Big Bang Theory, a new half hour situation comedy on CBS doesn’t try to break new ground or reinvent the sitcom, yet in its pilot episode succeeds in being uncomfortably engaging.
The premise from TV.com says:

From writers/producers Chuck Lorre (”Two And A Half Men”) and Bill Prady (”Gilmore Girls”)comes a new comedy that shows what happens when two hyperintelligent scientists meet a beautiful woman–and realize they know next to nothing about life outside of the lab.

Johnny Galecki (Roseanne) is the real anchor of the show and successfully has you empathizing with his character right out of the gate. Here is a person who can grasp the very secrets of the universe, but cannot deal with his own insecurities…but he tries! Here is a geek who doesn’t consider himself beat before he even begins, nor does he erroneously consider his intelligence to be a strength or advantage in his pursuit of “coital” happiness.

Jim Parsons (Garden State) plays his roommate who unfortunately is the very two dimensional geek we have all come to expect from network television. You will find yourself cringing almost every time this character opens his mouth or exhibits a nervous tick.

The biggest surprise and pleasure is the girl next door and the object of Galecki’s characters desire played by Kaley Cuoco (8 Simple Rules) who could have taken the easy way out and portrayed her character as a brainless and beautiful antithesis of her neighbors, but instead delivers someone with real substance. She is not shocked or disapproving of her nerdy neighbors, instead she honestly tries to get to know them knowing she cannot relate to them. How refreshing and not at all what I expected. You can’t write this kind of character and Cuoco impresses me with her strong handle on this character she has made her own.

The pilot stuck to a straight pilot storyline in an effort to introduce the characters and set up the premise, but there is some potential here for a very different kind of show. Big Bang Theory airs Monday nights on CBS, but you can catch the pilot episode online by clicking here. One thing is for sure…you will laugh!

This post was Guest Authored by Rob Walley