Twelve seasons, three spinoffs, and countless rewatches later, The Big Bang Theory quietly created a unique trend with its viewers. At the start of the series, the sitcom’s brilliant sense of humor centered on science and geek lore. Real scientists fact-checked jokes, but with non-scientific viewers in mind. Diverse viewers were able to understand nerd culture simply, largely in part due to Penny (Kaley Cuoco) being the straight woman of the group.
After its release in 2007, The Big Bang Theory has become a popular comfort TV show for a wide range of viewers. While almost 20 years old, the series has a way of connecting with different eras of a person’s life, creating a cozy blanket of educated nostalgia. From confusion to understanding to comfort, it’s rare to find a series like this.
TBBT’s Nerdy, Smart Humor Made Mainstream People Feel Like They Understood Nerd Culture In 2007
Outside the incredible on-screen friendships that The Big Bang Theory produced, its smart humor made the sitcom a hit with audiences. It brought education, humor, and award-winning acting together. There was nothing else like it on TV: Brilliant friends talking about scientific theories and the world’s problems in a light way. One of the key factors that helped viewers comprehend the content was Penny.
Penny acted as the audience surrogate. Surrounded by four geniuses, the Cheesecake Factory waitress asked her friends to explain their scientific theories or geek lore subject matter in a relatable fashion. This helped many viewers understand the complex topics that weren’t mainstream in pop culture at the time.
In season 9’s “The Line Substitution Solution,” Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and Penny find a way to relate and learn from each other by showing each other flashcards that relate to their interests. Penny taught Sheldon about the Kardashians, while Sheldon taught Penny about pi. The interaction was another way to have fun with academic knowledge.
The group’s geeky interests expanded Penny’s (and, in turn, the audience’s) take on things like comics, engineering, astronomy, and physics. Add in the laugh track and some romantic moments, and The Big Bang Theory was, and is, a well-rounded sensation. At the time, it made non-nerd culture audiences feel as if they were part of the in-group and understand the burgeoning geek-centric pop culture that was just starting to rise.
Today, Big Bang Theory’s Nerdy Humor Is Nostalgic & Comforting For Audiences
Over the years, the reasons for watching The Big Bang Theory and how its humor resonated with audiences havechanged. What was once confusing or too brilliant to comprehend on The Big Bang Theory was now comforting and nostalgic. The Big Bang Theory’s culture shift saw nerd culture, originally niche, just become pop culture.
The Big Bang Theory remained consistent with its characters and content, creating the ultimate comfort show. As years go by and culture shifts, the sitcom hits audiences in different eras in various ways.
In 2007, the nerd culture shown on TBBT had never been done before, creating a slight mental fog around some of the nerdier conversations. Marvel’s Iron Man (2008) wasn’t even released until a year later. As the sitcom ran longer, the addition of more superhero and comic-based characters hit the big screens.
What followed was a larger fan base of things that were once seen as nerdy or geeky. Now, nerd culture is everywhere, and it blends nicely into pop culture; everything about The Big Bang Theory is mainstream today. This creates an even cozier viewing experience when rewatching the series because it’s familiar. With three spinoffs to its name, TBBT is a cultural powerhouse that shifted TV and audiences.
