Jessica Radloff’s The Big Bang Theory is subtitled “The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series”, and it’s everything that fans of the TV show would want. Everyone on the cast cooperated with Radloff’s book. The creators, producers, and writers of the show shared memories. And Kaley Cuoco even shared the pictures she took over the years.
Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, co-creators and executive producers of The Big Bang Theory talk about the creation of the show, the characters, the casting, even the wardrobes. Radloff spent two years working on the book, watching all 280 episodes, corresponding with the cast for ten months, sometimes talking via Zoom or in person. She’s able to tell the story of the television show, the characters, and the people behind the characters. She rolls out the book season by season, talking about individual episodes, and the development of storylines about the characters.
If you followed the show, or still watch it in syndication, the characters may have grown to mean something to you: Sheldon, Leonard, Penny, Howard, Raj, Bernadette, Amy Farrah Fowler. Radloff interviewed the actresses who played mothers to Sheldon and Leonard, Christine Baranski and Laurie Metcalf. Although it was an ensemble comedy that revolved around the five friends, the primary characters, with the later addition of Bernadette and Amy, the show about a group of nerds/scientists, and their friends also featured guest stars who were essential to the show. There were storylines with Leonard Nimoy, Stephen Hawking, Bob Newhart, James Earl Jones, Carrie Fisher, and Wil Wheaton.
Radloff covers so much in this story of twelve years of the show, along with the run-up to the show. Without going into details, the important storylines about Leonard and Penny, Sheldon and Penny’s friendship, Howard and Bernadette, Sheldon and Amy, are all covered as carefully in this book as they were covered in the episodes over the years. By giving the producers, showrunners and writers the chance to discuss the show, she’s able to cover the careful development of each character, and how the characters were handled with love over the course of the series.
Handled with love. Fans of the TV show will recognize that Jessica Radloff handles all the history of this beloved comedy with love. The stories she writes just allows fans to appreciate the show even more. The Big Bang Theory truly is an inside story.
The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series by Jessica Radloff. Grand Central Publishing, 2022. ISBN 9781538708491 (hardcover), 528p.
FTC Full Disclosure – Library book
I’m glad you liked it, Lesa. I rate this book as one of the best I’ve ever read about showbiz, and it brought back happy memories (not that we still don’t watch episodes we’ve seen multiple times!)..
I’m glad you mentioned it, Margie! Loved the book. Now, one for you. I just picked up Musical Theatre for Dummies by Seth Rudetsky.
I’ve seen that on Facebook, and I don’t consider either of us “Dummies” when it comes to musical theatre, but I always enjoy Seth’s books. You’ll have to tell me what you think.
Lesa, Philip has watched this show over and over, and he got me hooked on it, too. But, I didn’t really start watching it until it went into syndication. Now, it’s on here at our house all the time. Thanks for bringing my attention to this book. I’ll be getting it for Philip, but he’ll be lucky to get a look at it before I do.
Oh, good, Kathy. It will make a terrific gift.
I love that show and look for reruns that I have not watched. Will enter for it, if the giveaway is not over.
Carolee, I checked this one out at the library, so I’m not doing a giveaway of it.
I got this book recently myself. No idea when I will get to it, but I look forward to it since I LOVE the show.
Unfortunately, Mark, I found myself hooked when I started the book.
We watched all 12 seasons but started late and watched them all on DVD (or BluRay). And have watched most seasons two – three times. I will definitely be getting this book. Thanks for the review, I am not even sure I knew it existed until it was mentioned on your blog (at one of the What Are You Reading posts?).
The book is so readable, Tracy, and so much fun!