"The Big Bang Theory" is an American sitcom created by Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady, and Steven Molaro, which aired on CBS from September 24, 2007, to May 16, 2019. The show spanned 12 seasons, consisting of 279 episodes, and was produced by Chuck Lorre Productions and Warner Bros. Television.
The series initially revolved around five main characters residing in Pasadena, California: Leonard Hofstadter (played by Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon Cooper (played by Jim Parsons), physicists at Caltech who shared an apartment; Penny (played by Kaley Cuoco), their neighbor and an aspiring actress; and their socially awkward friends and co-workers, aerospace engineer Howard Wolowitz (played by Simon Helberg) and astrophysicist Raj Koothrappali (played by Kunal Nayyar). As the show progressed, supporting characters such as Amy Farrah Fowler (played by Mayim Bialik), Bernadette Rostenkowski (played by Melissa Rauch), and Stuart Bloom (played by Kevin Sussman) were promoted to main roles.
The sitcom received mixed reviews initially but gained more favorable reception from its second season onward. It achieved high ratings and critical acclaim, with several seasons ranking in the top ten. Jim Parsons, portraying Sheldon Cooper, won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series multiple times, contributing to the show's seven Emmy wins from 46 nominations.
The show's premise and humor were centered around the geeky interests and social quirks of its characters, often exploring their professional lives as scientists and their interactions with each other and the world outside their scientific bubble. Notable character developments included Leonard's relationship with Penny, Sheldon's evolution in personal relationships and romance with Amy, Howard's marriage to Bernadette, and Raj's struggle with selective mutism and eventual relationship with Anu.
Notably, "The Big Bang Theory" had a connection to the sitcom "Roseanne" as several cast members from "Roseanne" appeared on "The Big Bang Theory," including Johnny Galecki, Sara Gilbert, Laurie Metcalf, and Meagen Fay.
The show's theme song, titled "Big Bang Theory Theme," was performed by the Canadian band Barenaked Ladies. The series' success led to spin-offs, including "Young Sheldon," focusing on the childhood of Sheldon Cooper, with Jim Parsons as the adult narrator.
The main cast members' salaries significantly increased as the show progressed, with the core trio of Galecki, Parsons, and Cuoco eventually earning $1 million per episode, and supporting cast members negotiating higher pay as well.
Overall, "The Big Bang Theory" became a significant cultural phenomenon, celebrated for its humor, character dynamics, and portrayal of geek culture, and remains a beloved and influential series in television history.
Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper
Kaley Cuoco as Penny
Johnny Galecki as Leonard Hofstadter
Simon Helberg as Howard Wolowitz
Mayim Bialik as Amy Farrah Fowler
Kunal Nayyar as Raj Koothrappali
Melissa Rauch as Bernadette Rosten
