2007 Fall TV Preview: The Big Bang Theory On CBS

The Big Bang Theory - Season 1

Premieres: Monday, September 24th at 8:30 p.m. EST
Network:CBS
Creator(s):Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady
Starring:Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco
Website: CBS.com

---

As the preview for The Big Bang Theory points out, geeks are taking over the world. Despite this, they still can’t score a hot chick---and there you have the premise of the newest sitcom from Two and a Half Men creator Chuck Lorre.

Bang brings back some sitcom favorites; Kaley Cuoco, from 8 Simple Rules, plays cute-as-a-button Penny, the Cheesecake Factory employee who moves next door to two scientists, Leonard and Sheldon, played by Jim Parsons and Roseanne’s Johnny Galecki. Both guys of course have a crush on her, leading to the requisite wacky hijinks.


I’ve seen a few promos for this show and promptly ignored them. I figured it was just another laugh-track sitcom about lame stereotypes and “hilarious” misunderstandings. Other things that turned me against this show? Chuck Lorre and the character’s names. Also, the stupid title and the CBS website, which partially describes the show thusly: ”Leave it to their pretty new neighbor, just off a messy breakup, to teach them a thing or two in THE BIG BANG THEORY.” Get it? Get it? It’s because they’re scientists, and they want to bang her!

Oy.

Here’s the thing though. In addition to Chuck Lorre, the show also has Bill Prady, who wrote for Gilmore Girls. If there is one thing Gilmore Girls did well, it was dialogue. It is probably due to his influence that when I watched the nearly four minute show preview expecting to hate it, I actually laughed—several times.

Don’t get me wrong--everything bad I said about it is still true, but this show manages to temper the cringe-worthy elements with some legitimately funny lines. Just watch the preview below and when you get to the part about “masturbating into a cup for money,” tell me you didn’t giggle just a little bit.