After 12 seasons and nearly 280 episodes, the final episode of
Tears, hugs and speeches were plentiful on Tuesday night as the cast of « The Big Bang Theory » took their final bow at the last live taping of their long-running sitcom.
From Don Lincoln
After a long and successful run, The Big Bang Theory is airing its final episode. For twelve years, we’ve watched Sheldon and the gang live their lives and they’ve entertained us with their antics.
TBBT is a television show and the characters are stereotypes that capture society’s most outlandish perceptions of scientists. In real life, we are much like everyone else, with a variety of interests outside of work — from my crazy friend who does Ironman competitions, to others who enjoy painting.
It’s probably true that scientists are more likely to relish some of the geekier facets of popular culture than the average person. I like Star Trek, for example – but in moderation. (I don’t own a uniform, attend conventions or speak Klingon.) Many of my colleagues have similar guilty pleasures, but this is true of everyone.
TBBT was never really about science, although we have my colleague David Saltzberg, who also has done research at both Fermilab and CERN, to thank for ensuring that Sheldon’s whiteboards were scientifically accurate. It was a show about a group of quirky people and their lives. It was fun, and it made science and scientists a little less intimidating. The characters made me laugh and I will be sorry to see them go.
When the final episode airs I’ll be on the couch watching — just like my non-scientist friends. Just don’t take my spot…
Don Lincoln is a senior scientist at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. He is the author of « The Large Hadron Collider: The Extraordinary Story of the Higgs Boson and Other Stuff That Will Blow Your Mind. » He also produces a series of science education videos. Follow him on Facebook. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely his.
