The Big Bang Theory: Jump To Navigation Jump To Search

The Big Bang Theory
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to navigationJump to search
This article is about the television series. For the scientific theory for which the series
is named, see Big Bang. For other uses, see Big Bang Theory (disambiguation).
"TBBT" redirects here. For the Discovery Channel series, see The Big Brain Theory.
The Big Bang Theory
Genre Sitcom
 Chuck Lorre
Created by
 Bill Prady
Directed by Mark Cendrowski
Starring  Johnny Galecki
 Jim Parsons
 Kaley Cuoco
 Simon Helberg
 Kunal Nayyar
 Sara Gilbert
 Mayim Bialik
 Melissa Rauch
 Kevin Sussman
 Laura Spencer
Theme music composer Barenaked Ladies
Opening theme "Big Bang Theory Theme"[1][2]
Country of origin United States
Original language English
No. of seasons 12
No. of episodes 279 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers  Chuck Lorre
 Bill Prady (both; entire run)
 Lee Aronsohn (2007–11)
 Steven Molaro (2011–19)
 Eric Kaplan
 Maria Ferrari
 Dave Goetsch (all; 2016–19)
Producer Faye Oshima Belyeu
Editor Peter Chakos
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time 18–22 minutes
Production companies  Chuck Lorre Productions
 Warner Bros. Television
Distributor Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Release
Original network CBS
Picture format HDTV 1080i
Audio format Dolby Digital 5.1
Original release September 24, 2007 –
May 16, 2019
Chronology
Related shows Young Sheldon
External links
Website
The Big Bang Theory is an American television sitcom created by Chuck

Lorre and Bill Prady, both of whom served as executive producers on the series,
along with Steven Molaro. All three also served as head writers. It premiered
on CBS on September 24, 2007, and concluded on May 16, 2019, having broadcast
279 episodes over 12 seasons.[3]
The show originally centered on five characters living in Pasadena,
California: Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons),
both physicists at Caltech, who share an apartment; Penny (Kaley Cuoco), a
waitress and aspiring actress who lives across the hall; and Leonard and Sheldon's
similarly geeky and socially awkward friends and co-workers, aerospace
engineer Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg) and astrophysicist Raj
Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar).[4][5] Over time, supporting characters were promoted to
starring roles, including neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim
Bialik), microbiologist Bernadette Rostenkowski (Melissa Rauch), and comic book
store owner Stuart Bloom (Kevin Sussman).
The show was filmed in front of a live audience, and produced by Warner Bros.
Television and Chuck Lorre Productions. It received mixed reviews throughout its
first season, but reception was more favorable in the second and third seasons.
Despite early mixed reviews, seven seasons were ranked within the top ten of the
final season ratings, and it ultimately reached the no. 1 spot in its eleventh season. It
was nominated for the Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series from 2011 to
2014 and won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series four
times for Parsons. In total, it won seven Emmy Awards from 46 nominations.
Parsons also won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Television Comedy Series in
2011. In 2017, the series spawned a prequel series, Young Sheldon, based on
Parsons' character Sheldon Cooper; it also airs on CBS.
Contents
 1Production
o 1.1Science consultants
o 1.2Theme song
o 1.3Actors' salaries
 2Cast and characters
o 2.1Scientist cameos
 3Episodes
 4Recurring themes and elements
o 4.1Science
o 4.2"Nerd" media
o 4.3Leonard and Penny's relationship
o 4.4Sheldon and Amy's relationship
o 4.5"Soft Kitty"
o 4.6Howard's mother
o 4.7Apartment building elevator
o 4.8Vanity cards
 5Reception
o 5.1Critical reception
o 5.2U.S. ratings
o 5.3UK distribution and ratings
o 5.4Canadian ratings
 6Broadcast
o 6.1Syndication
o 6.2Online media
 7Home media
 8Awards and nominations
 9Merchandise
 10Offshoots
o 10.1Plagiarized series
o 10.2Spin-off series
o 10.3Television special
 11References
 12External links
Production
Series' logo used for print
The show's pilot episode premiered on September 24, 2007. This was the second
pilot produced for the show. A different pilot was produced for the 2006–07 television
season but never aired. The structure of the original unaired pilot was substantially
different from the series' current form. The only main characters retained in both
pilots were Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons), who are named
after Sheldon Leonard, a longtime figure in episodic television as producer, director
and actor. A minor character, Althea (Vernee Watson), appeared in the first scene of
both pilots that was retained generally as-is.[6] The first pilot included two female lead
characters - Katie, "a street-hardened, tough-as-nails woman with a vulnerable
interior" (played by Canadian actress Amanda Walsh),[7][8] and Gilda, a scientist
colleague and friend of the male characters (played by Iris Bahr). Sheldon and
Leonard meet Katie after she breaks up with a boyfriend, and they invite her to share
their apartment. Gilda is threatened by Katie's presence. Test audiences reacted
negatively to Katie, but they liked Sheldon and Leonard. The original pilot
used Thomas Dolby's hit "She Blinded Me with Science" as its theme song.
Although the original pilot was not picked up, its creators were given an opportunity
to retool it and produce a second pilot. They brought in the remaining cast and
retooled the show to its final format. Katie was replaced by Penny (Kaley Cuoco).
The original unaired pilot has never been officially released, but it has circulated on
the Internet.[citation needed] On the evolution of the show, Chuck Lorre said, "We did the 'Big
Bang Pilot' about two and a half years ago, and it sucked ... but there were two
remarkable things that worked perfectly, and that was Johnny and Jim. We rewrote
the thing entirely, and then we were blessed with Kaley and Simon and Kunal." As to
whether the world will ever see the original pilot on a future DVD release, Lorre said,
"Wow, that would be something. We will see. Show your failures..." [9]
The first and second pilots of The Big Bang Theory were directed by James Burrows,
who did not continue with the show. The reworked second pilot led to a 13-episode
order by CBS on May 14, 2007.[10] Prior to its airing on CBS, the pilot episode was
distributed on iTunes free of charge. The show premiered on September 24, 2007,
and was picked up for a full 22-episode season on October 19, 2007. [11] The show is
filmed in front of a live audience,[12] and it is produced by Warner Bros. Television and
Chuck Lorre Productions.[13] Production was halted on November 6, 2007, due to
the Writers Guild of America strike. Nearly three months later, on February 4, 2008,
the series was temporarily replaced by a short-lived sitcom, Welcome to The
Captain. The series returned on March 17, 2008, in an earlier time slot, [14] and
ultimately only 17 episodes were produced for the first season. [15][16]
After the strike ended, the show was picked up for a second season, airing in
the 2008–2009 season, premiering in the same time slot on September 22, 2008.
With increasing ratings, the show received a two-year renewal through the 2010–
[17]
11 season in 2009.[18][19] In 2011, the show was picked up for three more seasons. [20] In
March 2014, the show was renewed again for three more years through the 2016–17
season. This marked the second time the series gained a three-year renewal. [21] In
March 2017, the series was renewed for two additional seasons, bringing its total to
12, and running through the 2018–19 television season. [22]
Several of the actors in The Big Bang Theory previously worked together on the
sitcom Roseanne, including Johnny Galecki, Sara Gilbert, Laurie Metcalf (who plays
Sheldon's mother, Mary Cooper), and Meagen Fay (who plays Bernadette's mother).
Additionally, Lorre was a writer on the series for several seasons.
Science consultants
David Saltzberg, a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of California,
Los Angeles, checked scripts and provided dialogue, mathematics equations, and
diagrams used as props.[4] According to executive producer/co-creator Bill Prady,
"We're working on giving Sheldon an actual problem that he's going to be working on
throughout the [first] season so there's actual progress to the boards ... We worked
hard to get all the science right." [5] David Saltzberg, who has a Ph.D. in physics, has
served as the science consultant for the show for six seasons and attends every
taping.[23] He saw early versions of scripts that needed scientific information added to
them, and he also pointed out where the writers, despite their knowledge of science,
had made a mistake. He was usually not needed during a taping unless a lot of
science, and especially the whiteboard, was involved. [24]
Saltzberg sometimes needed assistance on biology from Mayim Bialik, who has a
Ph.D. in neuroscience.[24]
Theme song
Single cover for "Big Bang Theory Theme" by Barenaked Ladies (2007)
The Canadian alternative rock band Barenaked Ladies wrote and recorded the

show's theme song, which describes the history and formation of the universe and
the Earth. Co-lead singer Ed Robertson was asked by Lorre and Prady to write a
theme song for the show after the producers attended one of the band's concerts in
Los Angeles. By coincidence, Robertson had recently read Simon Singh's book Big
Bang,[25][26] and at the concert he improvised a freestyle rap about the origins of the
universe.[citation needed] Lorre and Prady phoned him shortly thereafter and asked him to
write the theme song. Having been asked to write songs for other films and shows,
but ending up being rejected because producers favored songs by other artists,
Robertson agreed to write the theme only after learning that Lorre and Prady had not
asked anyone else.[citation needed]
On October 9, 2007, a full-length (1 minute and 45 seconds) version of the song was
released commercially.[27] Although some unofficial pages identify the song title as
"History of Everything,"[28] the cover art for the single identifies the title as "Big Bang
Theory Theme." A music video also was released via special features on The
Complete Fourth Season DVD and Blu-ray set.[29][30] The theme was included on the
band's greatest hits album, Hits from Yesterday & the Day Before, released on
September 27, 2011.[31] In September 2015, TMZ uncovered court documents
showing that Steven Page sued[needs update] former bandmate Robertson over the song,
alleging that he was promised 20 percent of the proceeds, but that Robertson has
kept that money for himself.[32]
Actors' salaries
For the first three seasons, Galecki, Parsons, and Cuoco, the three main stars of the
show, received at most $60,000 per episode. The salary for the three went up to
$200,000 per episode for the fourth season. Their per-episode pay went up an
additional $50,000 in each of the following three seasons, culminating in $350,000
per episode in the seventh season.[33][34] In September 2013, Bialik and Rauch
renegotiated the contracts they held since they were introduced to the series in
2010. On their old contracts, each was making $20,000–$30,000 per episode, while
the new contracts doubled that, beginning at $60,000 per episode, increasing
steadily to $100,000 per episode by the end of the contract, as well as adding
another year for both.[35]
By season seven, Galecki, Parsons, and Cuoco were also receiving 0.25 percent of
the series' back-end money. Before production began on the eighth season, the
three plus Helberg and Nayyar looked to renegotiate new contracts, with Galecki,
Parsons, and Cuoco seeking around $1 million per episode, as well as more back-
end money.[36] Contracts were signed in the beginning of August 2014, giving the
three principal actors an estimated $1 million per episode for three years, with the
possibility to extend for a fourth year. The deals also include larger pieces of the
show, signing bonuses, production deals, and advances towards the back-end.
[37]
Helberg and Nayyar were also able to renegotiate their contracts, giving them a
per-episode pay in the "mid-six-figure range", up from around $100,000 per episode
they each received in years prior. The duo, who were looking to have salary parity
with Parsons, Galecki, and Cuoco, signed their contracts after the studio and
producers threatened to write the characters out of the series if a deal could not be
reached before the start of production on season eight. [38] By season 10, Helberg and
Nayyar reached the $1 million per episode parity with Galecki, Parsons, and Cuoco,
due to a clause in their deals signed in 2014. [39]
In March 2017, the main cast members (Galecki, Parsons, Cuoco, Helberg, and
Nayyar) took a 10 percent pay cut to allow Bialik and Rauch an increase in their
earnings.[40] This put Galecki, Parsons, Cuoco, Helberg and Nayyar at $900,000 per
episode, with Parsons, Galecki, and Helberg also receiving overall deals with Warner
Bros. Television.[22] By the end of April, Bialik and Rauch had signed deals to earn
$500,000 per episode each, with the deals also including a separate development
component for both actors. The deal was an increase from the $175,000–$200,000
the duo had been making per episode. [41]
Cast and characters
Main article: List of The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon characters
 Main cast

Johnny Galecki as
Leonard Hofstadter

Jim Parsons as
Sheldon Cooper

Kaley Cuoco as
Penny

Simon Helberg as
Howard Wolowitz


Kunal Nayyar as
Raj Koothrappali

Mayim Bialik as
Amy Farrah Fowler

Melissa Rauch as
Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz

Kevin Sussman as
Stuart Bloom
This section describes a work or element of fiction in a primarily in-

universe style. Please help rewrite it to explain the fiction more clearly
and provide non-fictional perspective. (February 2017) (Learn how
and when to remove this template message)
Main characters in The Big Bang Theory season 6. First row from left: Rajesh Koothrappali, Leonard
Hofstadter, Penny, Sheldon Cooper, and Howard Wolowitz. Second row from left: Bernadette
Rostenkowski-Wolowitz and Amy Farrah Fowler.
These actors are credited in all episodes of the series:
 Johnny Galecki as Leonard Hofstadter:

[42]
An experimental physicist with an IQ of 173,
who received his PhD when he was 24 years old.
Leonard is a nerd who loves video games, comic
books, and Dungeons & Dragons. Leonard is
the straight man of the series, in which he shares
an apartment in Pasadena, CA, with Sheldon
Cooper. Leonard is smitten with his new neighbor
Penny when they first meet, and they eventually
marry.
 Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper:[43] Originally
from Galveston, Texas, Sheldon was a child
prodigy with an eidetic memory who began
college at the age of eleven and earned a PhD at
age sixteen. He is a theoretical
physicist researching quantum
mechanics and string theory, and despite his IQ
of 187, he finds many routine aspects of social
situations difficult to grasp. He is determined to
have his own way, continually boasts of his
intelligence, and has an extremely ritualized way
of living. Despite these quirks, he begins a
relationship with Amy Farrah Fowler, and they
eventually marry.
 Kaley Cuoco as Penny:[44] An aspiring actress
from Omaha, Nebraska. Penny moves in across
the hall from Sheldon and Leonard. She waits
tables and occasionally tends the bar at The
Cheesecake Factory. After giving up hope of
becoming a successful actress, Penny becomes
a pharmaceutical sales representative. Penny
becomes friends with Bernadette and Amy, and
they often hang out in each other's apartments.
Penny and Leonard form a relationship and
eventually marry.
 Simon Helberg as Howard Wolowitz:
[45]
An aerospace engineer who got his master's
degree at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology. Howard is Jewish and lived with his
mother, Debbie (Carol Ann Susi). Unlike
Sheldon, Leonard, Raj, Bernadette and Amy,
Howard does not hold a doctorate. He goes into
space, training as an astronaut and serving as a
payload specialist. Howard initially fancies
himself as a womanizer, but he later starts dating
Bernadette, and they get engaged and married.
Howard also has a tendency to waste money on
toys and argues with Bernadette because of his
oddly low income as an engineer and her high
income as a pharmaceutical biochemist.
 Kunal Nayyar as Rajesh Koothrappali:[46] A
particle astrophysicist originally from New Delhi,
India. Initially, Raj had selective mutism,
rendering him unable to talk to or be around
women unless under the influence of alcohol. Raj
also has very feminine tastes and often takes on
a stereotypical female role in his friendship with
Howard as well as in the group of four men. Raj
later dates Lucy (Kate Micucci), who also suffers
from social anxiety, but it eventually ends. He
later speaks to Penny without alcohol,
overcoming his selective mutism. He begins
dating Emily Sweeney and their relationship later
becomes exclusive. Raj also has a Yorkshire
Terrier named Cinnamon.
These actors were first credited as guest stars and later promoted to main cast:
 Sara Gilbert as Leslie Winkle (recurring season

1, starring season 2, guest seasons 3, 9): [47][48]
[49]
A physicist who works in the same lab as
Leonard. In appearance, she is essentially
Leonard's female counterpart and has conflicting
scientific theories with Sheldon. Leslie has casual
sex with Leonard and later Howard. Gilbert was
promoted to a main cast member during the
second season but resumed guest star status
because producers could not come up with
enough material for the character.[47] Gilbert
returned to The Big Bang Theory for its 200th
episode.[50]
 Melissa Rauch as Bernadette Rostenkowski-
Wolowitz (recurring season 3, starring seasons
4–12):[51] A young woman who initially is a co-
worker at The Cheesecake Factory with Penny to
pay her way through graduate school, where she
is studying microbiology. Bernadette is
introduced to Howard by Penny; at first, they do
not get along, apparently having nothing in
common. They date and later get engaged and
married. Although generally a sweet and good-
natured person, Bernadette has a short fuse and
can be vindictive and lash out when provoked.
 Mayim Bialik as Amy Farrah Fowler (guest star
season 3, starring seasons 4–12):[52] A woman
selected by an online dating site as Sheldon's
perfect mate.[53] Amy is from Glendale, CA. While
she and Sheldon initially share social
cluelessness, after befriending Penny and
Bernadette she eventually becomes more
interested in social and romantic interaction. Her
relationship with Sheldon slowly progresses to
the point at which Sheldon considers her his
girlfriend, and eventually they get married. Amy
believes she and Penny are best friends, a
sentiment that Penny does not initially share.
Amy has a Ph.D. in neurobiology.
 Kevin Sussman as Stuart Bloom (recurring
seasons 2–5, 7, starring seasons 6, 8–12): [54] A
mild-mannered, under-confident owner of a
comic book store. A competent artist, Stuart is a
graduate of the prestigious Rhode Island School
of Design. Though he is socially awkward, he
possesses slightly better social skills. Stuart
implies he is in financial trouble and that the
comic book store now also is his home. He is
later invited to join the guys' group while Howard
is in space. Stuart gets a new job caring for
Howard's mother later. After Mrs. Wolowitz's
death, Stuart continues to live in her home, along
with Howard and Bernadette, until he finds a
place of his own.
 Laura Spencer as Emily Sweeney (recurring
seasons 7–8, 10, starring season 9):
[55]
A dermatologist at Huntington Hospital. Emily
went to Harvard and delights in the macabre, and
she states that she likes her job because she can
cut things with knives. Prior to meeting Raj, Emily
was set up on a blind date with Howard. After
finding Emily's online dating profile, Raj has Amy
contact her as his wingman instead. Their
relationship becomes exclusive, but Raj later
breaks up with Emily when he becomes
infatuated with Claire (Alessandra Torresani), a
bartender and children's author.
Scientist cameos
See also: List of The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon characters § Guest stars
appearing as themselves
As the theme of the show revolves around science, many distinguished and high-
profile scientists have appeared as guest stars on the show.
Famous astrophysicist and Nobel laureate George Smoot had a cameo
appearance in the second season.[56] Theoretical physicist Brian Greene appeared in
the fourth season, as well as astrophysicist, science popularizer, and physics
outreach specialist Neil deGrasse Tyson, who also appeared in the twelfth season.[57]
Cosmologist Stephen Hawking made a short guest appearance in a fifth-season
episode;[58] in the eighth season, Hawking video conferences with Sheldon and
Leonard, and he makes another appearance in the 200th episode. In the fifth and
sixth seasons, NASA astronaut Michael J. Massimino played himself multiple times
in the role of Howard's fellow astronaut. Bill Nye appeared in the seventh and twelfth
seasons.
Episodes
Main article: List of The Big Bang Theory episodes
Originally aired U.S. 18–

Viewer 18–49
Seaso Episode Viewers 49
s rating/shar
n s (millions ran
rank e
First aired Last aired ) k
September 24, 200 May 19, 200
1 17 68[59] 8.31 46[60] 3.3/8
7 8
2 23 40[61] 10.03 N/A N/A
8 9
3 23 12 14.22 5[62] 5.3/13
9 0
4 24 13 13.21 7[63] 4.4/13
0 1
5 24 8 15.82 6[64] 5.5/17
1 2
6 24 3 18.68 2[65] 6.2/19
2 3
7 24 2 19.96 2[66] 6.2/20
3 4
September 22, 201
8 24 May 7, 2015 2 19.05 4[67] 5.6/17
4
9 24 2 20.36 3[68] 5.8/19
5 6
10 24 2 18.99 3[69] 4.9/19
6 7
11 24 1 18.63 5[70] 4.4
7 8
12 24 2 17.31 6[71] 3.6
8 9
Recurring themes and elements

Science
Much of the series focuses on science, particularly physics. The four main male
characters are employed at Caltech and have science-related occupations, as do
Bernadette and Amy. The characters frequently banter about scientific theories or
news (notably around the start of the show), and make science-related jokes.
Science has also interfered with the characters' romantic lives. Leslie breaks up with
Leonard when he sides with Sheldon in his support for string theory rather than loop
quantum gravity.[72] When Leonard joins Sheldon, Raj, and Howard on a three-month
Arctic research trip, it separates Leonard and Penny at a time when their relationship
is budding. When Bernadette takes an interest in Leonard's work, it makes both
Penny and Howard envious and results in Howard confronting Leonard, and Penny
asking Sheldon to teach her physics.[73] Sheldon and Amy also briefly end their
relationship after an argument over which of their fields is superior. [74]
"Nerd" media
Star Trek: The Next Generation actor Wil Wheaton has a recurring role as a fictional version of himself on
the show.
The four main male characters are all avid science fiction, fantasy, and comic book
fans and memorabilia collectors.
Star Trek in particular is frequently referenced, and Sheldon identifies strongly with
the character of Spock, so much so that when he is given a used napkin signed
by Leonard Nimoy as a Christmas gift from Penny he is overwhelmed with
excitement and gratitude ("I possess the DNA of Leonard Nimoy?!"). [75] Star Trek:
The Original Series cast members William Shatner and George Takei have made
cameos, and Leonard Nimoy made a cameo as the voice of Sheldon's vintage Mr.
Spock action figure. Star Trek: The Next Generation cast members Brent
Spiner and LeVar Burton have had cameos as themselves,[76][77] while Wil
Wheaton has a recurring role as a fictionalized version of himself. Leonard and
Sheldon have had conversations in the Klingon language.
They are also fans of Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, and Doctor Who. James Earl
Jones, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill make guest appearances. In the episode "The
Ornithophobia Diffusion", when there is a delay in watching Star Wars on Blu-ray,
Howard complains, "If we don't start soon, George Lucas is going to change it again"
(referring to Lucas' controversial alterations to the films). In "The Hot Troll
Deviation", Katee Sackhoff of Battlestar Galactica appeared as Howard's fantasy
dream girl. The characters have different tastes in franchises, with Sheldon
praising Firefly but disapproving of Leonard's enjoyment of Babylon 5.[78] With regard
to fantasy, the four make frequent references to The Lord of the Rings and Harry
Potter novels and movies. Additionally, Howard can speak Sindarin, one of the
two Elvish languages from The Lord of the Rings.
Wednesday night is the group's designated "comic book night" [79] because that is the
day of the week when new comic books are released. The comic book store is run
by fellow geek and recurring character Stuart. On a number of occasions, the group
members have dressed up as pop culture characters, including The
Flash, Aquaman, Frodo Baggins, Superman, Batman, Spock, The Doctor, Green
Lantern, and Thor.[80] As a consequence of losing a bet to Stuart and Wil Wheaton,
the group members are forced to visit the comic book store dressed
as Catwoman, Wonder Woman, Batgirl, and Supergirl.[81] DC Comics announced that,
to promote its comics, the company will sponsor Sheldon wearing Green Lantern T-
shirts.[82]
Various games have been featured, as well as referenced, on the series (e.g. World
of Warcraft, Halo, Mario, Donkey Kong, etc.), including fictional games like Mystic
Warlords of Ka'a (which became a reality in 2011)[83] and Rock-paper-scissors-lizard-
Spock.
Leonard and Penny's relationship
One of the recurring plot lines is the relationship between Leonard and Penny.
Leonard becomes attracted to Penny in the pilot episode, and his need to do favors
for her is a frequent point of humor in the first season. Meanwhile, Penny dates a
series of muscular, attractive, unintelligent, and insensitive jocks. Their first long-term
relationship begins when Leonard returns from a three-month expedition to the North
Pole in the season 3 premiere. However, when Leonard tells Penny that he loves
her, she realizes she cannot say it back, and they break up. Both Leonard and
Penny go on to date other people, most notably with Leonard dating Raj's sister
Priya for much of season 4. This relationship is jeopardized when Leonard comes to
falsely believe that Raj has slept with Penny, and it ultimately ends when Priya
sleeps with a former boyfriend in "The Good Guy Fluctuation".
Penny, who admits to missing Leonard in "The Roommate Transmogrification",
accepts his request to renew their relationship in "The Beta Test Initiation". After
Penny suggests having sex in "The Launch Acceleration", Leonard breaks the mood
by proposing to her. Penny says "no" but does not break up with him. She stops a
proposal a second time in "The Tangible Affection Proof". In the sixth-season
episode, "The 43 Peculiarity", Penny finally tells Leonard that she loves him.
Although they both feel jealousy when the other receives significant attention from
the opposite sex, Penny is secure in their relationship, even when he leaves on a
four-month expedition to the North Sea in "The Bon Voyage Reaction". After he
returns, the relationship blossoms over the seventh season. In the penultimate
episode "The Gorilla Dissolution", Penny admits that they should marry and when
Leonard realizes that she is serious, he proposes with a ring that he has been
carrying for years. Leonard and Penny decide to elope to Las Vegas in the season 8
finale, but beforehand, wanting no secrets, Leonard admits to kissing another
woman, Mandy Chow (Melissa Tang) while on the expedition. Despite this, Leonard
and Penny finally marry in the season 9 premiere and remain happy. By the Season
9 finale, Penny and Leonard decide to have a second wedding ceremony for their
family and friends, to make up for eloping. In season 10, Sheldon moves into
Penny's old apartment with Amy, allowing Penny and Leonard to finally live on their
own as husband and wife.
In season 12, Penny announces that she does not want to have any children and
Leonard reluctantly supports her decision. Later, her old boyfriend Zack and his new
wife want Leonard to be a surrogate father to their kid since Zack is infertile. Penny
reluctantly agrees to let Leonard donate his sperm. However, when she tries to
seduce Leonard despite knowing he has to be abstinent for a few days, her visiting
father, Wyatt, points out to Penny that her own actions suggest she is more
conflicted over having kids than she lets on, and she admits she feels bad about
letting him and Leonard down if she never has children. He says that despite her
flaws, parenthood is the best thing that ever happened to him and he does not want
her to miss out, but that he will support her no matter what she does. Leonard
eventually changes his mind, not wanting a child in the world that he cannot raise. In
the series finale, Penny is pregnant with Leonard's baby, and she has changed her
mind about not wanting children.
Sheldon and Amy's relationship
In the third-season finale, Raj and Howard sign Sheldon up for online dating to find a
woman compatible with Sheldon, and they discover neurobiologist Amy Farrah
Fowler. Like Sheldon, she has a history of social ineptitude and participates in online
dating only to fulfill an agreement with her mother. This spawns a storyline in which
Sheldon and Amy communicate daily while insisting to Leonard and Penny that they
are not romantically involved. In "The Agreement Dissection", Sheldon and Amy talk
in her apartment after a night of dancing and she kisses him on the lips. Instead of
getting annoyed, Sheldon says "fascinating" and later asks Amy to be his girlfriend in
"The Flaming Spittoon Acquisition". The same night he draws up "The Relationship
Agreement" to verify the ground rules of him as her boyfriend and vice versa (similar
to his "Roommate Agreement" with Leonard). Amy agrees but later regrets not
having had a lawyer read through it.
In "The Launch Acceleration", Amy tries to use her "neurobiology bag of tricks" to
increase the attraction between herself and Sheldon. Her efforts appear to be
working as Sheldon is not happy, but he makes no attempt to stop her. In the final
fifth-season episode "The Countdown Reflection", Sheldon takes Amy's hand as
Howard is launched into space. In the sixth season first episode "The Date Night
Variable", after a dinner in which Sheldon fails to live up to this expectation, Amy
gives Sheldon an ultimatum that their relationship is over unless he tells her
something from his heart. Amy accepts Sheldon's romantic speech even after
learning that it is a line from the first Spider-Man movie. In "The Cooper/Kripke
Inversion", Sheldon states that he has been working on his discomfort about physical
contact and admits that "it's a possibility" that he could one day have sex with Amy.
Amy is revealed to have similar feelings in "The Love Spell Potential". Sheldon
explains that he never thought about intimacy with anyone before Amy. [84]
"The Locomotive Manipulation" is the first episode in which Sheldon initiates a kiss
with Amy. Although initially done in a fit of sarcasm, he discovers that he enjoys the
feeling. Consequently, Sheldon slowly starts to open up over the rest of the season,
and he starts a more intimate relationship with Amy. However, in the season finale,
Sheldon leaves town temporarily to cope with several changes and Amy becomes
distraught. However, 45 days into the trip, Sheldon gets mugged and calls for
Leonard to drive him home, only to be confronted by Amy, who is upset over not
being contacted by him in weeks. When Sheldon admits he did not call her because
he was too embarrassed to admit that he could not make it on his own, Amy accepts
that he is not perfect. In "The Prom Equivalency", Sheldon hides in his room to avoid
going to a mock prom reenactment with her. In the resulting stand-off, Amy is about
to confess that she loves Sheldon, but he surprises her by saying that he loves her
too. This prompts Amy to have a panic attack.
In the season eight finale, Sheldon and Amy get into a fight about commitment on
their fifth anniversary. Amy tells Sheldon that she needs to think about the future of
their relationship, unaware that Sheldon was about to propose to her. Season nine
sees Sheldon harassing Amy about making up her mind until she breaks up with
him. Both struggle with singlehood and trying to be friends for the next few weeks
until they reunite in episode ten and have sex for the first time on Amy's birthday. In
season ten, Amy's apartment is flooded, and she and Sheldon decide to move in
together into Penny's apartment as part of a five-week experiment to determine
compatibility with each other's living habits. It goes well and they decide to make the
arrangement permanent.
In the season eleven premiere, Sheldon proposes to Amy and she accepts. The two
get married in the eleventh-season finale.
"Soft Kitty"
Main article: Soft Kitty
In the show, the song "Soft Kitty" was described by Sheldon as a song sung by his
mother when he was ill. Its repeated use in the series popularized the song. [85] A
scene depicting the origin of the song in Sheldon's childhood is depicted in an
episode of Young Sheldon, which aired on February 1, 2018. It shows Sheldon's
mother Mary singing the song to her son, who is suffering with the flu.[86]
Howard's mother
In scenes set at Howard's home, he interacts with his rarely-seen mother (voiced
by Carol Ann Susi until her death) by shouting from room to room in the house. She
similarly interacts with other characters in this manner. [87] She reflects the Jewish
mother stereotype in some ways, such as being overly controlling of Howard's adult
life and sometimes trying to make him feel guilty about causing her trouble. She is
dependent on Howard, as she requires him to help her with her wig and makeup in
the morning. Howard, in turn, is attached to his mother to the point where she still
cuts his meat for him, takes him to the dentist, does his laundry and "grounds" him
when he returns home after briefly moving out.[88] Until Howard's marriage to
Bernadette in the fifth-season finale, Howard's former living situation led Leonard's
psychiatrist mother to speculate that he may suffer from some type of pathology,
[89]
and Sheldon to refer to their relationship as Oedipal.[90] In season 8, Howard's
mother dies in her sleep while in Florida, which devastates Howard and Stuart, who
briefly lived with Mrs. Wolowitz.
Apartment building elevator
In the apartment building where Sheldon, Leonard and Penny (and later Amy) live,
the elevator has been out of order throughout most of the series, forcing characters
to have to use the stairs. Stairway conversations between characters occur in almost
every episode, often serving as a transition between longer scenes. The Season 3
episode, "The Staircase Implementation" reveals that the elevator was broken when
Leonard was experimenting with rocket fuel.[91] In the penultimate episode of the
series, the elevator is returned to an operational state, causing Sheldon some angst,
until he realizes that the fixed elevator reverted things to the "status quo".
Vanity cards
Like most shows created by Chuck Lorre, The Big Bang Theory ends by showing for
one second a vanity card written by Lorre after the credits, followed by the Warner
Bros. Television closing logo. These cards are archived on Lorre's website. [92] The
series final vanity card reads simply "The End".[93]
Reception
The Big Bang Theory panel at Comic Con 2008
Critical reception
Although the initial reception was mixed, [94] the show went on to receive a more
positive reception. The review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes reports an 81%
approval rating from critics.[95] On Metacritic, the series holds a score of 61 out of 100,
based on reviews from 27 critics, indicating generally favorable review. [96] In 2013, TV
Guide ranked the series #52 on its list of the 60 Best Series of All Time. [97]
U.S. ratings
The Big Bang Theory started off slowly in the ratings, failing to make the top 50 in its
first season (ranking 68th), and ranking 40th in its second season. When the third
season premiered on September 21, 2009, however, The Big Bang Theory ranked
as CBS's highest-rated show of that evening in the adults 18–49 demographic
(4.6/10) along with a then-series-high 12.83 million viewers.[98] After the first three
seasons aired at different times on Monday nights, CBS moved the show to
Thursdays at 8:00 ET for the 2010–2011 schedule, to be in direct competition
with NBC's Comedy Block and Fox's American Idol (then the longest reigning
leading primetime show on U.S. television from 2004 to 2011). [99] During its fourth
season, it became television's highest rated comedy, just barely beating out Two
and a Half Men (which held the position for the past 8 years). However, in the age
18–49 demographic (the show's target age range), it was the second highest-rated
comedy, behind ABC's Modern Family. The fifth season opened with viewing figures
of over 14 million.[100]
The sixth season boasts some of the highest-rated episodes for the show so far, with
a then-new series high set with "The Bakersfield Expedition", with 20 million viewers,
[101]
a first for the series, which along with NCIS, made CBS the first network to have
two scripted series reach that large an audience in the same week since 2007. In the
sixth season, the show became the highest rated and viewed scripted show in the
18–49 demographic, trailing only the live regular NBC Sunday Night
Football coverage,[102][103] and was third in total viewers, trailing NCIS and Sunday
Night Football.[104] Season seven of the series opened strong, continuing the success
gained in season six, with the second episode of the premiere, "The Deception
Verification", setting the new series high in viewers with 20.44 million. [105][106]
Showrunner Steve Molaro, who took over from Bill Prady with the sixth season,
credits some of the show's success to the sitcom's exposure in off-network
syndication, particularly on TBS, while Michael Schneider of TV Guide attributes it to
the timeslot move two seasons earlier. Chuck Lorre and CBS Entertainment
president Nina Tassler also credit the success to the influence of Molaro, in
particular the deepening exploration of the firmly established regular characters and
their interpersonal relationships, such as the on-again, off-again relationship
between Leonard and Penny.[107] Throughout much of the 2012–13 season, The Big
Bang Theory placed first in all of syndication ratings, receiving formidable
competition from only Judge Judy and Wheel of Fortune (first-run
syndication programs). By the end of the 2012–13 television season, The Big Bang
Theory had dethroned Judge Judy as the ratings leader in all of syndicated
programming with 7.1, Judy descending to second place for that season with a 7.0.
[108]
The Big Bang Theory did not place first in syndication ratings for the 2013–14
television season, beaten out by Judge Judy.[109]
Viewership and ratings per season of The Big Bang Theory
First aired Last aired 18 Avg.
Avg. vi
Times View View TV Viewe – 18–
Sea Epis ewers
lot ers ers sea rship 49 49
son odes Date Date (million
(ET) (milli (milli son rank ra ratin
s)
ons) ons) nk g
Mond
ay
8:30p
m (1– 200
8) September 9.52[11 May 19, 7.34[11 3.3/8[
1 17 7– 68 8.31 46
Mond 24, 2007 0]
2008 1] 112]
08
ay
8:00p
m (9–
17)
Mond
200
ay September 9.36[11 May 11, 9.81[11 N/
2 23 8– 40 10.03 A
N/A
8:00 22, 2008 3]
2009 4]
09
pm
Mond
200
ay September 12.96[ May 24, 14.78[ 5.3/1
3 23 9– 12 14.22 5
9:30 21, 2009 115]
2010 116]
3[117]
10
pm
201
September 14.04[ May 19, 11.30[ 4.4/1
4 24 0– 13 13.21 7
23, 2010 118]
2011 119]
3[120]
11
201
September 14.30[ May 10, 13.72[ 5.5/1
5 Thurs 24 1– 8 15.82 6
22, 2011 121]
2012 122]
7[123]
day 12
8:00p 201
m September 15.66[ May 16, 15.48[ 6.2/1
6 24 2– 3 18.68 2
27, 2012 124]
2013 125]
9[126]
13
201
September 18.99[ May 15, 16.73[ 6.2/2
7 24 3– 2 19.96[129] 2
26, 2013 127]
2014 128]
0[104]
14
Mond 201
September 18.08[ May 7, 14.64[ 5.6/1
8 ay 24 4– 2 19.05 4
22, 2014 135]
2015 136]
7[137]
8:00p 15
m[a]
201
Thurs September 18.20[ May 12, 14.73[ 5.8/1
9 24 5– 2 20.36 3
day 21, 2015 138]
2016 139]
9[140]
16
8:00p
10 m 24 September 15.82[ May 11, 12.99[ 201 2 18.99 3 4.9/1
141] 142]
19, 2016 2017 6– 9[143]
17
201
September 17.65[ May 10, 15.51[
11 24 7– 1 18.63 5 4.4[146]
25, 2017 144]
2018 145]
18
201
September 12.92[ May 16, 18.52[
12 24 8– 2 17.31 6 3.6[149]
24, 2018 147]
2019 148]
19
1. ^ From the eighth season onward, episodes of each

season initially aired on Monday nights, before later
returning to the Thursday night slot for the rest of the
season. The eighth and ninth seasons returned on the
seventh episode,[130][131] the tenth and eleventh seasons on
the sixth episode,[132][133] and the twelfth season on the
second episode.[134]
UK distribution and ratings

The show made its United Kingdom debut on Channel 4 on February 14, 2008. The
show was also shown as a 'first-look' on Channel 4's digital offshoot E4 prior to the
main channel's airing. While the show's ratings were not deemed strong enough for
the main channel, they were considered the opposite for E4. For each following
season, all episodes were shown first-run on E4, with episodes only aired on the
main channel in a repeat capacity, usually on a weekend morning. From the third
season, the show aired in two parts, being split so that it could air new episodes for
longer throughout the year. This was due to rising ratings. The first part began airing
on December 17, 2009, at 9:00 p.m. while the second part, containing the remaining
eleven episodes, began airing in the same time period from May 6, 2010. The first
half of the fourth season began airing on November 4, 2010, at 9:00 p.m., drawing
877,000 viewers, with a further 256,000 watching on the E4+1 hour service. This
gave the show an overall total of 1.13 million viewers, making it E4's most-watched
programme for that week. The increased ratings continued over subsequent weeks.
[150]
The fourth season's second half began on June 30, 2011. Season 5 began airing on
November 3, 2011, at 8:00 p.m. as part of E4's Comedy Thursdays, acting as a lead-
in to the channel's newest comedy, Perfect Couples. Episode 19, the highest-viewed
episode of the season, attracted 1.4 million viewers.[151] Season 6 premiered on
November 15, 2012, with 1.89 million viewers and a further 469,000 on the time shift
channel, bringing the total to 2.31 million, E4's highest viewing ratings of 2012, and
the highest the channel had received since June 2011. The sixth season returned in
mid-2013 to finish airing the remaining episodes. [152] Season 7 premiered on E4 on
October 31, 2013 at 8:30 pm and hit multiple ratings records this season. The
second half of season seven aired in mid 2014. [153] The eighth season premiered on
E4 on October 23, 2014 at 8:30 pm.[154] During its eighth season, The Big Bang
Theory shared its 8:30 pm time period with fellow CBS comedy, 2 Broke Girls.
Following the airing of the first eight episodes of that show's fourth season, The Big
Bang Theory returned to finish airing its eighth season on March 19, 2015. [155]
Netflix UK & Ireland announced on February 13, 2016 that seasons 1–8 would be
available to stream from February 15, 2016. [156]
Canadian ratings
The Big Bang Theory started off quietly in Canada, but managed to garner major
success in later seasons. The Big Bang Theory is telecast throughout Canada via
the CTV Television Network in simultaneous substitution with cross-border CBS
affiliates. Now immensely popular in Canada, The Big Bang Theory is
also rerun daily on the Canadian cable channel The Comedy Network.
The season 4 premiere garnered an estimated 3.1 million viewers across Canada.
This was the largest audience for a sitcom since the series finale of Friends. The
show later increased in viewership and became the most-watched entertainment
television show in Canada.[157]
Broadcast
The Big Bang Theory premiered in the United States on September 24, 2007 on
CBS. The series debuted in Canada on CTV in September 2007.[158] On February 14,
2008, the series debuted in the United Kingdom on channels E4 and Channel 4.[159] In
Australia the first seven seasons of the series began airing on the Seven
Network and 7mate from October 2015 and also gained the rights to season 8 in
2016, though the Nine Network has rights to air seasons nine & ten.[160][161] On January
22, 2018, it was announced that Nine had acquired the rights to Season 1–8. [162]
Syndication
In May 2010, it was reported that the show had been picked up for syndication,
mainly among Fox's owned and operated stations and other local stations, with
Warner Bros. Television's sister cable network TBS holding the show's cable
syndication rights. Broadcast of old shows began airing in September 2011. TBS
now airs the series in primetime on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with
evening broadcasts on Saturdays (TBS's former local sister station in Atlanta also
holds local weeknight rights to the series).[163] Although details of the syndication deal
have not been revealed, it was reported the deal "set a record price for a cable off-
network sitcom purchase".[164] CTV holds national broadcast syndication rights in
Canada, while sister cable network The Comedy Network holds cable rights.
Online media
Warner Bros. Television controls the online rights for the show. [165][166] Full episodes
were available at tv.com, while short clips and recently aired full episodes were
available on cbs.com and later in its run CBS All Access.[167] In Canada, recent
episode(s) and pictures are available on CTV.ca.[168] Additionally in Canada, the first
six seasons are available for streaming on Bell Media's CraveTV.[169] After the show
has aired in New Zealand the shows are available in full online at TVNZ's on demand
web service.
In 2020, the show became available in the United States on HBO Max.[170]
Home media
Name Release dates No. of Additional Information
episodes
Region 1 Region 2 Region 4

 3-disc box set
 "Quantum
Mechanics of The
Big Bang Theory:
The
September January 12, April 3, Series Cast and
Complete 17
2, 2008[171] 2009[172] 2009[173] Creators on Why
First Season
It's Cool to Be a
Geek".
 Gag reel (Blu-ray
exclusive)
 4-disc box set
 Gag reel
 "Physicist to the
Stars: Real-Life
Physicist/UCLA
professor David
Saltzberg's
The consulting
Complete September October 19, March 3, relationship to the
23
Second 15, 2009[174] 2009[175] 2010[176] Show"
Season  "Testing the
Infinite Hilarity
Hypothesis in
relation to the Big
Bang Theory:
Season 2's Unique
Characters and
Characteristics"
 3-disc box set
 Set tour with
The Simon Helberg and
Complete September September October 13, Kunal Nayyar
23
Third 14, 2010[177] 27, 2010[178] 2010[179]
 Inside look on the
Season
third season
 Gag reel
 3-disc box set
 Story of show's
theme song
The with Barenaked
Complete September September October 5, Ladies
24
Fourth 13, 2011[180] 26, 2011[181] 2011[182]
 Music video for the
Season
theme song
 Cast interviews
 Gag reel
The September September October 3, 24  3-disc box set
Complete 11, 2012[183] 3, 2012[184] 2012[185]  "The Big Bang
Fifth Theory at 100"
Season  "The Big Bang
Theory's Laws of
Reflection"
 "Professors of
Production"
 Gag reel
 3-disc box set
 "The Big Bang
Theory: The Final
Comedy Frontier"
 "Houston, We
The Have a Sitcom"
Complete September September October 11,  "Electromagnetism:
24
Sixth 10, 2013[186] 2, 2013[187] 2013[188] The Best
Season Relationship
Moments"
 "The Big Bang
Theory at Paleyfest
2013"
 Gag reel
 String Theory
Serenade
 James Earl Jones:
The Un-
Conventional Guest
Star
The  BBTea Time
Complete September September September  The Big Bang
24 Theory's May 4
Seventh 16, 2014[189] 8, 2014[190] 17, 2014[191]
Season  The Convention
Conundrum
 The Big
Cendrowski
 2013 Comic-Con
Panel
 Gag Reel
 Shooting
Stars: BBT on BBT
 2014 The Big Bang
Theory Comic-Con
The Panel
Complete September September September  Constellation Prize
24
Eighth 15, 2015[192] 14, 2015[193] 16, 2015[194]  Here's To You,
Season Carol Ann Susi
 It's A Quark...It's
An Atom...It's the
#BBTSuperfans!
 Gag Reel
The September August 29, August 31, 24  The Big Bang
Complete 13, 2016[195] 2016[196] 2016[197] Theory Gives Back
Ninth  BBT: The Big 200!
Season  Love IS Rocket
Science
 Just Ask BBT: If I
Had To Go To
Mars...
 Just Ask BBT: Who
Will Get The
Couch?
 2015 Comic-Con
Panel
 Gag Reel
 5 All-New
Featurettes
 #JustAskBBT
 Mad Props
 The Ever-
The Expanding
Complete September September September Universe of The
24
Tenth 12, 2017[198] 11, 2017[199] 13, 2017[200] Big Bang Theory
Season  Who's the Baby
Now?
 Best of The Big
Bang Theory: 2016
Comic-Con Panel
 Gag Reel
 3 All-New
The Featurettes
Complete September September September  Best of The Big
24
Eleventh 11, 2018[201] 24, 2018[202] 12, 2018[203] Bang Theory: 2017
Season Comic-Con Panel
 Gag Reel
 The Big Bang
Theory Finale:
From Script to
Screen
The Twelfth  The Big Bang
November November November Theory's Impact
and Final 24
12, 2019[204] 11, 2019[205] 13, 2019[206]
Season  The Sweet Spot
 Unraveling the
Mystery: A Big
Bang Farewell
(Special)
The November November November 279  The Big Bang
Complete 12, 2019[207] 11, 2019[208] 13, 2019[209] Theory: A
Series Retrospective
 All The Stars in the
BBT Universe
 BBT's Greatest
Hits: 12 Years of
Comedy in 24
Minutes
 32-Page Episode
Guide
 Lay-flat Book
 Digital Copies
The first and second seasons were only available on DVD at their time of release in
2008[210] and 2009.[211] Starting with the release of the third season in 2010 [212] and
continuing every year with every new season, a Blu-ray disc set has also been
released in conjunction with the DVD. In 2012, Warner Bros. released the first two
seasons on Blu-ray,[213] marking the first time that all episodes were available on the
Blu-ray disc format.
Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by The Big Bang Theory
In August 2009, the sitcom won the best comedy series TCA award and Jim Parsons
(Sheldon) won the award for individual achievement in comedy. [214] In 2010, the show
won the People's Choice Award for Favorite Comedy, while Parsons won a
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.[215] On
January 16, 2011, Parsons was awarded a Golden Globe for Best Performance by
an Actor in a Television Series – Comedy or Musical, an award that was presented
by co-star Kaley Cuoco. On September 18, 2011, Parsons was again awarded an
Emmy for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. On January 9, 2013, the show
won People's Choice Award for Favorite Comedy for the second time. August 25,
2014, Jim Parsons was awarded an Emmy for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. [216] The
Big Bang Theory also won the 2016 People's Choice Awards for under Favorite TV
Show and Favorite Network TV Comedy with Jim Parsons winning Favorite Comedic
TV Actor.[217] On January 20, 2016, The Big Bang Theory also won the International
category at the UK's National Television Awards.[218]
Merchandise
On March 16, 2014, a Lego Ideas project[219] portraying the living room scene
in Lego style with the main cast as mini-figures reached 10,000 supporters on the
platform, which qualified it to be considered as an official set by the Lego
Ideas review board. On November 7, 2014, Lego Ideas approved the design and
began refining it. The set was released in August 2015, with an exclusive pre-sale
taking place at the San Diego Comic-Con International.[citation needed]
Offshoots
Plagiarized series
Through the use of his vanity cards at the end of episodes, Lorre alleged that the
program had been plagiarized by a show produced and aired in Belarus. Officially
titled Теоретики [ru] (The Theorists), the show features "clones" of the main
characters, a similar opening sequence, and what appears to be a very close
Russian translation of the scripts.[220] Lorre expressed annoyance and described his
inquiry with the Warner Bros. legal department about options. The television
production company and station's close relationship with the Belarus government
was cited as the reason that any attempt to claim copyright infringement would be in
vain because the company copying the episodes is operated by the government. [221]
However, no legal action was required to end production of the other show: as soon
as it became known that the show was unlicensed, the actors quit and the producers
canceled it.[222] Dmitriy Tankovich (who plays Leonard's counterpart, "Seva") said in
an interview, "I'm upset. At first, the actors were told all legal issues were resolved.
We didn't know it wasn't the case, so when the creators of The Big Bang
Theory started talking about the show, I was embarrassed. I can't understand why
our people first do, and then think. I consider this to be the rock bottom of my career.
And I don't want to take part in a stolen show". [223]
Spin-off series
Main article: Young Sheldon
In November 2016, it was reported that CBS was in negotiations to create a spin-off
of The Big Bang Theory centered on Sheldon as a young boy. The prequel series,
described as "a Malcolm in the Middle-esque single-camera family comedy" would
be executive-produced by Lorre and Molaro, with Prady expected to be involved in
some capacity, and intended to air in the 2017–18 season alongside The Big Bang
Theory.[224][225] The initial idea for the series came from Parsons, who passed it along
to The Big Bang Theory producers.[226] In early March 2017, Iain Armitage was cast as
the younger Sheldon, as well as Zoe Perry as his mother, Mary Cooper. Perry is the
real-life daughter of Laurie Metcalf, who portrays Mary Cooper on The Big Bang
Theory.[226]
On March 13, 2017, CBS ordered the spin-off Young Sheldon series. Jon
Favreau directed and executive produced the pilot. Created by Lorre and Molaro, the
series follows 9-year-old Sheldon Cooper as he attends high school in East Texas.
Alongside Armitage as 9-year-old Sheldon Cooper and Perry as Mary Cooper, Lance
Barber stars as George Cooper, Sheldon's father; Raegan Revord stars as Missy
Cooper, Sheldon's twin sister; and Montana Jordan as George Cooper Jr., Sheldon's
older brother. Jim Parsons reprises his role as adult Sheldon Cooper, as narrator for
the series. Parsons, Lorre, Molaro and Todd Spiewak will also serve as executive
producers on the series, for Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner
Bros. Television.[227] The show's pilot episode premiered on September 25, 2017.
Subsequent weekly episodes began airing on November 2, 2017 following the
broadcast of the 237th episode of The Big Bang Theory.[228]
Armitage appeared on the series' 265th episode, "The VCR Illumination", by way of a
videotape recorded by the younger Sheldon and viewed by the current-day Sheldon.
On January 6, 2018, the show was renewed for a second season. [229] On February 22,
2019, CBS renewed the series for both the third and fourth seasons. [230]
Television special
On May 16, 2019, a television special titled Unraveling the Mystery: A Big Bang
Farewell aired following the series finale of The Big Bang Theory. It's a backstage
retrospective featuring Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco. [231][232]
References
1. ^ "Big Bang Theory Theme – Single". iTunes Store.
Retrieved May 9, 2011.
2. ^ "Big Bang Theory Theme". Retrieved September
2, 2011.
3. ^ "The Big Bang Theory: Cast & Details". TV Guide.
Retrieved January 28, 2013.
4. ^ Jump up to:a b Strauss, Gary (April 11, 2007). "There's a
science to CBS' Big Bang Theory". USA
Today. Archived from the original on September 22,
2009. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
5. ^ Jump up to:a b Pierce, Scott D. (October 8, 2007). "He's a
genius". Deseret News. Archived from the original on
May 23, 2010. Retrieved December 11, 2008.
6. ^ Lorre, Chuck (October 15, 2007). "CLP – Vanity Card
#187". Chuck Lorre Productions. Archived from the
original on July 16, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2012.
7. ^ "Breaking News – Development Update: May 22–26
(Weekly Round-Up)". TheFutonCritic.com. Retrieved May
2, 2009.
8. ^ "'Big Bang Theory': 'We didn't anticipate how protective
the audience would feel about our guys'". Variety. May 8,
2009. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012.
9. ^ "CCI: "The Big Bang Theory"". Comic Book Resources.
July 31, 2008. Archived from the original on March 10,
2016. Retrieved January 15, 2010.
10. ^ "CBS PICKS UP 'BANG,' 'POWER' PLUS FOUR
DRAMAS". The Futon Critic. May 14, 2007.
11. ^ "Breaking News – Cbs Gives Freshman Comedy "The
Big Bang Theory" And Drama "The Unit" Full Season
Orders" (Press release). CBS. October 19, 2007.
Retrieved December 13, 2008.
12. ^ "The Big Bang Theory Tickets". Archived from the
original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved January 6, 2012.
13. ^ Pierce, Scott D. (September 22, 2007). "Yes, it's a 'Big
Bang.'". Deseret Morning News. Archived from the
original on December 24, 2008. Retrieved December
13, 2008.
14. ^ ""The Big Bang Theory" And "How I Met Your Mother"
to Swap Time Periods" (Press release). The Futon
Critic; CBS. February 20, 2008. Retrieved February
20, 2008.
15. ^ "CBS Sets Series Return Dates". Archived from the
originalon February 16, 2008. Retrieved February
13, 2008.
16. ^ "Strike brings prime time to halt; Production stopped on
at least 7 shows". Charleston Daily Mail. Associated
Press. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016.
Retrieved April 6, 2016 – via HighBeam Research.
17. ^ "CBS Picks Up 11 Series". The Futon Critic. February
15, 2008. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020.
Retrieved February 15, 2008.
18. ^ "Big Bang Theory: Deal Is Done for Two More
Seasons!". March 11, 2009. Archived from the original on
October 16, 2009. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
19. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 18, 2009). "CBS renews 'Men,'
'Big Bang'". The Hollywood Reporter.
Retrieved September 1, 2011.
20. ^ Crider, Michael (January 13, 2011). "'The Big Bang
Theory' Gets 3 More Seasons; 'Raising Hope'
Renewed". screenrant.com. Archived from the original on
March 24, 2011. Retrieved June 7,2011.
21. ^ Goldman, Eric (March 12, 2014). "The Big Bang Theory
Renewed For Three More Seasons, Up to Season
10". IGN. Archivedfrom the original on December 25,
2020. Retrieved March 12, 2014.
22. ^ Jump up to:a b Goldberg, Lesley (March 20, 2017). "'Big
Bang Theory' Officially Renewed for Two Seasons as
Mayim Bialik, Melissa Rauch Await Deals". The
Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on
November 22, 2017. Retrieved March 20, 2017.
23. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (May 17, 2013). "'Big Bang Theory': A
Behind the Scenes Diary of the Sweet Season 6
Finale". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the
original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2013.
24. ^ Jump up to:a b Watercutter, Angela (September 22,
2011). "TV Fact-Checker: Dropping Science on The Big
Bang Theory". Wired. Archivedfrom the original on
December 25, 2020. Retrieved May 31, 2012.
25. ^ "Barenaked Ladies' Ed Robertson talks "Big Bang
Theory" theme song". November 2, 2010. Archived
from the original on July 7, 2012. Retrieved April
11, 2011.
26. ^ "Barenaked Ladies Talk about Big Bang Theme Song".
April 2, 2010. Archived from the original on April 10,
2011. Retrieved April 11, 2011.
27. ^ Barenaked Ladies. "Big Bang Theory Theme". Amazon
Digital Services, Inc. Retrieved October 21, 2007.[dead link]
28. ^ "History Of Everything Lyrics". metrolyrics.com.
Retrieved August 23, 2013.
29. ^ "The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Fourth Season
(2010)". September 13, 2011. Archived from the original
on December 25, 2020. Retrieved January 28, 2013.
[Blu-ray] (2010)". September 13, 2011. Archived from the
original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved January
28, 2013.
31. ^ "Hits From Yesterday & The Day Before: Barenaked
Ladies: Music". September 27, 2011. Archived from the
original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved February
15, 2013.
32. ^ "Barenaked Ladies—My Ex-Bandmate Is Screwing Me
Out of 'Big Bang' Money". TMZ. September 11,
2015. Archived from the original on December 25, 2020.
33. ^ Rice, Lynette (November 23, 2010). "'The Big Bang
Theory' salary renegotiations: Do they all deserve the
same pay?". Entertainment Weekly.
34. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 15, 2010). "EXCLUSIVE:
'Big Bang Theory' Stars Score Huge Paydays After
Hardball Bargaining; Jim Parsons Told 'Take It Or Leave
It' Today". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the
original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved October
1, 2011. That effectively adds another $50,000 to their
per-episode paycheck over the life of the deal.
35. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (September 18, 2013). "'Big Bang' Co-
Stars Mayim Bialik & Melissa Rauch Get Major Salary
Bumps As Show Faces License Fee & More Cast
Negotiations". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the
original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved July 19, 2014.
36. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (July 16, 2014). "'The Big Bang
Theory' Production Start In Limbo As Cast Contract
Negotiations Drag On". Deadline
Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 18, 2014.
Retrieved July 19, 2014.
37. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (August 4, 2014). "'Big Bang Theory'
Stars Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki & Kaley Cuoco Close
Big New Deals". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the
original on August 5, 2014. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
38. ^ Friedlander, Whitney; Littleton, Cynthia (August 5,
2014). "'Big Bang Theory': Production to Resume as
Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar Set New
Deals". Variety. Archived from the original on April 28,
2015. Retrieved August 5, 2014.
39. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (March 29, 2017). "Why the 'Big Bang
Theory' Stars Took Surprising Pay Cuts". The Hollywood
Reporter. Archived from the original on December 25,
2020. Retrieved April 3, 2017.
40. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (March 1, 2017). "'The Big Bang
Theory' Stars Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch Seek
Parity in New Contract". Variety. Archived from the
original on March 3, 2017. Retrieved March 2, 2017.
41. ^ Holloway, Daniel (April 28, 2017). "'The Big Bang
Theory': Mayim Bialik, Melissa Rauch Reach New
Deals". Variety. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
42. ^ "The Big Bang Theory Cast – Johnny Galecki". CBS.
43. ^ "The Big Bang Theory Cast – Jim Parsons". CBS.
Retrieved November 12, 2012.
44. ^ "The Big Bang Theory Cast – Kaley Cuoco". CBS.
45. ^ "The Big Bang Theory Cast – Simon Helberg". CBS.
46. ^ "The Big Bang Theory Cast – Kunal Nayyar". CBS.
47. ^ Jump up to:a b "'Big Bang Theory' scoop: Sara Gilbert taken
off Big Bang Theory contract". Entertainment Weekly.
January 23, 2009. Archived from the original on February
27, 2009. Retrieved May 2,2009.
48. ^ "Sara Gilbert". IMDb. Retrieved May 2, 2009.
49. ^ Shepherd, Jack (February 6, 2016). "The Big Bang
Theory 200th episode: Every star set to cameo, including
Adam West and Sara Gilbert". The
independent. Archived from the original on February 6,
2016. Retrieved February 6, 2016.
50. ^ Prudom, Laura (February 3, 2016). "'Big Bang Theory'
200th Episode: Wil Wheaton, Adam West Among Guest
Stars". Variety. Archived from the original on December
25, 2020. Retrieved February 3, 2016.
51. ^ "Exclusive: 'Big Bang Theory' promotes Melissa Rauch
to series regular". Entertainment Weekly. October 25,
2010. Archived from the original on October 26, 2010.
Retrieved October 26, 2010.
52. ^ Ausiello, Michael (November 15, 2010). "'Bang Theory'
Ups Mayim Bialik to Regular". Deadline
Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 25,
53. ^ "The Lunar Excitation". The Big Bang Theory. Season
3. Episode 23. May 24, 2010. Event occurs at
12:03. CBS.
54. ^ "Big Bang Theory Makes 'Stuart' a Series
Regular". TVLine.com. Archived from the original on
December 25, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
55. ^ "The Big Bang Theory: Laura Spencer Promoted to
Series Regular". TVLine.com. Archived from the original
on December 25, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
56. ^ Sanders, Robert (February 23, 2009). "Cosmologist
George Smoot meets TV's 'Big Bang' nerds". University of
California Berkeley. Archived from the original on
December 25, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2012.
57. ^ Hein, Michael (September 24, 2018). "'Big Bang
Theory' Welcomes Bill Nye, Neil deGrasse Tyson in
Season Premiere". Pop Culture. Archived from the
original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved August
6, 2019.
58. ^ "Professor Stephen Hawking films Big Bang Theory
cameo". BBC. March 12, 2012. Archived from the original
on March 14, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
59. ^ Van De Kamp, Justin (June 1, 2008). "TV Ratings:
2007–2008 Season Top-
200". Televisionista. Archived from the original on
February 11, 2013. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
60. ^ Hibberd, James (May 22, 2008). "2007–08 Season
Wrap"(PDF). The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the
original (PDF)on April 27, 2015. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
61. ^ "Season Program Rankings (Through 5/31)" (Press
release). ABC Medianet. June 2, 2009. Archived from the
original on June 19, 2009. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
62. ^ Nellie Andreeva (May 27, 2010). "Full Series Rankings
For The 2009–10 Broadcast Season". Deadline
Hollywood. Archivedfrom the original on June 30, 2013.
Retrieved June 7, 2010.
63. ^ "Full 2010–2011 TV Season Series
Rankings". Deadline Hollywood. May 27,
2011. Archived from the original on August 9, 2012.
64. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 24, 2012). "Full 2011-2012
Season Series Ratings - Deadline.com". Deadline
Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 24, 2014.
65. ^ Patten, Dominic (May 23, 2013). "Full 2012–2013 TV
Season Series Rankings". Archived from the original on
June 28, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
66. ^ Kissell, Rick (May 20, 2014). "NBC Wraps TV Season
As Demo Champ for First Time Since
'04". Variety. Archived from the original on May 19, 2015.
Retrieved April 20, 2015.
67. ^ de Moraes, Lisa (May 21, 2015). "Full 2014–15 TV
Season Series Rankings: Football & 'Empire'
Ruled". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the
original on May 22, 2015. Retrieved May 22,2015.
68. ^ "Full 2015–16 TV Season Series Rankings". Deadline
Hollywood. May 26, 2015. Archived from the original on
May 27, 2016. Retrieved May 26, 2015.
69. ^ "Final 2016-17 TV Rankings: 'Sunday Night Football'
Winning Streak Continues". Deadline Hollywood. May 26,
2017. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017.
Retrieved May 26,2017.
70. ^ de Moraes, Lisa (May 22, 2018). "2017-18 TV Series
Ratings Rankings: NFL Football, 'Big Bang' Top
Charts". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original
on May 25, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
71. ^ de Moraes, Lisa (May 21, 2019). "2018-19 TV Season
Ratings: CBS Wraps 11th Season At No. 1 In Total
Viewers, NBC Tops Demo; 'Big Bang Theory' Most
Watched Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the
original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved May 21, 2019.
72. ^ "The Codpiece Topology". The Big Bang Theory.
Season 2. Episode 2. September 29, 2008. CBS.
73. ^ "The Gorilla Experiment". The Big Bang Theory.
Season 3. Episode 10. December 7, 2009. CBS.
74. ^ "The Zazzy Substitution". The Big Bang Theory.
Season 4. Episode 3. October 7, 2010. 12:00 minutes
in. CBS. I move our relationship terminate immediately
75. ^ "The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis". The Big Bang Theory.
Season 2. Episode 11. December 15, 2008. Event occurs
at 18:00. CBS.
76. ^ "The Russian Rocket Reaction". The Big Bang Theory.
Season 5. Episode 5. October 13, 2011. Event occurs at
19:48. CBS.
77. ^ "The Toast Derivation". The Big Bang Theory. Season
4. Episode 17. February 24, 2011. 20:47 minutes
in. CBS.
78. ^ "The Large Hadron Collision". The Big Bang Theory.
Season 3. Episode 15. February 8, 2010. 12:02 minutes
in. CBS.
79. ^ "The Hofstadter Isotope". The Big Bang Theory.
Season 2. Episode 20. April 13, 2009. 1:01 minutes
in. CBS.
80. ^ "The Middle-Earth Paradigm". The Big Bang Theory.
Season 1. Episode 6. October 29, 2007. CBS.
81. ^ "The Wheaton Recurrence". The Big Bang Theory.
Season 3. Episode 19. April 12, 2010. CBS.
82. ^ "Did You Notice Sheldon's Green Lantern T-Shirt Last
Night?". DC. May 4, 2012. Archived from the original on
December 25, 2020. Retrieved January 24, 2020.
83. ^ "Big Bang Theory" Fake Game Turns
Real Archived February 23, 2014, at the Wayback
Machine, Chris Marlow, Digital Media Wire, September
23, 2011
84. ^ The Big Bang Theory, Episode 6/23, "The Love Spell
Potential.
85. ^ Seidman, Robert (November 16, 2010). "CBS.com
Launches "Soft Kitty" Contest Inspired by Popular Song
From CBS Hit 'The Big Bang Theory'". TV by the
Numbers. Archived from the originalon November 19,
2010. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
86. ^ McCarthy, Tyler (February 2018). "'Young Sheldon'
reveals the origin story of the 'Soft Kitty' song". Fox News
Channel. Archived from the original on February 2, 2018.
Retrieved February 2, 2018.
87. ^ "The Countdown Reflection". The Big Bang Theory.
Season 5. Episode 24. May 10, 2012. 19:54 minutes in.
CBS.
88. ^ "The Cohabitation Formulation". The Big Bang Theory.
Season 4. Episode 16. February 17, 2011. CBS.
89. ^ "The Maternal Capacitance". The Big Bang Theory.
Season 2. Episode 15. February 9, 2009. CBS.
90. ^ "The Apology Insufficiency". The Big Bang Theory.
Season 4. Episode 7. November 4, 2010. CBS.
91. ^ The Staircase Implementation, archived from the
original on December 25, 2020, retrieved March 8, 2019
92. ^ "Chuck Lorre Productions – Vanity Cards".
Chucklorre.com. May 19, 2011. Archived from the
original on July 26, 2011. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
93. ^ "CLP - Vanity Card
#622". www.chucklorre.com. Archivedfrom the original on
December 25, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
94. ^ "The Big Bang Theory: Season 1". Rotten
Tomatoes. Fandango. Archived from the original on
January 6, 2017. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
95. ^ "The Big Bang Theory". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango.
96. ^ "The Big Bang Theory". Metacritic. Archived from the
original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
97. ^ Fretts, Bruce; Roush, Matt (December 23, 2013). "TV
Guide Magazine's 60 Best Series of All Time". TV
Guide. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on
October 31, 2019. Retrieved January 5, 2017.
98. ^ "CBS opens the new season with a big bang 'The Big
Bang Theory' Premieres with its largest audience ever
and highest adult 18–49 rating". ViacomCBS Press
Express. Archived from the original on December 25,
2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
99. ^ Hinckley, David (July 29, 2010). "CBS moves 'The Big
Bang Theory' to Thursday nights this fall to 'challenge'
other shows". Daily News. New York. Archived from the
original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
100. ^ Seidman, Robert (September 23, 2011). "Thursday
Finals: 'Big Bang Theory,' 'The X Factor,' 'Parks &
Recreation' and 'Whitney' Adjusted Up". TV by the
Numbers. Archived from the original on September 25,
2011. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
101. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (January 11, 2013). "Thursday
Final Ratings: 'The Big Bang Theory', '30 Rock' & 'Grey's
Anatomy' Adjusted Up; No Adjustment for 'Scandal'".
Archived from the original on January 14, 2013.
102. ^ Bibel, Sara (May 29, 2013). "Complete List Of 2012–
13 Season TV Show Ratings: 'Sunday Night Football'
Tops, Followed By 'The Big Bang Theory,' 'The Voice' &
'Modern Family'". Archived from the original on June 7,
2013. Retrieved June 4, 2013.
103. ^ Patten, Dominic. "Full 2012–2013 TV Season Series
Rankings". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the
original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2013.
104. ^ Jump up to:a b Patten, Dominic (May 23, 2013). "Full
2012–2013 TV Season Series Rankings". Archived from
the original on June 28, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
105. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (September 27, 2013). "'The Big
Bang Theory' Hits New Viewer Record". TV by the
Numbers. Archived from the original on September 29,
2013. Retrieved September 27, 2013.
106. ^ "Hot List 2013". TV Guide. p. 21.
107. ^ Schneider, Michael (January 28, 2013).
"Bigger Bang Than Ever". TV Guide. pp. 6 and 7.
108. ^ "Syndication Ratings: At Syndie Season's End, 'Phil,'
'Judy,' 'ET,' 'Wheel,' 'Big Bang' on Top – September 4,
2013 17:41:39 | Broadcasting & Cable".
Broadcastingcable.com. Archived from the original on
September 8, 2013. Retrieved September 6, 2013.
109. ^ Albiniak, Paige (September 3, 2014). "Syndication
Ratings: 'Judge Judy' Year's Top Show, While 'Dr. Phil'
Leads Talk". Broadcasting & Cable. Archived from the
original on September 7, 2014. Retrieved September
7, 2014.
110. ^ Gorman, Bill (October 3, 2007). "Nielsen Top 20 New
Shows TV Ratings, Sept 24–30". TV by the Numbers.
Archived from the original on August 22, 2009.
111. ^ "Weekly Program Rankings (Wk of 5/19)" (Press
release). ABC Medianet. May 28, 2008. Archived from
the original on May 1, 2011. Retrieved December
13, 2008.
112. ^ Van De Kamp, Justin (June 1, 2008). "TV Ratings:
2007–2008 Season Top-
200". Televisionista. Archived from the original on
December 16, 2008. Retrieved April 20, 2015.
113. ^ Seidman, Robert (September 23, 2008). "Ratings
Monday, September 22: First Night Wins to ABC, CBS &
NBC". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on
April 10, 2010. Retrieved June 13, 2010.
114. ^ Seidman, Robert (May 12, 2010). "Monday
Ratings: House wins,Castle hangs on". TV by the
Numbers. Archived from the original on October 5, 2012.
115. ^ Seidman, Robert (September 22, 2009). "Monday
broadcast final numbers". TV by the Numbers. Archived
from the original on October 5, 2009. Retrieved June
13, 2010.
116. ^ "CBS WINS THE FINAL MONDAY OF THE SEASON
IN KEY DEMOS". CBS. May 25, 2010. Archived from the
original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved June 25, 2020.
117. ^ "Season Program Rankings (Through 5/31)" (Press
release). ABC Medianet. June 2, 2009. Archived from the
original on June 19, 2009. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
118. ^ TV Ratings Broadcast Top 25: "Sunday Night
Football", "Glee", "Grey's Anatomy", "Dancing with the
Stars" Top Premiere WeekArchived October 1, 2010, at
the Wayback Machine, TV By the Numbers, September
28, 2010
119. ^ Seidman, Robert (May 20, 2011). "Thursday Final
Ratings: 'American Idol,' 'Big Bang,' 'The Office,' 'Grey's,'
'Mentalist' Adjusted Up". TV by the Numbers. Archived
from the original on May 23, 2011. Retrieved May
20, 2011.
120. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 27, 2010). "Full Series
Rankings For The 2009–10 Broadcast Season". Deadline
Hollywood. Archivedfrom the original on June 30, 2013.
121. ^ Seidman, Robert (September 23, 2011). "Thursday
Finals: 'Big Bang Theory,' 'The X Factor,' 'Parks &
Recreation' and 'Whitney' Adjusted
Up". TVbytheNumbers.com. Archived from the originalon
122. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (May 11, 2012). "Thursday Final
Ratings: 'Big Bang Theory', 'Idol', 'Vampire Diaries',
'Office', 'Secret Circle', 'Grey's' Adjusted Up; 'Touch',
'Scandal' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived
11, 2012.
2011. Archived from the original on October 27, 2012.
124. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (September 28,
2012). "Thursday Final Ratings: 'Big Bang Theory',
'Grey's Anatomy', Adjusted Up; 'Parks & Rec.', 'Up All
Night', 'SNL: Weekend Update', 'The Office', 'Glee',
'Scandal', 'Rock Center' Adjusted Down". TV by the
Numbers. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012.
Ratings: 'Hannibal', 'The Big Bang Theory', 'The Vampire
Diaries', 'Grey's Anatomy' & 'Office' Retrospective
Adjusted Up". Archived from the original on June 7, 2013.
126. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 24, 2012). "Full 2011-2012
Season Series Ratings - Deadline Hollywood". Deadline
Hollywood. Archivedfrom the original on April 24, 2014.
127. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (September 27,
2013). "Thursday Final Ratings: 'The Big Bang Theory',
'The Michael J Fox Show' & 'The X Factor' Adjusted Up;
'The Crazy Ones' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers.
Archived from the original on September 29, 2013.
128. ^ Bibel, Sara (May 16, 2014). "Thursday Final Ratings:
'The Big Bang Theory' & 'Grey's Anatomy' Adjusted Up;
'Reign' & 'The Millers' Adjusted Down". TV by the
Numbers. Archived from the originalon May 17, 2014.
129. ^ Kissell, Rick (May 20, 2014). "NBC Wraps TV
Season As Demo Champ for First Time Since
'04". Variety. Archived from the original on May 19, 2015.
130. ^ "The Misinterpretation Agitation". The Futon
Critic. Archivedfrom the original on December 25, 2020.
Retrieved September 25,2018.
131. ^ "The Spock Resonance". The Futon Critic.
132. ^ "The Fetal Kick Catalyst". The Futon
Critic. Archived from the original on December 25, 2020.
133. ^ "The Proton Regeneration". The Futon
Critic. Archived from the original on December 25, 2020.
134. ^ "The Wedding Gift Wormhole". The Futon
Critic. Archivedfrom the original on December 25, 2020.
135. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (October 12, 2014). "'Gotham'
Has Biggest Adults 18–49 Ratings Increase; 'Gotham' &
'Red Band Society' Top Percentage Gains & 'How To Get
Away With Murder' Tops Viewer Gains in Live +7 Ratings
for Week Ending September 28". TV by the Numbers.
Archived from the original on October 13, 2014.
Ratings: 'The Big Bang Theory' Adjusted Up; 'Grey's
Anatomy' Adjusted Down". TV by the Numbers. Archived
8, 2015.
137. ^ de Moraes, Lisa (May 21, 2015). "Full 2014–15 TV
Season Series Rankings: Football & 'Empire'
Ruled". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the
original on May 22, 2015. Retrieved May 22,2015.
138. ^ "Monday Final Ratings: 'The Big Bang Theory'
Adjusted Up; 'Significant Mother', 'Life in Pieces' & 'Penn
& Teller' Adjusted Down - Ratings -
TVbytheNumbers.Zap2it.com". TVbytheNumbers.
Archived from the original on September 22, 2015.
139. ^ Porter, Rick (May 13, 2016). "Thursday final ratings:
'The Big Bang Theory,' 'The Catch' and 'Legends of
Tomorrow' adjust up". TV by the Numbers. Archived
13, 2016.
141. ^ Porter, Rick (September 20, 2016). "Monday final
ratings: 'Big Bang Theory' and 'Gotham' adjust up, 'Kevin'
and 'Good Place' hold". TV by the Numbers. Archived
from the original on September 21, 2016.
142. ^ Welch, Alex (May 12, 2017). "'The Big Bang Theory,'
'Masterchef Junior' adjust up, 'The Blacklist' adjusts down:
Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived
12, 2017.
143. ^ "Final 2016–17 TV Rankings: 'Sunday Night Football'
Winning Streak Continues". Deadline Hollywood. May 26,
2017. Archived from the original on June 2, 2017.
Retrieved May 26,2017.
144. ^ Porter, Rick (September 26, 2017). "'Big Bang' and
'Young Sheldon' adjust up, 'Good Doctor,' 'DWTS,' 'The
Brave,' 'Me, Myself & I' down: Monday final ratings". TV
by the Numbers. Archived from the original on
145. ^ Porter, Rick (May 11, 2018). "'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Big
Bang Theory,' 'Young Sheldon' adjust up, 'Supernatural' &
'Arrow' down: Thursday final ratings". TV by the Numbers.
Archived from the original on May 12, 2018.
146. ^ "2017-18 TV Series Ratings Rankings: NFL Football,
'Big Bang' Top Charts". Deadline Hollywood. May 22,
147. ^ Welch, Alex (September 25, 2018). "'The Big Bang
Theory' adjusts up, 'The Good Doctor' adjusts down:
Monday final ratings". TV by the Numbers. Archived
from the original on September 26, 2018.
148. ^ Rejent, Joseph (May 17, 2019). "'Paradise Hotel,'
'The Big Bang Theory' finale adjust up, 'Young Sheldon'
adjusts down: Thursday final ratings". TV by the
Numbers. Archived from the original on May 17, 2019.
149. ^ "2018-19 TV Season Ratings: CBS Wraps 11th
Season At No. 1 In Total Viewers, NBC Tops Demo; 'Big
Bang Theory' Most Watched Series". Deadline
Hollywood. May 21, 2019. Archived from the original on
August 31, 2019. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
150. ^ "Weekly Top 10 Programmes". Barb.co.uk. July 17,
Retrieved July 28, 2011.
151. ^ "'Big Bang Theory' returns to form for E4 with
1.4m". Digital Spy. May 18, 2012. Archived from the
original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved August
11, 2012.
152. ^ Millar, Paul (November 16, 2012). "'Big Bang Theory'
becomes E4's most-watched show of the year – TV
News". Digital Spy. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
153. ^ "Big Bang Theory". Geektown. Retrieved January
20, 2015.
154. ^ "E4 Sets UK Premiere Date For 'The Big Bang
Theory' Season 8". TVWise. Archived from the original
on October 24, 2014. Retrieved January 20, 2015.
155. ^ "E4 Sets UK Return Date For 'The Big Bang Theory'
Season 8". TVWise. March 6, 2015. Archived from the
original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
156. ^ Netflix UK & Ireland [@NetflixUK] (February 13,
2016). "Smart is the new sexy. Seasons 1–8 of The Big
Bang Theory hit Netflix UK on February 15th" (Tweet).
Retrieved March 25, 2017 – via Twitter.
157. ^ "No Theory: Big Bang Canada's No. 1 Show". TV
Feeds My Family. Archived from the original on January
28, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
158. ^ "TV Thursday: The Big Bang Theory". Postmedia
News, Canada.com. January 3, 2013. Archived from the
original on January 6, 2013. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
159. ^ Next Time. "The Big Bang Theory". Channel
Retrieved December 12, 2012.
160. ^ "The Big Bang Theory on Seven" (PDF). Seven West
Media. September 1, 2015. Archived from the
original (PDF) on December 8, 2015. Retrieved October
1, 2015.
161. ^ "Nine to lose free to air TV rights to The Big Bang
Theory to Seven". The Sydney Morning Herald.
162. ^ "Nine nabs Big Bang episodes back". TV Tonight.
January 22, 2018. Archived from the original on
163. ^ Pavan (August 1, 2011). "TBS Fall 2011 Schedule;
ION Adds Monk, Psych This Month, House in Fall 2012 –
SitcomsOnline.com News Blog".
Blog.sitcomsonline.com. Archived from the original on
August 24, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2011.
164. ^ Stelter, Brian (May 16, 2010). "'The Big Bang Theory'
Gets Syndication Deal". The New York
Times. Archived from the original on December 25, 2020.
165. ^ "Company credits for 'The Big Bang
Theory'". IMDb. Archivedfrom the original on December
25, 2020. Retrieved February 19,2010.
166. ^ McQuivey, James. "Why CBS pulled The Mentalist
from CBS.com". OmniVideo. Archived from the original
on December 25, 2020. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
167. ^ "The Big Bang Theory: Watch Episodes and Video
and Join the Ultimate Fan Community". CBS. Archived
from the original on August 24, 2011.
168. ^ "Watch the Big Bang Theory Online on
CTV". Shows.ctv.ca. Archived from the original on
September 29, 2009. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
169. ^ "The Big Bang Theory". CraveTV.
Retrieved December 25,2017.
170. ^ "The Suicide Squad on HBO Max: Everything to
know about it, other movies and the
app". CNET.com. Archived from the original on
December 25, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
171. ^ "The Big Bang Theory – The Complete First Season:
Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons: Movies &
TV". Archived from the original on December 25, 2020.
172. ^ "Big Bang Theory – Season 1 [DVD] [2007]:
Amazon.co.uk: Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley
Cuoco: DVD". Retrieved October 11, 2009.
173. ^ "The Big Bang Theory – Complete 1st Season".
mightyape.co.nz.
174. ^ "The Big Bang Theory Season 2 DVD coming in
September". The-big-bang-theory.com. Archived from the
original on January 11, 2010. Retrieved October
11, 2009.
175. ^ "Big Bang Theory – Season 2 [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk:
DVD". Archived from the original on December 25, 2020.
176. ^ "The Big Bang Theory – Complete 2nd Season (4
Disc Set)". mightyape.co.nz.
177. ^ "The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Third Season
DVD – Warner Bros.: WBshop.com – The Official Online
Store of Warner Bros. Studios". WBshop.com. October
13, 2010. Archived from the original on November 17,
2011. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
178. ^ "The Big Bang Theory - Season 3". September 27,
Retrieved September 15, 2017 – via Amazon.
179. ^ "Buy Big Bang Theory, The – The Complete 3rd
Season (3 Disc Set) @ EzyDVD". Ezydvd.com.au.
September 29, 2010. Retrieved July 28, 2011.
DVD – Warner Bros.: WBshop.com – The Official Online
Store of Warner Bros. Studios". WBshop.com. Archived
from the original on September 24, 2011. Retrieved July
28, 2011.
181. ^ "The Big Bang Theory – Season 4 [DVD]
[2011]". Archivedfrom the original on December 25, 2020.
182. ^ "Big Bang Theory, The – Season 4". Jb
HiFi. Archived from the original on December 25, 2020.
183. ^ "The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Fifth Season
(Blu-ray)". Warner Bros. Archived from the original on
February 25, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
186. ^ "The Big Bang Theory – Blu-rays, DVDs for 'The
Complete 6th Season': Possible Date, Cost, Box Art".
tvshowsondvd.com. Archived from the original on March
2, 2013. Retrieved March 1,2013.
187. ^ "The Big Bang Theory – Season 6 [DVD]:
Amazon.co.uk: Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley
Cuoco, Simon Helberg: Film & TV". Archived from the
original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved December
26, 2012.
189. ^ Lambert, David (June 11, 2014). "The Big Bang
Theory – Date, Cost, and LOTS of Extras for 'The
Complete 7th Season'". TVShowsOnDVD. Archived
from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved April
17, 2016.
190. ^ "The Big Bang Theory – Season 7 [DVD] [2014]".
191. ^ "Big Bang Theory, The – Season 7". Jb HiFi.
Theory – Blu-ray Disc, DVD Press Release for 'The
Complete 8th Season' Set". TVShowsOnDVD. Archived
from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved April
17, 2016.
Theory – Warner's Press Release Announces DVDs, Blu-
rays for 'The Complete 9th
Season'". TVShowsOnDVD.com. Archived from the
original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
198. ^ "The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Tenth Season".
September 12, 2017. Archived from the original on
December 25, 2020. Retrieved August 18, 2018 – via
Amazon.
199. ^ "The Big Bang Theory - Season 10". September 11,
Retrieved August 18, 2018 – via Amazon.
200. ^ "Big Bang Theory, The - Season 10". jbhifi.com.au.
201. ^ "Big Bang Theory, The: S11". September 11,
2018. Archivedfrom the original on December 25, 2020.
Retrieved August 25, 2018– via Amazon.
202. ^ "BIG BANG THEORY S11". September 24,
2018. Archivedfrom the original on December 25, 2020.
Retrieved August 25, 2018– via Amazon.
204. ^ "The Big Bang Theory: Season 12
(DVD)". Archived from the original on December 25,
2020. Retrieved November 2, 2019 – via Amazon.
205. ^ "The Big Bang Theory Season 12
[2019]". Archived from the original on December 25,
2020. Retrieved November 2, 2019 – via Amazon.
Retrieved November 2, 2019.
207. ^ "The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Series (Limited
Edition Blu-ray + Digital)". Archived from the original on
December 25, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2019 – via
Amazon.
208. ^ "The Big Bang Theory S1-12 [2019] [Region
Free]". Archivedfrom the original on December 25, 2020.
Retrieved November 2,2019 – via Amazon.
209. ^ "Big Bang Theory, The - Complete
Collection". jbhifi.com.au. Archived from the original on
December 25, 2020. Retrieved November 2, 2019.
210. ^ Lambert, David (May 20, 2008). "The Big Bang
Theory – It's Official: September Release Date Provided
for Big Bang's 1st Season DVDs". TVShowsOnDVD.
Archived from the original on June 10, 2016.
Theory – Warner's Formal Press Release Arrives for The
Complete 2nd Season". TVShowsOnDVD. Archived
from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved April
17, 2016.
212. ^ Lambert, David (July 2, 2010). "The Big Bang Theory
– Full Press Release, Finished Packaging for the 3rd
Season on DVD and Blu". TVShowsOnDVD. Archived
from the original on April 11, 2016. Retrieved April
17, 2016.
213. ^ Lambert, David (January 27, 2012). "The Big Bang
Theory – Blu-ray Releases Coming Soon for the Sitcom's
1st and 2nd Seasons!". TVShowsOnDVD. Archived
from the original on April 12, 2016. Retrieved April
17, 2016.
214. ^ "The TCA Awards turn 25 – Sepinwall on TV | New
Jersey Entertainment – TV & Film". The Star-Ledger.
August 2, 2009. Archived from the original on March 3,
2016. Retrieved October 11, 2009.
215. ^ "61st Primetime Emmy Awards | Academy of
Television Arts & Sciences". Cdn.emmys.tv. Archived
from the original on July 18, 2009. Retrieved January
30, 2010.
216. ^ "66th Primetime Emmy Awards Winner
List". Archived from the original on December 25, 2020.
217. ^ "2016 People's Choice Awards: See The Winners
Here". MTV News. Archived from the original on
218. ^ "Winners | National Television Awards". National
Television Awards. Archived from the original on
219. ^ "Lego Ideas The Big Bang Theory List".
220. ^ Lyons, Margaret (February 9, 2010). "'The Theorists':
'Big Bang Theory''s big Belarusian rip-off". Entertainment
Weekly. Archived from the original on December 25,
2020.
221. ^ Lorre, Chuck (February 8, 2010). "Vanity Card
#277". The Official Vanity Card Archives. Chuck Lorre
Productions. Archived from the original on February 13,
2010.
222. ^ "STV canceled the pirated show 'The
Theorists'". Xaptbir97 (in Russian). February 18, 2010.
Archived from the original on April 12, 2010.
223. ^ "'The Theorists' actors don't want to stay with a stolen
project". Xaptbir97 (in Russian). April 28, 2017. Archived
from the originalon May 29, 2010.
224. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 7, 2016). "'The Big Bang
Theory' Eyes Young Sheldon Spinoff Prequel Series On
CBS". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on
February 17, 2017. Retrieved March 13, 2017.
225. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (November 7, 2016). "'Big Bang
Theory' Sheldon Prequel Series in the Works at
CBS". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the
original on March 15, 2017. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
226. ^ Jump up to:a b Andreeva, Nellie (March 2, 2017). "'Big
Bang' Sheldon Spinoff Inches Closer With Iain Armitage &
Zoe Perry Castings". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from
the original on March 13, 2017. Retrieved March
13, 2017.
227. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 13, 2017). "'The Big Bang
Theory' Spinoff 'Young Sheldon' Gets CBS Series Order,
Rounds Out Cast; Jon Favreau Set To Direct". Deadline
Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 12, 2019.
Retrieved March 13, 2017.
228. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 17, 2017). "CBS Fall 2017
Schedule: No Major Changes, 'Young Sheldon' Joins 'The
Big Bang Theory', 'S.W.A.T.' On Thursday". Deadline
Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 22, 2017.
229. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 6, 2018). "'Young Sheldon'
Renewed For Season 2 By CBS". Deadline
Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 7,
230. ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (February 22,
2019). "'Young Sheldon' Renewed For Two More
Seasons By CBS". Deadline. Archived from the original
on February 22, 2019. Retrieved February 22, 2019.
231. ^ "CBS Announces the New Special "Unraveling the
Mystery: A Big Bang Farewell" to Air Thursday, May
16". The Futon Critic. April 29, 2019. Archived from the
original on December 25, 2020. Retrieved April 29, 2019.
232. ^ "CBS will air a retrospective after 'The Big Bang
Theory' series finale". EW.com. Archived from the
original

The Big Bang Theory: Jump To Navigation Jump To Search

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Big Bang Theory: Jump To Navigation Jump To Search

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Big Bang Theory: Jump To Navigation Jump To Search

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Big Bang Theory

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Big Bang Theory

Directed by Mark Cendrowski

Starring  Johnny Galecki

Theme music composer Barenaked Ladies

Opening theme "Big Bang Theory Theme"[1][2]

Country of origin United States

Original language English

Executive producers  Chuck Lorre

 Bill Prady (both; entire run)

 Dave Goetsch (all; 2016–19)

Producer Faye Oshima Belyeu

Editor Peter Chakos

Camera setup Multi-camera

Running time 18–22 minutes

Production companies  Chuck Lorre Productions

 Warner Bros. Television

Distributor Warner Bros. Television Distribution

Original network CBS

Picture format HDTV 1080i

Audio format Dolby Digital 5.1

Original release September 24, 2007 –

May 16, 2019

Related shows Young Sheldon

The Big Bang Theory is an American television sitcom created by Chuck

Series' logo used for print

Single cover for "Big Bang Theory Theme" by Barenaked Ladies (2007)

The Canadian alternative rock band Barenaked Ladies wrote and recorded the

This section describes a work or element of fiction in a primarily in-

These actors are credited in all episodes of the series:

 Johnny Galecki as Leonard Hofstadter:

 Sara Gilbert as Leslie Winkle (recurring season

Originally aired U.S. 18–

Recurring themes and elements

1. ^ From the eighth season onward, episodes of each

UK distribution and ratings

Region 1 Region 2 Region 4

Awards and nominations

You might also like