Compare and contrast:
The Big Bang Theory uses its so-called “geek” characters as the butt of jokes, has only a superficial understanding of their personalities, and has a really, really limited range of pop culture reference points for the things they do and like. It’s pretty much the mainstream’s idea of what geek culture is. Also, although they include some tokens, geek is consistently coded as white and male. The humor is from the “normal” girl who isn’t as smart and is constantly baffled by their strange behavior.
Community’s Troy and Abed are not the butt of jokes - they have their own world of games and references and imaginings that is fun and funny and unique. The humor is watching their reactions to other people who just aren’t as awesome as they are. It’s geek culture’s idea of what geek culture is like. They have an almost bottomless level of pop culture references to actual things that actual geeks are into. And, obviously, they are both people of color - and while the geek characters are men, they don’t play off “normal” girl characters who aren’t smart enough to grasp their interests.
After watching Community I understand better why I can’t stand The Big Bang Theory.
Got it in one. Excellent writeup.
People ask me why I don’t like TBBT, and this is a perfect summary of my reasons. Community is a great show on a lot of levels, especially the portrayal of geeks.
The other great thing about Community is that it challenges what people consider to be a stereotypical geek. Troy is (was?), well, a jock. He was supposed to play football for Greendale. In what mainstream television show or movie would you ever see a geek be portrayed as anything other than a pallid and socially awkward outcast? And frankly, the writing in Community is just a million times better. Written by geeks for geeks.
(via celestialcow)
