The Big Bang Theory – The Complete First Season (2007/Warner DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: C+     Extras: C+     Episodes: B-

 

 

TV has so many bad comedies that I have given up taking any of the shows seriously since back in the 1980s.  There are only a small handful that we will remember, but a show sometimes comes along that restores your faith in the capacity of the medium and The Big Bang Theory is such a show.  The show is about two geek friends (Johnathan Galecki, Jim Parsons) who live their lives as geeks, fans of DC Comics, pop culture, science and attempting to be right about their ideas over others.  Then the beautiful Penny (Kaley Cuoco) moves in next door and instead of thinking “we got it made” they are still in shock she is even there.

 

Speaking of the 1980s, the show revisits the teen cycle of genius/geek films (and a few TV imitators) from the time and considering the male leads are adults, follows the trajectory of those shows.  They have geek friends, but Leonard (Galecki) is somewhat interested in Penny while geeky Leslie (Sara Gilbert) could almost be involved with him.

 

Creators Chuck Lorre & Bill Prady have nicely melded a leisurely approach to the character and material with some great humor and visual gags throughout, though some of the jokes may go over the heads of some audiences, but that just gives the show rewatchability and proves it refuses to do what most sitcoms have done since the 1980s: cater to the lowest common denominator.

 

It also helps that the leads and characters are so nicely cast and there is (no pun intended, but it is very true) some real chemistry here most sitcoms have been missing.  You do not have to know about science, geeks or pop culture to really enjoy this show, which has some heart and soul lacking in so many other TV shows today, but can it keep it up?  This 3-DVD set has all 17 episodes and you should start at the beginning to get the most laughs.

 

On a personal note, the great character actress Carol Ann Susi (Kolchak: The Night Stalker) plays the mother of one of the geek friends ala Scorsese’s The King Of Comedy and she steals every scenes she voices.  The Big Bang Theory – The Complete First Season is a pleasant surprise and could still become a huge hit if it stays funny and catches on.

 

The anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 image is consistent enough, but is a bit soft throughout.  However, it is also clean and we bet a Blu-ray would show some nice improvements.  The Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo has Pro Logic surrounds, but those surrounds are limited, but the show is recorded well enough to enjoy.  A making of featurette entitled Quantum Mechanics Of The Big Band Theory is the only extra, but a good one.

 

Can’t wait for the next season, already in progress.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo