There is no reason that The Big Bang Theory should be as funny as it is. It has all the markings of a traditional, run-of-the-mill sitcom: wacky characters, the hot neighbor, the laugh track. It also doesn’t help that the series was created by Chuck Lore, who forced the groan-inducing Two and a Half Men on the world.
But thanks to extremely cleaver writing and wacky characters that are surprisingly original, The Big Bang Theory is one of the most reliably funny TV shows any of the networks are offering right now. The series is based around a duo of uber geeky physicists and their even geekier buddies (an engineer and an astrophysicist) and the attractive blonde actress/waitress that lives across the hall. In the second season, physicist Leonard Hofstadter (played by Johnny Galecki) gets a girlfriend, loses her a couple of episodes later and then finally (almost) hooks up with Penny the neighbor (Kaley Cuoco), who is inexplicably (though thankfully) much less dimmer than her character was in the first few episodes.
The show may appear to center around the opposites attract chemistry of Leonard and Penny, but the real draw of the series is the Aspergers-like tendencies of Leonard’s roommate Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) who manages to steal just about every scene he’s in. The Big Bang Theory is proof that you don’t have to resort to cable for a decent sitcom anymore.
Rating: 8.8 out of 10
The Big Bang Theory – The Complete Second Season/4 DVDs/2009/Warner/481 mins./www.bigbangtheorydvd.com