Going out with a bang: How The Big Bang Theory kept Canadians laughing for 12 seasons

From a young age,Sogand Talebiknew she loved science.

When she was a child, herfather would read astronomy magazines to her before bed.

This love carried on into high school, whereTalebi dabbled in robotics and started watchingThe Big Bang Theory.

The York University space engineering student says the series, which has its finale tonight, helped her embrace her inner nerd.

"Watching the show kind of made me realize ...it's cool if I explore some of those things and it's cool if I show that nerdy or the geeky side a little bit more."

Talebi is one of more thanthree millionCanadians who tuned in to TBBT for a weekly dose of scientific hilarity. The show tapped into nerd culture in a way no mainstream sitcom had done before.

Launched in 2007, TBBT centres on socially awkward,hyper-intelligent physicists Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki)and their hijinks with Penny(Kaley Cuoco), who started out astheir neighbour.

The CBS sitcom has proven so popular in its final weeks, it has topped that other much-watched TV show ending its run: HBO's epicfantasyGame of Thrones.According to the Nielsen company,TBBTdrew12.6 million live viewers in the U.S.last week, while GoT had 12.5 million.

Popular but polarizing

Theshow has been bothlaudedandcriticized forits gang of geeks. The other maincharacters include engineer Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg) andastrophysicist Raj Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar). In subsequent seasons, the writers added Amy Farrah Fowler(played by actor and real-life neuroscientistMayim Bialik)and microbiologist Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz (Melissa Rauch).

Penny and Raj, in particular, have been singled out for being stereotypes.Penny has been a polarizing character from the beginning. Some seeher as the upbeat heart of the show, while others question the sexist undertonesof her characterization as the stereotypicalpretty blondparty girl for much of the early seasons.

Criticismslevelledat Rajcentre on the character being a racist stereotype of South Asian men. For instance, for six whole seasons,the character was unable to speak with women he was not related tounless he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

The plot and characters in traditional sitcoms areall part of a formula and not necessarily meant to be examined too deeply, according toTV critic Bill Brioux.

"Some people might be a little sensitive but all of TV is a caricature," he said.

Shows likeI Love Lucy, Cheers and Friends traditional multi-camera sitcoms with archetypical characters andlive audiences have long dominated network TV.

Brioux, who'sinterviewed TBBT showrunner Chuck Lorre and the show's cast, says the format is a testament to listening towhat the audience wants.

"It's a very American format you know right away whether the joke works or not. The audience tells you."

With the single-camera format of comedies such as30 Rock and The Office, you lose the immediacy and interaction of the live audience engagement that Lorrevalues when making his shows, Brioux said.

"[With single-camera shows], you shoot it and you edit it and you hope the audience loves it," he explained. "[Multi-camera] is a wonderful format. It'smore electric and brings out performance. The Big Bang Theory is very much a theatrical show."

'Science is no longer viewed as a weird thing'

American physicist Brian Greene, who made a cameo on TBBT's fourth season and is known for his work on string theory, believes the show has succeeded in making people engage with science.

"I think that there's going to come a time when science is no longer viewed as a weird thing to include in popular culture," he said.

"I think Big Bang Theory will be looked at as one of the moments when science became fodder for entertainment in the most positive sense of the word. "

Greene is also the founder of the World Science Festival, an annual gathering in New York Citythat unites top scientists and entertainers with the goal of making science more accessible.He's interested to see whether the show will inspire younger audiences to pursue the sciences.

Charissa Campbell, aYork University PhD student in astronomy and physics,also started watching TBBT in high school. Despite its initial lack of female characters, she's enjoyed it.

Just as women's representation in physics, astronomy and engineering has been improving,it was nice to see the show eventually introducemore female characters, too,she said.

For Campbell, the show has been a celebration of all things nerdy and has given her a sense of pride in her profession.

"It just helped me propel forward and almost helped my self-esteem to see that Hollywood was looking at physicists and astronomers and putting them on the big screen for us to see," she said.

"It's not scary to be a nerd nowadays.It's great to be a nerd."

Why The Big Bang Theory leaves behind a mixed legacy

5 years ago

Duration 4:36

Two science students who have been following the series share their thoughts on why its important the sitcom brought nerd culture to the forefront, but also why they think the show missed the mark.