If it is true that the meek shall inherit the Earth, than certainly it has come to pass that the geek shall inherit your television. Yes, perusing the TV channels these days leaves us with an abundance of nerd and if you know how to spell and/or pronounce “Cthulu,” chances are you’re one too. And if you own some Cthulu 12 sided dice, you’re pretty special. Now, if you worship Cthulu and are planning to awaken him anytime soon, please lose my email.
I’m a nerd, but more of a classic science fiction/movie & TV buff breed than the pen protector stereotype of the Revenge of the Nerds salad days. And that’s what is great about this nerdvolution! We come in all shapes and sizes, boasting an impressive amount of socially uncomfortable smarties across all genres. It is not just about the Urkels of ABC Friday Night anymore. We have girl nerds, studly nerds, young nerds, spy nerds, animal nerds, cartoon nerds, cop nerds, and even grandma nerds. They’re everywhere and you can’t just stick a pair of glasses on a sexy girl anymore and call it a day, these nerds are deep and…. oh, who am I kidding? Not only can you still stick a pair of glasses on a sexy girl, I highly encourage it!!
But this isn’t just about some weird optical fetish, no this is about the changing face of society. Looking at network’s current schedules, I see multiple shows that fit the mold of nerdvolution status. Leading the charge are Chuck and The Big Bang Theory. Both of these shows offer up the image of the nerd hero, whether it be as an unwilling super spy or just the guy who managed to ask out the cute girl next door. Of course, then there is Big Bang’s Howard Wolowitz! Ever the fashion plate with his seemingly endless collection of comic book belt buckles, Wolowitz is the epitome of the underwear wedgie. And yet, even he has scored a hot nerd girlfriend, leaving me with the thought that the times they are a changing.
While those two paint a more classic nerd portrait, one only has to stand outside the San Diego Comic Con (already sold out for 2010) to see that nerd enthusiasm abounds for shows from Arrested Development to Lost. Lines teeming with excitement and in depth conversation that make the scientific method look lazy, often wrap around entire buildings for a glimpse and a soundbite from fan favorites. A couple years ago, a hall featuring a Battlestar Galactica panel filled to its 4000 plus capacity by 10:15 am. The hall opened at 10.
Sometimes it seems like you can’t even mount a show without including at least one brainiac. The Office has Dwight K. Schrute, master of all things bear and ninja. He was probably in that Galactica panel! Gilmore Girls had the renaissance man known as Kirk. The Simpsons have like half a dozen nerds led by the king of geek, the rotund dungeon master known simply as Comic Book Guy. His feminine equal is arguably Willow from Buffy, who’s witch infused computer skills sent shudders down the spine of corporeal undead everywhere. Police women everywhere must look up to Garcia on Criminal Minds, who sports the glasses but don’t call her meek! Her sarcasm will bite your head off! Even Burn Notice is essentially about a nerd. Burned agent Michael is a savant in the fields of tech and human psychology and what is more nerdy than gadgets!
And let’s not forget G4! An entire channel that helps us navigate the endless march of computers, smart phones, and giant iPods that someone, who shall remain nameless, is trying to convince us we really need to buy so we can read crappy books digitally that we didn’t find interesting enough to buy in the bookstore. From Attack of the Show to X-Play and Chris Hardwick’s hilarious recap of internet videos on Web Soup, nerds can watch a 24 hour stream of what matters to them.
So, whether you’re reading Wil Wheaton’s blog during a Heroes marathon, or you’re laughing with the boys of Psych as they harass George Takei at a comic convention, you can rest easy knowing that all the groundwork that Paul Pfiffer from The Wonder Years laid down is finally paying off. The nerdvolution of TV is nearly complete. Hell, even Entourage went to a comic con!! So sit back all you “norms,” relax, and prepare for assimilation.
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