So I was saddened by the announcement earlier today that the Big Bang Theory is almost done.
The Big Bang Theory rocks!
Okay, maybe that’s not quite what the press release said. It was something about the show moving from its 8 p.m. timeslot, and will be showing at 9:30 p.m. on Mondays instead.
But I can read the writing on the wall. This is the beginning of the end of the show.
Once it’s moved, it will be on the same time as Heroes and 24. That means quite a few viewers who watch both
While Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter love comic book heroes, that doesn’t mean they can compete with superheroes.
Kaley Cuoco plays Penny on the show.
And that means the ratings will probably dwindle next fall. In an effort to get ratings back up, CBS will start shifting it around their schedule. Maybe Wednesday nights at 9 (oops, that’s up against Lost and/or American Idol). Maybe a Friday or Saturday night (oops, no one really watches TV on those nights). Then they’ll probably have a big episode on Feb. 7, 2010 (oops, that’s the same time as the Superbowl).
I expect in a year or so, the announcement will come out that the Big Bang Theory has to be cancelled due to poor ratings. Executives will point to the decline in ratings within a year, and say they had no choice.
And I’m sad.
The Big Bang Theory is one of the only comedies on television I watch. I’ll flip on Two and a Half Men and King of Queens every once in a while. I don’t watch How I Met Your Mother.
The last half-decent sitcom was Yes Dear and 8 Simple Rules (I loved Arrested Development, but wouldn’t include it as a sitcom).
For those of you who have never seen the show, I highly recommend checking out Season 1 (available on DVD) and watching it straight through.
But for now, here are some of my favourite scenes from the show, starting with my all-time favourite.
In this one, Sheldon figures out the science behind friendship.
And finally, the gang is invited to a Halloween party at Penny’s.
3 Comments
May 21, 2009 at 7:26 am
That is very bad news. BBT is definitely my favorite show on TV at the moment. It’s the best sitcom…well…since I used to watch Mad About You (before they had the baby). I hope it manages to come back from timeslot purgatory.
May 22, 2009 at 3:07 am
Actually, The Big Bang Theory was renewed for two seasons at once, so they are committed to it. Also, I read that the repositioning is intended to make it a bigger asset, rather than giving up on it. (They say they want to “take this Top 20 show and make it a Top 10 show.”) If it loses ratings, I think they’ll realize it’s their fault, not the shows, and fix it.
It’ll come on right after the other Chuck Lorre production (Two and a Half Men), and may someday replace it. So, if for no other reason than the unusual 2 season renewal, don’t give up hope yet.
May 22, 2009 at 9:33 am
The producers of “Big Bang” wanted the 9:30 time slot from the beginning. They begged CBS to put them after “Two and a Half Men.” “Big Bang” got its biggest ratings ever when they tried it one time there because a presidential speech preempted the 8 o’clock hour.
CBS says this move is designed to make a big hit even bigger.