"The Big Bang Theory"

[Elok]

No, not the actual theory, but some sitcom coming out on CBS. Its main characters are a bunch of physicists or physics students or something, and the comedy apparently revolves around PHYSICS GEEKS ARE NO GOOD WITH GIRLS LOL ROTFLMAO!!!!1!

Judging from the previews, it's the sort of show I'd watch only at gunpoint, so I'm not asking who thinks it looks good. I'm just wondering how the actual physics enthusiasts on Poly (again I wish KH were still here) react to this...thing. Irritation, indifference, or is it somehow flattering?

[Lorizael]

I imagine that if the science spoken by the socially inept geeks is actually good science and not just technobabble, then this comedy might be amusing for actual geeks who could appreciate it.

But I don't see that being the case.

[Jon Miller]

Indifference?

I would be pleasently surprised if it would help the general populace recognize what physics is... but I would not expect that.

JM

[Impaler[WrG]]

Sounds to me that this will be more anti-intellectual and geek stereotyping as Elok describes. It will probably going to be another ugly duckling story that 'claims' to be uplifting, egalitarian and non-judgmental while all the time saying the exact opposite with its true message.

The moral of the Ugly Duckling story is ' Don't discount Ugly people because they could become beautiful in the future' which is really just saying that beauty is all that really matters in the world and everyones value is determined by having it or having the potential for it. And thus everyone who is ugly should seek happiness by trying to be beautiful, the beautiful people should feel superior but be more strategic in who they act stuck up too so as not to make potential enemies.

Just substitute 'geeky/nerdy' for ugly and 'popular' for beautiful and you have an account of much of the pop-culture of the last twenty years. All and all a very morally shallow tale that goes a long way towards explaining the Anti-Intellectualism so pervasive in our society.

RantOff

[Lorizael]

Well, geeks get let the last laugh anyways.

Who invented the televisions, dvds, computers, ipods, etc. by which the millions of non-geeks out there will watch their shallow, geek-stereotyping television show?

[Proteus_MST]

Channel 4 made a very good computer geek comedy series named "The IT Crowd". (Yes, funny also for computer geeks, others might not even get the special type of humor involved in the series )

If the series on CBS will be something along this line, just with physicists, it might get very funny

[Jon Miller]

Physicists are really very silly people. I don't know if they will capture that though.

JM

[Japher]

I'm writing The Jon Miller Experience, based wholly on the experiences of Jon Miller, it'll be hilarious. Sadly, however, my computer hard drive crashed and I lost msot of it. Luckily it's all logged at CG.

[Jon Miller]

Well, some of us also do stupid things.

JM

[Japher]

I think we all do.

Only physicists and other high minded people generally do stupid things because their minds are to wrapped up with other thoughts.

And, to us lowly wage earners, that is funny.

[DinoDoc]

Aren't you a little peeved though Jon that the Math majors get the cooler show (Numbers) dedicated to them?

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Impaler[WrG]
The moral of the Ugly Duckling story is ...

that you missed the point of the story. It's to illustrate the point that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
Aren't you a little peeved though Jon that the Math majors get the cooler show (Numbers) dedicated to them?

Not really. I didn't know what Big Bang Theory was... and I don't know what Numbers is.

If Physicists suddenly become hot stuff I want to know though!

JM

[Elok]

Originally posted by DinoDoc
that you missed the point of the story. It's to illustrate the point that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover.

Actually, his assessment sounds closer. It's ultimately about physical appearances, whether now or later, in that story. If the ugly duckling stayed ugly but gained approval through his exceptional swimming abilities or something, your moral might apply. His is a bit harsh, though, IMO. I always thought of it as just a comfort for ugly people that they might be "late bloomers," not some cynical work-the-system parable.

[Zkribbler]

Re: "The Big Bang Theory"

Originally posted by Elok
No, not the actual theory, but some sitcom coming out on CBS.

I guess the title Beauty and the Geek was already taken.

Does anyone watch network shows anymore?? I know I don't.