NERD alert – The Big Bang Theory and Silicon Valley are back.
Nerds have become goldmines for Hollywood. And Chuck Lorre will concur with that statement. The Big Bang Theory has ushered in an interesting mindset shift. And he didn’t have to dumb down either.
He offered a group of genius scientist friends and levelled things by adding a seriously hot struggling actress waitress. She lived up to her blondness in every way too.
He made the dynamics more interesting by including a splash of cultural diversity thanks to Raj. Of course, as the seasons wore on, the storyline had to evolve. So Sheldon got a girlfriend and Howard a wife.
Of course, the relationships never follow a smooth path. And, this season picks up from the upsets in the finale. Sheldon and Amy have a lot to work through. She is upset about him leaving without telling her and he can’t admit that he made a mistake. Penny’s career takes a detour when she finds herself working for a pharmaceutical company and Howard finds his mother has a house guest – Stuart. And, Raj, of course, is in the middle of all their dramas while his love life continues to yo-yo.
By the way, Nathan Fillion (Castle) makes a celebrity guest appearance.
Then there is Silicon Valley, which offers another bizarre outing into geek territory. However, this one lives in a high-tech world of apps for the software engineers of Pied Piper as they turn to investors to buy into their ideas and also deal with the crushing blows of rejection along the way..
Interestingly, this comedy bagged a surprise win for TJ Miller at this year’s Critic’s Choice Award. He won Best Supporting Actor honours for his role as Erlich Bachman. In fact, he was saluted for staying true to his maladroit character in his acceptance speech.
Back to the show, though, the team’s victorious run from the previous season hits a snag when their funder, Peter Gregory, has a heart attack. Also, they find themselves embroiled in a law suit, just as they make headway with Gregory’s replacement – Laurie Bream – making them an offer too good to resist.
Of the two shows, The Big Bang Theory is more clear-cut with its approach, while Silicon Valley is more complex. Either way, the eccentric character traits and distinct plots are enough to trigger the laughs.
It’s varying degrees of comedy, but funny all the same!
• The Big Bang Theory airs as a double bill on Wednesday on M-Net (DStv channel 101) at 7.30pm. Silicon Valley airs Friday on M-Net Edge (channel 102) at 9.30pm.