BBT is probably my favorite sitcom of all time. It is one of the very few that can make me laugh out loud, and it is the only one where I can stand to watch re-runs of recent episodes (most other shows, I have to wait a couple of years before I can watch the re-runs and still enjoy them). I think that in order to really appreciate the show, it should be watched from the beginning to really get the sense of the characters and their evolution over the course of the show.
Andy
I generally enjoy the show when I catch it, but I watched the Olympics last night.
And especially for all forum members..... one of Sheldon Coopers famous lines from the show was.....
wait for it.....
"It's O Gauge or No Gauge"
I had never seen this show and gave it a 4 out of 10. The dialog on the train was pretty good. The awful laugh track (not to be confused with Fastrack) killed it for me.
There's NO laugh track on BBT. None. I've been at tapings and can guarantee that it's shot before a real audience filled up on pizza. Each week the show has about 22 minutes of content that takes approximately 4 1/2 hours to tape in one afternoon/evening. Rehearsals occur several days before.
In general, this is a well-written, excellently acted "sit-com". Hardly gets better on commercial TV.
Chris...it's not a laugh track. It's taped before an audience at Warner Bros. in Burbank.
BBT is my family's favorite show. We were all together to watch this episode. Now we are making plans to vacation in Cali to ride the Napa Valley Wine Train - how cool is that! BTW, the wine train web site already has this episode linked from their web site.
I thought that Sheldon should have known that the train could not legally carry passengers and use the hook and eye couplers, FRA-approved passenger couplers would be required.
I had never seen this show and gave it a 4 out of 10. The dialog on the train was pretty good. The awful laugh track (not to be confused with Fastrack) killed it for me.
There's NO laugh track on BBT. None. I've been at tapings and can guarantee that it's shot before a real audience filled up on pizza. Each week the show has about 22 minutes of content that takes approximately 4 1/2 hours to tape in one afternoon/evening. Rehearsals occur several days before.
In general, this is a well-written, excellently acted "sit-com". Hardly gets better on commercial TV.
That's not saying much. A gale of laughter for dialog barely funny makes me wonder about the studio audience.
My wife mentioned this episode was going to be about trains, so I watched. OK, who among us members is the ups guy.
Jack
It does seem that the humor on the Big Bang Theory has grown more sexual and less intellectual after the first several seasons. I was hoping Sara Gilbert's character, Leslie Winkle, would remain as an antagonist for Sheldon. Their bantering once led to this humorous exploration of cosmological theories as analogous with religious beliefs:
From "The Codpiece Topology" episode:
Sheldon: Leonard, you are my friend. And friends support their friends, apparently. So I am withdrawing my objection to your desire to have a relationship with Leslie.
Leonard: Thank you.
Sheldon: I will graciously overlook the fact that she is an arrogant sub-par scientist, who actually believes loop quantum gravity better unites quantum mechanics with general relativity than does string theory. You kids have fun.
Leslie: Hang on a second. Loop quantum gravity clearly offers more testable predictions than string theory.
Sheldon: I’m listening, amuse me.
Leslie: Okay, well, for one thing we expect quantized space-time to manifest itself as minute differences in the speed of light for different colours.
Sheldon: Balderdash. Matter clearly consists of tiny strings.
Leslie: Are you going to let him talk to me like that?
Leonard: Okay, well, there is a lot of merit to both theories.
Leslie: No there isn’t, only loop quantum gravity calculates the entropy of black holes.(Sheldon grunts.)
Leonard: Sheldon, don’t make that noise, it’s disrespectful.
Sheldon: I hope so, it was a snort of derision.
Leslie: You agree with me, right, loop quantum gravity is the future of physics.
Leonard: Sorry Leslie, I guess I prefer my space stringy not loopy.
Leslie: Well, I’m glad I found out the truth about you before this went any further.
Leonard: Truth, what truth? We’re talking about untested hypotheses, uh, it’s no big deal.
Leslie: Oh, it isn’t, really? Tell me Leonard, how would we raise the children?
Leonard: I guess we let them wait until they’re old enough and let them choose their own theory.
Leslie: We can’t let them choose, Leonard, they’re children. (Storms off.)
Leonard: Wait, where are you going?
Leslie: I’m sorry, I could have accepted our kids being genetically unable to eat ice-cream or ever get a good view of a parade, but this? This is a deal breaker. (Leaves.)
Sheldon: Look on the bright side.
Leonard: What’s the bright side?
Sheldon: Only nine more months to comic-con.
That's brilliant stuff indeed.
Sheldon: Leonard, you are my friend. And friends support their friends, apparently. So I am withdrawing my objection to your desire to have a relationship with Leslie.
Leonard: Thank you.
Sheldon: I will graciously overlook the fact that she is an arrogant sub-par scientist, who actually believes loop quantum gravity better unites quantum mechanics with general relativity than does string theory. You kids have fun.
Leslie: Hang on a second. Loop quantum gravity clearly offers more testable predictions than string theory.
Sheldon: I’m listening, amuse me.
Leslie: Okay, well, for one thing we expect quantized space-time to manifest itself as minute differences in the speed of light for different colours.
Sheldon: Balderdash. Matter clearly consists of tiny strings.
Leslie: Are you going to let him talk to me like that?
Leonard: Okay, well, there is a lot of merit to both theories.
Leslie: No there isn’t, only loop quantum gravity calculates the entropy of black holes.(Sheldon grunts.)
Leonard: Sheldon, don’t make that noise, it’s disrespectful.
Sheldon: I hope so, it was a snort of derision.
Leslie: You agree with me, right, loop quantum gravity is the future of physics.
Leonard: Sorry Leslie, I guess I prefer my space stringy not loopy.
Leslie: Well, I’m glad I found out the truth about you before this went any further.
Leonard: Truth, what truth? We’re talking about untested hypotheses, uh, it’s no big deal.
Leslie: Oh, it isn’t, really? Tell me Leonard, how would we raise the children?
Leonard: I guess we let them wait until they’re old enough and let them choose their own theory.
Leslie: We can’t let them choose, Leonard, they’re children. (Storms off.)
Leonard: Wait, where are you going?
Leslie: I’m sorry, I could have accepted our kids being genetically unable to eat ice-cream or ever get a good view of a parade, but this? This is a deal breaker. (Leaves.)
Sheldon: Look on the bright side.
Leonard: What’s the bright side?
Sheldon: Only nine more months to comic-con.
Jim
This show , by the posts above, sounds mindless.i stopped watching sitcons in the early eighties, seems I have not missed much.
Fred
"This show , by the posts above, sounds mindless."
Kind of you to reflect on tastes different from your own in such a nuanced and charitable spirit 
.
Situation comedies seem to generate a love-em-or-hate-em response more than any other TV genre. My wife and I loved Seinfeld, but our parents hated it. We are both the oldest in our families and absolutely hated Friends but our 10+ year-younger brother and sister loved it. My grandparents loved I Love Lucy, and I can't stand it.
These things go in spurts. Remember all the hillbilly related comedies of the late 60s? Andy Griffith, Gomer Pyle USMC, Petticoat Junction, et al. Some loved 'em, some hated 'em.
In addition to the generational differences, there's also geographic preferences. All in the Family and Seinfeld aside, they're over-doing the NYC-centric thing. Everybody Loves Raymond? Maybe Somebody, but certainly not Everybody.
My wife and I love TBBT, but I do agree it's unfortunate that the sexual humor has grown in volume relative to the intellectual humor.
.BBT is probably my favorite sitcom of all time. It is one of the very few that can make me laugh out loud, and it is the only one where I can stand to watch re-runs of recent episodes (most other shows, I have to wait a couple of years before I can watch the re-runs and still enjoy them). I think that in order to really appreciate the show, it should be watched from the beginning to really get the sense of the characters and their evolution over the course of the show.
Andy
As with most quality situation comedies the first three or four years of the Big Bang Theory were absolutely hilarious but as usually is the case since then I think the quality of their shows have declined significantly. After three or four years story lines and writing start to suffer. When the show first came on I howled with laughter during virtually every episode but now it doesn't have the same effect. I still enjoy watching the early episodes and I always liked the fact that they introduced the model train wrinkle into their story line.
This show , by the posts above, sounds mindless.i stopped watching sitcons in the early eighties, seems I have not missed much.
Fred
But the Andy Griffith Show consisted of clever conversation?! Lol.
(For the record, I really love the old black & white Andy Griffith Show. I watch re-runs of it often, along with Bonanza, on TVLand.
I like the Big Bang and understand how it might not be someoneelses cup of tea. I watch Dr Who and The Walking Dead and know people that think these shows are mindless and stupid too. I've met people who can't understand why everyone thinks All In The Family was a good show with all it's racist and sexist humor. Everyone has different tastes but if a show has wide spread appeal across a wide range of demographics it generally is a good show. Now one thing I have noticed about people who don't like BBT is that in general if they don't get the science based jokes they tend to not like the show.
Jerry
"This show , by the posts above, sounds mindless."
Kind of you to reflect on tastes different from your own in such a nuanced and charitable spirit .
It may sound that way, but a lot of the subject matter and humor (not all, but some) is of a highly intelligent, scientific nature, as evidenced by there fact that they've managed to snag guest appearances by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Hayden Planetarium director and astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and The Man Himself, Stephen Hawking.
- Mike
I like the "Big Bang" because it reminds me of us!
Situation comedies seem to generate a love-em-or-hate-em response more than any other TV genre. My wife and I loved Seinfeld, but our parents hated it. We are both the oldest in our families and absolutely hated Friends but our 10+ year-younger brother and sister loved it. My grandparents loved I Love Lucy, and I can't stand it.
These things go in spurts. Remember all the hillbilly related comedies of the late 60s? Andy Griffith, Gomer Pyle USMC, Petticoat Junction, et al. Some loved 'em, some hated 'em.
In addition to the generational differences, there's also geographic preferences. All in the Family and Seinfeld aside, they're over-doing the NYC-centric thing. Everybody Loves Raymond? Maybe Somebody, but certainly not Everybody.
My wife and I love TBBT, but I do agree it's unfortunate that the sexual humor has grown in volume relative to the intellectual humor.
That was my point but you elaborated a little more. I liked the show a lot more during the first couple of seasons but then almost every show from then on had a sexual storyline going on. It ceased to be a "smart" comedy in my opinion. I can only stomach so many jokes about Leonard and Penny's sex life.
No laugh track. They actually film it before a live audience. Did Amy actually call the FPA-4 an "Alcoa"? Could Sheldon actually think that cars built in the 1920's had link and pin couplers?
Oh God... I AM Sheldon! Or worse... the UPS guy.
Jon 
Not unless a big box fell on your noggin. I thought the show was very funny as always. You need to remind your self it is TV there is a lot of bad inaccurate writing in TV. On one episode they say a Laser cannot hit an incoming missile and destroy it. O yes it can and did so many times. 
U got to let it go and say to your self it TV, it is a movie…
My wife and I are fans of well-done science fiction (Example: the ORIGINAL "The Day the Earth Stood Still"), and have read (pondered through?) Stephen Hawking's tomes, including the Grand Design. BBT is a delightful and witty show with enough sexual nuances to be funny without offending most people. There are actual scientists who serve as advisers, and the equations on the various white boards are the real thing.
Well written with a wonderfully acted ensemble cast. the character of Sheldon's mom is especially a hoot, and always steals the show when she appears!
They do seriously need a train "advisor" for Sheldon's lines and those of the guy he befriended on the wine train. 
It may sound that way, but a lot of the subject matter and humor (not all, but some) is of a highly intelligent, scientific nature, as evidenced by there fact that they've managed to snag guest appearances by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Hayden Planetarium director and astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and The Man Himself, Stephen Hawking.
- Mike
An excellent point! I believe Bill Nye also made an appearance, among other notables from the world of scientific endeavor.
And lest we forget appearances by the actors who played Data, Geordi LaForge, Spock, and Wesley Crusher on the StarTrek series.
At age 21 I probably fall smack in the middle of that show's target audience and I can't stand it. I find myself getting aggravated whenever it's on in the same room as I am and many times have had to find the remote and change the channel if no one is watching it. As others have already said, you can only stomach the same geek / sex jokes so many times....
It may sound that way, but a lot of the subject matter and humor (not all, but some) is of a highly intelligent, scientific nature, as evidenced by there fact that they've managed to snag guest appearances by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, Hayden Planetarium director and astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson, and The Man Himself, Stephen Hawking.
- Mike
An excellent point! I believe Bill Nye also made an appearance, among other notables from the world of scientific endeavor.
i'd bet that the majority of these folks have been on the simpsons as well
You'd lose that bet, the only one who has appeared on the Simpsons is Hawking, he has made 4 appearances and is a big fan of the show.
Jerry
I USED TO WORK AT UPS UNTIL A BOX HIT ME IN THE HEAD, NOW I SPEND ALL MY TIME ON THE ORG FORUM
GREAT SHOW
The Simpsons is the longest running show in the history of TV, if I'm not mistaken, so they must be doing something right. And some consider it the funniest, wittiest show (perhaps outside of MASH) of all time . So being compared with the Simpsons isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Simpsons has been on for 25 years and has an impressive list of guest voices and holds the Guinness record for guest stars.. However, it only has 4 science types. Hawking and Buz Aldrin have been on both shows.
Woz did not do the voice of the ghost. Bill Nye has not been on the Simpson's. George Smoot, Nobel prize winning astrophysicist whose work is actually tied into the show's title has also not been on the Simpsons.
According to IMDB Neil Degrasse Tyson has not been on the Simpsons. His character was portrayed on a Simpsons episode tale Of Two Wiggums so you are down to 1 out of 4 a minority in my book.
And so what if they were on the Simpsons? It's a popular long running show and their being on it in no way marginalizes them does it?
Jerry
Trains were a big part of a previous episode (Season 5 Episode 3. The Pulled Groin Extrapolation), which Sheldon says one of my all time favorite TV show quotes:
"Of course we all know it's O-gauge or no gauge".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCTzWZulcwg
Scene: Raj’s car.
Bernadette: What are you going to get at the train store, Sheldon?
Sheldon: Oh, I’m not buying anything. They’re having a lecture. H-O gauge railroading. Half the size of O-gauge, but twice the fun. Very controversial topic.
Howard: Which side do you come down on?
Sheldon: I’ll let you know after tonight. Unlike some people, I’m going in with an open mind. Who am I kidding? Of course we all know it’s O-gauge or no gauge.
Progressiveboink as a reference source ? You really need to double check and cross reference things on the net, if it only appears on one questionable site and not other more solid reference sites it probably isn't correct.
Look them up on IMDB to see their list of media appearances.
There is no mention of the Simpsons for either but Hawkings does.
And also checks out with:
Jerry
Only episode Mark Zuckerburg is credited with is "Loan-A_Lisa". I can't find any reference to episode number or "title" you referenced for Woz appearance. Plus there is no hit for Woz as an "actor" on the Simpson's or for "playing himself" on the Simpson's.
I watch Dr Who .... know people that think these shows are mindless and stupid too.
Jerry
Hmm them is fighting words, better get different friends
The Simpsons is the longest running show in the history of TV, if I'm not mistaken, so they must be doing something right. And some consider it the funniest, wittiest show (perhaps outside of MASH) of all time . So being compared with the Simpsons isn't necessarily a bad thing.
It's not the longest running show by a long way. In the UK, 'Coronation Street' has been running for 50 years, and I'm sure that there must be others of similar longevity in other countries.
I stand corrected. I should have said "in the USA." You know we Americans have a shorter attention span than almost anyone else in the world . But "The Simpsons"
is fabulously brilliant social and cultural satire.
"I watch Dr Who"
Jerry
Jerry,
Is that because The Doctor, like train guys, is always with cute young ladies?
The early shows effects are a hoot, who's afraid of a Dalek?, can't even climb a stair!
Wanna bet?
Jerry
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