A successful show entering its fourth season has a lot to feel great about but there’s a lot to live up to as well. For The Big Bang Theory there’s a different challenge. They are not only under pressure to satisfy the faithful, but now they have to headline a new comedy block on a new night for their network. For executive producers Bill Prady and Chuck Lorre, a time change is nothing compared to pushing the creative direction. There are bigger fish to fry.
“You really can’t think so much about that,” said Chuck Lorre at a press roundtable at Comic-Con in July. “[It’s] a really wonderful story that we want to tell. Are we laughing? Who watches it and when it’s on is kind of out of our control. I’d be happy to give my advice to CBS but they’re just as happy to ignore me.”
“One of the things we like the show to be is friendly to new viewers and familiar to old viewers,” added Bill Prady. “And I think that’s why we don’t tell a serialized story. We hope people find it and like it.”
People do like it. The Big Bang Theory has been a bona fide hit for CBS and is their number one rated show in the 18-49 demographic. Not only do they have the adoration of their fans, but even the Emmys took notice this year, awarding lead actor Jim Parsons (Sheldon) Best Actor in a Comedy Series in a very competitive category.
The character of Sheldon has certainly in three seasons taken on a life of his own. Was there anyone who’s been the inspiration behind Sheldon? “I think initially there was and a lot of these guys were based on people that I knew when I was a computer programmer before I was a writer,” explained Prady. “I have to say that he’s become his own thing very much. I think at this point Sheldon is the inspiration for Sheldon.”
“That’s the magic trick of a show is to grow the characters without changing them so much that you lose them,” said Lorre about how he approaches any character. Despite the notion that Sheldon never changes, Lorre thinks his changes are incremental. “If you saw the flashback episode, where we saw how Sheldon and Leonard meet, you can tell how vastly he’s changed having these guys in his life. I love that. He was far more isolated and dysfunctional before they came into his life.”
Article comments
1 - Wade Davidson
Turn the Laugh Track down. It is becoming very distracting.
2 - Lynn
STOP PLAYING UP SHELDON SO MUCH. GO BACK TO THE OLD SHOWS PLAY UP OTHER CHARACTERS OR IS THIS THE SHELDON SHOW NOW. SHELDON'S CHARACTER IS BECOMING VERY ANNOYING
3 - Doris Bloch
The protrayal of Wolowitz's mother is extremely insulting. Speaking as a Jewish mother and grandmother, I find the portrayal shocking. (I am watching the repeats). Doris Bloch
4 - mary stanley
time for Raj to talk to girls. Anice Jewish girl from india. Yes there are Jewish people in India.
5 - mary stanley
Please fix the elevator or we will call the housing authory
6 - Igor
The laugh track has already turned me away from the show. Too intrusive.