The Big Bang Theory TV Show

J.J. Abrams may have muscled up his version of Star Trek, but the franchise will always be the domain of such geeks as the California Institute of Technology prodigies on CBS’ The Big Bang Theory.

Exhibit A: The popular YouTube video of Sheldon, played by Jim Parsons, explaining the rules of “Rock, Paper, Scissors, Lizard, Spock”:
“It’s very simple: Scissors cuts paper, paper covers rock, rock crushes lizard, lizard poisons Spock, Spock smashes scissors, scissors decapitates lizard, lizard eats paper, paper disproves Spock, Spock vaporizes rock and, as it always has, rock crushes scissors.”

That kind of giddy celebration of the nerd mind has given the program, created by Bill Prady and Chuck Lorre, a steadily growing audience, with promise for more: The show, which netted 9.76 million viewers for its second-season finale May 11, was picked up in March for two more years in a multimillion-dollar deal.

Parsons, along with the show’s other lead geek, seasoned sitcomer Johnny Galecki, met in a fancy diner one afternoon in Hollywood to ponder their luck.

“It’s security I never dreamed I’d be able to say I have,” Parsons says.

Parsons, a native of Houston who was a regular on Judging Amy, is wittily verbose like his character, but he doesn’t pretend to have the scientific aptitude. When asked if he’s learned any new concepts from the show — Schrodinger’s cat, anyone? — he blinks and says, “Learned? More like memorized in less than a week and then promptly forgotten.” Galecki, who’s still fondly remembered as Darlene’s slouchy boyfriend on Roseanne, plays Leonard, the straight nerd to Sheldon’s fussy one. For him, two more years means “so many more lines. It’s not like we get to just sit back now.” Well, maybe some of them do. Listen to Galecki and Parsons talk about costar Kaley Cuoco, who plays Penny, the sweet but dippy waitress next door, and you might believe she has super powers.

“I don’t know how she does it,” Parsons says, “but she always has every single word memorized.”

“She never makes a mistake,” Galecki adds.

Despite the intricate monologues, the stars, in some ways, can put up their feet a bit.

Galecki, for instance, has learned to play Leonard with a little more cool than in the first season.

“I’d watch the show and see moments where I worked some gesture too much or overemphasized my walk. But I realize now that I can just relax into it. It’s all muscle memory now.”

But muscle memory doesn’t make up for a grueling schedule of rehearsal, memorization and rewrites.

“We’re pretty serious about silly,” Galecki says. “We don’t really do pranks on set.”

Is that mood because of pressure from the famously spirited Chuck Lorre? The reigning maestro of the sitcom, with hits including Dharma & Greg and Grace Under Fire under his belt, has been known to clash with TV critics and his leading ladies of yore, such as Brett Butler.

“I’d heard those stories about Chuck too,” Galecki says. “But it’s never been the case for me. He’s working too hard for any of that.”

Lorre, a one-time guitarist for hire, has “this incredible ear,” Galecki says. “He can just hear the beats and inflections of dialogue. I’ll step into his office and he’ll be playing the guitar between writing bits.”

By all accounts, The Big Bang Theory is a harmonious set. In addition to group trips to Comic-Con and the like, the actors sometimes get together or go to see a movie. But Galecki points out that since they got the two-year thumbs up, they’re not hanging out with the same frequency. “We’ve been through the honeymoon period,” he says. “We’ll be riding this wave together for a while.”

THE BIG BANG THEORY:
THE COMPLETE SECOND SEASON
ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2009!

23 Original Episodes From Executive Producer Chuck Lorre;
Includes Two All-New Featurettes

Burbank, CA (June 2, 2009) - Get ready to laugh your way to the lab as two brilliant roommates conquer the scientific world, but fail miserably in the romantic one as Warner Home Video releases the hit comedy The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Second Season on DVD September 15, 2009 for $44.98 SRP. Timed to coincide with the premiere of the show’s third season on CBS, fans will enjoy watching and laughing as these astronomically funny scientists and beautiful neighbor prove how high their comedy I.Q.s really are.

The science of funny is back! At work, physicists Leonard and Sheldon and their pals conquer the cosmos. At home, real life - from dating to driving - conquers them. This season, Leonard gets a girl. So does Sheldon. (Sheldon?!) Howard drives the Mars Rover into a ditch. Raj woos a terminator. Gorgeous girl-next-door Penny falls under the spell of Age of Conan. And super-smart, überconfident Leslie Winkler reduces mere men to spineless jellyfish. Twenty-three laugh-filled episodes from series creators Chuck Lorre (Two and a Half Men) and Bill Prady (Gilmore Girls) and a supremely talented cast show why Big Bang is such a big hit.

From Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. in association with Warner Bros. Television, The Big Bang Theory is executive produced by Chuck Lorre (Two and a Half Men), Bill Prady (Gilmore Girls) and Lee Aronsohn (Two and a Half Men). The series stars Johnny Galecki (Roseanne), Jim Parsons (Garden State), Kaley Cuoco (8 Simple Rules … for Dating My Teenage Daughter), Simon Helberg (Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip) and Kunal Nayyar (on stage: Huck & Holden). Already renewed for two additional seasons, and with 22% ratings growth in Season 2, The Big Bang Theory is a hit with critics and fans alike.

“Building on the tremendous DVD success of the show’s first season, we’re very pleased to be releasing The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Second Season,” said Rosemary Markson, WHV Vice President, TV & Special Interest Marketing. “With such an outstanding premise and comically gifted actors, Season Two continues the hilarity and heart of the first season. We expect even stronger DVD sales with Season Two, given the phenomenal growth in the ratings and fan buzz.”

In addition to the entire second season of this smart and charming comedy, The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Second Season contains these brand-new bonus features:

* Physicist to the Stars: Real-Life Physicist/UCLA Professor David Saltzberg’s Consulting Relationship to the Show
* Testing the Infinite Hilarity Hypothesis in Relation to the Big Bang Theory: Season Two’s Unique Characters and Characteristics
* Gag Reel

Download Complete Season 2 DVD