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

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Better writing, much funnier actors. Jesus Ayolade and Berry alone are funnier than anyone in any American sitcom. It's not genius but it's a fun little Britcom.

IT crowd uses the nerd thing merely as a setting, BBT it is supposed to be the whole joke. And has no likeable characters.
 
zoku88 said:
I think people who don't like Big Bang Theory and like IT Crowd feel like Big Bang Theory is making fun of geeks/nerds (thus laughing at them) while the IT Crowd is more of a laughing with them, kinda thing.
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That's why it's so popular in America.
 
Both shows were decently amusing for a couple of seasons before things got dire.

They were never the pinnacle of comedy, and have generally played things a little too safe, but there were some decent laughs to be had for a while there.
 
People's views on BBT are so outdated.

Just take "Bazinga" for example. Haters make it seem like the show revolves around the use of the word, yet it's only used like 1-2 times per season. It was used multiple times in one episode, and that was because Howard was having a nightmare about Sheldon.

The jokes are already more about the situation the characters are in rather than "nerds being nerds" spouting random science jargon. It's still there, but nowhere near as focused as it used to.

It's really just haters gonna hate now. Any attempt they do to watch the show, they will do it with a mindset of "this will suck" then proceed to tell as many people as they can that it sucks. Online, haters are even more vocal than the fans nowadays.

I don't get one guy here. If BBT had a character that would make you want to punch him IRL if you met him, isn't that a sign that the actor actually did an excellent portrayal of the character? He made it so believable that you really wanted to punch him?
 
With IT Crowd you can feel the artistry. With Big Bang you can see the process. I prefer the art, they put thought into their humor instead of using comedy logic. If that make sense.
 
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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The problem you have is believing that acting like an idiot, being socially awkward, and doing inappropriate things is some sort of unique trait to computer geeks. Look at the classics like Frank Spencer, Basil Fawlty, Father Ted ... endearing characters that have a range of foibles but are wholly loved.

Personally I think IT Crowd does a great job of showing people who have been stigmatised as well-rounded amusing people who just go through similar situations we all do.
 
Akahige said:
Fawlty Towers did it right, only 12 episodes and it's remembered as one of the best sitcoms of all time
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Except season 3 and 4 of IT Crowd have the best episodes.
 
For a whiny, lactose intolerant, annoying dweeb, Leonard sure gets to tap plenty of fine ass.

IT Crowd. Season 1, Episode 4. The Red Door. When they introduce Richmond. Fucking legendary.
Also the episode in Season 2 with the dinner party.
 
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!
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Is it wrong that when I read this sentence in my head it was in Chris O'Dowd's Roy voice?
 
BigEvilTurtle said:
It's the same as every other sitcom, except the characters in the show have an INTEREST in the nerd culture.
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BigEvilTurtle said:
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.
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agree with bolded, and a good enough reason to dislike it for me.
 
Someone on the show: "Hey Sheldon, what are you doing?"

Sheldon looks up from his laptop

Audience starts laughing.

Sheldon: "Playing Mario 64"

Audience bursts into hysterical laughter.

Sheldon: "On a poorly coded emulator."

Audience pisses itself in laughter, doctors are rushed in to save audience members who are laughing so hard they can't breathe.



And this is why I don't watch that stupid piece of shit show.
 
How can a show that has gone on for six seasons and scheduled to run for an additional two more seasons, be that reviled? Surely the reason for extending the show is due to its popularity?

I mean, every show has its number of fans and detractors, but it seems that The Big Bang Theory has more of the former and less of the latter, otherwise it'd be canned by now.
 
i_am_ben said:
Some Gaffers think the Big Bang Theory is nerd blackface.
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this is the perfect description of why a lot of people hate the big bang theory.

I think both shows are crap because I work in IT. IT is just profoundly unfunny.
 
I never actually understood the love for the IT Crowd. I had a lot of friends who were raving about it at the time, but it always seemed a little forced for my tastes.

I have a similarly hard time despising BBT. It's just sort of there, and while not exactly my cup of tea it doesn't annoy me too much if I'm forced to watch it. If it was relatively unknown, it wouldn't attract nearly the same level of ire.

For bonus points, the best comedy show is The Thick Of It.
 
Ah, the monthly BBT sucks thread. Let's wait until someone posts the video where the laughter is cut out or the Window joke from Sheldon, because those are basicly the only arguments that are used.
Last season of BBT is amazing by the way, one of the best so far.
I only saw 4 or 5 episodes of the IT crowd, it's funny, but i don't really like the characters that much.
 
Arjen said:
Ah, the monthly BBT sucks thread. Let's wait until someone posts the video where the laughter is cut out or the Window joke from Sheldon, because those are basicly the only arguments that are used.
Last season of BBT is amazing by the way, one of the best so far.
I only saw 4 or 5 episodes of the IT crowd, it's funny, but i don't really like the characters that much.
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Too late; already posted. See also references to the Mario 64 emulator joke, and the arguments that it's somehow nerd blackface (I still don't get this. Do some people really take their "nerdism" so seriously that they cannot stand to have anyone poke fun at it without throwing an immense fit?) Also how it's so objectively unfunny that no one with reasonable taste could find it funny, despite its immense popularity.
 
meijiko said:
nerd blackface (I still don't get this. Do some people really take their "nerdism" so seriously that they cannot stand to have anyone poke fun at it without throwing an immense fit?)
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People who actually think their 'nerdery' leaves them unprivileged in society and thus recognizing anything even remotely funny about them is on par, somehow, with jim crow treatment.
 
I hate The IT Crowd guys voices/accents. They get on my nerves as much as Sheldon and the skinny guy from BBT.

Both shows are garbo.
 
Since I used to work as a computer tech support guy, I found the IT crowd a lot more relatable and the characters in the show are similar to people I have worked with (The manager who doesn't know anything about computers, the hot shot corporate manager who thinks he's the shit, the insecure smart guy, the folk who take computer tech support guys for granted etc.) Of course you have to exclude the surreal parts like the goth in server room but even then that character behaved kinda similarly as a few gothic friends I know.

The characters in The Big Bang Theory are just obnoxious and far from reality. How does Sheldon still have friends and all his teeth from acting like a prick I will never know.
 
shorty_symd said:
Since I used to work as a computer tech support guy, I found the IT crowd a lot more relatable and the characters in the show are similar to people I have worked with (The manager who doesn't know anything about computers, the hot shot corporate manager who thinks he's the shit, the insecure smart guy, the folk who take computer tech support guys for granted etc.) Of course you have to exclude the surreal parts like the goth in server room but even then that character behaved kinda similarly as a few gothic friends I know.

The characters in The Big Bang Theory are just obnoxious and far from reality. How does Sheldon still have friends and all his teeth from acting like a prick I will never know.
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I think there are plenty of people just like Sheldon on this forum.
 
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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Considering the nerds have taken over most of the world over the past 30 years I'd say minstrel show is pretty misplaced.
 
It is also easier for a British comedy show to be funny. They have 24 episodes over 4 years, that is one season of The Big Bang Theory. It allows you far more time to think up jokes that work for everyone and requires a lot less filler. There also seems to be a lot less pressure to have a huge hit on British TV. The first season had disappointing ratins, yet three seasons the show still existed.
 
A large part of it is The IT Crowd has had 24 episodes while The Big Bang Theory has had 135 episodes. 135 episodes of the same joke over and over again. It gets stale after a while.
 
I think i would rather compare IT crowd to arrested development humorwise. BBT - IT crowd is just strange. Like someone said the big bang theory would compare better to friends.
 
Arjen said:
Ah, the monthly BBT sucks thread. Let's wait until someone posts the video where the laughter is cut out or the Window joke from Sheldon, because those are basicly the only arguments that are used.
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Hahaha, yeah it is incredible how much threads are created about that show.

I hope next season Olivia Munn will get a cameo. Gaf will explode.
 
GavinGT said:
Holy shit, it's the guy from Garth Marenghi's Darkplace? That almost makes me want to watch this show.
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Yup.

And one reason that the writing in the IT Crowd is better, is that it actually comes back to jokes within an episode which I don't really see The Big Bang Theory do.
 
Because in The IT Crowd it's the "nerds" making fun of regular people and in the Big Bang Theory it's the other way around.
 
I don't know why people say BBT's laughtrack is overboard. Is this the only show with a laughtrack you have watched? Most sitcoms have over the top laughtrack. Even IT Crowd. So that excuse doesn't work against BBT because it's the exact same thing in IT Crowd.

I like both shows anyway. Is that wrong?
 
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