March 24 – Happy Birthday, Jim Parsons

nPostednon March 24, 2016

nJimnParsons probably gets called “Sheldon” all the time. n

nHe’snwidely known for playing the quirky theoretical physicist SheldonnCooper on the long-running comedy TV show The Big Bang Theory.

nAndnunlike many of his costars, he looks a lot like his charactern(although he doesn’t dress or talk or act like his character):

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n LEFT: Actor Jim Parsons
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nRIGHT: Theoretical physicist Sheldon Cooper
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nnLEFT: Actor Johnny Galecki
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RIGHT: Experimental physicist Leonard Hofstadter

nLEFT: Actress Melissa Rauch

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nRIGHT: Microbiologist Bernadette Rostenkowski

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LEFT: Actor Simon Helberg

RIGHT: Engineer / Astronaut Howard Wolowitz

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nLEFT: Actress Mayim Bialik

nRIGHT: Neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler

n LEFT: Actor Kunal Nayyar
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nRIGHT: Astrophysicist Raj Koothrappali

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nJimnParsons was born in Houston, Texas, on this date in 1973. He lovednacting ever since he was six years old and acted in a school play.

nParsonsnhas done a lot of plays and has had small parts in movies and TVnshows – but The Big Bang Theory has been so popular – withnhundreds of episodes through nine seasons, and counting – it’sndominated his time and acting efforts. Nevertheless, Parsons hasnfound time and motivation to also appear on Broadway in severalnplays.

nParsonsnhas earned a lot of praise, and won a LOT of awards, for hisnportrayal of Sheldon. Here are some of the awards:

nan Television Critics Association award for individual achievement inn comedy

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n4n Primetime Emmy Awards and 6 nominations

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nGoldenn Globe

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nan star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

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nan People’s Choice Award, and a Teen Choice Award

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nTVn Guide Award

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n2n Critics’ Choice Television Awards

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nWhatnabout the Sheldon controversy?

nInhave recently read a lot of controversy about the show The BignBang Theory, and about the character Sheldon Cooper. A lot ofnpeople think that Sheldon has Asperger syndrome, which puts him onnthe autism spectrum. Although the show’s creators say he doesn’t havenAsperger syndrome and isn’t on the spectrum, some characters refer tonSheldon’s OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder), and Sheldon has talkednabout having relationships and dealing with people being hard fornhim.

nSomenpeople, many of whom are themselves on the autism spectrum, say thatndespite the fact that Sheldon remains unlabeled, he clearly is seennby everyone as having Asperger syndrome / autism. And they point outnthat he is often criticized by other characters, he is often then“butt of jokes,” and his oddities are used for comic effect. Theynsay that the show, and the Sheldon character, hurt real people withnautism.

nOthernpeople, some of whom are themselves on the autistic spectrum, saynthat the show is positive for people with autism. Sheldon isnsuccessful in his career and has friends and a romantic partner.nThese fans talk about sweet moments between characters; they pointnout that nobody in the show tries to medicate Sheldon, and nobodynputs serious effort into changing him. The other characters enjoynhim, are irritated with him, help him, are helped by him, miss himnwhen he is away, and ultimately love and accept him.

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nBynthe way, I noticed that Wikipedia doesn’t describe Sheldon as ancharacter with Asperger syndrome; instead, he is identified as havingnsocial apathy—which means not particularly caring much about othernpeople’s thoughts and lives, finding little interest in meeting ornlistening to them. That sounds like a pretty good description ofnSheldon. Here is a quote from the episode “The 43 Peculiarity”:

nSheldon Cooper: “Younmay not realize it, but I have difficulty navigating through certainnaspects of daily life: understanding sarcasm, feigning interest innothers, not talking about trains as much as I’d want to. It’snexhausting!”

nInguess that asocial behavior is often associated with autism /nAsperger syndrome. I’m not sure if social apathy is, as well.

nMorencontroversy?

nInhave also read several criticisms that TBBT makes fun of nerds /ngeeks, that it is a show about smart people for dumb people, and thatnit gets nerd / geek culture wrong – and not hugely and hilariouslynwrong, but just “off” enough to make real nerds and geeks rage.

nButnI’ve also read a lot of articles by nerds / geeks who love the show.nThey feel that a lot of jokes in the show laugh WITH the characters,nnot AT the characters; they also point out that sometimes it’s finento laugh at particular actions or words of the characters, just as itnis sometimes fine to laugh at themselves.

Also, a lot of scientists and geekdom stars have participated in the show. I’m pretty sure most of them wouldn’t have done so if they felt that the show was offensive.

nOn what other sitcom can you see Bill Nye the Science Guy, famednphysicist Stephen Hawkins, astrophysicist Neil denGrasse Tyson, astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Darth-Vader voice actor James Earl Jones, comic booknicon Stan Lee, Firefly actress Summer Glau, Star Trek actor / twitter star George Takei, Star Wars actress Carrie Fisher, and Star Trek actor / nerd culture icon Wil Wheaton?

nAnd more, soooo many more!

Not only was actor Leonard Nimoy and his iconic
character “Spock” an important recurring theme
in various episodes of The Big Bang Theory,
after he died his son Adam Nimoy made a guest
appearance!

Mynthoughts…

nInhave to admit, I love this show, and I love the Sheldon character. Inam still processing the criticisms of this show, reading opinions ofndetractors as well as fans, and I am trying to be mindful of thesenconcerns as I laugh at and talk about the show.