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Discuss?

I don't really know what to say to that, actually. Let me ponder this notion.

I've always considered Galecki's portrayal to be nerd blackface (or, nerdface, as it is much more easily called), but luckily, never had anyone turn my private conversations into a public comic. Seriously, the way he whinges and squints all the time offends me in a secret place. The place that says "I have no right to be offended at this."

I feel less troubled when Conan O'Brien occasionally does a Nerd impression (you know, the one where he pretends to push up his non-existent glasses and raises his voice to a nasally whine) than I do when a Nerd Culture-laden, formulaic sitcom joke occurs on The Big Bang Theory.

The main cast provides plenty of examples to justify this idea, but I find that Stuart, the comic shop guy, is probably the most "Nerdfacey" of them all. He comes out, makes a nerdy comment or acts like a stereotypical, socially awkward nerd, and then shuffles off of stage, much like the "Mammy" character or roadside "Blackface" character would in old traveling plays or early television shows.

I made my way through the first four seasons and decided I never want to watch the show again. I don't fully agree with the comparison of lampooned nerds to "Blackface" characters, but I am uncomfortable when they try to hard to dip all their shallow, TV humor in Nerdiness.

Oh, I don't know where I saw this, but basically it was a statement that was On the IT Crowd you laugh WITH the characters, on Big Bang Theory you laugh AT the characters. Or something to that effect. To summarize:

The IT Crowd > Big Bang Theory

That said, I kinda like Amy and Sheldon. I'm very conflicted about the whole thing.

I have yet to see the IT Crowd. Netflix, here I come!

I agree, Sheldon and Amy are interesting.

eh, i still like the show. i think what Jim Parsons does is unreal and i like the fact that they get all the "nerd references" (whatever that means) right. i mean, when they refer to a particular comic book issue, they get it right, don't just throw something out there because they don't think the viewers will notice. i don't know, though. i've cooled on the show since it became more focused on rom-com and less on this group of buddies running all around and doing stuff. whatever- it's recently started airing in syndication here and i like to have it on when i eat dinner. it's like a tv version of comfort food to me

-josh

The fact that they had Wil Wheaton play Sheldon in Magic: the Gathering was pretty epic. Obviously they couldn't call it MtG, but it was obvious what they were doing, and they took the trouble to sleeve the cards, iirc.

Jim Parsons is a great actor.

Wil Wheaton's character is fabulous. He's Wil Wheaton in name and imagined, cruel celebrity in behavior. Wonderful stuff.

I like the show okay, but I think most of it comes from Lauren getting me to watch it with her, so it's force of habit now.

When specific comic issues are referenced, I take notice. I recall one mentioning "Journey Into Mystery #83" that made me smile. Sure, it's no "Creatures of the ID #1", but still...

I think Brian sums up my feelings about not laughing with the characters, but at them. Some good natured ribbing is okay, I guess, but how some of the situations could rectify themselves but don't can get a little tedious. Also, a personal quabble... Sheldon gets on my nerves quite a bit with his "I'm always right and I'm going to get my way no matter what". Makes me want to slap his smart mouth. This season he hasn't be as bad... yet.

I can wholeheartedly recommend the IT Crowd. Nearly every episode is a gem.

I think the thing that irks me most is the lack of variety in the comic shop. It always seems to be mainly DC, especially with this last episode. "Oh boy, look! It's Red Hood and the Miscreants #1"! *ahem*