The Big Bang Theory

Plot Summary

The Big Bang Theory is an American sitcom and comedy starring Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Sara Gilbert, Melissa Rauch, Mayim Bialik and Kevin Sussman. The show was created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, who also serve as the executive producers of the show alongside Steven Molaro. The three executive producers are also the head writers of the show’s script.

The shows main characters are Sheldon Cooper (Parsons), Leonard Hofstadter (Galecki), Penny (Cuoco), Howard Wolowitz (Helberg), and Rajesh Koothrappali (Nayyar). It essentially follows four awkward and geeky friends, and their beautiful neighbor Penny who lives across the hall. The shows humor often relies on the geeky actions and socially awkward situations of the guys, while Penny holds things together with her wit, social competence and logical thinking.

Characters Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter are physicists employed at the California Institute of Technology; while co-worker Howard Wolowitz is an aerospace engineer, and Rajesh Koothrappali is an astrophysicist.

The Big Bang Theory’s premiere was aired on CBS, September 24, 2007. The first pilot never aired, and only contained two of the show’s main characters, Leonard and Sheldon. The series was not picked up, but the creators were tasked with reinventing the show and creating a second pilot episode. This second pilot brought in the characters that we know today and earned the Big Band Theory its first official signing. At the end of 2011, the Big Band Theory was renewed for a total of three more seasons.

The theme song to the show is performed by the Canadian alternative rock band, Barenaked Ladies.