USA Today: Big Bang Theory Back With a Bang - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Superbowl · 03-16-2008, 10:47 PM

Nice article from USA Today :

Familiar CBS Comedies Come Back With A Bang

By Robert Bianco, USA TODAY

Let's face it: This strike was no laughing matter.

There have been a few sitcoms around since the strike-induced comedy drought began, but not in groups, and generally not the ones we wanted. So it must be a great relief to fans of the form to see TV's most popular sitcom block, CBS' Monday night lineup, back in full force.

They're not all exactly back at full speed or finest form (the last in the group, the already-running The New Adventures of Old Christine, wasn't made available for preview). But some delay in getting the engines going again is to be expected, and even with a few sputters, it's still a very entertaining two-hour stretch. Think of this as a week designed to ease you back into the habit.

Actually, there's a change in the habit right off the bat: The lineup now begins with The Big Bang Theory (8 ET/PT). Easily the year's best new sitcom (not a particularly competitive category), Bang returns with a story that finds genius roommates Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki) fighting over whether to present a paper at a physics conference. Penny (Kaley Cuoco) tries to help — while also trying to get Leonard to wear something other than a corduroy suit. ("Don't even give it to charity. You won't be helping anyone.")

As it has been from the first episode, Parsons' hilarious brand of bewildered egotism is one of the season's great gifts. What has made the series work, though, are the post-pilot improvements in Penny and Leonard. Cuoco no longer plays dumb, and Galecki has found a comfortable spot in between Cuoco's sweet, "normal" Penny and Parsons' monumentally odd Sheldon.

If the comedy comes from character in Bang, it often comes from structure in How I Met Your Mother (8:30 ET/PT), a well-cast show with some of TV's most complex plots. Tonight, while Lily, Robin and Marshall deal with a flawed apartment, Ted deals with a flawed Barney-borrowed idea: that he can live as if there's no tomorrow. It takes awhile for the setup to pay off, but the final scenes do seem to be pointing the character toward new horizons. And it's St. Patrick's Day, so you get Neil Patrick Harris in a green suit — which for many fans will be enough.

Mother leads into the night's biggest hit, the decidedly non-maternal Two and a Half Men (9 ET/PT). The focus is on Alan, whose collapsing relationship sends him to Charlie for advice. Charlie also tries to share his life wisdom with Jake, who is convinced that everything his uncle says and likes is stupid.

There's nothing in that plot you won't see coming. But when you have comic pros like Jon Cryer and Charlie Sheen carrying the load, you don't always need a lot of structure. Sometimes, just staying out of their way is enough. The fun, of course, is for adults only — but by now, you must know that.

Come on, the strike didn't last that long.

http://www.usatoday.com/life/televis...-sitcoms_N.htm

JulieSomoski · 03-17-2008, 04:24 PM

I really hope it does well tonight at 8pm . . . the premiere of Dancing with the Stars will probably hurt it a bit.

AB · 03-17-2008, 04:38 PM

Sounds like a good episode, I'll be watching it tonight.

Superbowl · 03-17-2008, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roseanne88-97

I really hope it does well tonight at 8pm . . . the premiere of Dancing with the Stars will probably hurt it a bit.

I hate to say it, but I think Daylight Savings time and maybe even St. Patrick's day will hurt it more than DWTS. Remember, all of its other original episodes were on opposite DWTS. However, I am just worried not enough people will be watching TV at 8:00. We will see tommorrow.

I can't wait for tonight's episode. We have waited 4 months for a new episode.

03-16-2008, 10:47 PM	#1
Superbowl Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 13, 2005 Posts: 1,107	USA Today: Big Bang Theory Back With a Bang Nice article from USA Today : Familiar CBS Comedies Come Back With A Bang By Robert Bianco, USA TODAY Let's face it: This strike was no laughing matter. There have been a few sitcoms around since the strike-induced comedy drought began, but not in groups, and generally not the ones we wanted. So it must be a great relief to fans of the form to see TV's most popular sitcom block, CBS' Monday night lineup, back in full force. They're not all exactly back at full speed or finest form (the last in the group, the already-running The New Adventures of Old Christine, wasn't made available for preview). But some delay in getting the engines going again is to be expected, and even with a few sputters, it's still a very entertaining two-hour stretch. Think of this as a week designed to ease you back into the habit. Actually, there's a change in the habit right off the bat: The lineup now begins with The Big Bang Theory (8 ET/PT). Easily the year's best new sitcom (not a particularly competitive category), Bang returns with a story that finds genius roommates Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki) fighting over whether to present a paper at a physics conference. Penny (Kaley Cuoco) tries to help — while also trying to get Leonard to wear something other than a corduroy suit. ("Don't even give it to charity. You won't be helping anyone.") As it has been from the first episode, Parsons' hilarious brand of bewildered egotism is one of the season's great gifts. What has made the series work, though, are the post-pilot improvements in Penny and Leonard. Cuoco no longer plays dumb, and Galecki has found a comfortable spot in between Cuoco's sweet, "normal" Penny and Parsons' monumentally odd Sheldon. If the comedy comes from character in Bang, it often comes from structure in How I Met Your Mother (8:30 ET/PT), a well-cast show with some of TV's most complex plots. Tonight, while Lily, Robin and Marshall deal with a flawed apartment, Ted deals with a flawed Barney-borrowed idea: that he can live as if there's no tomorrow. It takes awhile for the setup to pay off, but the final scenes do seem to be pointing the character toward new horizons. And it's St. Patrick's Day, so you get Neil Patrick Harris in a green suit — which for many fans will be enough. Mother leads into the night's biggest hit, the decidedly non-maternal Two and a Half Men (9 ET/PT). The focus is on Alan, whose collapsing relationship sends him to Charlie for advice. Charlie also tries to share his life wisdom with Jake, who is convinced that everything his uncle says and likes is stupid. There's nothing in that plot you won't see coming. But when you have comic pros like Jon Cryer and Charlie Sheen carrying the load, you don't always need a lot of structure. Sometimes, just staying out of their way is enough. The fun, of course, is for adults only — but by now, you must know that. Come on, the strike didn't last that long. http://www.usatoday.com/life/televis...-sitcoms_N.htm

03-17-2008, 04:24 PM	#2
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	I really hope it does well tonight at 8pm . . . the premiere of Dancing with the Stars will probably hurt it a bit.
	__________________ Click here to view some great articles written by my husband and I! All views are appreciated! Watch: Medium, Fridays at 9pm, on CBS! Big Bang Theory, Mondays at 9:30pm, on CBS! The Mentalist, Thursdays at 10pm, on CBS! Old Christine, Wednesdays at 8pm, on CBS! ABC's Comedy Lineup, Starting Wednesdays at 8:30pm, on ABC!

03-17-2008, 04:38 PM	#3
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	Sounds like a good episode, I'll be watching it tonight.