@Whackamatt:
In regards to the Big Bang Theory, I disagree with you all. It’s a comedy show. LOL.
I believe they DID know how the game plays. Everyone here is being “too serious” about the game. i.e., you’re all too close to the subject matter to find any humor in it.
Asking “Individuals or teams?” is in-line with Leonard’s character, is it not? Perhaps it would be a way of proving his intellectual superiority over the others or some such. It is CLEARLY a team game, so when he suggests individuals…it’s a joke. It isn’t in Leonard’s character to do too many team activities anyway.
Also, did not the Classic version have production stipulations where you could still declare an individual winner? Thus the US player could “win” over the UK player; even though they were both on the same side they could compete.
I’m going to go find the episode now. I believe had I seen it first-hand, I would have laughed at the joke instead assuming the cast/crew didn’t know anything about the game. They knew enough to include it and write a few jokes about it, which is all that really matters.
I’m sorry but I watched the episode and there was nothing funny about the line. To pardon the writers on that assumption we would have to believe that the mass audience know all about A&A and I refuse to accept that. even if the game was Chess (a game more audience members understand) and leonard asked “individuals or teams” it’s still not funny at all. I’ve heard of scientists seeing flaws in many of the equations displayed on the washable boards placed on the set of the show, and that’s exactly what this is… a flaw in the understanding of the game, or choosing a game that best fits the dialog. Also… stating what Classic A&A stipulates to justify the use of the phrase could also be viewed as taking the game “to seriously”… I love A&A and The Big Bang Theory, and I’m never apologetic for any it.
