Big Bang Theory creator Chuck Lorre knows as well as anybody that the Chinese government greatly restricts what their citizens can and cannot watch, learn and cannot learn, even eat and cannot eat. But unlike other creative minds who have taken the censorship as a part of doing business in China and have not responded, the man behind Big Bang Theory decided to issue a statement through his famed “vanity cards,” which are shown at the end of each Big Bang Theory broadcast .
These vanity cards illustrate whatever is on the creator’s mind at that time. Sometimes funny, sometimes serious, always entertaining, you never know what you’re gonna get.
Since Big Bang Theory had been recently pulled from sohu.com, for nonsensical reasons, Lorre had much to say regarding the decisions of the Chinese government to censor his show. Lorre paints a satirical view of what he thinks may have led to the censorship of Big Bang Theory .
CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #456
“The government of China has decided that “The Big Bang Theory” is not appropriate for viewing. I have to assume there was some sort of formal process involved in this decision. In all likelihood, a gaggle of communists sat in a darkened room and watched a few episodes. I like to think they took notes that were later used to formulate an official document that detailed the corrosive cultural effects caused by the shenanigans of Sheldon, Leonard, Penny, Wolowitz, Koothrappali, Amy and Bernadette. I like to think that during these screenings one of them laughed out loud and was promptly sent to a re-education camp on the outskirts of Urumqi. I like to think one of them was reassured by how often the characters on the show eat Chinese takeout. I like to think there’s a Chinese word for shenanigans. Regardless, the whole affair makes me very happy. The overlords of 1.3 billion people are afraid of our sitcom. Exactly what we were going for!”
Just like Big Bang Theory, the statement had spread like wildfire throughout China through screenshot pictures and the Chinese government swiftly censored the statement. Twitter twits also took to social media to have their voices heard.
It would be just perfect if, 25 years after Tiananmen, young Chinese took to the streets to protest the evisceration of The Big Bang Theory. — davesgonechina (@davesgonechina) April 29, 2014
Now eating chinese & watching big bang theory. #winning — destiny. (@destinydotcom) May 7, 2014
For more information about Big Bang Theory’s Chinese censorship, click here .
