The Big Bang Theory: Heroes and the Cult of the Celebrity

Heroes and the Cult of the Celebrity

            The Big Bang Theory often displays, through the eyes of its main characters, perfect depictions of heroes and celebrities, both of which are often interchangeable.  Being “geeks” the guys in the show often reference and look up to heroes and celebrities in the science or science fiction worlds.  Star Trek is often referenced in the show with the guys having admiration for many of the characters and actors who played them.  One such instance is an episode where penny gets a napkin autographed by Leonard Nimoy, who plays Spock in the original Star Trek series, for Sheldon.  Sheldon is beyond excited and cannot thank Penny enough.  One of Sheldon’s real life heroes is the renowned scientist Stephen Hawking.  Wil Wheaton, who played Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation, often cameos in the show.  Although most of the guys recognize him as a celebrity, Sheldon does not instead recognizing him as a foe or arch enemy who is always out to embarrass or show up Sheldon.

            At one point in the series, Howard gets the opportunity to go into space and spend time on the international space station.  This makes him somewhat of a hero/celebrity to the guys and the local community.  Howard of course overplays this recognition thinking he is much more famous than in reality.  The guys promptly bring him back down to earth, no pun intended.

            As some schools of thought may dictate, people of lesser stature in life such a nerds and geeks often have heroes and celebrities that they look up to.  The show plays on this well, often referencing sci-fi movies, characters and actors, comic book characters and real life scientists as the guys’ heroes or idols.  In some way, almost all of the characters are rendered a hero at the rest of the group in some way or another, giving them a superior, if only temporary status among the group.