The Big Bang Theory – An Early Review

I just saw a preview of The Big Bang Theory, a sitcom about two highly intelligent but nerdy roommates who have a pretty new neighbor move in across the hall from them.

It was co-created by Chuck Lorre, the man who gave us Two and a Half Men so I had reasonably high expectations. It seemed to be well written with plenty of clever lines, but the characters were little more than two dimensional stereotypes. As is so often the case with half hour sitcoms these days, they only have 21 minutes to bring the funny and the jokes often seem rushed, throwing off the timing.

The best part was the vanity card at the end of the show. A vanity card identifies the production company and Chuck Lorre’s shows have a vanity card with a different joke/funny story nearly every week. You have to freeze frame it with your TiVo, and it is usually very funny. I wonder if he will keep this up and have unique cards for this show and for Two and a Half Men.

If the actors get a better handle on the timing, this could be a funny show, but if it does not improve over the pilot, I would skip it.

The Big Bang Theory stars Johnny Galecki (Roseanne) and Jim Parsons. It premieres Monday, September 24 on CBS at 8:30/7:30 Central.