I informed you thusly, I so informed you thusly.

[4ofN]

Well, unfortunately I called it.

Some time ago while I was lamenting the direction the show has taken, I made this post where I speculated that the humour might sink so low that they might have Sheldon appear in a balloon hat and a clown nose.

And now we have him in a French Maid outfit - the comedic equivalent.

It’s a sad, sad days folks.

But I guess it is to be expected when some (now perhaps most?) of the fan base seem to think that in the pilot they set up some kind of weird love triangle where Sheldon is competing with Leonard for Penny's affection, or that Sheldon opening a toy transporter is an analogy for him having sex with Amy, or that it’s funny when Bernadette steals a pair of boots because "I serve soup to poor people".

I weep for mankind.

[Br33na]

"I informed you thusly, I so informed you thusly!" - loved when Sheldon said that!

[Aevitas]

Some time ago while I was lamenting the direction the show has taken, I made this post where I speculated that the humour might sink so low that they might have Sheldon appear in a balloon hat and a clown nose.

And now we have him in a French Maid outfit - the comedic equivalent.

You mean that point wasn't reached already with Fun with Flags? Or the Warlords of Ka'a cowboy expansion outfit? Or even the Wonder Woman costume from Season 3? Either way, I do agree, I never found any humor from Sheldon being dressed up ridiculously. The things that made him funny (and a great character) in earlier seasons are being downplayed a great deal in Season 5, and I must say I miss them.

[Moonbase]

Point. The maids costume may as well have been a clowns outfit.  

The enviable squeeze of the mainstream (as the netmouse pointed out in another thread) is upon us. I do admit to a guilty indulgence that the transporter toy was symbolic for the sexualisation of Sheldon and have no idea where this is going, if it is going anywhere. But a Penny/Sheldon romance repulses me completely and has to be my greatest fear for the show's conclusion. 

[4ofN]

You mean that point wasn't reached already with Fun with Flags? Or the Warlords of Ka'a cowboy expansion outfit? Or even the Wonder Woman costume from Season 3?

You are right. All of those things are ridiculous. To my mind, though, they are somewhat less ridiculous, and the maid outfit took it over the edge. Perhaps the effect is cumulative.

[rickfromillinois]

I think that it is much to do over nothing.

[Disgusted]

There is no doubt in my mind that the producers have made a conscious decision to change the show to appeal to the lowest common denominator, for higher ratings. Can anyone go broke underestimating the taste of the masses? I think we know the answer to that.

The show turning to crap is one thing, but the utter vapidity/vacuousness of some of the posts on this forum is mind-boggling.

One day, they will weep for themselves.

[Moon_Pie]

I think this episode is really good and the costume is just really funny.

[Disgusted]

but the utter vapidity/vacuousness of some of the posts on this forum is mind-boggling.

I will now add "divorced from reality" to the list. Really.

[BazingaFan]

I agree with Moon_Pie, and I am sorry that those of us that still like the show are so stupid. We are on this forum because we like the show, old and current.

[BigBang]

There is no doubt in my mind that the producers have made a conscious decision to change the show to appeal to the lowest common denominator, for higher ratings.

Geez, lighten up!

The show is still funny and fresh. It obviously can't remain encased in some little time bubble, unchanging and constant for all eternity, showing the variation of the first season again and again and again, with Leonard pining over Penny and Penny pining over Leonard... Been there, done that, got a T-shirt, got bored, ready for new developments.

This is SEASON FIVE, people! Change is a beautiful thing.

[rickfromillinois]

There is no doubt in my mind that the producers have made a conscious decision to change the show to appeal to the lowest common denominator, for higher ratings.

Geez, lighten up!

The show is still funny and fresh. It obviously can't remain encased in some little time bubble, unchanging and constant for all eternity, showing the variation of the first season again and again and again, with Leonard pining over Penny and Penny pining over Leonard... Been there, done that, got a T-shirt, got bored, ready for new developments.

This is SEASON FIVE, people! Change is a beautiful thing.

I agree with Big Bang on this one.

[mjc45]

There is no doubt in my mind that the producers have made a conscious decision to change the show to appeal to the lowest common denominator, for higher ratings.

Geez, lighten up!

The show is still funny and fresh. It obviously can't remain encased in some little time bubble, unchanging and constant for all eternity, showing the variation of the first season again and again and again, with Leonard pining over Penny and Penny pining over Leonard... Been there, done that, got a T-shirt, got bored, ready for new developments.

This is SEASON FIVE, people! Change is a beautiful thing.

I agree with Big Bang on this one.

i also agree--right on can not live in the past.

[garyp]

I agree with the rest of you that I like the changes the show is undergoing. I only started watching the show a few weeks ago. I enjoyed it so much my wife bought me all five seasons. I finished all five seasons within a couple of weeks. I'm going back through them again both for the laughs and to get a good handle on the development of both the characters and the show itself.

We all have to keep in mind that it is a fundamental law of nature that any organism, organization, entity of any kind must change and grow or it will surely stagnate and die.

I believe the writers nailed the dream of every nerd with the on again, off again relationship between Penny and Leonard. Adding the rest of the girls and particularly Amy was a stroke of genius.

[4ofN]

People keep saying that the show needs to change, it needs to evolve, the characters need to grow, etc.

But I have never seen a sit-com that has changed as radically as this one has.

If you started watching in seasons 4 or 5, I can understand that you could go back to the early seasons and see the early characters coloured by your opinion of the current ones, but some of us (and before I get flamed, I'll point out that I am not saying "all" of us) have seen the writers heap more and more negative attributes on what were originally very relatable characters.

I could have easily seen myself being friends with the original characters back in my younger days, but I couldn't imagine that to be the case with the current characters.

And what happened to the science and nerdy fun? It has been almost completely removed from the show.

I have been asked many times (and I have answered) why it is that I keep watching the show if I have such a problem with it now. What I am wondering is that there must have been people who started watching in the early seasons who pressured the writers - through focus groups or whatever - into making the changes that have happened. My question to those people is…

Why did you even start watching the show if you disliked it enough to want all of this change?

[Disgusted]

It's not enough to say I like the show therefore you are wrong. Put on your big boy pants (or panties) and refute the argument.

I remember reading the forward to a Star Trek novel in the mid 80's. The author was talking about why almost 20 years after the series was cancelled, people were still interested enough to write novels and keep the "universe" alive. This was before TNG and the movies.

The author's point was that while a "normal" TV show attracted viewers with a broad, shallow appeal, Star Trek was narrowly targeted to appeal greatly to a specific viewership. Yes, Virginia, there were nerds back then.

If you look at the early TBBT episodes <4 there was a lot of science stuff.

http://thebigblogtheory.wordpress.com/

Recognize that? Thats the science advisors blog. See any recent activity? They are just paying lip service now to the science and cool nerdy stuff.

Look at the posts from the last few months, has the quality of the posts gone up or down? Half the people (charitably) can't form a cogent sentence, let alone a paragraph. Is that the target audience? I guess s****d people are easier dupes for the advertisers.

Its telling that Lorre & Co. think that the show has to be dumbed down to appeal to a wide audience.

I said that months ago and I see nothing that has changed my mind. In fact, it has gotten worse. Gossip is the lowest form of communication, 95% of the content here is gossip about relationships on the show. If that's what you like, fine, but that's not what the show was about back in the "good old days". We are just pointing that out.

And I at least will continue to do so.

[4ofN]

Interesting to point out thebigblogtheory blog.

Most recent posts state "On tonight’s whiteboards" - not "In tonight's episode" as one reads in the posts about episodes in earlier seasons.

The science on the white boards that used to relate to the episode content is now relegated to the background - dusty old white boards partially hidden behind models of DNA or other shelf debris.

It's as if there were some geeky nerds who lived in the apartment once and did cool science - but it all happened at some point in the past, pre-episode and off camera.

[Guest I'm not dead Cheryl]

I don't really understand the complaint on not having enough nerdiness-science on the show anymore.

They have been on the comic book store this season more times than in any other season... (just do the math) they have played world of Ka'a, played with trains, with Star Trek Transporter pads, Howard has been seen on his lab building stuff and making tuna melts and paninins, the guys having a Star Wars gaming weekend, Amy dissecting brains on multiple episodes, LOL, and they had Nimoy and Stephen Freakin' HAWKING (and I do know I am forgetting even more stuff) I do feel this season has had much more nerd/science references than any other season.

And let's be honest, the relationship stuff has ALWAYS been there, just that before it was just the Leonard /Penny thing, and now there is Howard/Bernadette and Sheldon/ Amy too.

But maybe it's just me. and I'm just seeing things. I don't know, whateaver

[Moon_Pie]

I think they're going on the right track I'm really looking forward to season 6 even though it will be on only in september.

[BigBang]

It's not enough to say I like the show therefore you are wrong. Put on your big boy pants (or panties) and refute the argument.

You're funny. Your argument at heart is "those who like the show are stooopid", and as proof you present the fact that people discuss relationships. You are saying the show used to be more about science? No it wasn't. Science was just an icing on the cake, a dash of spice, but never the essense of the show.

From the very beginning the show was - and still is - about human relationships and social interaction. It's about the human struggle to fit in. It's about the characters' growth, adaptation and change, not the latest scientific discoveries or which booth to visit at Comic-con. From the get go the show was about PEOPLE, not science or nerdy stuff.

Why did the audience like the pilot? Was it because they were fascinated by the equations on the boards? Or was it because they found fascinating the idea of collision between a street smart, socially brilliant, but completely uneducated waitress with super intelligent and highly educated, but socially retarded scientists?

(That was a rhetorical question. )

P.S. Besides, you based your far-reaching conclusion about the audience's intelligence or lack thereof on a teeny tiny non-representative self-selected sample of those who find the time to post on the internet boards? That's not very scientific of you. You'd get a D for statistics. (*tongue planted very firmly in cheek* )

[garyp]

This is the first time I've ever enjoyed a tv show enough to join a forum in order to discuss it. I'd like to ask a serious question. Is disgusted one of those trolls I hear about that cruise the forums like this just to cause trouble? It seems like every post I've read of his is insulting and inflammatory.

I'm not trying to start a flame war here. I'm actually asking a serious question. I'll ignore any posts disgusted might make in response to this but I'd like to hear from the other members.

[4ofN]

This is the first time I've ever enjoyed a tv show enough to join a forum in order to discuss it. I'd like to ask a serious question. Is disgusted one of those trolls I hear about that cruise the forums like this just to cause trouble? It seems like every post I've read of his is insulting and inflammatory.

I'm not trying to start a flame war here. I'm actually asking a serious question. I'll ignore any posts disgusted might make in response to this but I'd like to hear from the other members.

Disgusted is not a troll. He is a big fan of the initial show who is upset at the direction the show has taken. Many people don't see the changes (which is, I suspect, due to the changes being positive in their opinion) but some do see the changes and don't appreciate what has happened to what was once a rare show.

[Bear Guy]

It's not enough to say I like the show therefore you are wrong. Put on your big boy pants (or panties) and refute the argument.

I remember reading the forward to a Star Trek novel in the mid 80's. The author was talking about why almost 20 years after the series was cancelled, people were still interested enough to write novels and keep the "universe" alive. This was before TNG and the movies.

The author's point was that while a "normal" TV show attracted viewers with a broad, shallow appeal, Star Trek was narrowly targeted to appeal greatly to a specific viewership. Yes, Virginia, there were nerds back then.

If you look at the early TBBT episodes <4 there was a lot of science stuff.

http://thebigblogtheory.wordpress.com/

Recognize that? Thats the science advisors blog. See any recent activity? They are just paying lip service now to the science and cool nerdy stuff.

Look at the posts from the last few months, has the quality of the posts gone up or down? Half the people (charitably) can't form a cogent sentence, let alone a paragraph. Is that the target audience? I guess s****d people are easier dupes for the advertisers.

Its telling that Lorre & Co. think that the show has to be dumbed down to appeal to a wide audience.

I said that months ago and I see nothing that has changed my mind. In fact, it has gotten worse. Gossip is the lowest form of communication, 95% of the content here is gossip about relationships on the show. If that's what you like, fine, but that's not what the show was about back in the "good old days". We are just pointing that out.

And I at least will continue to do so.

"Holy Crap On A Cracker".....For somebody maybe not looking to get "FLAMED" here "YOU" certainly put enough "GAS" on the fire. Just a FYI when going from self righteous to condescending it's never a good idea to go from speaking in plural to singular it too is a low form of communication especially if your gonna pick a fight.

[Disgusted]

....

A bunch of stuff that is spelled correctly and that I can actually read.

You're funny.

Thanks, that's my goal. Some people don't seem to get that.

You are saying the show used to be more about science? No it wasn't. Science was just an icing on the cake, a dash of spice, but never the essense of the show.

Sorry, I disagree. You are talking about the way it is now. For the first 2 seasons it was Nerdvanna, with physics and cool stuff like lasers and robots and science bowl Etc. Etc. Etc. Now the only science is what some intern pulls off the internet.

From the very beginning the show was - and still is - about human relationships and social interaction.

Well Duh, of course it is, it's a sitcom. It's a matter of degree. They have gone way overboard on the relationship drama at the expense the core Leonard, Penny, Sheldon interactions, which are what made the show, IMNSHO.

(That was a rhetorical question. )

Good, I'll spare you the rhetorical answer.

P.S. Besides, you based your far-reaching conclusion about the audience's intelligence or lack thereof on a teeny tiny non-representative self-selected sample of those who find the time to post on the internet boards? That's not very scientific of you. You'd get a D for statistics. (*tongue planted very firmly in cheek* )

Hey, It's not just me saying this. Just plug in Sitcoms where it says TV History:

Television, in common with, if I am to be honest, the rest of the media, is currently making a huge mistake. This mistake is to think that, because large parts of the British population are demonstrably stupid, it is therefore safest to assume that everybody is stupid. This assumption leads genres such as TV history to pursue stupid people with the sort of devices stupid people seem to like. ...... As a result, non-stupid people are just irritated and baffled ......

- Bryan Appleyard, reviewing History on TV, "The Times"

Before the entire British empire comes down on my head, this was just the first thing I found on Google. Blame them.

---

that's not what the show was about back in the "good old days". We are just pointing that out.

And I at least will continue to do so.

"Holy Crap On A Cracker".....For somebody maybe not looking to get "FLAMED" here "YOU" certainly put enough "GAS" on the fire. Just a FYI when going from self righteous to condescending it's never a good idea to go from speaking in plural to singular it too is a low form of communication especially if your gonna pick a fight.

The "we" above referred to those of us that do not like the current direction of the show. There seem to be fewer of us willing to talk about it each day.

I will continue to put my opinion out, regardless of it's unpopularity.

As to who is making the personal attacks, the reader will decide.

[BigBang]

@Disgusted, the point is the show was NEVER about the science or the cool nerdy stuff. It's not the equations on the boards that attracted the viewers to the pilot and season 1, it was the HUMAN story.

Nothing changed. The heart of the show did not change.

Now, you may lament the fact that the characters are (slowly!) changing, but that is a natural and inevitable progression. Change is life. Stagnation is boring.

Take a look at a very nice post written by Sursonica about season 5 Sheldon, she makes very good points about Sheldon's baby steps development. That slow change is what makes the characters human. The heart of the show is - and always was - the human story, not science or nerdy stuff.