Sheldon maintains status as worthy sitcom nerd
For the television snob, Sheldon Cooper is easy to dismiss.
He’s a generic nerd — a static character on a static show that has, though being among American television’s most watched programs for the better part of a decade, seemingly receded from the cultural conversation.
“The Big Bang Theory” is returning to CBS for its 11th season Monday, the same day as the debut of the spinoff show “Young Sheldon,” which follows the character’s East Texas upbringing. By now, it seems like there isn’t much left to say about the protagonist of CBS’ most successful show.
Yet Sheldon might be contemporary American television’s most important creation, an archetypal outlier deserving of more reflection on what he means today. There’s a case to be made that he remains a more culturally influential character than any single character in, say, HBO’s hit “Game of Thrones.”
That may read like an audacious statement. Spend any amount of time online, and it’s apparent that “Game of Thrones” is America’s “favorite” show. It dominates cultural discussions and website clickbait, even though CBS stalwarts “The Big Bang Theory” and “NCIS” often attract more viewers.
But the network shows rarely receive similar media coverage or online cultural digestion. Prestige television served up by HBO or Netflix understands that virality can be specific, so the industry fosters shows that are daring, provocative or original enough to be worthy of conversation.
In that viewpoint,“The Big Bang Theory” is the antithesis of “Westworld.”
Which means that Sheldon thrives in an alternate universe, a world where consistency is key. Even if internet dialogues have ignored the cultural crater of television’s first prominent science genius molded to reflect today’s geek culture, the achievement of Sheldon remains.
Houston native Jim Parsons’ take on the Sheldon role has offered a portrait of nerd culture that has refused to go away. Critics might call his portrayal generic, perhaps even offensive to nerds. His shtick is to use social ineptitude to mask repulsive attitudes toward the people around him. His and his nerdy cohorts’ behavior with women, though treated as comedy, can often be seen as misogyny masked in geek’s clothing.
And yet Sheldon is the first prominent character to lead a top-flight network show who doesn’t just acknowledge the existence of mainstream nerd culture but lives inside of it. Played by anyone but Parsons, the character might be seen as awkward and cringe inducing, yet Parsons dove so fully into Sheldon’s self-absorption that the result is an unforgettably acid charm.
Compare Sheldon to, say, Jack from “Will & Grace,” and there’s a similar through-line, says Robert Thompson, a professor of television and pop culture at Syracuse University. Sean Hayes’ performance was both loved and criticized, yet regardless of your opinion of his character, Jack stood tall in the imagination as a first for television. He became a symbol for gay acknowledgement in the late ’90s when the public’s views on sexuality where evolving.
“‘Will & Grace’ was an important TV series in getting people to think about LGBT issues in ways they hadn’t, but they did that with a lot of stereotypes. Jack had every one of them,” Thompson said of the show that will return to NBC on Thusday night, a decade after it ended. “At the same time, that show did some important things. It is a complex thing going on there.”
Similarly, Sheldon became a symbol of not just a person likely on the autistic spectrum but also an answer to the sly jocks, gruff fathers and witty teenagers of sitcoms past. He shows the dominance of nerd culture as a contrast to family sitcoms of the 1990s, when characters such as Steve Urkel from “Family Matters” or Carlton from “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” could never be more than a sideshow.
And after 10 seasons, Sheldon delivers his literalminded, condescending one-liners in a vastly changed television landscape. The culture has since worshipped a barrage of Jon Snows, Walter Whites and Don Drapers — men with secrets and dramatic twists.
Meanwhile, Sheldon Cooper has no secrets. He is exactly who you think he is, and Parsons makes that fact wonderful. Sheldon is a reminder that the old-school sitcom star still has his place in television.
“Look at where people take pictures of their lunch. It’s always a well-known restaurant. That’s like people posting about ‘Master of None,’ ” Thompson says.
In other words, the new and critically acclaimed tend to receive more attention. But that doesn’t mean the safe and consistent are inferior. Sheldon’s place wasn’t supposed to be the trending list of Twitter — his place has always been, literally, in your home.
“You can spend an equally good time getting a burger at In-N-Out or Whataburger,” Thompson says. “Sometimes, that’s just what the doctor ordered.”