Seeing as it is now in vogue to be a nerd it is not surprising that a show has been made about this subculture. However, it is surprising that such a show would be so well embraced while knowing so little about the group it is trying to appeal to: nerds. 
    The Big Bang Theory debuted in 2007 and has been making laugh track riddled, humorless, stereotyping jokes ever since.
    The most unfortunate part of this show is the authority that the writers (Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady) assume while discussing nerd culture. In the third episode of the first season Sheldon (the socially inept and unlikable jerk) brags that he just got a copy of Super Mario 64 so the friends can “rock Mario old school.” 
    However, any kid who grew up blowing Nintendo cartridges knows that Super Mario 64 is not a good group game. 
    Super Smash Bros. would be a more suitable (and just as nerdy) option for four friends interested in playing a vintage Mario game on their Nintendo 64. Yes, it is a bit picky to point something like that out, but it is just one of many instances that illustrate the lack of understanding of nerd culture on the part of the writers. 
    Nerds are not a group of people above self-deprecating humor, but the jokes should at least be accurate. 
    The excessive use of the laugh track also points out how this show lacks humor. 
    Most shows that are truly funny do not use a laugh track: Modern Family, The Office and 30 Rock, just to name a few. 
    The Big Bang Theory used a laugh track over 150 times in one episode. In a 21 minute episode that means the laugh track was played about seven times every minute. 
    To some people this means that the show has many funny jokes, but if the laugh track is taken out of the show, it is easy to notice that many of the punch-lines are not as funny as they seem. We are conditioned to laugh when we hear the laugh track played. 
    Look up a video of the show without the laugh track (and yes there are many of these videos on the internet) and you will find that jokes are not really that funny, and that many of the laughs are at the characters awkwardly staring at each other at each other. 
    If the humor came from jokes that pointed out nerd related absurdities then I could get behind the laugh track, but this show seems to be more interested in pointing out that nerds are not able hold a conversation, and that they have poor social skills, rather than actually making well developed jokes. 
    The Big Bang Theory also fails a crucial authenticity test. It feels like a show about nerds written from a jock’s point of view. It is a show made by a bunch of Hollywood hacks who saw a new audience emerging and then capitalized on it. 
    But even worse than not understanding its attempted audience, the show lacks humor.
    If you want to see a show that actually understands nerd culture, stick with Community.