The Big Bang Theory

:

Season 1
  • Network: CBS
  • Series Premiere Date: Sep 24, 2007
Season #: 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1348 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,107 out of 1348
  2. Mixed: 73 out of 1348
  3. Negative: 168 out of 1348
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User Reviews

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  1. xlogan123
    May 24, 2012
    1
    I heard so much hype about this show that I decided to give it a shot and watched maybe 5 episodes with the hopes that it might improve. I honestly didn't find it entertaining in the least, much less, funny. I consider myself a geek in a lot of respects so I thought I could empathize with the characters, but they're at best just stereotypical characters making for stale entertainment. TheI heard so much hype about this show that I decided to give it a shot and watched maybe 5 episodes with the hopes that it might improve. I honestly didn't find it entertaining in the least, much less, funny. I consider myself a geek in a lot of respects so I thought I could empathize with the characters, but they're at best just stereotypical characters making for stale entertainment. The creators don't seem to see that understanding references to geek/nerd culture does't and and of itself make the show appealing to geeks and nerds. I don't mean to make a broad generalization here, but the friends of mine who do enjoy this show are the ones who have high thresholds for offensive content (i.e.: the idea that women will stop being rational and forgive your wrongs if you give them a tiara) and are typically thought of as the daft ones in the group, though, they don't identify as geeks or nerds either.… Expand
  2. BowsAndArrows
    Aug 13, 2010
    3
    I'm sorry but there is something seriously, fundamentally, achingly, scarily wrong with that 8.2. I'm actually literally scared for the well being of myself and this country.
  3. austinbond
    Sep 23, 2010
    10
    Although it can sometimes feel like jokes are repeated, the show is a shining example of geek culture, full of funny comic, movie and video game references that young people, like me, will lap up.
  4. BlitzWing00
    Dec 13, 2012
    6
    The show falls flat in terms of jokes & delivery to the characters.

    I've recently started watching this series from the high recommendation of a friend and the high IMDb rating of 8.6 and 8.0 from the users on here. I cannot fathom why this show is deserving of such a high score. I understand most (70 to 80%) of their science references, it's not funny. Even the ones I don't get are not    The show falls flat in terms of jokes & delivery to the characters.

    I've recently started watching this series from the high recommendation of a friend and the high IMDb rating of 8.6 and 8.0 from the users on here. I cannot fathom why this show is deserving of such a high score. I understand most (70 to 80%) of their science references, it's not funny. Even the ones I don't get are not funny, so I don't think it's a matter of getting them or not. I understand why the "jokes" are jokes, but I don't find them that funny. Perhaps it's because the jokes seem predictable as the whole setup of the show seems standard with nothing more added than the flavor of geekery. I'm not against geekery, Scott Pilgrim vs the World & The IT Crowd are fantastically funny shows. I feel this show is not. I don't understand why the studio audience is laughing when they do laugh either, it seems absurd to me as I think "really....you're laughing at that? And that too? Are you all drunk?". Perhaps the humor stems from the characters who are so stereotypical it's tiring and predictable. Niles and Fraiser on the show "Fraiser" were stereotypical pompous characters, but the humor around them were not predictable and they were funny.

    I really tried to like the series, I watched 7 episodes in total. I watched the first four episodes which I did not find funny. Then I asked my friend to name me what episodes he found the funniest, and watched them (S01E13 & S03E22). They were a little better, but wasn't doing it for me. So then I asked on the IMDb forum which they considered the best/funniest of the whole series. Many of them said S03E08, watched it and still not that great IMHO. I'm giving up on the series.    … Expand
  5. Doona75
    Oct 1, 2015
    0
    I genuinely enjoyed the first season which was about Leonard and Penny's awkward semi-courtship. The other guys were just background comedy and not too annoying. When season 2 started, Sheldon was brought front and center and there is really nothing funny about him. If Sheldon were a real person, no one would ever hang out with him. He's a terrible person in every way. There is nothingI genuinely enjoyed the first season which was about Leonard and Penny's awkward semi-courtship. The other guys were just background comedy and not too annoying. When season 2 started, Sheldon was brought front and center and there is really nothing funny about him. If Sheldon were a real person, no one would ever hang out with him. He's a terrible person in every way. There is nothing funny about that. His character is is so hard to watch that it's tainted my opinion of the actor. Also, none of the characters seem to be very smart as learning anything new is very difficult for them and their knowledge of geek culture is limited to a few references to comics no one cares about and Star Trek/Star Wars. A very hard show to watch and certainly not very funny.… Expand
  6. GoodReviewerTV
    Mar 9, 2018
    0
    Big Bang Theory? More like "How Many Laugh Tracks Can We Fit In 30 Minutes?" "Penny, Penny, Penny, Penny, Penny, Penny" *Penny opens door* "What Sheldon?" Laugh track: HAHAHAHAHAHA THAT WAS SO FUNNY LOL. Sheldon: "Is your refrigerator running?" Penny: "Of course." Sheldon: "Good ours stopped working can I borrow some milk?" Laugh Track: OMG HAHAHA LMFAO THIS IS THE PINNACLE OF COMEDY. AtBig Bang Theory? More like "How Many Laugh Tracks Can We Fit In 30 Minutes?" "Penny, Penny, Penny, Penny, Penny, Penny" *Penny opens door* "What Sheldon?" Laugh track: HAHAHAHAHAHA THAT WAS SO FUNNY LOL. Sheldon: "Is your refrigerator running?" Penny: "Of course." Sheldon: "Good ours stopped working can I borrow some milk?" Laugh Track: OMG HAHAHA LMFAO THIS IS THE PINNACLE OF COMEDY. At least shows like That 70's Show use them just enough. Maybe a little too much every here and there but they aren't put there to make you think it's funny. Show's like Dan Harmon/NBC's Community don't need laugh tracks because the comedy speaks for itself. It'll be a cold day in hell if I'm caught watching this show.… Expand
  7. ggsnfugacious
    Sep 14, 2013
    6
    At first,I think the show is great,I can laugh a lot even sometimes I don't understand the cultural background so much.But the serials is getting more and more boring,pathetic.And I hate SHELTON...
  8. ablaise82
    Jun 11, 2017
    0
    This show is pure garbage. Not only is the humor so forced and un-clever that it borderline hurts, but nothing about the characters (other then sheldon) are even remotely believable. The characters are downright awful to each other for the sake of a cheap laugh, and the"nerdiness" could be summed up by a one way trip to FYE and 10 minutes with the internet. A true sign of how bad this showThis show is pure garbage. Not only is the humor so forced and un-clever that it borderline hurts, but nothing about the characters (other then sheldon) are even remotely believable. The characters are downright awful to each other for the sake of a cheap laugh, and the"nerdiness" could be summed up by a one way trip to FYE and 10 minutes with the internet. A true sign of how bad this show is, simply look up "Big bang theory no laughtrack" and feast your eyes on the painfully un-witty and utterly pointless dialogue in its true form. This is truly, and I mean it, the most overrated television show on any network what so ever. A revolting embarrassment in every way.… Expand
  9. BradH
    Feb 9, 2009
    0
    They should have titled this show "4 nerds an a 6" The male nerd characters are one dimensional and unfunny, the girl is average looking and unexplored. You could put a 4 midgets playing badmitton after 2 1/2 men and it would still draw good ratings. Unwatchable!
  10. marc5477
    Jan 23, 2015
    9
    Easily my favorite show of all time. For the record, it has started to get stale and also I dont particularly care for Penny. I think Penny would have been better as a side character fantasy rather than part of the group because she is dull and frankly, Leonards love interest in her is asinine but I suppose it has been tolerable.

    As a point of interest, I am definitely a nerd with 2 BS    Easily my favorite show of all time. For the record, it has started to get stale and also I dont particularly care for Penny. I think Penny would have been better as a side character fantasy rather than part of the group because she is dull and frankly, Leonards love interest in her is asinine but I suppose it has been tolerable.

    As a point of interest, I am definitely a nerd with 2 BS degrees in sciences, and 5 AS degrees (because I got bored), and I have a hobby room filled with comics, & video games. I find that the guys in this show are a good example of what nerds/geeks are really like. Of course, they take the characteristics of a nerd to an extreme but believe it or not, real nerds do a lot of the things you see in this show (at various points in a nerds life). Each character exemplifies an extreme aspect of a nerd. For instance, Howard has no self esteem due to social pressures about his way of living and his looks. Sheldon is the analytic aspect taken to an extreme. Raj is the mopey aspect, and Leonard is the part that wants to conform. For the most part, a real nerd is all of them combined but it is funny to see each aspect act separately. Its almost like the infighting that takes place in the head.

    I do feel like the show started losing itself when the girls started playing a bigger part in the show. I do love Bernadette and Amy but Penny is very tiring and would not have been an interest to any nerd after a few dates. She is just too boring (and infuriating if she were real), to consider for a serious relationship. That said, the show was more fun when it was less focused on relationships and more on nerd lifestyle. I suppose that they needed to change things up a bit to avoid getting stale but I hope they go back to their roots eventually.

    Still, I have never enjoyed a show more than this one and I go back to the 80's.    … Expand
  11. ChristianP.
    Oct 23, 2007
    0
    this is a disaster. every "nerd" stereotype possible, plus a storyline as cliched as the hot girl next door... the jokes are far from smart. they are easy, sad, and half-assed. kill this show now.
  12. MovieOran
    Jun 18, 2013
    3
    Hey a chuck Lorre sitcom hell yeah Actually no.... Two and a half men made me cry with laughter such good depth and now we have a show with racial Indian stereotypes and half of the script is Sheldon talking.....continuous confusing jibber jabber HAHAHAH SO FUNNY that audience must be drugged honestly. The show is no where near as good as two and a half men and each episode is like aHey a chuck Lorre sitcom hell yeah Actually no.... Two and a half men made me cry with laughter such good depth and now we have a show with racial Indian stereotypes and half of the script is Sheldon talking.....continuous confusing jibber jabber HAHAHAH SO FUNNY that audience must be drugged honestly. The show is no where near as good as two and a half men and each episode is like a completely new world like a fresh Start like nothing in the past episode matters....they need to learn to have depth...and story like HIMYM for instance disappointment but a few good Howard and Amy laughs to be honest… Expand
  13. mrsquarecircle
    Oct 25, 2014
    0
    I realized after watching this that the people around me laughing were less than I had imagined. This show changed my life, an awakening of sorts. It sunk in with a profound sense of finality that I am not like them, that I had outgrown my environment.
  14. BobRichardsin
    Dec 18, 2012
    0
    This show is just so stupid another boring sitcom that just sucks like every sitcom ever invented the characters suck and never ever watch this show ever you will never laugh PERIOD!
  15. ImUnavailable
    Jul 1, 2011
    5
    Fans of the show can easily dismiss those who dislike it by saying that they don't get the humor and the references. I did but I still didn't enjoy it. The execution of these nerd jokes are particularly poor, with the show constantly telling us to laugh because the nerd said something nerdy. As I said before, I understood the references but the show didn't do anything with them. It justFans of the show can easily dismiss those who dislike it by saying that they don't get the humor and the references. I did but I still didn't enjoy it. The execution of these nerd jokes are particularly poor, with the show constantly telling us to laugh because the nerd said something nerdy. As I said before, I understood the references but the show didn't do anything with them. It just points to them without using them effectively. Just because you get a joke doesn't make it funny.… Expand
  16. mgyukeri
    Jul 10, 2012
    1
    Atrociously overhyped. People who say they are nerds told me that I'd love this show. Honestly, The BIg Bang Theory is blackface for nerds. It's insulting to people who love geeky stuff, and to women in general, considering Penny is only there for the male characters to treat her like an alien because that's what the writers think people who are nerds do. How is this funny? JustAtrociously overhyped. People who say they are nerds told me that I'd love this show. Honestly, The BIg Bang Theory is blackface for nerds. It's insulting to people who love geeky stuff, and to women in general, considering Penny is only there for the male characters to treat her like an alien because that's what the writers think people who are nerds do. How is this funny? Just because you play a laugh track after every line doesn't mean it'll be the funniest thing ever.… Expand
  17. walale12
    Jan 25, 2013
    0
    This show appals me, first of all the humour is forced and repetitive, it all revolves around Sheldon's OCD/Autistic tics. Second of all, I find this offensive, as it basically states that intelligent people are social train wrecks.
  18. cfadfcwfcwrfw
    Jun 1, 2008
    0
    Very not funny, bad timing, obvious, don't care about the characters. Don't mean to be rude but i think many American comedies are exactly the same, no risk and obvious humor. Joey..big bang...just shoot me...my name is Raymond, hope and faith or whatever that craps called. Loving Curb your enthusiasm at the moment, shame producers aren't looking at more modern American Very not funny, bad timing, obvious, don't care about the characters. Don't mean to be rude but i think many American comedies are exactly the same, no risk and obvious humor. Joey..big bang...just shoot me...my name is Raymond, hope and faith or whatever that craps called. Loving Curb your enthusiasm at the moment, shame producers aren't looking at more modern American comedies like that.… Expand
  19. FerdB
    Oct 18, 2009
    0
    Think "Nerdface" -- as in "Blackface" Insulting on several levels, predictable, 30 years out of date, intensely not funny. Feeds into offensive stereotypes rather than trying to explode them. I can extrapolate the entire series based on the pilot -- or just on the character descriptions. This review is based on the pilot and two other episodes late in the first season. If since Think "Nerdface" -- as in "Blackface" Insulting on several levels, predictable, 30 years out of date, intensely not funny. Feeds into offensive stereotypes rather than trying to explode them. I can extrapolate the entire series based on the pilot -- or just on the character descriptions. This review is based on the pilot and two other episodes late in the first season. If since repremanded my TiVo for this -- it will not happen again.… Expand
  20. Fellix
    Jan 12, 2014
    0
    This is probably one of the worst tv shows of all time, right next to 30 Rock and The Jersey shore. I wouldnt even know where to begin, none of the jokes are funny and they do this nifty trick to try and convince the people that its funny by putting canned laughter after every single bad joke. THey claim that its actually a live studio audience, but thats either a lie or the people areThis is probably one of the worst tv shows of all time, right next to 30 Rock and The Jersey shore. I wouldnt even know where to begin, none of the jokes are funny and they do this nifty trick to try and convince the people that its funny by putting canned laughter after every single bad joke. THey claim that its actually a live studio audience, but thats either a lie or the people are really really reallly high.… Expand
  21. joef123
    Jul 11, 2013
    0
    Terrible. The writing, acting, and overall production is terrible. I cant believe people would watch this, if you like good tv. Stay away from this show.
  22. wisertime
    Nov 4, 2014
    0
    Crap show, crap cast, not funny, overhyped, over promoted. Is this the best we have for TV? Cmon. I hardly know anyone who even watches this unfunny garbage. Give me a break. Terrible.
  23. WarWalker
    Dec 29, 2012
    4
    This is one of the most overrated shows ever. Yes, it has its moments. But it hardly belongs in the same breath as real sitcoms like Friends, Seinfeld, or even King of Queens. My primary problem with the show, is that the "nerd" factor is just way too overstated. And the characters' quirks are also overcooked -- i.e. Sheldon's knocking, Howard's mother, Raj's selective mutism. A lotThis is one of the most overrated shows ever. Yes, it has its moments. But it hardly belongs in the same breath as real sitcoms like Friends, Seinfeld, or even King of Queens. My primary problem with the show, is that the "nerd" factor is just way too overstated. And the characters' quirks are also overcooked -- i.e. Sheldon's knocking, Howard's mother, Raj's selective mutism. A lot of the supporting characters are also just plain obnoxious -- Amy, Leslie, Leonard's mom, Wheaton and especially Barry (so fweakin' pwayed). It's too late now, but if the show could have toned it down, this had the potential to be a much better series. It is still somewhat watchable, mostly because it is better than some of the other rubbish on TV (i.e. Wedding Band, ugh). But it is mediocre at best as a comedy.… Expand
  24. NYcritic
    May 21, 2013
    8
    The big bang theory is one of the funniest sitcoms since NBC's Friends. It does not have much story but it is certainly the funniest t.v shows on CBS, beating "How I Met Your Mother" & "Two and a half men" by a huge margin in its number of viewers. The first season might seem a bit slow but in the second season the writing becomes much better.
  25. AlfredoO.
    Nov 10, 2007
    10
    The thing about this show, is that all of us geeks can identify with it and laugh.
  26. MK
    Oct 22, 2007
    1
    Terrible. Gave it a 1 for actually making it past the first episode.
  27. JasonM.
    Sep 24, 2007
    1
    I'm a fan of How I Met Your Mother and I was taping Chuck anyways so I decided to watch this in between HIMYM and Heroes and it was a huge mistake. I had to turn it off after 10 minutes because it was so painful to watch. I'm sure it's great for people who like to laugh at nerds because they use "nerd lingo" and apparently have no social skills. It's just distasteful.
  28. Chaz
    Jan 14, 2008
    0
    I tried watching. i like most of the characters... but the effeminate, im smarter than everyone else on the planet pee-wee herman guy is way to annoying. too over the top.
  29. YesMan
    Jul 17, 2013
    1
    "Bazinga", "Zimbabwe" or whatever, I just can't figure out what's supposed to be funny about this show. The characters are more tragic than comic. If it wasn't for the laugh track, this would be a show about 4 aliens that take human form and try to learn how humans act. There is also a girl who I cannot understand for the sake of my life. I mean who could be around those 4 "people" for"Bazinga", "Zimbabwe" or whatever, I just can't figure out what's supposed to be funny about this show. The characters are more tragic than comic. If it wasn't for the laugh track, this would be a show about 4 aliens that take human form and try to learn how humans act. There is also a girl who I cannot understand for the sake of my life. I mean who could be around those 4 "people" for more than 5 minutes and not commit suicide?

    The jokes are barely even there. Every time a character makes a video game, comic book or science reference the laugh track rolls in, so I suppose that it's supposed to be funny? It isn't. Simply mentioning stuff isn't enough to make a joke. Penny: "Hey Sheldon what are you doing?" Sheldon: "Playing video games" and then "BWHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA". Penny: "Hey Sheldon, am I pretty?" Sheldong: "No, science is pretty" "BWHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA". It's not funny, and it's literally the same every single episode. I watched a bunch of episodes of this show, I wanted to give it a chance, I wanted to see what the hype is about. It just turned out the be the same ****ty "jokes"

    This show panders terribly to people who think science should be made fun of, and that science is for losers. If you are one of those people then go watch the show, you will probably like it. Just make sure that it doesn't suck up the time you watch your favorite reality TV show.    … Expand
  30. Michuu
    Jun 27, 2013
    0
    Not funny at all, and makes me feel as if my IQ drops numbers every time I hear it in the background. There's a laugh track that goes off about every 5 seconds to something that is just completely idiotic. I would not suggest anyone who is caught up in technology has any bit of intelligence to watch this show.
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Awards & Rankings

58
#58 Best TV Season of 2007
2
#2 Most Discussed TV Season of 2007
3
#3 Most Shared TV Season of 2007

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
57

Mixed or average reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 23
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 23
  3. Negative: 4 out of 23
  1. Philadelphia Inquirer
    Reviewed by: Jonathan Storm
    80
    It may not be a creative breakthrough, but it's lots funnier than the universal equation would predict.
    Read full review
  2. New York Daily News
    Reviewed by: David Hinckley
    50
    Standard setup? Sure. Standard execution? For the most part.
    Read full review
  3. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Matthew Gilbert
    40
    The show might even have been engaging, if the one-liners came less frequently and the characters had a little more dimension. As it is, Sheldon and Leonard are merely laughable, if sweet, and they are even less fleshed out than the characters on "Two and a Half Men."
    Read full review
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