Tag Archives: The Big Bang Theory

Mycroft, Don’t You Have a Taste Tester?

Mark Gatiss as Mycroft Holmes in BBC Sherlock peering at a glass of whiskey with John Watson in the back

This whiskey taste different. Did that waiter look strangely familiar to you, John?

If I were Mycroft I’d watch my back for awhile. Sherlock does have a tendency to experiment with drugs — and not just on himself.

Meanwhile, if I were a member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, I’d probably check to see whether my waiter or waitress is a fan of Sherlock (or The Big Bang Theory) before eating or drinking anything they handed me…

I ma sincerely embarrassed about the recent Emmy Awards in so many ways.

Ask Jack Nicholson to Lend You His Axe, Sherlock

Close-up of Benedict Cumberbatch as BBC Sherlock Holmes making a funny angry face

American Academy of Arts & Sciences, heeeere’s Sherlock!

[For those too young to get this joke because they haven’t seen The Shining, please check out the brief film clip at the bottom of the post. It is classic cinema that you should see.]

As I feared the anti-British, anti-Sherlock backlash has begun and the provincial, parochial minds of the members of the American Academy of Television Arts & Sciences have shown just how stupid and petty they can be. Yes, I know they dropped the American part several years ago, but I’m old enough to remember when they used the word and tonight they demonstrated that they very much still think in terms of protecting the local business. There is a strong industry push to protect and promote the new CBS police procedural Sherlock Holmes as well as “buy American” in general.

But then  it’s never been known for being very good at recognizing quality and keeping politics (and business) out of the voting. I mean they actually have awards for “reality” television! Seriously? Where exactly is the art of Jersey Shore or Survivor or any of the rest of that category? And the only science is watching Darwinism in action — or inaction in many shows causing me to weep for the future of the species. Curb Your Enthusiasm beat The Big Bang Theory? Really? And they expect me to have any respect for the Emmy Awards. Obviously, much of what is best on television right now is too cerebral for the academy membership. Do not be surprised to see Honey BooBoo winning next season.

So I offer sincere apologizes to:

  • Team Sherlock (Best Miniseries or TV Movie)
  • Steven Moffat (Best Writing Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special)
  • Benedict Cumberbatch (Best Actor Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special)
  • Martin Freeman (Best Supporting Actor Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special)
  • Paul McGuigan (Best Directing Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special)
  • Arwel Wyn Jones, Dafydd Shurmer & Joelle Rumbelow (Art Direction for Miniseries or Movie)
  • Kate Rhodes James (Casting for Miniseries or Movie)
  • Fabian Wagner (Cinematography for Miniseries or Movie)
  • Sarah Arthur & Ceri Walford (Costumes for Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special)
  • Charlie Phillips (Single Camera Picture Editing for Miniseries or Movie)
  • David Arnold & Michael Price (Music Composition for Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special)
  • Jeremy Child & Doug Sinclair (Sound Editing for Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special)
  • Howard Bargroff (Sound Mixing for Miniseries, Movie, or Dramatic Special)

When people ask why I don’t have TV reception and have no interest in getting cable, this will go a long way to explaining why.

Of Course You’re A Couple, Watson

Martin Freeman as John Watson in BBC Sherlock looking out of frame with a questioning expression

Oh, lord, what is he up to now? And will I have to pick it up, clean it up, replace it, or apologize for it?

 

The short answer, John, is ‘yes.’

Irene Adler is, of course, absolutely right. Sherlock Holmes and John Watson are definitely couple. Now let me perfectly clear here that I’m not talking about sex. I am on Moffat’s side that the two are clearly (okay, in Sherlock’s case not so clearly most of the time, but that’s another post) heterosexual. That’s why all the assumption by others that they are a gay couple is so funny. (I confess I crack up every time at the scene “Is your’s a snorer?” and John’s response “Got any crisps?”)

But there’s no denying that they are a couple with Watson in the “wife” role. Anyone with a partner recognizes the relationship in such scenes as:

“Just tea for me.”

“Well. You ask me to come. I’m assuming it’s important.”
“Oh, yeah, of course. Can I borrow your phone?”
.
.
.
“Mrs. Hudson’s got a phone.”
“Yeah, she’s downstairs. I tried shouting, but she didn’t hear.”
“I was on the other side of London.”
“It was no hurray.”

[Note the assumption by both John and Sherlock that it’s perfectly fine to expect Mrs. Hudson to drop everything and provide Sherlock with a phone. Worse than the “wife” role is the “mum” role.]

John does the shopping. John takes care of making certain Sherlock gets his payment from the bank, shows up all properly attired and on his best behaviour for press events and court, corrects or covers his social gaffs and so on. Even Mycroft puts John in the “wife” role at Christmas when he makes it John’s responsibility to stay with Sherlock because it’s a “danger night.”

“You have to say with him, John.”
“I’ve got plans.
“No.”

Despite over a century since the first suffragettes and over 30 years since “women’s liberation,” the “wife” is still considered the caretaker and caregiver. Even The Big Bang Theory (Sherlock-mashup here), a show representing twenty-somethings in the L.A. area, continues the stereotype:

Penny: This is kind of nice. You reading. Me reading. We’re like an old married couple.
Sheldon: If we were an old married couple, the wife would serve ice tea and snickerdoodles.

I just hope Sherlock remembers their anniversary — and does a heck of a lot better than roses or chocolates or a head in the fridge.

BBC Sherlock The Big Bang Theory Mashup

Okay, I can die happy (after I see Season 3 of BBC Sherlock). My two current fandoms joined. “I’m not crazy. My Mother had me tested.” You just know that Sherlock and Sheldon share a common ancestor somewhere. and, of course, should the Brits ever wish to migrate BBT to the UK, they don’t have to do any auditions for Sheldon or Leonard now that we’ve seen Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman with their lines.

Spoiler Warning: There are a couple of images from Season 2 Sherlock, but they don’t in any way give you a clue about what the episode is about.