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While the growing industry trends have led to a gradual decline in sitcoms’ popularity, which once dominated the small screen, this has done little to impact Chuck Lorre’s illustrious run as the king of sitcoms. Although Lorre has helmed several acclaimed shows, includingTwo and a Half Menand the recentYoung Sheldonspin-off,Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, nothing has come close toThe Big Bang Theory‘s success.
As for what made the sitcom stand out from the rest of its peers, per Jim Parsons, it boiled down to the show’s structure, which didn’t prioritize viewers’ commitment to the entire show.
The Big Bang Theorydidn’t require viewers’ full commitment
Following the success ofThe Sopranosand other shows that leaned towards telling an extended narrative, stretching over several seasons, prestige TV has become the focal point for most networks. FromThe Walking DeadtoBreaking Bad, the 2010s were filled with stiff competition as a result of them. But despite the rise of prestige dramas,The Big Bang Theorycontinued its dominance, thanks to its contrasting nature.
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Unlike the aforementioned shows, which needed viewers’ commitment from episode one,The Big Bang Theorydidn’t require such dedication, asJim Parsonsexplained (viaVulture),“You can enjoy our show without a weekly appointment”.
There’s not anything to keep up with. You don’t go, I didn’t see the first three seasons, and now they’re off with prostitutes, and they no longer work in the Mafia, and I don’t understand what happened. People have so many choices on TV now, so no one’s asking for you to marry us. You can enjoy our show without a weekly appointment
Unsurprisingly, the show’s simple approach that offered viewers easily digestible entertainment with its slice-of-life stories, which has been themotto for Lorre, contributed to its juggernaut status in the realm of TV. And as seen with its spin-offs,Young SheldonandMandy and George’s First Marriage, theTBBTshowrunner’s formula remains as strong as ever.
The Jim Parsons-led show came close to cancellation with its pilot
Prior to cementing its status as one of the biggest sitcoms of the 21st century,The Big Bang Theoryalmost dropped the ball with its first pilot, which failed to wow the CBS heads, especially because of its original female lead. But instead of putting the kibosh on it, CBS’s then-entertainment chairwoman Nina Tassler put hercomplete faith in Lorre.
The Big Bang Theory’s Single, Most Debilitating Flaw is Why Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki Will Never be Nerd Culture Idols
Chuck Lorre recalled (viaEntertainment Weekly):
The miracle of this show is that we got an opportunity to learn from our mistakes and make it better. CBS called after the first pilot and asked if we could do it again and recast the female lead.
The second time would prove to be the charm, asKaley Cuoco‘s casting kickstarted the sitcom’s dominance, and given the success of its recent spin-offs, other potential shows withTBBTcharacters don’t seem too far-fetched.
The Big Bang Theoryis available to stream on Max.
Santanu Roy
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2539
Santanu Roy is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on movies, with over 2,000 articles under his belt. He has been pursuing a degree in Animation and possesses a deep love for the medium of animation. Having spent the better part of the last two years pumping out articles for FW, Santanu excels at covering movie analysis and news surrounding Pixar, DCU, DreamWorks, and Batman’s cinematic legacy.With psychological thrillers and intimate slice-of-life dramas ranking among his favorite genres, Santanu is a big admirer of Luca Guadagnino, Shane Black, Park Chan-wook, and Brad Bird.
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Chuck LorreJim Parsons
