Unraveling the Mysteries of The Big Bang Theory: An Unabashedly Unauthorized TV Show Companion

by George Beahm

Overview

4 Science Geeks + 1 Savvy Blonde Waitress = A Big Bang

You don’t have to be a theoretical physicist to understand why The Big Bang Theory is one of the most popular shows on television. Brains meet beauty in a calculus of comedy that always adds up to smart and hilarious results.

Unraveling the Mysteries of The Big Bang Theory: An Unabashedly Unauthorized TV Show Companion is a quantum leap beyond the typical TV show guidebook. Exploring every nook and cranny of the Big Bang Theory universe, it provides a wealth of information about our favorite television show:

• A profile of “intelligent designers” Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady
• A detailed look at what went wrong with the unaired original pilot—and what went right in the reboot
• In-depth background on the principal actors and the characters they play
• A photo-illustrated breakdown of the Sheldonian universe, from couch to cosmos (including the show locations you can visit in real life)
• How to get your geek on, Big Bang—style
• A primer on the show’s key scientific concepts, plus its galaxy of guest star scientists
• A concise guide to every episode and the meaning behind each title, organized by season
• An A-Z guide to the pop culture miscellanea mentioned in the show
• And more!

Pull up a seat—just not Sheldon’s, which is in a state of eternal dibs—and get ready to unravel the mysteries of The Big Bang Theory.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781936661312
Publisher:	BenBella Books, Inc.
Publication date:	12/06/2011
Sold by:	Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Format:	eBook
Pages:	336
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

George Beahm is the author of more than two dozen books on pop culture.

Table of Contents

Introduction: “Excuse Me, But Do You Speak Klingon?”

Part 1: A Brief History of Time
Intelligent Designers: Co-Creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Brady, and the Genesis of The Big Bang Theory
To Badly Go Where No One Has Gone Before: The 2006 Pilot
The Successful Reboot: The 2007 Pilot

Part 2: The Stars' Treks
A Night to Remember: "And the Golden Globe Goes to . . ."
The Search for Spock: The Evolution of Dr. Sheldon Cooper
Great Expectations: Dr. Leonard Hofstadter
Lust in Space: Mr. Howard Wolowitz
The Invisible Man: Dr. Rajesh Koothrappali
The Voyage Home: Penny
Shooting Stars: The Supporting Cast

Part 3: Beaming Down to Pasadena
The Sheldonian Universe: From the Couch to the Cosmos
1. Home Sweet Home
2. Dining
3. Pasadena Shopping
4. Comic Book Stores
5. Movies
6. Miscellaneous Pasadena Locations
7. California Institute of Technology (CALTECH)
8. Greater Los Angeles
9. Greater California
10. The United States
11. International
12. Space

Part 4: Fandom
The Newcomer's Guide to Fandom
Exploring Your Inner Geek
The Insider's Guide to Getting in for a Live Taping of The Big Bang Theory
The Warner Bros. Studio VIP Tour
Getting Your Geek On in Public: A Convention Primer for Muggles
The Noob's Gaming Guide

Part 5: Reliance on Science
A Condensed History of the Universe, from the Big Bang to the Twenty-First Century
The Science of the Show
Stellar Scientists Star on The Big Bang Theory
The Science of The Big Bang Theory: A Short Primer for the Science-Impaired, Perpetually Perplexed, but Sufficiently Intelligent Person

Part 6: The Episode Title Explication: A Chronological Episode Guide
Season One
Season Two
Season Three
Season Four

Part 7: People, Places, and Mostly Things: An Annotated Glossary

Afterword: All Good Things . . .
Acknowledgments
About the Author