CBS' smash-hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory has been the butt of a lot of jokes, especially on the Internet, even now as the show heads toward the end of its final season after twelve seasons. The ire of many critics on social media and various blog-hosting sites have transformed the show into a punching bag, strung from the rafters and pummeled with of barrage of criticism of the show's tendency to employ pop culture references in place of actual joke writing, its periodic broad representation of certain archetypes, and its relentless, hamfisted celebrity cameos.

However, despite the blanket of shade hoisted over the show as if it was a rusted out propane grill your dad just refuses to replace, The Big Bang Theory has been one of the most successful sitcoms of the Twenty-First Century. This, of course, begs the question: How can so many people despise a show that is so wildly popular? To answer that, it's paramount to look at why the show has been such a huge hit to begin with.

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One of the biggest factors contributing to the success of The Big Bang Theory might be when it debuted. Now, this not to say people were clamoring for a sitcom about a group of socially awkward nerds in 2007, but it did scratch an itch for some. The show arrived before the superhero boom we currently live in really exploded. Neither The Dark Knight or Iron Man had been released, but they were right around the corner, which is also important to note. Pop culture, specifically "nerd culture" was just starting to build up steam. The MCU didn't exist; Disney hand't yet scooped up every property from your childhood; and a Batman movie was a year away from grossing a billion dollars and earning a couple Academy Awards.

Sure superheroes were in the cultural zeitgeist, but when were they not? Star Wars and Star Trek were cultural touchstones by anyone's metric, but their diehard fans had yet to be represented on screen for a lot of audiences. Shows like Spaced and The IT Crowd had strong cult followings and featured characters who were into comics, science, computers, and fantasy but neither of those shows premiered on a massive American television network like CBS. With The Big Bang Theory, suddenly toe entire idea of "nerd culture" had the biggest and broadest audience it had ever seen.

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What The Big Bang Theory capitalized on was focusing on characters who debated the merits of Superman and the internal workings of the character as if he were real. These discussions were not happening in a Kevin Smith film that you and a handful of your college buddies watched on DVD in a dorm. No, these discussions were happening on CBS, one of the biggest television networks in the country. That level of accessibility was a game changer, and the show setting up an umbrella shop right before the deluge of comic book milieu only propelled its popularity among an audience hungry for recognition. As superhero films became the tent poles for every film film studio under the sun, and science fiction and fantasy properties continued to grow in every medium, the ratings of The Big Bang Theory climbed. While there may not be a direct causation here, the correlation is certainly worth noting.

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With the sudden success of any intellectual property, there will always be objectors and contrarians to tell the masses why they are wrong for loving the things they love. Some folks are quick to see the monetization of the things they once loved is an act of aggression against their own value. The irony is that most "geeky" properties that aren't cranking out billion dollar films would love nothing more than to be brought to the masses. After all, exploitation isn't always a one way street.

As The Big Bang Theory progressed, its focus widened along with the breadth of "nerd culture" permeating the masses. The show attempted to be even more inclusive toward broadening demographics as well. Once actresses Melissa Rauch and Mayim Bialik joined the cast as Bernadette and Amy, respectively, much of the boys' club vibe of the show diminished (but never fully vanished). Strong female characters had their own story arcs and tried their damndest to escape being only seen as one of the principal male cast member's love interest.

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Due to the lack of nuanced subject matter in the show, The Big Bang Theory cast a large net, making a target audience hard to pin down. Its broad strokes are arguably the show's biggest strength in cultivating popularity. Very rarely were there deep cuts that would ostracize broad audiences and make them feel like they weren't in on the joke, which might be why some hardened comedy fans, ardent science fiction and fantasy lovers, and comic book nerds pushed back against the bill of goods the show was trying to sell them. The Big Bang Theory was speaking a language they all understood, but the topics of discussion were superficial.

Fans of properties that were once maligned by broader audiences have a tendency to put the things they love up on pedestals. When they make connections to characters and stories which make them feel included to some degree, they become precious. They're important in a way so few pop culture experiences are, so when a show that casually references these properties as punchlines or degrading screeds against fans who love them, it can feel like an insult. It feels pandering, and lazy. It's perceived ostracization, even if it isn't the show's intention.

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The success of The Big Bang Theory can't really be attributed to fans of the things Sheldon, Leonard and Penny discuss on the show. Sure, at first, this might have helped establish its roots, but it's not enough to account for it's overwhelming popularity or longevity. It also cannot account solely for the vehement hatred many other people hold for the show. A massive point of contention, for example, is what you would call The Big Bang Theory's style of comedy (or lack thereof). We've all seen videos of comedic exchanges on the show played without the laugh track and how awkward it is. It seems as though audience enjoyment is a Pavlovian Effect brought on by hearing laughter rather than actually being entertained. For many, the jokes are groan-inducing, but for comedians and writers who have dedicated their career to the craft of writing jokes, it can be downright painful.

As The Big Bang Theory rides its final, nerdy wave, it's legacy will be one mired in debate. The fact it had so many fans will never be called into question; the proof is in the pudding, as they say. But whether or not history will be kind to the show in the long run (or if those "Bazinga!" t-shirts you bought at FYE will continue to be fashionable) remains to be seen. But odds are, the show's superficiality will eventually become a footnote in comedy and pop culture history... until they reboot it in fifteen years or so, that is.