The hit American comedy, Big Bang Theory, has gone stellar this month with the airing of its 100th episode. Running over five seasons and grossing over 15 million viewers, the 100th program starred a special guest appearance with a cameo by world-famous scientist Stephen Hawking. So what is all the fuss about? In case you haven't heard, here's a quick summary of the formula.
Here's the formula. The show combines winning elements such as a stellar cast and sharp one-liners in the tradition of situational comedy, with good cultural timing in order to make a successful equation; no easy task in the jostling TV market. Big Bang Theory is written around four roommates who are all quirky sci-fi geeks. The inevitable addition of a blonde 'normal' avoids a tired stereotype by remaining genuinely humorous, warm and self-aware of its comedy. Cue five seasons of friendship, love and fractional division as the group live and learn together.
The cast of Big Bang Theory are no strangers to fame and the roll-call over the series has included such actors like Johnny Galecki, Sarah Gilbert and Laurie Metcalfe, who play Leonard, Lesley Winkle and Sheldon's neurotic mother respectively. They share past roles in hit sitcom Roseanne, and have power-house programming under their belts like Entourage, ER and Desperate Housewives. The seasoned crop of actors, mixed with lesser-known talent such as Jim Parsons (Sheldon) has created staying power over five seasons in the fickle world of American TV comedy.
We mentioned the one-liners, and the script is thick with them. This can be a tired formula and the pitfalls of American sitcom style comedy can include its inability to translate past these into something bigger, better and attractive to all audiences. Big Bang Theory's use of a studio audience and a tried and tested Yankee method of comedy actually works, however. A mixture of likeable characters and a comedic social awkwardness that the inner geek in all of us can actually relate to is backed up by genuinely funny scripting.
It may also be a stroke of luck or just a coincidence that the Big Bang Theory caught the public eye at the time a wave of geek-chic and retro culture was sweeping Britain and America, or it may have been the catalyst. With stars such as Rhianna, Alexa Chung and Tinchy Stryder seen wearing bow-ties and black-rimmed specs in 2011, and with cult sci-fi programming like Star Wars retaining iconic popularity on T-shirts and posters worldwide, the Big Bang Theory fits perfectly into a culture which secretly celebrates the nerd in all of us.
Here's the formula. The show combines winning elements such as a stellar cast and sharp one-liners in the tradition of situational comedy, with good cultural timing in order to make a successful equation; no easy task in the jostling TV market. Big Bang Theory is written around four roommates who are all quirky sci-fi geeks. The inevitable addition of a blonde 'normal' avoids a tired stereotype by remaining genuinely humorous, warm and self-aware of its comedy. Cue five seasons of friendship, love and fractional division as the group live and learn together.
The cast of Big Bang Theory are no strangers to fame and the roll-call over the series has included such actors like Johnny Galecki, Sarah Gilbert and Laurie Metcalfe, who play Leonard, Lesley Winkle and Sheldon's neurotic mother respectively. They share past roles in hit sitcom Roseanne, and have power-house programming under their belts like Entourage, ER and Desperate Housewives. The seasoned crop of actors, mixed with lesser-known talent such as Jim Parsons (Sheldon) has created staying power over five seasons in the fickle world of American TV comedy.
We mentioned the one-liners, and the script is thick with them. This can be a tired formula and the pitfalls of American sitcom style comedy can include its inability to translate past these into something bigger, better and attractive to all audiences. Big Bang Theory's use of a studio audience and a tried and tested Yankee method of comedy actually works, however. A mixture of likeable characters and a comedic social awkwardness that the inner geek in all of us can actually relate to is backed up by genuinely funny scripting.
It may also be a stroke of luck or just a coincidence that the Big Bang Theory caught the public eye at the time a wave of geek-chic and retro culture was sweeping Britain and America, or it may have been the catalyst. With stars such as Rhianna, Alexa Chung and Tinchy Stryder seen wearing bow-ties and black-rimmed specs in 2011, and with cult sci-fi programming like Star Wars retaining iconic popularity on T-shirts and posters worldwide, the Big Bang Theory fits perfectly into a culture which secretly celebrates the nerd in all of us.
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