[Spoilers] Discussion Topic: Season 9

[Kasey]

1 hour ago, Carlos said:

I agree with what you say, but I think the writers overplayed the "lesbian Amy" card a tad too much. But it seems they like to do that, over-emphasize something and then pull back as if nothing had ever happened...

Yes to this.  The writers do seem to rush in - go overboard - and then duck out quickly hoping no one will notice what they did.  Too bad we are all watching them closely...

[meka3000]

28 minutes ago, Kasey said:

Yes to this.  The writers do seem to rush in - go overboard - and then duck out quickly hoping no one will notice what they did.  Too bad we are all watching them closely...

Eh I saw it more as a phase that Amy was going through in terms of testing the boundaries of what is and isn't appropriate for their friendship; that she eventually grew out of.  But that's just how I saw it.

[Kasey]

3 minutes ago, meka3000 said:

Eh I saw it more as a phase that Amy was going through in terms of testing the boundaries of what is and isn't appropriate for their friendship; that she eventually grew out of.  But that's just how I saw it.

That could be possible.  Many go through that phase at a younger age.  But since Amy did not have that many interactions at a younger age, that could have been what it was.  Though I still say that it was dropped rather abruptly like it had never happened..

[Kathy2611]

I think they dropped it abruptly because a lot of people were getting tired of it and wondering why she was even with Sheldon if she had such a huge "crush" on Penny.  Like they said at the polyfest thing, "it got wildly out of hand" and when something gets out of hand like that, the best way to deal with it is to just stop doing it all together.  Which is what they did.

[FortCozyMcBlanket]

53 minutes ago, Kathy2611 said:

I think they dropped it abruptly because a lot of people were getting tired of it and wondering why she was even with Sheldon if she had such a huge "crush" on Penny.  Like they said at the polyfest thing, "it got wildly out of hand" and when something gets out of hand like that, the best way to deal with it is to just stop doing it all together.  Which is what they did.

[jenafan]

1 hour ago, FortCozyMcBlanket said:

Good.   Then perhaps TPTB will:

• will move on from referring back to the Shamy break up so we can stop reliving it
• will bring back the Shamy against the world instead of each other
• will finally move Lenny out of Sheldon's apartment
• will make Lenny fun and supportive with each other again like they used to be
• will put some focus back on their careers and achievements
• will give us back the full group ensembles

...because although some think it works, others are frustrated with these storylines and are ready to be done with them.

[3ku11]

Sadly I think those ship's have sailed.

 

[rachelshamyfan]

Just because the writers bring up the break up doesn't mean it has to be super analysed to death, though  that won't stop here I guess

[Lionne]

5 hours ago, Kathy2611 said:

I think they dropped it abruptly because a lot of people were getting tired of it and wondering why she was even with Sheldon if she had such a huge "crush" on Penny.  Like they said at the polyfest thing, "it got wildly out of hand" and when something gets out of hand like that, the best way to deal with it is to just stop doing it all together.  Which is what they did.

Amy was supposed to be seen as having a girl crush on Penny. The writers also like to have someone on hand to constantly point out how hot Kaley Cuoco is, and since Howard was now taken and she and Leonard were not together at the time, the job was given to Amy as an extension of that girl crush. Creepy is funny and funny is creepy is a line that comedy flirts with a lot, sometimes hitting the funny button and sometimes hitting that creepy, awkward, inappropriate and icky button. Amy's girl crush and her commentary came across, at least to me, as inappropriate and icky specifically because Penny's facial expressions indicated she was squicked out by it all, and it's hard to understand why Penny kept being friends with Amy and hanging out with her if she felt disgusted rather than flattered by the comments. The only one I remember that Penny obviously liked was Amy's "you'd fetch a unicorn" line, which was flattering without being overtly and uncomfortably sexual.

As I recall, the writers admitted that they let it get wildly out of hand, but the other thing I recall from the taping reports is that the lines weren't getting any laughs, and I think that's why it died so quickly. I believe there was a taping where a line from Amy received stone faces from the audience, and the dialogue got rewritten and those quasi-lesbian jokes were stopped afterwards.

I don't believe that the show ever wanted to really insinuate that Amy was a lesbian anyway. No more that they intend to insinuate that Raj and Howard are gay despite often play up that up for laughs as part of their "bromance" thing. Whether it's Amy's girl crush or Raj/Howard's bromance, I don't mind that two people can sometimes get really wrapped up in a platonic friendship, perhaps pushing into infatuation or adoration that's a little inappropriate and played for laughs, but I really hate homosexuality being played as a joke. Neither Amy or Penny, nor Howard or Raj, is actually gay (Amy may or may not brush up against the spectrum, but again, could be being inexperienced and naive and open to experimentation), and they are not going to end up in actual homosexual romantic relationships. It's just a tease because "har-de-har, gay is funny" and I'm glad to see it abruptly end with Amy/Penny and wish they'd stay completely clear from it with Raj/Howard.

1 hour ago, rachelshamyfan said:

Just because the writers bring up the break up doesn't mean it has to be super analysed to death, though  that won't stop here I guess

No, no topic stops until people have nothing left to say about it. Sorry you feel things have been super analyzed to death, but everyone gets to have their opinions and voice them and shouldn't feel squashed for doing so if they like the topic of conversation. All conversations wax and wane, sometimes what's horribly boring to you might be interesting to me, while what is fucking boring to me is super interested to you, but all conversations eventually take a turn. The last two tapings brought the break up front and center, and they haven't even aired yet, and won't until the first two weeks of February, and once they air what actually happened on screen is going to be the topic again, so I'd buckle up for seeing this topic continue to get a lot of air time for awhile.

There's still commentary about that bowling alley break up, Amy's lesbian phase, Penny/Raj's season 4 cliffhanger hook up, and those things have been over and done for years. And every so often you'll still see someone bitching about TBBT's laugh track, and after 9 years of that discussion anyone would want to put their fist through a wall. So I understand why you're upset and annoyed, and I am sorry you feel that way, but it's not really anyone's fault that the next two episodes are heavily break-up related. What are we supposed to do, ignore what's happening on the actual show?

[3ku11]

If they resolved these storylines three years ago. No.one would be talking. But alas

[rachelshamyfan]

18 minutes ago, Lionne said:

Amy was supposed to be seen as having a girl crush on Penny. The writers also like to have someone on hand to constantly point out how hot Kaley Cuoco is, and since Howard was now taken and she and Leonard were not together at the time, the job was given to Amy as an extension of that girl crush. Creepy is funny and funny is creepy is a line that comedy flirts with a lot, sometimes hitting the funny button and sometimes hitting that creepy, awkward, inappropriate and icky button. Amy's girl crush and her commentary came across, at least to me, as inappropriate and icky specifically because Penny's facial expressions indicated she was squicked out by it all, and it's hard to understand why Penny kept being friends with Amy and hanging out with her if she felt disgusted rather than flattered by the comments. The only one I remember that Penny obviously liked was Amy's "you'd fetch a unicorn" line, which was flattering without being overtly and uncomfortably sexual.

As I recall, the writers admitted that they let it get wildly out of hand, but the other thing I recall from the taping reports is that the lines weren't getting any laughs, and I think that's why it died so quickly. I believe there was a taping where a line from Amy received stone faces from the audience, and the dialogue got rewritten and those quasi-lesbian jokes were stopped afterwards.

I don't believe that the show ever wanted to really insinuate that Amy was a lesbian anyway. No more that they intend to insinuate that Raj and Howard are gay despite often play up that up for laughs as part of their "bromance" thing. Whether it's Amy's girl crush or Raj/Howard's bromance, I don't mind that two people can sometimes get really wrapped up in a platonic friendship, perhaps pushing into infatuation or adoration that's a little inappropriate and played for laughs, but I really hate homosexuality being played as a joke. Neither Amy or Penny, nor Howard or Raj, is actually gay (Amy may or may not brush up against the spectrum, but again, could be being inexperienced and naive and open to experimentation), and they are not going to end up in actual homosexual romantic relationships. It's just a tease because "har-de-har, gay is funny" and I'm glad to see it abruptly end with Amy/Penny and wish they'd stay completely clear from it with Raj/Howard.

No, no topic stops until people have nothing left to say about it. Sorry you feel things have been super analyzed to death, but everyone gets to have their opinions and voice them and shouldn't feel squashed for doing so if they like the topic of conversation. All conversations wax and wane, sometimes what's horribly boring to you might be interesting to me, while what is fucking boring to me is super interested to you, but all conversations eventually take a turn. The last two tapings brought the break up front and center, and they haven't even aired yet, and won't until the first two weeks of February, and once they air what actually happened on screen is going to be the topic again, so I'd buckle up for seeing this topic continue to get a lot of air time for awhile.

There's still commentary about that bowling alley break up, Amy's lesbian phase, Penny/Raj's season 4 cliffhanger hook up, and those things have been over and done for years. And every so often you'll still see someone bitching about TBBT's laugh track, and after 9 years of that discussion anyone would want to put their fist through a wall. So I understand why you're upset and annoyed, and I am sorry you feel that way, but it's not really anyone's fault that the next two episodes are heavily break-up related. What are we supposed to do, ignore what's happening on the actual show?

No it's just when 3 threads are devoted to the same thing at the same time, its just tedious but I know I can scroll through them, hopefully 199 and 200 will bring new and interesting things!

[Kennykoala]

12 hours ago, rachelshamyfan said:

Guessing game starts now

Eee so exciting!

11 hours ago, MJistheBOMB said:

The Apartment Dissection. LMAO. Wishful thinking. 

Could be some sort of 'reaction' after bernadettes announcement!

[3ku11]

Dissection. Last word. The Sheldon Dissection lol.

[Lionne]

3 minutes ago, rachelshamyfan said:

No it's just when 3 threads are devoted to the same thing at the same time, its just tedious but I know I can scroll through them, hopefully 199 and 200 will bring new and interesting things!

God, I hope so. Honestly, I kinda hoped my poll thread would pull discussion there and free up the others? I know you and others are complaining and really bored, and I'm torn between feeling upset for boring people and feeling stubbornly that I have a right to talk about the topic since it's part of the next two episodes of spoilers. But I think in the poll thread that everyone got to express their opinion and get it off their chest. Maybe that'll tap it out?  

Anyway, considering the spoilers, I'm more curios about how Howard will react to Bernie's pregnancy. I know he'll be thrilled at first, but I wonder if he'll grow up a little and become concerned or even obsessed with preparing for the baby, it's care, and even be likely to overcompensate as "Best Dad Ever" for his own father's lack. 

[Chiany]

9 hours ago, Carlos said:

Sorry to say, Mislav but that was not what he was referring to. What he was referring to was the fact that his post to likes ratio is higher than yours. Yours is 0.58 while his is 0.91 meaning that almost twice as many people per post in this forum agree with him more than they agree with you. Nobody's talking about "Police Academy" or "Tommyknockers" or "Breakfast at Tiffany's", and your analogies are flawed. So, summarizing, according to popular opinion in this forum, Chrismo has both quantity and quality over you.

 

This has nothing to do with quality.

Many people support Donald Trump and agree with him, still doesn't make him a good President.

[Mislav]

14 hours ago, Carlos said:

Sorry to say, Mislav but that was not what he was referring to. What he was referring to was the fact that his post to likes ratio is higher than yours. Yours is 0.58 while his is 0.91 meaning that almost twice as many people per post in this forum agree with him more than they agree with you. Nobody's talking about "Police Academy" or "Tommyknockers" or "Breakfast at Tiffany's", and your analogies are flawed. So, summarizing, according to popular opinion in this forum, Chrismo has both quantity and quality over you.

I agree with what you say, but I think the writers overplayed the "lesbian Amy" card a tad too much. But it seems they like to do that, over-emphasize something and then pull back as if nothing had ever happened...

By that logic, Chiany still has both quality or quantity over Chrismo. And Chrismo was referring to the number of posts, so his anology is flawed, as well as yours. Those artworks were for comparison's sake, so of course they can't literally be things we have been talking about. That is not a flawed anology.

 

 

Hypothetically, up to season six, you would have probably agreed with and "Liked" the comments (reasonably) praising how good the show is. You would have made for a great reputation for someone who has been posting such comments often. And for the least few seasons you're just complain about how much the show is going downhill. Yet the reputation would stay. It could even be better than yours. Would you stop complaining? Ot go back and "Unlike" every one of your "Likes" on such posts? Knowing you, I highly doubt it. You were the one to point that twenty million people still watch the show when I complained about the Shamy break up, so why don't YOU give up complaining all together, Carlos? Oh, yeah, when somebody tried to apply the same logic to you, you whined about ratings being subjective.

 

Basically, as long as something supports your opinion, all of it is true, any belief/interpetration/theory. But when you disagree, no analogy, theory, possibility or common sense will make you reconsider your POV or respect the one of another poster. If I had had a better reputation than you, or Chrismo, or more posts, and tried to use that to support your opinion (that you wouldn't have agreed with), you would have used "quality or quantity" logic too. 

 

Besides, so what? What was Chrismo's point? What is your point. That he can never be wrong? That more people have agreed with him before, so he must always be right? That everyone agrees with him all the time, over everything?

Edited January 28, 2016 by Mislav

[wowbagger]

6 hours ago, Lionne said:

God, I hope so. Honestly, I kinda hoped my poll thread would pull discussion there and free up the others? I know you and others are complaining and really bored, and I'm torn between feeling upset for boring people and feeling stubbornly that I have a right to talk about the topic since it's part of the next two episodes of spoilers. But I think in the poll thread that everyone got to express their opinion and get it off their chest. Maybe that'll tap it out?  

Anyway, considering the spoilers, I'm more curios about how Howard will react to Bernie's pregnancy. I know he'll be thrilled at first, but I wonder if he'll grow up a little and become concerned or even obsessed with preparing for the baby, it's care, and even be likely to overcompensate as "Best Dad Ever" for his own father's lack. 

I am pretty sure any baby tidings would jump-start howard's growth arc. It would be pretty cool to see Howard being the helicopter parent while Bernie is the more chilled one. And it would make sense for him to want to be super-present and involved, given his own experience, as you point out.

and now I am wondering what it would be like if we see the whole gang speculate about what sort of parents they would make. Leonard would probably be super touchy-feely (again to compensate for Beverley), penny would be more laid-back, Sheldon and Amy would experiment on their kids because they can't help themselves (hey, my parents experimented on me! I know, I know, it all makes sense now), Raj would just throw money and gifts at the kid...

am I talking myself into wanting babies on the show? No, no, surely not. Thought experiments only, show.

[jenafan]

I find it interesting that Jim Parsons said in 2014 he attributed TBBT success to the lack of character arcs.     Now look what we have today with S9.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/14-smart-facts-about-the-big-bang-theory/ar-AAdVd0v?li=BBnb2gh#page=10

[ATOB]

13 hours ago, Lionne said:

Amy was supposed to be seen as having a girl crush on Penny. The writers also like to have someone on hand to constantly point out how hot Kaley Cuoco is, and since Howard was now taken and she and Leonard were not together at the time, the job was given to Amy as an extension of that girl crush. Creepy is funny and funny is creepy is a line that comedy flirts with a lot, sometimes hitting the funny button and sometimes hitting that creepy, awkward, inappropriate and icky button. Amy's girl crush and her commentary came across, at least to me, as inappropriate and icky specifically because Penny's facial expressions indicated she was squicked out by it all, and it's hard to understand why Penny kept being friends with Amy and hanging out with her if she felt disgusted rather than flattered by the comments. The only one I remember that Penny obviously liked was Amy's "you'd fetch a unicorn" line, which was flattering without being overtly and uncomfortably sexual.

As I recall, the writers admitted that they let it get wildly out of hand, but the other thing I recall from the taping reports is that the lines weren't getting any laughs, and I think that's why it died so quickly. I believe there was a taping where a line from Amy received stone faces from the audience, and the dialogue got rewritten and those quasi-lesbian jokes were stopped afterwards.

I don't believe that the show ever wanted to really insinuate that Amy was a lesbian anyway. No more that they intend to insinuate that Raj and Howard are gay despite often play up that up for laughs as part of their "bromance" thing. Whether it's Amy's girl crush or Raj/Howard's bromance, I don't mind that two people can sometimes get really wrapped up in a platonic friendship, perhaps pushing into infatuation or adoration that's a little inappropriate and played for laughs, but I really hate homosexuality being played as a joke. Neither Amy or Penny, nor Howard or Raj, is actually gay (Amy may or may not brush up against the spectrum, but again, could be being inexperienced and naive and open to experimentation), and they are not going to end up in actual homosexual romantic relationships. It's just a tease because "har-de-har, gay is funny" and I'm glad to see it abruptly end with Amy/Penny and wish they'd stay completely clear from it with Raj/Howard.

The writers also like to have someone on hand to constantly point out how hot Kaley Cuoco is

Someone's really got a bee in their bonnet about Kaley Cuoco's looks huh?  Here's a fun game, let's play why did Kaley Cuoco get cast as the hot sexy neighbour?  It's multiple choice, pick one...

A. Because Kaley Cuoco is a perfect choice to play the hot sexy neighbour.

B. There were absolutely no other actresses in LA available to play this part so they had to make do with Kaley Cuoco.

C. The BBT casting agents are morons and wouldn't know hot and sexy if it slapped them round the face.

 

Amy's girl crush and her commentary came across, at least to me, as inappropriate and icky specifically because Penny's facial expressions indicated she was squicked out by it all,

And how about Howard's commentary (far worse) and skeevy behaviour? Inappropriate and icky? No difference in the facial expressions from Penny at his seedy attempts either.  Or did the heteronormativity of Howard's crush make it funny.  Guy makes a play for girl he'll never get; funny.  Girl makes a play for girl she'll never get; icky.  Is that how it works?

 

I don't believe that the show ever wanted to really insinuate that Amy was a lesbian anyway

I believe they were suggesting she was bi-sexual or, at the very least, bi-curious, not lesbian.

 

and they are not going to end up in actual homosexual romantic relationships.

No? Oh tell us more Mystic Lionne, what's it say in your crystal ball? Do share!

 

[Einstein Von Brainstorm]

14 hours ago, Lionne said:

As I recall, the writers admitted that they let it get wildly out of hand, but the other thing I recall from the taping reports is that the lines weren't getting any laughs, and I think that's why it died so quickly. I believe there was a taping where a line from Amy received stone faces from the audience, and the dialogue got rewritten and those quasi-lesbian jokes were stopped afterwards.

That was the last Paley Fest interview right? 

[Squonk]

On 26-1-2016 at 11:36 PM, nibbler747 said:

The writers even admitted on panel that they took Amy's "Penny Crush" a little too far, so there was in fact a bi-curious Amy.  They said it started out as a little joke, but then it got a bit out of hand, so they ended it.

I'm not sure of the confusion of the private members club for two.  It's more of an expression, than something literal.   Like a super exclusive club of two members only!  A secret club...

What does "on panel" mean. Why is "Penny crush" in quotation marks? (even though quotation marks look like inches on my screen (I am more of an engineer).

Amy thought that is what girlfriends do, she never had a girlfriend before Penny.

Ask me again why Penny is my favorite charachter.

Edited January 28, 2016 by Squonk

[nibbler747]

21 minutes ago, Squonk said:

What does "on panel" mean. Why is "Penny crush" in quotation marks? (even though quotation marks look like inches on my screen (I am more of an engineer).

Amy thought that is what girlfriends do, she never had a girlfriend before Penny.

Ask me again why Penny is my favorite charachter.

By on panel, I believe at Paleyfest, they had a bunch of the writers of the Big Bang Theory sitting in a row at a table, and the audience got to ask them questions.  When a row of people (actors/athletes/writers) are sitting there for questions, it is usually referred to as a panel.  Panel of writers.  Panel of Judges.  Panel of writers. etc.  I don't know what your issue is with me using quotes?  And I am an engineer (electrical) so I prefer metric.  No inches for me.

The writers themselves said that these overt sexual jokes Amy was making towards Penny had gone too far so they ended it, because that was not the direction they wanted to take.  Perhaps you are of the view Amy was just learning about the boundaries in friendship since she never had friends before.  That's fine.  Everyone is open to their own interpretation.  It did seem to end rather abruptly in my opinion.  They tend to do that on this show.

Ok, I'll bite.  Why is Penny your favourite character?  I have no real issues with any of the characters.  Howard is high up on my list of favourites.

 

Edited January 28, 2016 by nibbler747

[stardustmelody]

The Press Release for 9.15 - The Valentino Submergence is up in the Production Journal!  Includes Promo Photos!

 

Edited January 28, 2016 by stardustmelody

[Kasey]

They look happy in that picture.  Is that a new color for Amy?  Looks nice on her. 

[vonmar]

36 minutes ago, Kasey said:

They look happy in that picture.  Is that a new color for Amy?  Looks nice on her. 

She's worn it before, the blue dress (I would call it a jumper).  It was her "go to" date night outfit for quite awhile.