you when to laugh.

The actors in comedies leave a pause in dialogue in order to make sure the audience is able to catch everything, and not miss out just like a public speaker might do for applause. If during a recording this is left void, it makes the scenes pacing seem odd, hence either a live studio is used or a laugh track.

Edit: not sure why I quoted you, oh well.

All that said, laugh tracks are abused, and certainly have been tweaked to exaggerate reactions. I prefer no laugh track myself, as I seldom find a comedy funny enough that I miss dialogue though.

 

[TonySoprano11]

Speaking as someone who currently has two D&D groups, four consoles, is in a rush to get home and play a new video game, bought two new comic books today, adores sci-fi and fantasy, and went to two cons this year, I can assure you that Big Bang Theory seems to be mocking that lifestyle (and the "socially awkward nerds" that adopt it) more than they are embracing it.

Clerks showed the less stereotypical side of it, which was great. But BBT seems to exaggerate that type of lifestyle to the point of near-parody.

They do take each stereotype to the extreme, but thats what makes it funny for me because we all know someone who is that extreme about certain nerd things.

Like waiting in line to go to the movies to see the Special Edition Directors Extended Cut that adds 28 seconds of never before seen footage, yet somehow changes the entire focus of the film. I actually know people who would say something like that as ridiculous as it is.

Or when they are all playing Halo or World of Warcraft together - they are exhibiting the most extreme cases of how people behave. Shouting, screaming, going wildly excited. Its not that most nerds do that, but we all know people who are like that and can say "yes, I know people who actually get that crazy playing WOW."

So yes, its very much a caricature of nerds but you should be able to laugh at yourself - even in caricature form.

 

[Caeldan]

They do take each stereotype to the extreme, but thats what makes it funny for me because we all know someone who is that extreme about certain nerd things.

Like waiting in line to go to the movies to see the Special Edition Directors Extended Cut that adds 28 seconds of never before seen footage, yet somehow changes the entire focus of the film. I actually know people who would say something like that as ridiculous as it is.

Or when they are all playing Halo or World of Warcraft together - they are exhibiting the most extreme cases of how people behave. Shouting, screaming, going wildly excited. Its not that most nerds do that, but we all know people who are like that and can say "yes, I know people who actually get that crazy playing WOW."

So yes, its very much a caricature of nerds but you should be able to laugh at yourself - even in caricature form.

Han shot first.

 

[CanadianHockey]

Not offended by BBT, but certainly don't find it great comically. It is far too reliant on one-dimensional characters and stereotypes. Worst of all, it is predictable.

 

[2CHAINZ]

Not offended by BBT, but certainly don't find it great comically. It is far too reliant on one-dimensional characters and stereotypes. Worst of all, it is predictable.

Why is this everyone's argument about it ? It is what it is I don't think a show like this is supposed to have some kind of dramatic character development. It's like people are tuning into BBT like it's supposed to be an epic HBO drama. The show is exactly what it is advertised as and supposed to be, I just hope it ends with Sheldon having coitus for the very first time. I do however get what you mean, for me it has become predictable and boring, but the first few seasons were money. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the characters develop the way they did and then it hit a wall and there was no more room to grow which tends to happen. Unfortunately the show built a huge following and now 3 of the actors are getting a million dollars an episode over the next 3 years I believe, which happens when you have a huge following on a huge network. It's just to bad the show is on the decline, I guess good thing there is no salary cap in Hollywood.

 

[Caeldan]

Why is this everyone's argument about it ? It is what it is I don't think a show like this is supposed to have some kind of dramatic character development. It's like people are tuning into BBT like it's supposed to be an epic HBO drama. The show is exactly what it is advertised as and supposed to be, I just hope it ends with Sheldon have coitus for the very first time. I do however get what you mean, for me it has become predictable and boring, but the first few seasons were money. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the characters develop the way they did and then it hit a wall and there was no more room to grow which tends to happen. Unfortunately the show built a huge following and now 3 of the actors are getting a million dollars an episode over the next 3 years I believe, which happens when you have a huge following on a huge network. It's just to bad the show is on the decline, I guess good thing there is no salary cap in Hollywood.

I thought he already had with Penny or something like that a few seasons back? I haven't regularly followed it since about the first or second season though.

 

[MainDotC]

Where's the sidebar tweet from HF talking about how many people are hating on the sidebar

 

[YouGotAStuGoing]

Why is this everyone's argument about it ? It is what it is I don't think a show like this is supposed to have some kind of dramatic character development. It's like people are tuning into BBT like it's supposed to be an epic HBO drama. The show is exactly what it is advertised as and supposed to be, I just hope it ends with Sheldon have coitus for the very first time. I do however get what you mean, for me it has become predictable and boring, but the first few seasons were money. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing the characters develop the way they did and then it hit a wall and there was no more room to grow which tends to happen. Unfortunately the show built a huge following and now 3 of the actors are getting a million dollars an episode over the next 3 years I believe, which happens when you have a huge following on a huge network. It's just to bad the show is on the decline, I guess good thing there is no salary cap in Hollywood.

It's not unreasonable to expect a sitcom to have character development. Look at Friends, Seinfeld, Malcolm in the Middle, Roseanne, Everybody Loves Raymond, 3rd Rock, MASH... Characters were stereotypes to a certain extent, sure, but they were more than that. Characters became caricatures of themselves over time, but they didn't start out nearly as caricaturized as BBT's characters did. Predictability tends to be more or less unavoidable the longer a show goes and the more of it you're exposed to, but letting BBT's one-dimensional character creation off the hook simply because it isn't a high-production mini-series is far too facile an argument and ignores many examples of why that doesn't have to be the case.

 

[McManked]

I have $1000.

I want a laptop. I want it to be 1920 x 1080. I want Bluetooth 4.0. I want HDMI ports. I want 8GB of memory.

Any advice/suggestions?

 

[YouGotAStuGoing]

I have $1000.

I want a laptop. I want it to be 1920 x 1080. I want Bluetooth 4.0. I want HDMI ports. I want 8GB of memory.

Any advice/suggestions?

Make sure you get a protective case. Possibly waterproof. For... incidents.

 

[McManked]

Make sure you get a protective case. Possibly waterproof. For... incidents.

Let's switch waterproof to liquid proof.

 

[HavlatMach9]

size of screen?

 

[DrakeAndJosh]

Re: 30 Rock sucking. You're wrong, it's brilliant.

And that's good to hear about Madden, I might pick it up now that I probably won't be getting nhl 15.

 

[Qward]

I like BBT. It is this decades Friends.

 

[McManked]

size of screen?

15 or 17, 13 if I need to.

 

[HavlatMach9]

i'd consider a lenovo or a dell on theri website that meets those criteria

 

[YouGotAStuGoing]

I like BBT. It is this decades Friends.

How I Met Your Mother is way more this decade's Friends than BBT could ever hope to be.

Spoilers below, do not read if you're not caught up on HIMYM and/or Friends.
[SPOIL]Group of friends hang around a drinking establishment in New York. An on-again-off-again relationship, a laughable goofball ladies man, a know-it-all geek who ends up teaching a profession he loves, a neurotic mother-like figure who's good at cooking, and a lovable goofball who has the best catch-phrases and one-liners.

And the mother could be likened to Phoebe in the sense that they're both quirky, off-beat, and enjoy playing music and odd stuff like pretending evolution is just a theory or that an English muffin is a tap-dancer. Plus, they both helped the know-it-all-geek end up with the girl in the end, either through questionable plane terminology or providing "closure."[/SPOIL]

Boom. Lawyered.

 

[DrakeAndJosh]

I like BBT. It is this decades Friends.

Not even a little bit. Friends at least had strong characters and decent enough writing that you cared about them.

 

[DrakeAndJosh]

How I Met Your Mother is way more this decade's Friends than BBT could ever hope to be.


Boom. Lawyered.

Ya I would agree with that. I felt that how i met your mother got pretty mediocre around half way through though, whereas friends was generally pretty consistent. The characters in HIMYM are also pretty terrible people other than Marshall.

 

[Cosmix]

When you break it down, artificial laugh tracks really are quite bizarre. Some guy in an editing studio is adding laughter from some random source, having to subjectively choose the exact amount of laughter gauged necessary for the magnitude of the joke.

Acting on a sitcom in front of a live audience, though, must be like acting in a live play but you're allowed to screw up. I think sometimes it really enhances a silly or hilarious scene. It definitely has its merits IMO.

Mrs. Brown's Boys is filmed live and is the better for it! Particularly when the camera crews get into the picture!

 

[YouGotAStuGoing]

Ya I would agree with that. I felt that how i met your mother got pretty mediocre around half way through though, whereas friends was generally pretty consistent. The characters in HIMYM are also pretty terrible people other than Marshall.

Agreed. The difference between the two is that...
[SPOIL]the will-they-won't-they between Rachel and Ross was strong and well-written enough to keep viewers interested. Whereas Ted and Robin became more of a "eh, **** or get off the pot" kind of situation. I think most people were watching for Barney and/or just because they'd sunk so much time into it by the end.[/SPOIL]

 

[Caeldan]

I like BBT. It is this decades Friends.

How I Met Your Mother is way more this decade's Friends than BBT could ever hope to be.

Spoilers below, do not read if you're not caught up on HIMYM and/or Friends.
[SPOIL]Group of friends hang around a drinking establishment in New York. An on-again-off-again relationship, a laughable goofball ladies man, a know-it-all geek who ends up teaching a profession he loves, a neurotic mother-like figure who's good at cooking, and a lovable goofball who has the best catch-phrases and one-liners.

And the mother could be likened to Phoebe in the sense that they're both quirky, off-beat, and enjoy playing music and odd stuff like pretending evolution is just a theory or that an English muffin is a tap-dancer. Plus, they both helped the know-it-all-geek end up with the girl in the end, either through questionable plane terminology or providing "closure."[/SPOIL]

Boom. Lawyered.

Not even a little bit. Friends at least had strong characters and decent enough writing that you cared about them.

I'd say HIMYM:Friends::BBT:Seinfeld

 

[Cosmix]

I have $1000.

I want a laptop. I want it to be 1920 x 1080. I want Bluetooth 4.0. I want HDMI ports. I want 8GB of memory.

Any advice/suggestions?

If you intend to haul it around every day, then get a light weight unit as the others are heavy and can bother your shoulder when carried in a case. I hauled one around for years and found it got to be a PITA. If you intend to use it at home the vast majority of the time then i would suggest a desktop. If you want to do both, buy one of each, if you can afford it. . My son bought an Apple Air because of the weight issue, plus his desire for a Mac.

I use an iPad Air and iPad Mini for use in my recliners while watching hockey. I have desktops for serious typing, spreadsheets, etc. i have a portable PC that I seldom use.

 

[DrakeAndJosh]

Agreed. The difference between the two is that...

Yep. I think the fact that we know the entire time that he won't end up with Robin kind of makes the whole on and off again thing pointless. Whereas with Ross and Rachel most people felt like they were meant to be together and even when they were broken up for multiple seasons it felt like they could get back together at any point.

I also never liked Ted and honestly didn't care how his life ended up. Just an absolutely terrible character. Not sure how such a successful show was centred around him.

I think I might be due for a Friends rewatch. Haven't seen it in a few years now but I still have all the DVDs.

I'd say HIMYM:Friends::BBT:Seinfeld

You're gonna offend a lot of seinfeld fans with that statement.

 

[Caeldan]

You're gonna offend a lot of seinfeld fans with that statement.

I think the similiarities in terms of cultural impact and character development(or lack thereof) are worth of making the equivalence.