TV SERIES, THE BIG BANG THEORY

When I first heard the premise of BIG BANG, four geeks with a normal girl next door, I didn't want to watch it. I'm fairly geeky myself, and didn't want to see science put down. But after my first viewing, I've become a great fan.

Set in Pasadena, California, the show is centered around five characters: two roommate Caltech geniuses, Leonard, who works with lasers and Sheldon, a theoretical physicist. Their neighbor across the hall is Penny, an attractive blonde, and their equally nerdy and socially awkward Caltech friends are Howard and Rajesh. Unlike NUM3ERS crime-solving Charlie Eppes, the four friend's science careers are inconsequential backgrounds for the storyline. It's more important to know that Leonard and Penny used to hookup, but she rejected him when he told her he loved her.

The dweebiness of the four guys is contrasted for comic effect with Penny's social skills and common sense. The show's real star is Sheldon, an Asperger poster child, who's played by the stork-like Jim Parsons. In one scene Penny makes a snide remark, and Sheldon says, "I THINK I am hearing sarcasm from Penny." When confirmed, he says, "Aha! I'm 8 for 26 this month!"

In another priceless scene Penny drives Sheldon and Amy Farrah Fowler, Sheldon's female counterpart, to their first date, and vainly tries to get them talking. Every topic falls flat until the pair begin to calculate the number of Penny's sexual partners from the frequency of her dates and “loud noises and references to a Deity.” “Oh God,” she moans, and the pair continue. They are now talking happily while cluelessly mortifying Penny. This is a real jewel of a show. Watch it.

Leonard--Johnny Galecki Sheldon; Jim Parsons. Penny-Kaley Cuoco; Rajesh--Kunal Nayyar. Howard--Simon Helberg; Amy Farrah Fowler--Mayim Bialik.