Why is the Big Bang Theory so reviled, yet the IT Crowd is considered good?

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themustardman said:
Because The Big Bang theory is the modern day equivalent of a minstrel show about (EMPHASIS ON THE QUOTES) "Nerd Culture". The when the IT crowd makes jokes about "Nerd Culture" they aren't just saying big words about things that sound smart, usually they provide some insight into the concept itself. The video you linked is actually a perfect example of how the IT crowd is different. BBT would have made a joke about a real concept that is less complicated than they make it sound for lowest common denominator entertainment while this scene in the IT crowd is both ridiculous and inclusive.
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When people use minstrel show and blackface it is hard to take them seriously.
 
I'm not a big IT Crowd fan, but the scene in the OP is entirely different from anything BBT does because the premise is the nerds are making fun of a non-nerd's stupidity. All the "jokes" (really references, to be accurate) in BBT are just laughing at nerds for saying nerdy things.
 
"faaaaaaathhhhhhhherrrrrrrrrrr" best intro by a character ever, Douglas B^)

i have yet to see big bang top a moment like that, of the first episode of series 2, lol "willies willies i love willies", that guys face when he says it


"united queendom, he can't say that!"
 
I didn't really care for the IT Crowd, either.

The movie Office Space nailed the culture so perfectly I just feel like there isn't much more to be said.
 
The IT Crowd clip posted shows exactly the difference between it and the Big Bang Theory. It's a clip about a couple of guys messing around with someone. The jokes are funny because Jen doesn't understand something that the audience does understand. The jokes are at the expense of Jen for not understanding a simple concept like the internet, and the audience is on the side of Roy and Moss.

Whereas, BBT will have something like Penny walk into a room, one of the guy characters will say blah blah blah WORLD OF WARCRAFT GUILD, and the audience will laugh. The audience is on the side of Penny, laughing at the nerds for saying something the audience doesn't understand. Ignorance is the norm, and the audience laughs at those who know more.
 
faceless007 said:
I'm not a big IT Crowd fan, but the scene in the OP is entirely different from anything BBT does because the premise is the nerds are making fun of a non-nerd's stupidity. All the "jokes" (really references, to be accurate) in BBT are just laughing at nerds for saying nerdy things.
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Also, the context behind that IT Crowd scene in the OP is important. Jen was trying to work her way up in the company, and they were trying to bring her back down by setting her up to make a fool of herself in a presentation.
Which backfired on them hilariously. They expected everyone to laugh at her, but instead the audience marvelled at being in the presence of "the internet."
 
there was an ep of TBBT that actually made me upset.

they were all dressed up as Star Trek characters, and while taking photos in the desert they had their car stolen, and then later soda was thrown at them from a car going down the high way.

they walk into a diner and everyone stares at them.

they sit down at a table and one of them is like 'The real Star Fleet would take this as a mission, to make it to Comic Con no matter what.'

and Sheldon is like 'But were not Star Fleet, were just a bunch of nerds in fake hair and fake make up covered in real soda. i just want to get a ride and go home.'

and they all sit there super depressed and defeated.

i was watching it feeling like 'this is fucking depressing and now i feel like shit for being a nerd.'

most of the comedy is derived from picking apart the characters, but that was just sad.
 
It's all in the tone, I guess. Or something else I can't find the word to describe.

But it's basically the difference between someone inside a group making a joke about themselves, and someone outside of it making a joke about those in it. One seems funny and self-deprecating to those who are in the group, while the other seems mean or at best unfunnny.

Although, for the record, The Big Bang Theory is way overhated on GAF. I mean, it's not THAT bad. There are some pretty hilarious episodes. I've still never found any episode as funny as The IT Crowd, though.

Also, it seems like nearly every joke I hear on The Big Bang Theory is either "Hey, nerd reference lol!" or "Oh, a joke that's been said word for word on other sitcoms before."

The IT Crowd has lots of nerd jokes, but also ridiculously funny things that happen independent of the fact that they're nerds.


TheBryanJZX90 said:
The IT Crowd clip posted shows exactly the difference between it and the Big Bang Theory. It's a clip about a couple of guys messing around with someone. The jokes are funny because Jen doesn't understand something that the audience does understand. The jokes are at the expense of Jen for not understanding a simple concept like the internet, and the audience is on the side of Roy and Moss.

Whereas, BBT will have something like Penny walk into a room, one of the guy characters will say blah blah blah WORLD OF WARCRAFT GUILD, and the audience will laugh. The audience is on the side of Penny, laughing at the nerds for saying something the audience doesn't understand. Ignorance is the norm, and the audience laughs at those who know more.
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This is a better explanation of what I was trying to say.

Also, Denholm Reynholm and Richard are wayyyy funnier than the main two guys.
Finally, the Countdown episode is the best.
 
A lot of the posts in this thread lead me to believe most of you either don't understand The Big Bang Theory or haven't actually watched it enough. The show isn't about making fun of nerds, and it's not a show to appease to nerds. That's not the show's target audience. It's the same as every other sitcom, except the characters in the show have an INTEREST in the nerd culture. It's an embellishment and a theme, not a focus. The show is about goofy/awkward characters getting into goofy/awkward situations, which is why the show is funny. It's ridiculous. Try actually watching the show before bashing on it.

Disclaimer: I realize there are some people who genuinely dislike the show, but this applies to the people who don't know what the hell they're talking about.
 
iammeiam said:
I stopped watching the IT Crowd after the scene with the girl walking down the street in shoes that completely didn't fit (Because, getit, women looooooooove shoes) while the laugh track went absolutely apeshit.

I think I initially gave up on TBBT during the opening of the pilot, when they went home from a sperm bank to watch Battlestar Galactica Commentaries (because, getit, nerds loooooooooove their nerd bonus features about nerdy shows!) I did later go back and give it a few more shots, since it's so popular, but meh.

So I guess IT Crowd is better to me because it took me longer to give up?
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The shoes episode (i think its from season 1) is probably the lowest point in IT Crowd for me. I cringed a lot during that episode. Think the rest of it is pretty entertaining though. Great characters and writing, which is where BBT fails.
I also agree with you that I gave up BBT with the pilot, and found it equally as unappealing on subsequent rewatches (even on this latest season which people have told me is supposed to be better than usual)
 
Lijik said:
The shoes episode (i think its from season 1) is probably the lowest point in IT Crowd for me. I cringed a lot during that episode. Think the rest of it is pretty entertaining though. Great characters and writing, which is where BBT fails.
I also agree with you that I gave up BBT with the pilot, and found it equally as unappealing on subsequent rewatches (even on this latest season which people have told me is supposed to be better than usual)
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That's really weird. That episode is probably my favorite; between the Japanese ambassadors and the fire scene at the end.
 
Ah, well, prepare to put mustard on those words, for you will soon be consuming them along with this slice of humble pie that comes direct from the oven of shame set at gas mark 'egg on your face'!
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I don't know, I haven't given BBT a chance, but I did enjoy the IT crowd.

Of the few scenes of BBT I have seen, I will say it is a perspective thing. Maybe also akin to Family Guy, a reference does not make a joke. And who is the joke for, or aimed at.

Also, satire.
 
i_am_ben said:
seems like a lot of you can't laugh at yourselves.
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Fh3ro.gif
 
BigEvilTurtle said:
A lot of the posts in this thread lead me to believe most of you either don't understand The Big Bang Theory or haven't actually watched it enough. The show isn't about making fun of nerds, and it's not a show to appease to nerds. That's not the show's target audience. It's the same as every other sitcom, except the characters in the show have an INTEREST in the nerd culture. It's an embellishment and a theme, not a focus. The show is about goofy/awkward characters getting into goofy/awkward situations, which is why the show is funny. It's ridiculous. Try actually watching the show before bashing on it.

Disclaimer: I realize there are some people who genuinely dislike the show, but this applies to the people who don't know what the hell they're talking about.
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That's the problem, though. Since nerd's aren't the target audience, a lot of the "humor" is based around the idea that the real target audience doesn't get that stuff and thus the joke is simply "hahaha look at the things those crazy idiots like, that is so stupid, isn't it?"

Going to that D&D example mentioned before, Big Bang Theory expects you to laugh at the simple fact that a character plays D&D, while a show like Community expects you to laugh at the silly things that happen while its characters play D&D. There's a world of difference between the two scenarios, and one of them is incredibly mean spirited about it.
 
I think I've seen this thread before a few months ago.

Big Bang isn't the worst sitcom out there. It has some parts that I giggle quite a bit at. I just dislike it because the "nerd" characters are almost inhuman with the exception of wanting to bang girls (Sheldon is excluded, because he is... something else). 95% of their world and conversation is science fiction and science. Most of the jokes just feel like they are repeats. That annoys me.

IT Crowd just goes more silly and ridiculous. They don't just talk about science fiction. They go off about a bunch of different directions. It just feels more silly and less reliant on shallow "nerd" humor. It has a good use of absurdity.

Then again, two entirely different shows. I'm just glad they didn't successfully Americanize the IT crowd. I watched the pilot episode. It was soulless.
 
Nairume said:
That's the problem, though. Since nerd's aren't the target audience, a lot of the "humor" is based around the idea that the real target audience doesn't get that stuff and thus the joke is simply "hahaha look at the things those crazy idiots like, that is so stupid, isn't it?"

Going to that D&D example mentioned before, Big Bang Theory expects you to laugh at the simple fact that a character plays D&D, while a show like Community expects you to laugh at the silly things that happen while its characters play D&D. There's a world of difference between the two scenarios, and one of them is incredibly mean spirited about it.
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That simply isn't true, though. If you actually watched the show, this "humor" you're referring to rarely even happens. Especially not in the recent seasons. The show focuses more on the wacky situations the characters get into, or the development of the characters, or the incredibly inappropriate yet funny things they say. It's literally the same jokes made in other sitcoms except sometimes under a geek theme. Perhaps a lot of people hate the show because they don't give a damn to get to know the characters and focus on when the fucking laugh track plays.
 
I will admit I haven't always given BBT a fair shake mostly due to me walking in and hating what I see but the reviews of it definitely show depth to the show like Sheldon secretly has Asbergers which explains a ton.

The IT Crowd actually layers it's humor and is overall a better written show. It also helps it is only 20 something episodes. A personal favorite episode of mine was Gay! The Musical. More often then not it was funny because the characters bounced off each other well and they all had outlandish personalities. The laugh track also came in at the right time, at the end of a joke which is something BBT often screws up.
 
RiggenBlaque said:
I've always wondered why lots of people hate the Big Bang Theory for its terrible, pandering, unfunny, multi-camera format while the same people praise the IT Crowd, which, largely, has the same elements. Oh, look, that character said something really nerdy! Hey look, that character is clearly autistic! This is such quality television!

What is it that sets The IT Crowd apart from The Big Bang Theory in people's minds? Is it the British/Irish accents? They both have terrible laugh tracks, they're both pandering to the same crowd, they both have terrible, obvious jokes.

Just watch this scene from the IT Crowd and tell me how this show is any different.

The IT Crowd is the Big Bang Theory of British television.
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You have a crush on the blonde, don't you?

She annoys me, plus I feel like BBT is trying way too hard. I watched half of the first season and just annoyed about the main character whining over the girl next door and the guy roommate just being over the top (again trying too hard).

Another thing, I don't know any IT folk that like BBT, but most IT folk I know suggested ITC to me. So there is that for me. But hey OP your opinion is your opinion, I think you were asking our opinion too?
 
I think for certain people to 'get' it Crowd, you'd have to see Father Ted first. The kind of loopy unnatural humor is perfected there, and this is another Lineham joint that feels like a successor, I really like Father Ted much more though.
 
Dibbz said:
IT Crowd

Big Bang Theory

One of them makes jokes about geek culture that most people can relate to, the other laughs at characters for just being a geek.

IT Crowd isn't perfect but it's light years ahead of BBT.
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I don't watch either show so my opinion is moot but I must have seen that exact same Big Bang Theory clip several times whenever someone bashes the show, at least be original guys.
 
RiggenBlaque said:
The IT Crowd has the exact same sort of "haha these nerds, look how nerdy they are" sort of jokes. Every joke that involves Moss or Roy either plays off their inability to handle things like normal adults, their complete supremacy over normal peoples' intellects or their general sperginess
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Pretty much. I like both shows, but there's a lot of hypocrisy coming from people when they ignore the things that they complain about tbbt when it's done in IT crowd.

IT's laugh track is often worse than TBBT.
 
I guess more people can related to TBBT then the IT Crowd.
I watch both TV shows and enjoy both of them as much. Probably cause I work in IT and I can relate.
 
iammeiam said:
I think I initially gave up on TBBT during the opening of the pilot, when they went home from a sperm bank to watch Battlestar Galactica Commentaries (because, getit, nerds loooooooooove their nerd bonus features about nerdy shows!) I did later go back and give it a few more shots, since it's so popular, but meh.
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That's not the real pilot.
 
Dibbz said:
IT Crowd

Big Bang Theory

One of them makes jokes about geek culture that most people can relate to, the other laughs at characters for just being a geek.

IT Crowd isn't perfect but it's light years ahead of BBT.
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"My new computer came with Windows 7"

*Cue laugh track*

What the fuck? Where was the joke in that? What the what the fuck? It's like BBT is the TV equivalent of that idiot that laughs before you get to the funny part of a story.

Bonus: Youtube "big bang theory without laugh track" to acquire an undying rage for anyone who's ever enjoyed that show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASZ8Hks4gko

It's actually incredibly funny but not at all in the way they intended.
 
Big Bang Theory is super popular. IT Crowd is the cool, lesser known show. In other words, the internet must HATE the popular thing.

Both shows are funny, and both have the same issues.
 
Zoe said:
That's not the real pilot.
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It's the first episode aired, and I went to check to make sure I didn't imagine the whole thing and this Bing Bang Theory wiki lists it as the pilot, complete with opening in a sperm bank. So it's what was released to the public as the pilot. I actually remember turning it off pretty clearly, because it premiered the same night Chuck did and the contrast in the handling of nerds was interesting.
 
IT Crowd jokes made at the expense of Roy and Moss's inability to interact with normal people are usually so absurd and over the top, or borne out of ridiculous situations out of their control, that they never feel mean spirited.
 
Burt said:
"My new computer came with Windows 7"

*Cue laugh track*

What the fuck? Where was the joke in that? What the what the fuck? It's like BBT is the TV equivalent of that idiot that laughs before you get to the funny part of a story.

Bonus: Youtube "big bang theory without laugh track" to acquire an undying rage for anyone who's ever enjoyed that show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ASZ8Hks4gko

It's actually incredibly funny but not at all in the way they intended.
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Well now to be slightly off topic, but I wish someone could fully edit out the laugh track from News Radio.. It was just following that 90's trend of laugh tracks... sigh.
 
iammeiam said:
It's the first episode aired, and I went to check to make sure I didn't imagine the whole thing and this Bing Bang Theory wiki lists it as the pilot, complete with opening in a sperm bank. So it's what was released to the public as the pilot. I actually remember turning it off pretty clearly, because it premiered the same night Chuck did and the contrast in the handling of nerds was interesting.
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Sorry, I mistook your description for the unaired pilot. The sperm bank parts were taken out of syndication because it doesn't work with the st of the series.
 
I think I have issues with British television aside from all the BBC nature shows and Sherlock...

I don't know what it is specifically, but I'm not really a picky person and yet I can't get into anything popular in my interest range. Dr. Who, IT Crowd, and the original Primeval (despite enjoying the Canadian remake) do nothing for me. It's strange.
 
Stasis said:
I think I have issues with British television aside from all the BBC nature shows and Sherlock...

I don't know what it is specifically, but I'm not really a picky person and yet I can't get into anything popular in my interest range. Dr. Who, IT Crowd, and the original Primeval (despite enjoying the Canadian remake) do nothing for me. It's strange.
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watch Fawlty Towers
 
PhoncipleBone said:
Big Bang Theory is super popular. IT Crowd is the cool, lesser known show. In other words, the internet must HATE the popular thing.

Both shows are funny, and both have the same issues.
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I've watched both, and not a single smile was cracked while watching the BBT, while the IT Crowd was hilarious.
 
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