Diary of a Big Bang Theory Virgin: Nectar of the godless

I did not start watching The Big Bang Theory because I wanted to know what the fuss was about. Frankly, despite the show’s ratings, I didn’t care what the fuss is. I had never even seen a commercial for it, and I had only a vague idea of the premise: Pretty, ditzy blonde girl moves in next door to geeks. On paper, I think it sounds terrible. So, when one of my good friends started talking about it and bought the first season on DVD, I indulged him by watching the pilot.

It was fine. Not earth shattering. I chuckled a bit, but still didn’t really get the appeal. The season was around, however, so we started watching other episodes. Something happened. Sheldon happened. When I first watched, I didn’t really care for Sheldon. I’ve met people like him in real life, and they are barely tolerable. But I mostly ignored him and focused on Johnny Galecki, whom I did already like. So, perhaps like everyone else who loves him, Sheldon sneaked up on me. Jim Parsons, with his sly portrayal, the perfect delivery of an occasional zinger, the look in his eye when he says, “Nailed it,” just reeled me in.

I have gone back to re-watch “The Pilot” episode. In fact, longterm fans probably know there is an unaired pilot floating around the web:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jftzOTnB30I

I tried to watch it, but it was unbearable. I saw on the show’s ComicCon 2010 panel that the chemistry the cast had with Penny during the pilot was amazing. I did not fully appreciate what that meant until I saw the abrasive, stilted originally cast actress. She was so horrid that I can’t believe that even tender-hearted, horny Leonard would have actually tolerated her presence. Sheldon was also so sexualized (for Sheldon) with multiple sexual references that I couldn’t accept that I was watching the same characters. It was like Bizarro Big Bang Theory.

The magic of the show hinges on the fact that we can completely relate, as an audience, to the fact that the geeks fully get each other (even if we don’t comprehend all of the science) and we can see why Penny doesn’t understand them at all. That may not sound like a huge thing to accomplish, but with a preface for a show as lame on paper as The Big Bang Theory, it’s nothing short of a miracle. I can’t wait to write more.

Clacked by Jen Creer
on Sep 22, 2010 @ 14:00 EST5EDT