CBS' 'The Big Bang Theory' Becoming a Hit

This entry was posted on 8/18/2009 2:54 PM and is filed under uncategorized.

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• 8/27/2009 7:00 AM PennyLovesHoward wrote:
  Hi Sheldon.
  
  Looks like it's good news for the fans of The Big Bang Theory.
  
  I have to say I like Two and Half Men too but I think it's obvious for anyone who has watched the show that it has already peaked and it's not that much fun anymore. It's not cool that the kid grew up, lost that weight (I mean maybe he actually gained) and has to wear over-sized clothes to look fat. And yes, I guess the writers are running out of ideas too.
  
  But the way I see these two shows is that with Two and a Half Men the writers seemed to know right from the beginning what the strengths and the weaknesses were with the show. It's not like it has been a great show or that it even could have been one but at the end of the episode you pretty much felt that the writers did their job.
  
  The problem with The Big Bang Theory is that even though it has a lot better premise (in my opinion at least), for some reason the writers still don't seem to know how to write great scripts more than once or twice per every season. (my personal favorite is probably 2x18 the dead hooker juxtaposition)
  
  I think the show has a lot of unrealized potential but it's just too bad that there are so many emotionally flat episodes. An episode might start off great but after five minutes the writers too many times drop the ball and lose the plot. For example: episode 2x05 (where Sheldon goes to DMV). From pretty intelligent to relatively stupid in only 9 minutes. Sheldon with the car simulator pretty much breaks my heart.
  
  So have I myself done anything to make the show better? Well, I do have two spec scripts for the show. Are they good enough? Umm, I don't think I'm supposed to say anything.
  
  Sheldon told us spec writers that the story better be real and be about Leonard. I agree (the other Sheldon might not). But may I also add that it should be about Penny too. Never forget the underdog.
  
  Ville.
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  1. 8/28/2009 10:11 AM Sheldon Bull wrote:
     I thank you for your thoughtful comment, and I'm happy to post it.  I'm not sure I agree that BBT took a while to find itself.  I thought it was right there from the beginning.  The premise of Men is much simpler - it's The Odd Couple with a kid.  So perhaps that's what made Men seem more fully realized earlier.
     
     I know from my own experience as a writer and producer on eleven prime time series that it takes any series a while to find itself.  You can't say the writers aren't doing a good job.  It just takes a while to watch the actors work, let them find their characters, and see what elements of the premise are working and not working before a series hits its stride.  Most series have their best episodes in Season Three or Four.
     
     Any group of viewers would likely disagree on which episodes of a series are the best.
     
     But I will repeat that if you are writing a spec for BBT, make the A story about Leonard.  If Leonard's A story also involves his romance with Penny, so much the better.
     
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• 4/27/2010 9:16 AM PennyLovesHoward wrote:
  Hi again.
  
  I reviewed the third season of The Big Bang Theory here:
  
  http://iwishicouldlikethat.blogspot.com/
  
  I was tough but hopefully also fair in my criticism.
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