You know you’ve hit the big time when you open the New York Times, turn to the arts section and find a story about the surge in ratings for your red-hot TV show. This morning’s piece, “The Big Surprise of ‘Big Bang’: The Bigger Audience†is a wholly positive story about TV’s “The Big Bang Theory,†which features Jim Parsons ’01 (MFA) as uber-geek/theoretical physicist Sheldon Cooper.
The newspaper story relates that so far this fall, the show has “become the highest-rated live-action comedy among the sought-after young-adult demographic group.†In fact, it’s hot on the heels of its lead-in, the wildly successful “Two and a Half Men,†which until now has been CBS’ highest rated comedy.
In conversation in advance of a cover story in USD Magazine a few months ago, Parsons admitted that when he first read the script, he had no idea that the show would be a hit. “Not a clue! I don’t feel like I’m a very accurate judge of what, necessarily, is a good script or bad script. There are things that I’ve enjoyed that aren’t very good; there are things that I have not understood that have been just riveting once they were produced.â€
Clearly, something struck a chord, not just with Parsons but with his audience. According to the New York Times, last Monday’s episode drew nearly 13 million viewers, just 5 percent fewer than “Two and a Half Men.†Of course, the publicity around Parsons’ recent Emmy nomination for best actor in a comedy doesn’t hurt.
“It’s fun,†Parsons said, when asked about making the show during that earlier interview. “We’re very fortunate with our writers; they do an excellent job of constructing an episode, and our editors have a really good rhythm. What’s probably most fun is that it just zings along and then it’s wrapped up and then it’s over. It’s gratifying, but a little weird to see all those hours of work condensed into 22 minutes.â€
— Julene Snyder
“The Big Bang Theory†airs on CBS Mondays at 9:30 p.m. Read the New York Times story about the show here.
