If you could cancel one show, what would it be and why?

[Rev. Powell]

If I could fecal container one show it'd  be "the big bang theory". It's just 'Amos n Andy"  done to politically correct standards.

I wouldn't cancel the show but I don't understand it's appeal, or why people seem to think it's original just because the characters are geeks. They're still going through the same old worn-out sitcom routines.

[JaseSF]

Personally love Big Bang Theory. The stuff with Wil Wheaton was particularly hilarious. But hey, to each their own. Still I weep for humanity at the apparent fact Here Comes Honey Boo Boo appears to be a hit.

[AndyC]

Still I weep for humanity at the apparent fact Here Comes Honey Boo Boo appears to be a hit.

It's the modern-day equivalent of exhibiting human oddities. People have always lined up for a freakshow.

[ChaosTheory]

If I could fecal container one show it'd  be "the big bang theory". It's just 'Amos n Andy"  done to politically correct standards.

I wouldn't cancel the show but I don't understand it's appeal, or why people seem to think it's original just because the characters are geeks. They're still going through the same old worn-out sitcom routines.

Watch an episode of THE NEW NORMAL sometime (or actually watch 30 seconds because nobody should be subjected to a whole episode); it makes BBT look like season four of THE SIMPSONS.

[ulthar]

Ah, "Big Bang Theory," perhaps one of the more 'controversial" shows discussed on this site.  Seems most folks either enjoy it or really, really hate it.

I wouldn't cancel the show but I don't understand it's appeal, or why people seem to think it's original just because the characters are geeks. They're still going through the same old worn-out sitcom routines.

Short Answer:

The appeal is simple.  You either like/enjoy the comedy or you don't.  There is a TON of inside "geek" humor on that show that underlies the worn-out sitcom routines.  JaseSF mentioned one...the Wil Wheaton stuff.  There are many examples.  If, as an example, you don't understand the "inside" reasons why the Wil Wheaton storyline is funny, you won't like the show.



Longer Answer:

I can see that the show probably mostly appeals to folks that have lived something of that life...we've had other "social outcast" shows before, but few (if any) really showcase the "smart, nerdy socially inept outcast" as a group, not just one character thrown in for color.  

As such, there is, as I mentioned, a heap-TON of inside humor.  The writers of BBT really know science geeks (or are such geeks) rather than just writing to pander to some stereotype of a geek that a friend told them about.

I've hung-out and worked in that environment with "that" group.  Shoot, my own personality has component mixtures of Sheldon and Leonard (probably more than I care to admit), so the show is a way to laugh at myself.

There's a TON of realism there, too, in how they live day-to-day lives (their lifestyle is one of constantly chasing new mental stimulations - different games, different hobbies, etc - while at the same time being totally OCD about what they do.  For the time they are "hooked" on a hobby, they are TOTALLY hooked on it to the point of obsession).

The characters are not always heroic; they are very flawed.  Each show does not have a life lesson "preachiness" to it.  It's just a collection of stories about a group of people, sometimes they grow and learn and become "better," sometimes they don't.  Kinda like what really happens...we don't always learn from the lessons life teaches us.  They are not 'evil' like some show's characters seem to strive to be; just human.

That said, I'd have to say that Leonard is my favorite character; not always as funny as the others, but by far the most "realistic."  Sheldon is a bit of a caricature and is often "over written," but he's still pretty funny.

Finally, it's very male-centric within its genre.  There are not a LOT of "female good, male bad," plot points and there are not a lot of female centric storylines period.  Given what else is available, it's kind of refreshing in this respect.  It's a show about a bunch of socially inept guy friends, mostly doing (or wanting to do) guy stuff (at least as they perceive that)...and since this has to involve women, it butts these guy drives against their social ineptitude.

That, anyway, is why it appeals to ME.  Can't speak for anyone else.

As a contrast, I absolutely HATED everything about "Will and Grace."  Please tell me the appeal that show had, why it stayed on so long.  I saw nothing remotely funny about any of it...just a bunch of stereotyped and very unlikable characters.

[Newt]

I think ulthar has pegged it.  I've spent a lot of time the last 30+ years in the company of computer- and science-geeks;  we find BBT very funny.   

[tracy]

I think ulthar has pegged it.  I've spent a lot of time the last 30+ years in the company of computer- and science-geeks;  we find BBT very funny.   

I think I've been a "geek" many times in my life and enjoyed things considered geeky....comic books,D&D,Star Trek and Star Wars. "Big Bang Theory" to me is very funny.

[alandhopewell]

I think ulthar has pegged it.  I've spent a lot of time the last 30+ years in the company of computer- and science-geeks;  we find BBT very funny.   

     Besides, there has never before been on tv anyone even remotely like Sheldon Cooper.

[Swordmaster1982]

I agree on Honey BooBoo as thats awful.I hate 95% of reality tv as its not real anyway.

[ChaosTheory]

I think ulthar has pegged it.  I've spent a lot of time the last 30+ years in the company of computer- and science-geeks;  we find BBT very funny.   

     Besides, there has never before been on tv anyone even remotely like Sheldon Cooper.

I can take or leave BBT but I am a fan of Sheldon 


I know several have chimed in on this but yeah, HONEY BOOBOO is genuinely evil.

[BoyScoutKevin]

Don't cancel "Star Search."

It is interesting to see people who are now famous or semi-famous, looked 10 and 20 years ago, when they appeared on "Star Search." And here are some of them, not all of them winners, who appeared on various categories of "Star Search," before they were famous or semi-famous.

aailyah -- aaron and nick carter -- alanis morissette -- alisan porter -- autumn barr -- backstreet boys -- beyonce -- bobbie brown -- britney spears -- christina aguilera -- christopher reyes -- countess vaughn -- david archuleta -- david chappell -- debbie james -- dorian hughes -- drew carey -- eric tidwell -- jarrod spector -- justin timberlake -- kevin james -- kim field -- leann rimes -- martin lawrence -- norm mcdonald -- rosie o'donnell -- tatyana ali -- usher.

And as I failed to mention in my previous post, Sinbad, who beat Dennis Miller in the comedy competition, made it all the way to the finals. Which means if Dennis Miller had gotten just two more audience votes, when he lost to Sinbad, Miller would have been in the finals instead of Sinbad.

[lester1/2jr]

Law ad Order:SVU has been doing cheesy "ripped from the headlines" episodes for what seems like a hundred years. is rape really so fascinating that people will watch these absurd scenerios and Ice T's lame acting?

[Living_Dead_Girl]

Family Guy/Cleveland Show/American Dad...essentially anything by Seth MacFarlane.

Same show, same crew, same jokes, if you can call them that, and no real value

I agree with all except one... I love American dad, it is strange I hate Family guy and the Cleveland show with a passion. American dad is more out there, and has that sci-fi element to it. The other two are low brow, and stupid. gaaaaa

[A_Dubya]

I don't watch much tv at all aside from sports really, but I'd be all for the canceling of all these talent/singing contest shows. I just feel they are over saturated.

[Leah]

Number one reason why I hate BBT, the laughter that goes on through the show, it really irritates me, as if to point out to the stupid viewers ''Here, laugh at this NOW!!" I hate shows that does this, for reason I just said.