The Big Bang Theory

[story]

i think thats much too oversensitive . The USA is a lot more multicultural than britian and taking the piss out of each others stereotypes in a non nasty manner is par for the course. WASP culture gets its fair share of digs as well .

Yer, this.

The first time I saw it I thought "Uh-oh..." (like the barely-disguised homophobia in Friends). But actually I think it's akin to the kind of normal joshing that happens between good friends who have different backgrounds and cultural heritages.

And they are pretty quick to pick each other up on stuff too. I think all of them have said "Dude, that's racist" (or something to that effect) at some point. And they have all had experience of bullying, they have all been victims of discrimination against nerdiness*. And they have all stood up for each other, or encouraged each other to do so.

ETA *And Penny and her boyfriends have been on the receiving end of sneery nastiness from the geeks about their perceived lack of cleverness.

 

[maomao]

The Raj jokes bother me more than the Howard jokes because Jewish people are so central to modern American culture that it's just banter. Without needing to research the writing team one of the main creators Chuck Lorre is rather famously Jewish. Howard is an American stereotype.

The Raj stuff can be a bit more ignorant but the character isn't portrayed as less able then the others (apart from the talking to girls thing and that's not Indian-specific) and regularly gets the upper hand over Sheldon so I don't see the problem. Is all humour based on ethnicity banned now?

I thought it was just another US shitcom when Mrs Maomao started watching it but am hooked now. Mrs Maomao has taken to calling me 'Sheldon' now as well. Maybe I should get all offended at the Aspergers stereotypes.

 

[Ted Striker]

Yer, this.

The first time I saw it I thought "Uh-oh..." (like the barely-disguised homophobia in Friends). But actually I think it's akin to the kind of normal joshing that happens between good friends who have different backgrounds and cultural heritages.

And they are pretty quick to pick each other up on stuff too. I think all of them have said "Dude, that's racist" (or something to that effect) at some point. And they have all had experience of bullying, they have all been victims of discrimination against nerdiness*. And they have all stood up for each other, or encouraged each other to do so.

ETA *And Penny and her boyfriends have been on the receiving end of sneery nastiness from the geeks about their perceived lack of cleverness.

^That does make it sound like a program entirely based around hate

Not sure I like it anymore...

 

[spring-peeper]

I thought it was just another US shitcom when Mrs Maomao started watching it but am hooked now. Mrs Maomao has taken to calling me 'Sheldon' now as well. Maybe I should get all offended at the Aspergers stereotypes.

My daughter calls her husband Sheldon, as well

We also use Penny's line of "you think you are explaining it, but you are not" on him when he starts in with his explanations.

 

[T & P]

I don't think the characterisation of Raj or Howard is that dodgy; not enough to find the show reprehensible or spoil my enjoyment of it anyway. Then again I've always liked that kind of humour/ banter. I think the character of Manuel in Fawlty Towers is fucking genius and I love it. Never met a fellow Spaniard who've watched the series and thought otherwise.

I wonder what some people make of clips like these, and how they see Family Guy as a result

 

[starfish]

It still makes me laugh, no matter how many times ive seen each episode.

 

[barney_pig]

Where did the series go?

 

[Casually Red]

Yer, this.

The first time I saw it I thought "Uh-oh..." (like the barely-disguised homophobia in Friends). But actually I think it's akin to the kind of normal joshing that happens between good friends who have different backgrounds and cultural heritages.

And they are pretty quick to pick each other up on stuff too. I think all of them have said "Dude, that's racist" (or something to that effect) at some point. And they have all had experience of bullying, they have all been victims of discrimination against nerdiness*. And they have all stood up for each other, or encouraged each other to do so.

ETA *And Penny and her boyfriends have been on the receiving end of sneery nastiness from the geeks about their perceived lack of cleverness.

the notion of hollywood tv executives promoting an anti semitic tv series is frankly about as plausible as an elderly Austrian man called Adolf running a successful pork butchers in Tel Aviv .

 

[Casually Red]

^That does make it sound like a program entirely based around hate

Not sure I like it anymore...

US culture isnt infused with that curious British mixture of colonial guilt infused with pious cultural marxism that loses the plot everytime issues like race are mentioned . It plainly isnt a series orientated around either religious or ethnic hatred, and anyone who thinks it is has lost the plot i reckon .

 

[pissflaps]

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

The Raj jokes bother me more than the Howard jokes because Jewish people are so central to modern American culture that it's just banter. Without needing to research the writing team one of the main creators Chuck Lorre is rather famously Jewish. Howard is an American stereotype.

The Raj stuff can be a bit more ignorant but the character isn't portrayed as less able then the others (apart from the talking to girls thing and that's not Indian-specific) and regularly gets the upper hand over Sheldon so I don't see the problem. Is all humour based on ethnicity banned now?

I thought it was just another US shitcom when Mrs Maomao started watching it but am hooked now. Mrs Maomao has taken to calling me 'Sheldon' now as well. Maybe I should get all offended at the Aspergers stereotypes.

I don't think Leonard or Sheldon get a free pass on their ethnicity. Sheldon's family is the very epitome of "white trash." They're casually racist and quick to throw the bible around. Leonard's mother is that brand of academic liberal who secretly look down on everyone else, but wouldn't be so crude as to say so. And talk about sexually repressed.....

 

[Idris2002]

I don't think Leonard or Sheldon get a free pass on their ethnicity. Sheldon's family is the very epitome of "white trash." They're casually racist and quick to throw the bible around. Leonard's mother is that brand of academic liberal who secretly look down on everyone else, but wouldn't be so crude as to say so. And talk about sexually repressed.....

You don't say.

 

[Casually Red]

I don't think Leonard or Sheldon get a free pass on their ethnicity. Sheldon's family is the very epitome of "white trash." They're casually racist and quick to throw the bible around. .

i was watching it the other week and sheldons mother was making dinner for them . She quietly approached Raj and told him she was cooking chicken, but wanted to make sure it wasnt an animal "his people thought was magic" before serving it to him . She was being really sensitive to his feelings .

Tea came out of my nose a little .

 

[Yuwipi Woman]

You don't say.

Perhaps I should have said "east-coast liberal." There's a bit of tension between both coasts and the middle of the country in the US. It's that I'm pointing out. You've never heard the phrase "fly-over country"?

 

[Idris2002]

Perhaps I should have said "east-coast liberal." There's a bit of tension between both coasts and the middle of the country in the US. It's that I'm pointing out. You've never heard the phrase "fly-over country"?

Actually, she reminds me of my cousin, who is so west-brit, Casually Red's head would explode, scanners-style, if he ever met her.

 

[Idris2002]

i was watching it the other week and sheldons mother was making dinner for them . She quietly approached Raj and told him she was cooking chicken, but wanted to make sure it wasnt an animal "his people thought was magic" before serving it to him . She was being really sensitive to his feelings .

Tea came out of my nose a little .

OK, that is funny I'll grant you.

I'd feel more comfortable with it if there was an Irish post-doc on the show who conducts his research while carrying a pig under one arm, and swigging from a bottle of whiskey, whiskey, whiskey you're the devil.

 

[Casually Red]

OK, that is funny I'll grant you.

I'd feel more comfortable with it if there was an Irish post-doc on the show who conducts his research while carrying a pig under one arm, and swigging from a bottle of whiskey, whiskey, whiskey you're the devil.

the other week sheldon was concocting an elaborate cover story that involved the little speccy fella going to an Irish bar, whereupon he had sexual relations with the red haired "fun loving and morally loose Ms. Maggie McGarry .Maggie spends her night tending bar with a head full of curls and a heart full of dreams." There was a faked phone message which used the term "Ill be back in a wee little minute" . And a supposed lock of the delightful Maggies hair . Which came from an orangutan.

 

[Casually Red]

Actually, she reminds me of my cousin, who is so west-brit, Casually Red's head would explode, scanners-style, if he ever met her.

or hers might

 

[Idris2002]

or hers might

She'd quote you her line about how the landlords should have stayed in Ireland after independence, becuase then they could have been leaders in the new state.

And you thought I was bad.

 

[Casually Red]

jayysus

 

[Idris2002]

jayysus

It´s one big Irish Times editorial meeting in our family.

 

[Casually Red]

It´s one big Irish Times editorial meeting in our family.

Ill light a candle for you , in the knowlege that will appall them .

 

[barney_pig]

For those whose will to live hasn't been completely exhausted by the capricious whims of channel 4 schedulers the new series of Big Bang theory begins again on e4 tonight

 

[gabi]

is this the one that finished in the US a couple of months ago? if so the whole season's up on piratebay.

 

[krtek a houby]

And there's a Star Wars episode due. Yay!

 

[moonsi til]

The new series started last Thursday.

 

[Ranu]

The season hasn't finished in the US, episode 20 (of 24) of season 7 airs tonight.

 

[barney_pig]

The new series started last Thursday.

Fucking e4

 

[Awesome Wells]

I watch this show a lot. There are some troubling attitudes on display though, i'm glad someone else brought up the attitudes shown towards Raj. Some of the lines toward him really are pushing the line - or maybe american sitcoms are getting more adventurous.

SPOILER! (just in case, not going through that nightmare again!)

The recent thanksgiving episode at chez Wolowitz featured a scene where Amy scolds drunk Sheldon. In response he apologises - and then, uncharacteristically of course, slaps her hard on the ass. She looks upset at first and then proceeds to walk through the room with an increasing smile on her face, because she wants Sheldon to be intimate with her and the joke being, presumably, that any physical contact is acceptable. This scene is delivered well, but troubling.

Or am I a prude? I think the show has lost some of its spark by making Sheldon less eccentric and more arrogant and Raj less humble.

 

[Awesome Wells]

For those whose will to live hasn't been completely exhausted by the capricious whims of channel 4 schedulers the new series of Big Bang theory begins again on e4 tonight

It's because they are closely following the equally capricious scheduling of the american networks who constantly take breaks.