Changing My Mind About 'The Big Bang Theory'

From the first episode, I've enjoyed the CBS comedy "The Big Bang Theory." The premise of a group of nerds trying to impress a sexy neighbor might not be ground-breaking. But what has always made the show work is that it's not just funny. "The Big Bang Theory" also has well-rounded characters that transcend the cartoonish possibilities of the premise.

If the show has had any real controversy, it's been over the character of Sheldon Cooper, played to perfection by Jim Parsons. Sheldon is a man who needs boundaries and a predictable schedule in order to function. He doesn't really grasp the nuances of social interaction and in his apartment he refuses to sit anywhere other than his designated spot on the left cushion of the couch. His thinking is literal to the point of awkwardness and his ability to understand the nuances of sarcasm or humor is limited at best.

To many viewers, that behavior seemed to suggest he has Asbergers, an autism-like syndrome that can encompass all kinds of behavior centered around the inability to "connect" with other people. And from the beginning, the show's creators have resisted any effort to label Sheldon or his personal interactions.

In one interview, series co-creator Bill Prady said "We write the character as the character. A lot of people see various things in him and make the connections. Our feeling is that Sheldon's mother never got a diagnosis, so we don't have one."

I was initially fine with that contention but after my son was diagnosed with Aspergers I found their reluctance more troubling. It wasn't that I wanted Sheldon to become a poster child for Aspergers. But the fact that it wasn't acknowledged irritated me and made the show a lot less fun to watch.

But when I least expected it, I rediscovered my love of Sheldon and "The Big Bang Theory." And it's all due to my now nearly seven-year-old son.

"The Big Bang Theory" went into syndication last fall and I began re-watching the show when it popped up on TBS. My son started watching it with me, even though I'm not sure it's exactly an age-appropriate choice for him. Initially he was drawn in by Sheldon and Leonard's love of super heroes. But it wasn't long before he fell in love with Sheldon.

My son Sam is a pint-size version of Sheldon and perhaps that why he identifies with his behavior. He doesn't understand the jokes but he does laugh a lot, although I suspect that's mostly because he enjoys hearing me laugh.

An episode of "The Big Bang Theory" came on last night and when he walked into the room he shouted, "Look, it's my friend Sheldon!"

And that's why I've changed my mind about "The Big Bang Theory." How can I let my problems with Sheldon's character impact my love of the show if it doesn't bother my son?

As I thought about this last night I also realized that the reality is also that labeling Sheldon would make it much more difficult to write him in the same way. Not labeling him as having Aspbergers or OCD makes it possible for audiences to laugh at his flaws without them feeling guilty about it.

Dodging the question is the best choice for the show and for the audiences. So how I can argue with that?