Calling All Men, part 2
To carry on with this Men are Dolts theory, I was thinking about other sitcom men. Someone has already commented about the men in Seinfeld, which probably requires a completely separate blog, cause don’t even get me started about George. I was never really a big Seinfeld fan (even though I find Jerry Seinfield’s stand up comedy very funny), just because I can’t take George. I’m very easily embarrassed, even for and by other people, and George is all about embarrassment. Plus, I hate whiny men.
But, in any case, I was thinking about something more modern, like the men of The Big Bang Theory. Obviously, these men are not stupid. But do they lack commonsense? Will they ask for directions?
What have we seen so far? Well, I’ve already made mention of Sheldon asking Penny for advice about the tie on the doorknob, so clearly, they ask for information they don’t already have. However, when it comes to matters that they believe they know about, they do come across as pretty smug.
As far as commonsense goes, I’d have to say they probably don’t have any more than any other sitcom man. Maybe even less, because (and this is borne out in real life, as well) ultra smart people tend to be generally unconcerned about practical matters. Probably, they over think things, which doesn’t allow them to see that some situations could be more quickly and efficiently resolved than that realize.
Not that Penny comes across as being all that sensible. But neither is she the wise-mouthed, bossy, strong woman persona that many other leading sitcom women seem to portray. So I guess that’s another blog entirely as well. If the men generally aren’t too smart, are the women then too bossy? On Raymond, Debra was pretty bossy, and always considered herself much smarter than Ray. But not Penny, she comes across as sweet and friendly, but not too bright. Which I guess is the point of the show. So it doesn’t fit with the theory entirely. Any ideas out there? What shows fit and which don’t?
Seinfeld, Jerry Seinfeld, Jason Alexander, George Costanza, Eveybody Loves Raymond, Ray Romano, Patricia Heaton, The Big Bang Theory, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco
November 4th, 2007 at 10:59 am
Well everyone knows that Edith was smarter than Archie
November 4th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
*giggle* Oh, I have more, I think there was a change, sometime in the 80s, possibly. Where men went from being men and turned into wimps.
Maybe it was a part of the vast right wing conspiracy,
November 4th, 2007 at 11:39 pm
I think that was around the time when Tony first showed up at Angela’s door wasn’t it?
November 5th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
That’s very likely actually. Why didn’t I see it before?
November 6th, 2007 at 3:46 pm
I love Seinfeld! I understand what you mean about George though. I am often embarrassed for him as well, but he’s so funny I forgive him.
November 6th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
You’re a better person than I am.
November 20th, 2007 at 11:41 am
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