Ship Zone Leonard And Penny Shippers Thread (Possible Spoilers)

[rickfromillinois]

I think what they are worried about are neusance suits.  If someone comes up with an idea, and it is known or shown that the writers or TPTB of the show read the forums, then they can be sued.   As for proving it, in a lawsuit they would be forced to show their computer records, and that of their accounts with their carriers.   It doesn't have to be verbatum.   It just has to be close.

[BangerMain]

I think what they are worried about are neusance suits.  If someone comes up with an idea, and it is known or shown that the writers or TPTB of the show read the forums, then they can be sued.   As for proving it, in a lawsuit they would be forced to show their computer records, and that of their accounts with their carriers.   It doesn't have to be verbatum.   It just has to be close.

Yep. That's the biggest hassle for the show's producers, having someone claim that a show idea was "stolen" from them. The only way to protect them from the bother of a trash lawsuit is to show that none of your writer's has an account on the forum, nor reads them anonymously.

 

Twenty years ago, when the fan forum was relatively new, a few producers would interface with the fans directly. The most notable was David Lee, the co-creator of "Frasier" and "Wings".  Lee would participate in a targeted mailing list and then, briefly on the newsgroups. With the mailing list, there was a moderator who carefully enforced the rule of no script or big idea submissions and Lee wrote to us mainly about what had already happened on the shows and gave explanations of why certain decisions were made for the characters and gave some insider talk on things like battling the network censors and what compromises had to be made to get shows on the air.

 

During the newsgroup era, where the forums were seldom moderated there had to be "buffers" for the producers. Larry David, the co-creator of "Seinfeld" used his friend, Kenny Kramer (there really is a Kramer) as his mouth piece for the Seinfeld group. Kramer read the post and took back fan reaction to incidents on the show. I remember the fury that David had when the fans responded negatively to the death of Susan, George's fiancee, from licking cheap envelopes for her wedding invitations. David wrote the scene showing that the main four just sort of shrugged and went out to dinner after hearing the news. Most fans were horrified that David showed them to be so callous but Larry had Kramer respond to the group with some pretty blunt language that we figured Kramer edited to soften the message. His comment, in essence is that the characters on Seinfeld were supposed to be selfish a$$holes who never cared about anybody but themselves. That was his vision from the beginning and he came back to write the last show where he put the Big Four on trial and ended up with them going to prison for their transgressions. They were shown to be unrepentant to the end, as Larry David wanted it.

 

Now, with the open forums where the only way to moderate is to screen applicants for admission or strike post after they are entered, its too dangerous to be identified as a show runner since you are going to see things that can appear to compromise your purity of creative originality.

Edited July 10, 2013 by BangerMain

[Nogravitasatall]

Ok

but they can still have the vacuuming gag. Happy to sign any waiver.LOL

[SRAM]

I could see someone maybe having a case if they used a story from fanfiction, but using something like Penny should propose to Leonard, I don't think could cause problems.

[phantagrae]

I could see someone maybe having a case if they used a story from fanfiction, but using something like Penny should propose to Leonard, I don't think could cause problems.

 

Any problems would be generated by the person who claims that the writers/producers stole their idea--it wouldn't matter if it was true or not, or even if it couldn't ultimately be proven.  Some people might be dumb or delusional enough to try to sue the writers, which would mean having a nuisance lawsuit cropping up.  Even if a judge were to throw the case out of court, there's still the hassle of having to defend themselves against it.

 

And if it can't exactly be proven that they did steal it, it also can't exactly be proven that they didn't steal it.

 

I'm pretty sure George Harrison never intentionally ripped off the song "He's So Fine" when he wrote "My Sweet Lord", but he still had to go to court for it, and I think he lost.  He probably had heard the song when he was a kid, and maybe somehow internalized the melody without realizing it.

 

If someone says that they're the one who came up with Story A back on such-and-such a date (and it could probably be proven if it's on a website), and if the producers/writers are known to frequent fan forums, then there's no real way for the producers/writers to prove that they didn't steal the idea.

So, the only way to avoid such conundrums is to avoid looking at such sites.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if CBS or WB or someone might not have some lackey scouring the internet buzz to see how fans are reacting to episodes, but I don't think that anyone directly connected to the storylines could be reading the forums for ideas of what to do or what not to do.

[Nogravitasatall]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/9213886/Men-at-Work-flautist-found-dead.html

no, never let them read a thing, not a damn thing.

[eirwinrommel]

Be careful what you whistle... The copyright police are listening.

[SRAM]

I guess the reason, I was wondering, was that some of the stuff on this forum, for when Leonard comes back in Season 7, is really good and I would really like to see the writers use some of the ideas, the members have brainstormed out there.  Like the idea of Penny moving some of Leonard's stuff to her place and having some of her stuff at his, stealth move in, is great.  I would think an idea like that would be free to use, since it is an idea not a story.

[Nogravitasatall]

SRAM, all that AND Leonard on the Working Girl vacuuming scene.

Eirwinrommel, I'm safe. My colleagues tell me I'm tuneless. Heheh.

[SRAM]

I was just watching an episode of 'Friends' (don't hate me), where Ross and Rachael were accidently married, and everyone compares 'Friends' to 'TBBT', but after watching that show, it seems to me that would never work for Leonard and Penny, if they ever got drunk and accidently married, I think everyone would expect them to stay married, their relationship is so much stronger than Ross and Rachael.  I could see them talking about an annulment, but I could never see them doing it, they would try and make a marriage work.  I think episodes like that really show the difference between Ross and Rachael vs Leonard and Penny.

[phantagrae]

I was just watching an episode of 'Friends' (don't hate me), where Ross and Rachael were accidently married, and everyone compares 'Friends' to 'TBBT', but after watching that show, it seems to me that would never work for Leonard and Penny, if they ever got drunk and accidently married, I think everyone would expect them to stay married, their relationship is so much stronger than Ross and Rachael.  I could see them talking about an annulment, but I could never see them doing it, they would try and make a marriage work.  I think episodes like that really show the difference between Ross and Rachael vs Leonard and Penny.

 

I think that the only reason a comparison between Friends and TBBT ever came up is when certain people began lamenting the relationships on the show--some people started complaining that TBBT was becoming like Friends--all about romantic relationships rather than about science/geek-nerd culture, etc.

There's nothing wrong with Friends or the stories they told on that show.  But it really has nothing to do with TBBT other than a few passing similarities--and the fact that it was big hit in its day, as TBBT has become now.

[bigbangsheldon]

TBBT is banana Friends is kiwi

[SRAM]

I think that the only reason a comparison between Friends and TBBT ever came up is when certain people began lamenting the relationships on the show--some people started complaining that TBBT was becoming like Friends--all about romantic relationships rather than about science/geek-nerd culture, etc.

There's nothing wrong with Friends or the stories they told on that show.  But it really has nothing to do with TBBT other than a few passing similarities--and the fact that it was big hit in its day, as TBBT has become now.

 

After watching Ross and Rachael, I don't see anything the same as Leonard and Penny.  Ross and Rachael even seem a little immature compared to Leonard and Penny.  Plus their interaction does not have the chemistry that Leonard and Penny have.  I could really care less if Ross ends up with Rachael, I guess is the bottom line. 

[phantagrae]

After watching Ross and Rachael, I don't see anything the same as Leonard and Penny.  Ross and Rachael even seem a little immature compared to Leonard and Penny.  Plus their interaction does not have the chemistry that Leonard and Penny have.  I could really care less if Ross ends up with Rachael, I guess is the bottom line.

Well, there's no reason on earth to try to compare the characters on Friends to the characters on TBBT. Apart from a very general similarity in that Ross and Rachel were the will they/won't they couple, their story and history are not at all like Penny and Leonard.

And whether or not one cares about the Friends characters might have to do with watching the show over the long run, etc.

There's nothing that says that you need to care about R&R or about Friends or even consider them in regard to TBBT. The two shows stand completely alone.

[Oldnavy]

Only a month away from until they begin filming the new season.  I'm really looking forward to it!

[Oldnavy]

I think that the only reason a comparison between Friends and TBBT ever came up is when certain people began lamenting the relationships on the show--some people started complaining that TBBT was becoming like Friends--all about romantic relationships rather than about science/geek-nerd culture, etc.

There's nothing wrong with Friends or the stories they told on that show.  But it really has nothing to do with TBBT other than a few passing similarities--and the fact that it was big hit in its day, as TBBT has become now.

I agree.  I really do not see a lot of similarity between the shows. 

[I.Am.Molly]

After watching Ross and Rachael, I don't see anything the same as Leonard and Penny.  Ross and Rachael even seem a little immature compared to Leonard and Penny.  Plus their interaction does not have the chemistry that Leonard and Penny have.  I could really care less if Ross ends up with Rachael, I guess is the bottom line. 

 

The personalities are completely different however their situations are vaguely similar. The whole 'Beauty and the Geek' thing is pretty much the same. It is also widely known in Friends that Ross had a thing for Rachel for a long time before they actually got together, and then there is the whole on/off thing. I don't know about R/R Being more immature than L/P, i would say that Ross is pretty mature and Rachel may have been pretty immature in the beginning but ended up being an incredibly successful and independant woman, something i hope to see more of in Penny over the next season. I think for those who are big Friends fans aswell as TBBT fans, (like me ) can see the similarities, although i will admit there are very few.

 

They are and were both hugely popular sitcoms, that were filmed in front of a live audience, so i think sometimes there will be comparisons made, although i agree that overall, the two shows are quite different.

[ArmyGirl]

Credit ShamyForever for posting the interview in the Comic-Con thread.

 

Here is Steve Molaro's interview from the TV Guide Comic Con issue:

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to discover that CBS’s The Big Bang Theory is the hottest show in the galaxy, finishing its sixth season as TV’s No. 1 comedy. Executive producer Steve Molaro gives a sneak peak at the trials and tribulations awaiting our favorite bank of misfits when Season 7 starts up this fall.

How will the group cope with Leonard’s extended absence?

When season 6 concluded on May 16, Leonard was preparing to embark on a four-month-long scientific expedition on a boat in the North Sea. But how long that voyage takes to complete remains to be seen. “It sure would be fun to see him out on the high seas,” Molaro teases. But the effects of Leonard’s departure will be most apparent in the relationship between his girlfriend, Penny, and his roommate, Sheldon. “They both care about Leonard and miss him very much,” Molaro says. “With the key figure in both their lives gone for a few months, it could have an impact on their friendship.”

Now that he can talk to women without the aid of alcohol, will Raj become a ladies’ man?

After a devastating breakup with Lucy, a sober Raj was shockingly able to open up to Penny about his feelings. “Just because he’s able to speak to women now doesn’t necessarily mean he’s very good at it,” Molaro warns. “He does not have a lot of practice talking to women sober, so that’s going to take some time.” Molaro hints Lucy might not be completely out of the picture just yet, but Raj could be looking for a quick rebound. “He’s a lonely character, so I have a feeling he will continue to pursue (a relationship) strongly now that he seems to be able to communicate with women a little more easily.”

Will Sheldon & Amy ever get physical?

“As Sheldon said himself, he hasn’t ruled it out,” Molaro says with a laugh. The socially awkward couple took a big step forward by discussing their intimacy issues through a racy game of Dungeons & Dragons, but there is still a lot work to be done in their relationship. “While it’s not at the level of where she wants it, he is out of his comfort zone and is continuing to push himself for her,” Molaro says. “He’s managing his world and finding his way through like everybody is, so when the time is right, maybe something can happen.”

Is a baby in Howard & Bernadette’s future?

After babysitting Raj’s dog, Cinnamon, Bernadette confided in her husband that she might want to start a family someday. But Molaro insists there isn’t “any rush for babies. There was a bit of movement from Bernadette because in the past she made it very clear she did not like kids at all, so at least she’s starting to soften on the idea. But there are no immediate plans for babies, I promise.”

Will Dungeons & Dragons make a return appearance?

The gang’s second outing with the classic role-playing game was highlighted by dungeon master Howard’s spot-on impressions of such celebrities as Al Pacino and Nicholas Cage. “If we come up with a creative way of doing it, where it’s worthwhile and we can bring it back to that level, then I would love to do more of it,” says Molaro, who reveals that his past season’s D&D episode was inspired by a Vegas-style game played in the writers’ room, complete with cocktails and excited screams. “It’s been really fun, and we have yet to see Sheldon be the dungeon master!”

What else can we expect in Season 7?

Coming off a year of emotion-driven storylines, Molaro promises that science will make a big comeback next season. “It’s been a give-and-take between relationships, science, and geekery,” he says. “A lot of exciting things are going on the scientific community—lots of brain research that we keep reading about—so I think more science is to come.”

This interview doesn't give the warm and fuzzy where Leonard is concern in the upcoming storyline of him and the North Sea. I hope I am wrong though.

Edited July 14, 2013 by ArmyGirl

[Oldnavy]

Credit ShamyForever for posting the interview in the Comic-Con thread.

 

This interview doesn't give the warm and fuzzy where Leonard is concern in the upcoming storyline of him and the North Sea. I hope I am wrong though.

The interview does not say a whole lot about Leonard except that his absence will have an effect on the relationship between Penny and Sheldon.  What is it that makes you uncomfortable? 

[ajond]

The interview does not say a whole lot about Leonard except that his absence will have an effect on the relationship between Penny and Sheldon.  What is it that makes you uncomfortable? 

I suppose the effect on P and S relationship could be that they come closer together with even the possibility of something romantic. Surely not.The negative impact on Leonard and Amy would be too great to even contemplate. I prefer to think that the effect on their friendship would be to put a greater strain on it , requiring some work to keep it as it was. Like Army Girl, I have some negative thoughts which I am trying to put out of my mind.

[ArmyGirl]

The interview does not say a whole lot about Leonard except that his absence will have an effect on the relationship between Penny and Sheldon.  What is it that makes you uncomfortable?

I was just hoping for a half way decent storyline for Leonard that wasn't all about Sheldon and Penny. I just didn't want the main focus to be all about them and how they are coping. Being uncomfortable has nothing to do with.... it was my gut feeling telling me that sending Leonard on this trip had nothing to do with him. I guess it's too much to ask for Leonard to have a good storyline and he be the focus for once.

[ArmyGirl]

I suppose the effect on P and S relationship could be that they come closer together with even the possibility of something romantic. Surely not.The negative impact on Leonard and Amy would be too great to even contemplate. I prefer to think that the effect on their friendship would be to put a greater strain on it , requiring some work to keep it as it was. Like Army Girl, I have some negative thoughts which I am trying to put out of my mind.

nahhh not about P/S getting closer. It's about me wanting Leonard to have a good storyline. And I just don't see that happening.

[Chrismo]

nahhh not about P/S getting closer. It's about me wanting Leonard to have a good storyline. And I just don't see that happening.

The question though was about the group coping without Leonard. A Penny/Sheldon answer was an obvious answer. The question wasn't about a Leonard storyline. If he was asked about a Leonard storyline and said there were no plans I can see being upset.

[ArmyGirl]

The question though was about the group coping without Leonard. A Penny/Sheldon answer was an obvious answer. The question wasn't about a Leonard storyline. If he was asked about a Leonard storyline and said there were no plans I can see being upset.

Maybe you are right Chrismo. It bothers me that Leonard hasn't had a storyline about him in so long and as a fan I am tired of waiting. So I admit I get upset seeing the same old, same old.

As I stated in another thread, hope I am wrong and he will have something decent play out on screen.

[Guitars1964]

Maybe you are right Chrismo. It bothers me that Leonard hasn't had a storyline about him in so long and as a fan I am tired of waiting. So I admit I get upset seeing the same old, same old.

As I stated in another thread, hope I am wrong and he will have something decent play out on screen.

A couple of points about Leonard:  

 

 - Seems to me that the North Sea invitation and experience is big for Leonard, so in my book it counts as a storyline about him.  I agree that this did not provide an episode or more where he is the primary focus.  But it is an ensemble cast.

 

 - I doubt they will do an episode about him on the ship - that would exclude all the other regular cast members.  It would be easier for the writers to envision an episode about life back home without him and before he returns, I think.  

 

 - Leonard is primarily, as I read it, the stable center around which the rest of the characters orbit.  He is mostly the straight man in the story.  Being the straight man in a comedy sometimes gives the impression that he is in the background.  But I think Leonard's presence and influence on the others is always evident.  And I think comedy works well with one centered, stable character.

 

With all that said, it's very possible that they will use his trip and his return as the central point.  But what you may see is our stable Leonard trying to make sense of all the craziness that went on while he was away and likewise trying to put the other characters' relationships (esp. Penny and Sheldon) back in order.