Many readers have asked me over the past year or two why I don't like "Big Bang Theory" (7 p.m. Central Time, CBS). At first, I didn't like it because it seemed mean-spirited and intent on making fun of its almost interchangeable nerd characters. I don't mind a certain amount of laughing at the characters, but there didn't seem to be much in the way of laughing with them.
I've watched the show from time to time, however, because people keep asking me to check it out. I'm happy to say that this season, I like the show much more than I did in Season 1. It may not be my exact cup of tea -- I still sometimes get the sense that the writers assemble 30 geek jokes then distribute them at random to the five lead characters -- but I do usually enjoy "Big Bang Theory" nowadays. I'd give it a solid B for its second season.
It helps that the show has pushed Leonard's crush on his neighbor, Penny, into the background. Penny has always been the weak link on the show -- she appeared to be there to look attractive and there wasn't much else to the character (or to Kaley Cuoco's performance).
However, this season, Penny and Leonard did go out but then decided not to pursue a relationship, which is a relief. As we've seen on "How I Met Your Mother," one character's doomed pining can get a little boring after a while. And Penny was so ill-defined that I used to lose all interest whenever she was on the screen.
But now Penny's more like one of the gang, which is a better use of the character. And the show has very smartly added Sara Gilbert as a recurring character, as mega-nerd Leslie Winkle. She and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) simply hate each other, and both actors are so wonderfully deadpan that I really enjoy their scenes together. I think that Sheldon and Leslie despise each other so much that there must be an attraction lurking there. But maybe it's better to keep the characters apart, because their ongoing animosity is so entertaining.
Also, it must be said, there are some really talented actors in the "Big Bang" cast. Johnny Galecki is cast in the unfortunate role of the straight man much of the time, but he bears that burden gracefully. Simon Helberg, who enjoyably underplays Howard, is probably my favorite actor on the show -- you'll all recall him as Moist in "Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog." And of course as Sheldon, Jim Parsons handles his mega-nerdy dialog with great ease. He's a treat.
Here's a highly enjoyable scene from Monday's episode of the show. How could I not dig this scene? It references "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and "Babylon 5," and it introduces the world to a great new game, Rock-Paper-Scissors-Lizard-Spock:
http://weblogs.variety.com/season_pass/2008/11/big-bang-theory.html
