The Big Bang Theory

The Big Bang Theory is a popular sitcom on cbs that is currently in its sixth season.  The show is centered around 5 main characters, four male and one female.  The males (Sheldon, Leonard, Raja and Howard) are mid twenty somethings and are what society might consider nerds and are highly educated yet socially awkward.  The fifth main character (Penny) is an attractive blond female working as a waitress at the Cheesecake Factory who is pursuing her dreams of becoming an actress.  Sheldon and Leonard are roommates who are neighbors of Penny.  Howard and Raj work for the same university as Sheldon and Leonard and hang with them socially.  The show centers around the interactions of these five and a handful of other characters and the situations they get into.

            As the four males in the show are stereotyped as “Nerds” or “Geeks”, many Icons brought up in the show would be considered “Nerdy’ or “Geeky”.  They often reference Star Trek or Lord of the Rings, can be seen playing Dungeons and Dragons or video games, frequent the local comic book store and are often going to Sci-Fi conventions.  They are rarely heard speaking of popular athletes or musical groups, or going to play a sport or out for a drinks at the club.  For Penny the opposite is true.  She is pretty and popular and often cites popular music or is going out to a local club or bar.  She likes and understands sports and is not the least bit shy like the guys.  When the five are together the guys often talk about science or physics, which Penny rarely understands.   Penny portrays the “dumb blond” very well but is often quick witted, thinks fast and often has a clever retort for the guys.  The guys are super smart but lack any amount of physical or athletic ability as one would assume. 

            The show plays on the fact the people believe “nerds” and “pretty girls” will act certain ways and do 

certain things.  Somehow, through all of their differences, the Penny and the four guys hang out often, which 

is something not usually seen in society, pretty girls hanging out with nerds.  What to me sounded like a bad 

idea for a show when I first heard of it, has turned into a wildly popular sitcom which has won me over as a 

fan.