Comments on: Tales From The Industry XXIII - Big Bang Theory

By: lm

lm — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 04:35:56 +0000

My husbnd and I love the show. We are both definitely geeks (husband is software engineer and I am currently an over-educated, under-employed homebody), albeit more socially ept than Sheldon and company. Actually Sheldon reminds me a bit of my dear husband–in a good way. :o) We love the references to Star Trek and other sci-fi stuff, etc. Yes, it is cliche, but it sure is funny.
Hope it goes on for a long time yet.

By: Clifford

Clifford — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:15:03 +0000

Hi,

No. I have not seen it.

-cvj

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:33:29 +0000

Hi Clifford,

About:
“My idea for well over a decade has been for a TV show about scientists is that it would not just play to the clichés. I think that the time is right, and the audience can get it, if given the chance.”

I was wondering if you’ve tried ReGenesis? Canadian show if I recall correctly…

By: Elliot

Elliot — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 17:39:10 +0000

I have to confess I’ve never seen the show. But as a Caltech undergrad, I’m pretty sure I’ve personally lived out some of it.

I have some great stories about those days relating to the social interactions. But perhaps on of the most telling statistics was that at the time over 50% of male Caltech undergraduates married the first woman they dated.

By: Tommy

Tommy — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 15:34:53 +0000

I don’t think physics/math types are inherently more geeky or socially awkward per se. What I do think is that we are more tolerant of people who are a bit out of the ordinary. I know a few people (probably including myself) who have a quirk or two about them. In physics, people don’t care as much as long as you do good work and can communicate that work to others. I think the international aspect of things also helps in this regard, you very quickly learn to be tolerant of other people’s beliefs and cultures. I recall once being at a party in Santa Barbara and realizing I was one of only two Americans there. That’s a wonderful thing to me.

In a field like banking, I just don’t see those really quirky people being able to advance far, except at some of the outlier firms like the one created by Simons. Many of those fields put a larger emphasis on appearance and conformity. At least to me, that’s a feather in the cap of physicists.

By: Frank

Frank — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:55:57 +0000

Hi Clifford!

Of course not everybody is like that, and there are women around, some of them seem pretty normal even. But you have to agree that the level of geekiness in physics/math departments is more than 5 sigmas above that of the total population.

I’m a grad student on astronomy/astrophysics (now in Germany), and since I started on this job, I’ve seen things most people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion… Joking aside, I still remember my first days of PhD work and how shocking were people to me. Nowadays I guess I’m one of them. And I feel fine.

By: Clifford

Clifford — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 23:12:56 +0000

Well, we just this minute finished shooting and one of the show’s people gave me a copy of the season one DVD. So I will try to find the time to get up to speed on it, bolstered by the mostly positive thoughts expressed. Locals (er, the ones who I know)… email me if you want to do a little viewing party sometime soon.

-cvj

By: Jude

Jude — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 21:09:53 +0000

I’ve watched it more or less three times. I hated one episode (way too stereotypical and sex-obsessed for me); liked one episode (a brain bowl competition where one of the guys refused to allow anyone to help, probably because I’m sort of like that–e.g., I won an adult spelling bee for my team, but basically, I *was* the team); and felt neutral about the third. It seems to be slightly better when the ditzy blonde isn’t in a scene. But this is a non-scientist’s point of view based on few viewings.

By: Clifford

Clifford — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:57:45 +0000

Frank, thanks. Look around again. Look more broadly. We are not all geeky, socially awkward, etc etc. There are such examples of the stereotype - and it’s fine to be that way if you wish - but there are several examples of other types too. Why can’t they get a public airing too? Sorry… repeating myself now….

Oh, and taken over the whole of science (as I was referring to in that paragraph), it’s not so male dominated as it is often portrayed (maybe not this show, based on what was said above….?).

Cheers,

-cvj

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:47:13 +0000

I almost forget it. At the end of some episodes you can see a rather lengthy paragraph appearing on the screen for a fraction of a second. They are written by Chuck Lorre, the producer, and are available at his website.

An example I particularly like.

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:46:36 +0000

I almost forget it. At the end of some episode you can see a rather lengthy paragraph showing for a fraction of a second. They are written by Chuck Lorre, the producer, and are available at his website.

An example I particularly like.

By: Frank

Frank — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:41:00 +0000

It seemed to just be playing up all the clichés and stereotypes that I try to dispel about scientists: The view that we’re geeky, socially awkward and somewhat otherworldy seemed to be the cornerstone of the comedic aspects that the clips were going for. The view that we’re mostly all male, plain, and dreaming about beautiful females (…).

(Looks around…) But isn’t that the naked truth!!?? (no joke)

Btw I saw the whole first season and I really liked it, I think it is the best sitcom of the latest 4/5 years (maybe more, let’s see how it develops).

By: Clifford

Clifford — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 20:18:33 +0000

Hi All,

These are all excellent points. As I said, I will certainly watch it properly and see. I’m glad to hear that it is enjoyable.

More thoughts still welcome from others.

-cvj

By: Tommy

Tommy — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:55:09 +0000

I’ve caught a few episodes, there are some stereotypes, but it’s not as bad as you think. I also recall there being a female scientist character or two, who, while being a bit nerdy was nevertheless rather self-confident, assured and interested in things besides physics (I think she played cello or violin). She was definitely not the socially awkward girl. One of the main characters is nerdy and has trouble with women, but not to a point where he’s completely clueless or hopeless, I’d say its more just a lack of self-confidence. Its certainly no more outlandish than a bunch of waitresses living in Soho lofts ;).

There’s also a few insider jokes, in fact in that episode I seem to remember the girl pointing out a sign error on one of the main characters whiteboards. If you look closely enough, I think it was the QCD beta function, which is a really good joke if you’re in the know.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:43:32 +0000

Also, IIRC they have PhDs already and are just doing research. They never speak of going to class, or having to TA or anything…

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:32:45 +0000

Personally I think it is one of the better sitcoms out there, though I don’t know how well it is received by a non-scientific audience. It certainly focuses on the clichés and prejudices and is nowhere near the reality, but on the other hand, who wants to watch a realistic sitcom? So I guess it doesn’t do much to bring science to a broader audience, but it is pretty funny. I also like that they show scientific insider jokes from time to time, like some guy wearing a “No GUT no glory” shirt.

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 19:12:43 +0000

I love the show, despite the stereotypes. That’s generally how sitcoms work though; they play up stereotypes and poke fun at them. It’s part of what makes good sitcoms so funny (and bad sitcoms so lame).

FWIW, I’m a physics/math major.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:19:49 +0000

I saw only one show, which featured the female physics grad student character. I liked her character a lot– she was definitely nerdy, but also spirited, smart, and confident. I would like to have seen one more woman on the show who was NOT a nerd, but actually dressed well.

The actual ratios in my PhD class were something like 90/10 male female and (in my opinion) 60/40 totally socially akward vs. fairly normal (I have to say, experimentalists tended more toward the normal side!). It should be possible to make a good, funny show that is also a fairly realistic representation of life in grad school.

I don’t think you have to artificially inflate the number of women on the show to make it look like the ratios are 50/50, but having some good, strong female characters is important.