Big Bang Theory - season 2

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

It's definately n ensemble show, but I could'nt even imagine it without Parsons, I think you could replace one of the others.

I so want to but the first season of this show had it in my hands several time including Last week at Target for 20 bucks But I'm holding out hope for a Blu version since I watch it in Hi def every week

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

Sara Rue provides another "Roseanne" connection for the show. She played a teenage Roseanne in an episode.

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

I forgot to mention that. I only could see the landing that had the two apartments. I have a suspicion though that they have a landing on the back of the set with a building entrance and when they want to do a "walk-up" they shoot it in advance in parts, redressing the landing (elevator and apartment doors) each time. The episode I saw featured two pre-taped segments, one of which was on a set on the back of the stage. They played these back to record our laughter. On the second one, I think the producers were laughing louder on the set when they shot it than we were in the audience.

EDIT: I was cleaning a couple of older episodes off my DVR and I took a look at the hallway, and I'm pretty sure when they show a second or third floor of stairs (Penny and the guys appear to be on the fourth floor based on their apartment numbers), it's the same set, just re-dressed. The marble patterns on the sides of the elevator are the same.

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

Sheldon spends the majority of the episode cockblocking Leonard. Good stuff. Penny got in a few zingers herself.

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

Another great episode although so far i'm uneasy about Leonard being in a long-term relationship.

It just seems like it's disrupting the dynamic of the core group, i'm all for characters changing but in this case I don't want to lose the classic nerd foursome shenanigans, I value that much more.

So with that, sorry, Sheldon, I hope this ends soon so we can get back to costumes and time machines.

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

I couldn't agree more! I miss the 4 boys together. Last nights episode was full of laughs. I think my favorite part was Sheldon taking place as beta male. Oh wait, that and his new girl friend saying " I'm just teasing you... but yeah ya did".

I was finally able to get the Big Bang Theory theme song on my phone and it is now my ringtone! The full version of the song is funny, although I altered it to end when the song ends on the show. BANG!

So yeah....

I also have Walowitz saying " One of us... one of us!" as my message alert.

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

I was dying over the whole escapade about trying to open the jar of white asparagus.

Sheldon: Just so you know, I was defrosting a steak in there.

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

This was the episode they showed to the audience before the taping last week. Plotwise, nothing spectacular, but full of fun lines.

I got quite a kick out of Sheldon trying to find the "acoustic sweet spot"...
"We already have seats..."
"Not the right seats."

"This is banana bread."
"This is a doorknob."

Since we were talking about the stairs earlier, I wonder if this is the first time we've seen anyone walk up all four flights?

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

In the immortal words of Anakin Skywalker "Is it possible to learn this power?" I've been trying to get this song as a ringtone forever!

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

My husband got the song for me off of itunes, but unfortunately my phone does not recognize files from itunes nor does it allow me to use my own songs for ringtones, so I used the sound recording option on my phone and recorded it playing off my computer. The sound quality is not 100%, but it is pretty clear and sounds fine to me.

I also have Bad Horse from Dr. Horrible's Sing A Long Blog as one of my ringtones.

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

Tivo had a software glitch last night and didn't record any of my shows. Is Big Bang Theory online? CBS has clips, but despite their claims of "full episodes", I can't find complete BBT shows there or Hulu.

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

Sadly no, CBS doesn't offer full eps of TBBT. Hulu wouldn't because they link back to CBS.

It's very disappointing that they don't offer it.

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

Hopefully there will be reruns soon.

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

Well, the repeat of the time machine episode - The Nerdvana Annihilation is on next week.

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

I just watched that ep (my favorite episode of season one) a few days ago on the DVD's.

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

You know, Penny is right. That time machine really does look like something Elton John would ride through the Everglades.

Regards,

Joe

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

I thought it was interesting to see Sheldon a bit more "normal" as compared to what he is in the most recent episodes. I fear that they are making him a one note character, which won't hold interest.

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

"The Vartabedian Connundrum" which I saw live will air this coming Monday, December 8. I'm curious if I will hear myself laughing.

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

According to The Futon Critic, Sara Gilbert is becoming a series regular. Should be interesting, depending on exactly how they integrate her into the mix

Regards,

Joe

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

Some interesting things about tonight's episode of 'The Big Bang Theory' that I noticed from seeing it taped live:

- The bit that Sheldon had in the first scene about the roommate agreement took a few takes to get right. The applause you heard was because they finally finished the bit without a flub!
- The first take of scene two with Penny looking for coffee featured Kaley Cuoco in just a red bra and panties. I never realized she had a small tattoo on her lower back. Too bad they changed their minds and added the pink shirt.
- The scenes with Sheldon at the hospital and with Leonard and Stephanie in bed were pre-taped and played back to the audience. In the bedroom scene, you could definitely hear the producers and/or crew laughing, but the audience reaction was a bit lukewarm. It seemed quite punched up on the final edit.
- On the first take of the scene where Stephanie whispers in Leonard's ear and starts unbuttoning his shirt, the audience started going "woooooooo!," but the warm-up guy asked for no "oohs" and "ahs" between takes. I'm guessing the producers don't like those reactions.
- This may apply to other sitcoms, but I noticed that 'The Big Bang Theory' in particular feels slightly different in final edit, because the timing of the jokes is affected by judicious use of reaction shots. The video feed on the monitors in the studio is a live switch that often holds on one shot, keeping the audience from seeing some of the reactions. A good example I thought of was where Leonard left the laundry room but came right back in to ask Penny if she would go instead. In the studio, the shot held on the door, so when Leonard turned around the audience was focused on it and laughed before he even talked. In the final edit, the shot is on Penny so you hear Leonard talk before you see him, tying the laugh to the line instead of the visual.
- I am also thinking they have to spend some time in the edit to clean up the laughs that come from people like me who anticipate the joke, or laugh early. For instance, Leonard's line that begins "I don't even know what a duvet is..." got a laugh from me on the first part, but the writers and producers obviously intended for the laugh to come on the end - "...but even if I did, I don't think I would want it."

I actually found myself chuckle a couple times during the show, even though I knew all the jokes. I was slightly disappointed in the episode overall because I thought the plot was more of a stereotypical sitcom situation and therefore didn't allow the geekiness of the characters to come out as much. There seemed to be less amusing Sheldon business, and I thought the tag of the episode was weak.

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

It's official, they need to dump Stephanie.

I can definitely feel a palpable shift in the show ever since she came onboard and one that i'm not really liking, she's taking up all of Leonard's time and we never even saw him with the other guys, except for Howard and Raj but no nerdy silliness back at his place with all four. Sheldon, too, has an odd difference and calmness about him that differs from the Sheldon from ealier this season.

I don't know, it just feels like the group dynamic is fading and much of it is due to Stephanie, she's intruding on what I love about this and I really wish they would end this thing between her and Leonard very soon.

The only parts of the episode that felt like, if I may, "vintage" BBT was during the cafateria scenes with Howard and Raj and the end with Sheldon using his laptop to "talk" to Penny, which was hilarious BTW, the flow however comes to a thudding halt whenever Stephanie appears onscreen.

Lastly, bring back the long walks and talks up the stairs and cut down on the laundry room stuff a little.

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

OMG!! Why, oh why, could they not have just left that scene in...?

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

I know right!?

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

They probably got a cautionary note from the network at the script stage, and shot it both ways so they'd have a fall-back position if the "just underwear" version didn't fly. Unlike Lorre's Two and a Half Men, which routinely features gorgeous, scantily-clad women, BBT isn't seen or sold as an "adult" comedy. It airs at an earlier time and is seen as a gentler and more "family friendly" show, and the red underwear probably came across as "too much" in the context of this show. I guess we'll have to wait for the DVD extras.

Here's the Two and a Half Men version of the "scantily-clad hot chick discovered at breakfast" scene:









Regards,

Joe

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

I agree. I don't know if it is the character, or performance, but I just do not like her. She seems to suck the life out of the show.

That said, great write up Derek. Very interesting to read about the taping.

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

I'm so glad that I am not alone in the " dump Stephanie" department. I feel like the show is going in a completely different direction with her in the mix and I miss the dorky guys and penny dynamic. While I did find this episode amusing, more because of Sheldon, I didn't think it was one of their best.

Penny is hot! She seems to have gotten more HOT as the show progresses.

I LOVED the whole computer/knocking scene. That one had me on the floor.

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

If there are any, the first season DVD's don't have squat.

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

To be fair to the show, it seems it is doing a pretty good job of displaying how adding a girl to a group of geeks can shake up the dynamic (not saying it's true, but it's certainly part of the stereotype the show plays off of). I can see an episode in the future where Leonard has to essentially choose between his friends, and Stephanie.

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

It is true, Josh, that's exactly what the show is doing and that's the problem, some of us aren't liking the resulting shake up.

Not only am I not liking Stephanie at all but it's also becoming repetative, their scenes consist of her and Leonard sitting on the couch, her making an amourous advance towards him and then they head for the bedroom for more sex...enough.

If it does come down to Leonard making a choice I hope to god he chooses Penny, Howard, Raj and Sheldon.

Re: Big Bang Theory - season 2

I don't mind Stephanie, in part because I've always assumed she was a temporary character who would tempt Leonard out of his comfort zone and then send him scurrying back after the (inevitable) crash and burn. Besides, her "diagnosis" of Sheldon's throat problem was great I think the Stephanie arc is being used to make Penny a little jealous and to put things in place for the arrival of Sara Gilbert - although I'm not sure the point is to make Leonard more open to the idea of a relationship so he can pursue one with her character or to traumatize him so that whole idea is off the table and she can become just "one of the guys".

Regards,

Joe