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

by George Beahm

The Big Bang Theory – CBS’s surprise hit sitcom – was recently renewed for three additional seasons after pulling in 14 million weekly viewers last season. Any fan who tunes in week to week wasn’t surprised. The quirky show does what so few shows manage to straddle the fence between cult hit and mega-popular award-winner.Now, in Unraveling the Mysteries of The Big Bang Theory (a title taken from the show's Barenaked Ladies-penned theme song), longtime sf fan and author George Beahm, assisted by science advisor and retired NASA aeronautical engineer, Cuyler W. Brooks, Jr., has put together a guide for all fans of the show – mainstream tv viewers, sf and comics fans, and science enthusiasts alike. Whether you’re a Penny or a Sheldon, whether you’ve just tuned in or been watching all along, this companion book will help you appreciate The Big Bang Theory to the fullest.Unraveling the Mysteries of The Big Bang Theory offers a full, comprehensive look at the from an analysis of the awful original pilot (that viewers may never get to see) to a tour of the real Cal Tech (which serves as one of the show's main settings), from a fandom terminology guide to enlightening analyses of the endearingly original main characters, all the show’s quirkiest and most appealing elements are put under the microscope.

Genres: Nonfiction, Humor

256 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

George Beahm writes books about censorship, sports figures, and numerous literary figures, including Patricia Cornwell, J.K. Rowling, Stephenie Meyer, Philip Pullman, and others.

Reviews

[Gláucia Renata · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comecei a ver a série ano passado, já encerrada. Não tinha intenção de ver completa, conhecia a fama mas imaginava que não fosse gostar. Alguns episódios das 3 temporadas iniciais tem algumas situações muito forçadas, exageradas e muito estereotipadas e mesmo assim já comecei gostando muito. Mas o que era bom fica muito maravilhoso! Fiquei muito fã, que série, que personagens! Todos são incríveis, mesmo os secundários, como Will Wheaton, Professor Próton (um fofo), Stuart, Leslie Winkle. Roteiro original, o que eles conseguem fazer para misturar as situações com ciência de verdade e tudo sobre a cultura nerd. E o final, melhor final, apesar de apressado, chorei muito.
Esse guia traz muitas curiosidades sobre a série, os atores, bastidores, histórias por trás de alguns episódios. Mas vai só até a 4º temporada. O final traz um glossário de A a Z com todas as referências citadas sobre o mundo pop/nerd, explicando-as e lembrando a cena em que apareceu. Ficou um pouco cansativa mas é legal para relembrar alguns episódios.
Bazinga!


Histórico de leitura
01/11/2021

"- Nossa vida é perfeita. Usamos o laboratório, fazemos pesquisa, almoçamos, assistimos ao Senhor dos Anéis. Quem tem uma vida melhor?"

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel was more of a companion to the series. It provides information on just about anything that a fan would want to know. It does not give you essays on the characters or the inside information. It barely delves into the trivia and details behind the show. If you are a die hard Big Bang Theory fan then I would recommend this book for you. It is a fun and fascinating read and you don't have to read each scientific chapter if that does not interest you.

I truly enjoyed reading about the unaired pilot. It described the original pilot (which never aired and for good reason) that the creators showed it to CBS and it was rejected. Therefore, the creators overhauled the show's pilot to make the nerds more likable, and introduced Penny.
It has an analysis of each of the main characters: Sheldon, Leonard, Howard, Raj, and Penny, as well as profiles of many of the supporting characters. I found this section to be an enjoyable read. A detailed summary of the extra characters was interesting as well use Google images to get the extra benefit of this.

The book contains a listing of places, both real and fictional, mentioned and featured in the show; there are some supplementary pictures also in this section. There’s a glossary of sci-fi popular culture references that are mentioned in the show. The whole detailed Geek culture section is interesting, true Geeks get it and do others want that much information?

Beahm does give some additional insight into the science behind the dialogue, but brief explanations and quantum physics and string theory there are explanations of some scientific terms/theories such as meteorology, Asperger's Syndrome, selective mutism, which are relevant to the show in various ways.

I do not know if I would rate this as a truly 4 star read but better than 3 stars. My children did enjoy the first few chapters as read aloud fun facts...

[Bruno Paz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boa leitura com curiosidades da série!

[Taschima · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can find more reviews @BloodyBookaholic

Usually I love all Smart Pop books- well, at least those which I have read (The Girl Who Was on Fire, A New Dawn...)- but this one is different from the ones I usually read. This novel was more of a companion to the series. It does not give you essays on the characters or the inside that I was craving. When I usually pick up Smart Pop books is because I am looking for another person's opinion on whatever is it I like, and usually the authors are wonderful, clever and funny. I have to say that this companion was not what I was looking for, I only pretty much only enjoyed the first part of the book since I wasn't interested in the rest, but if you are a die hard Big Bang Theory fan then I would recommend this book for you.

What I truly enjoyed out of this book was reading about the unaired pilot. It was such a freaking mess. I am so glad the people high up had the sense to veto that pilot but encouraged the writers to go back and keep playing with the idea. Because it gave us what we watch now, The Big Bang Theory. Believe me, the other one was... a disaster. In this book it tells you all about it, it explains how and why the pilot sucked, and it tells you details on the past characters.

I also like the part on the description of the characters. As to the rest of it, I wasn't really interested on the real places in Cali that play a role in the Big Bang Theory, or a detailed summary of the extra characters, or even the glossary at the back of the book. It was just a bunch of extra info that I personally wasn't interested in, but I know of a lot of other people who would love the book in its entirety. It's a great addition the Big Bang Collection that's for sure.

[Rosalind M · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. This series companion is written in an engaging voice and adds a nice dose of humor to its behind-the-scenes work. However, I wonder how many people are really that interested in the level of detail explored for the locations and in the section unnecessarily devoted to "geek" culture (heck, most people who would have reason to read this book are already familiar with it).

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick and easy read for fans of The Big Bang Theory. I was hoping for a little more in-depth to the characters and how they were created, and maybe some behind-the-scenes info - casting, how the show comes together, etc. I did enjoy the chapter about the original, failed pilot - thank goodness it was scrapped for the incarnation we have now - a great show with a fantastic cast.

[Kristen Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

The character descriptions, the information about the Sheldonian Universe, and the episode guide/annotated glossary were very interesting. However, some of the chapters seemed pointless as if they were put there just to make the book longer.

[Anne Bollmann (Annelise Lestrange) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is really good in several points, but it have some mistakes that I can't forgive. This guy had only one job and he didn't do it right. A nice reading, but if you are a true fan, you feel a little offended by the wrong facts - Sheldon wouldn't forgive this.

[Kate Krier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just got hooked on BBTand this book was helpful in getting me caught up with the series. I love all the trivia bits and reading about the actors playing these wonderful characters.

[Mati · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leeching on the Big Bang Theory :) It was fun to read and lot of interesting facts about the background of the show can be found there.

[Terka · Rating 4 out of 5]

moje recenze - http://booksfromworld.blogspot.cz/201...

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good introduction to why people are excited about this. But I wish the glossary did not just cover things I already know!

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's a book for Big Bang noobs. Interesting information, but too superficial. It barely delves into the trivia and details behind the show. Ok, but not what I was searching for.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun read for Big Bang fans!

[Annette Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

a quick skim through the facts figures and character bios with a lot of time spent looking at locations mentioned in the show and info on the studio tour.