January 18th, 2012
There are many reasons why The Big Bang Theory is one of the most popular shows on TV right now: the friendships, wonderfully geeky references, and of course, Sheldon’s antics, all combine to create something we’ve never seen on TV before. A show about geeks that celebrates them instead of mocking them; a show that makes these nerdy guys the heroes that you root for while you’re watching; a show that makes being smart cool and funny, instead of something to be avoided. As author George Beahm says in the introduction of our new companion book, Unraveling the Mysteries of The Big Bang Theory:
The Big Bang Theory didn’t simply serve warmed-up leftovers, but instead gave viewers new, tasty fare. Although we have geeks and girls aplenty, the critical difference is that The Big Bang Theory is a celebration, not a denigration, of cerebration. The good-natured humor can be found in the show’s situations, not in lampooning the characters themselves.
The Big Bang Theory is more than just a show about the clash of the nerds and the hot girl, and Unraveling the Mysteries of The Big Bang Theory is more than your average companion book. It digs down to uncover all of the small things that come together to make the show so great, from an analysis of the show’s original unaired pilot, to a photo-illustrated breakdown of the Sheldonian universe, to an episode guide that shares the meaning behind each title.
To launch this book with a bang (I couldn’t resist!) we’re running a special giveaway that will have a total of 15 winners.
1 Grand Prize winner will get to eat, drink, and shop like the boys—on us—with:
- a $20 Cheesecake Factory gift card (Sheldon recommends the burger!)
- a $15 Midtown Comics gift card (you can time your online shopping to coincide with comic book store night)
- a NASA shot glass (perfect for tequila shots?)
- the T-shirt you see pictured on the cover of the book
- and, of course, a signed copy of Unraveling the Mysteries of The Big Bang Theory
4 runners-up will receive a signed copy of the book along with the cover T-shirt and a NASA shot glass.
10 other winners will get a signed copy of the book.
To enter to win, just tell us who your favorite Big Bang Theory character is in the comments below (no favorite is also acceptable!) by midnight on Wednesday, February 15 Friday, February 17 (CST).
And in the meantime you can read an excerpt from the book introduction here, and if you sign up to get updates on Unraveling the Mysteries of The Big Bang Theory in the form below, we’ll send you a free PDF excerpt from the book.
Good luck, and may the force be with you!
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at 3:11 pm
Because I am a psychology professor, my vote goes to Sheldon for his use of operant conditioning in Season Three.
he also gets my vote because of…
[Knock knock knock] “Penny.”
[Knock knock knock] “Penny.”
[Knock knock knock] “Penny.”
at 4:03 pm
I’d say the character I’m most like is Sheldon (sad, but true), but I think my favorite character is Bernadette. That voice gets me every time.
at 4:13 pm
Amy – she totally revived the show for me and is so freakin’ funny
at 5:10 pm
I can’t decide between Amy and Penny.
at 5:31 pm
I love Amy because she is like Sheldon, but wants to be Penny.
at 9:07 pm
My favorite character has to be Raj. He’s awkward shyness is endearing. He also has his prett funny moments.
at 12:47 am
Mandatory Entry:
I really don’t have a “favorite”
Thanks for the chance!
Email: anashct1 [at] yahoo [dot] com
at 2:51 am
Sheldon. Although Leonard is a very close second.
at 4:35 am
My favorites are Sheldon & Penny. I love it when they play off each other.
at 7:24 am
Sheldon is, hands-down, my favorite on the show.
at 8:31 am
I find it hard to pick a favorite, because they all have their strengths, but on sheer adorableness alone, I pick Raj.
at 2:28 pm
My “NOC” (nerd of choice) is Sheldon. While Walowitz and Raj have their own issues (Leonard is too normal, relatively speaking, for consideration), Sheldon has no filter. He speaks his mind, oblivious to the social mores. But as smart as he is, he’s not above learning a few things. I admire his analytic mind and near-Spokian emotional demeanor.
at 7:55 pm
Penny is my favorite character because she has a good heart (doesn’t care that the guys are nerds and loves them for it), hot, and funny.
at 9:08 pm
Yikes it’s hard to pick a favorite, but gun to my head I’d go with Sheldon.
at 9:07 am
Sheldon for sure, but Penny is a close second for. It’s great to see how she adapts to interacting with the guys when their behavior is clearly a little off!
at 12:53 pm
Sheldon,definitely, but Bernadette comes a close second. It changes every episode, except for my love of Sheldon.
at 7:01 am
Penny is my favorite character because she is the perfect foil for the boys. She has a similar comedic time as Lucille Ball and I love her for it. When she sings “The Kitty” song to Sheldon, I am happy!
at 9:22 am
My favorite character is Sheldon, for his Texas background, and his plots to take over the world are just classic.
at 11:52 am
I just don’t have on favorite, but if i have to choose, it would have to be… Sheldon.
Because of his awkwardness and him being clueless when it comes to some jokes by his friends, that makes him my favorite
at 12:20 am
Sheldon!
soluckyducky at gmail dot com
at 8:05 am
I don’t have a favorite, I truly love all of them! The show has given me so much enjoyment….and also an incredible urge to play Secret Agent Chess!
at 11:15 pm
Penny, becuase she is the most evolved character, IMHO.
at 3:42 am
Raj!
silent but deadly…
well, maybe not deadly, but he’s got a great taste in movies! Sandy B all the way!
at 5:10 pm
Raj… just because.
at 1:45 pm
I just love Penny, she is so funny.
Halochanel at gmail dot com
at 2:31 pm
Mrs. Wolowitz (Howard’s mother) -not that we’ve ever seen her, but I sure can picture what goes with that voice!
at 3:42 pm
Team Sheldon of course !
at 4:19 pm
Sheldon, the popular choice!
at 5:12 pm
The whole cast, no favorite.
at 6:25 am
I don’t think you could have asked a harder question. It goes back and forth between Raj and Sheldon, depending on what’s happening in their lives. Usually it’s stuck on Sheldon. Us Texans have to stick together, after all.
at 6:53 am
Sheldon is my favorite character. I love how he waxes very un-poetical about Texas. As someone from Texas who not gung-ho about Texas patriotism at all, I love it! He is so dead on with so many of his comments. They crack me up!
at 7:07 am
Penny is my favorite character just because of her snarkiness and interaction with Sheldon.
at 9:35 am
Raj. I keep hoping they’ll having a character arc for him that will leave him outside the realm of stereotype.
at 10:21 am
Amy Farrah Fowler–she’s evolved from being a “female Sheldon” to a character rarely seen on television.
at 11:46 am
I love this show so much it’s really hard to say who is my favorite! It seems to depend on the episode.
at 1:29 pm
Leonard, but mostly because I have a thing for Johnny Galecki!
at 1:31 pm
Big Bang Theory would not be what it is without Sheldon. Plus, I have a ton of bizarre quirks, and he makes me feel slightly less weird. His mother comes in a very close second. “You should have called me sooner.”
at 4:24 pm
Leonard!
“Homohabilis discovering his opposable thumbs says “What?”
at 5:28 pm
Bernadette because she puts up with so much with a smile.
at 8:12 pm
My favorite character is Leonard.
at 9:13 pm
It’s hard to pick an absolute favorite because with each episode that changes! I find Raj endearing and sweet but he also a little evil streak, which, I suppose, would qualify him as my favorite most of the time! :-)
at 11:21 pm
It’s a hard choice, but I’m going for Leonard. He straddles such a fine line between being loyal to his nerdy friends and wanting to be “normal,” and it’s utterly endearing.
at 5:37 am
I am torn. On the one hand, the entire cast together make The Big Bang Theory what it is. On the other hand, Penny makes for fierce comebacks to Sheldon’s barbs which leave others in tears.
So my vote goes to Peldon.
at 7:18 am
My favorite is Amy Farrah Fowler. Her crush on Penny is as much “I want to be her” as anything. She is totally a champion and protector. She also wants to be a princess. Don’t we all!
at 3:20 pm
Such a hard choice. I have to go with either Leonard or Penny.
at 8:17 pm
Sheldon is my favorite ‘cos he’s so original
at 12:31 pm
I would have to say Sheldon, he is the most consistently hilarious, and I love his relationship with Amy Farah Fowler.
at 2:02 pm
Sheldon is my fav.
dollhousecreation(at)gmail(dot)com
at 2:22 pm
It’s Howard.
Bazinga … See how I got you there with the classic comedic ploy of misdirection?
Sheldon. Definitely Sheldon.
at 10:15 am
My favorite — a toss up between Sheldon and Amy.
Probably Amy because she used my PhD research methodology (Conversation Analysis) in the episode where the girls make Sheldon go ballroom dancing.
at 1:09 pm
Dr. Sheldon Cooper is my superhero and role model.
at 2:11 pm
And the winner of favorite character is…
…Raj. No Penny. No Sheldon. Damn I can’t decide. I love them all equally. They each have their moments – good and bad – and they are just so brilliant in their madness.
at 6:34 pm
Though Sheldon is a hoot, I identify with Leonard. He’s a guy with one foot in the geek world and one in the real world. That’s me, to a T.
at 1:40 pm
It’s gotta be Sheldon. How could you not love him? :P The whole cast is amazing though. The show wouldn’t be the same without them all.
at 8:04 pm
I love love love both Bernadette (her voice cracks me up, and she looks so innocent but make some seething comments that rock) and Amy Farrah Fowler (with her quirky girl*crush on Penny. I watched from the beginning, and while I love catching reruns, but the new girls really brought some magic that made the show appealing to the masses.
at 3:55 pm
I really do just adore Sheldon. He’s almost relatable in a completely unrelatable way. We’d all love to just have our mommas and friends sing us Soft Kitty.
at 3:56 pm
Doctor Sheldon Cooper, BS, MS, MA, PhD and ScD… OMG right? ;)
at 3:57 pm
Sheldon is definitely my favorite, but sweet and adorable Raj is a close second. Who am I kidding? I love them all!
at 4:02 pm
Leonard – like him I have spent a lifetime as the nerd who has to steer the nerds I have as friends or work colleagues. AUGH!
at 4:10 pm
Sheldon and Penny are my favorites when they interact.
at 4:12 pm
Of course it is the always cute and tiny, Bernadette
at 4:14 pm
MY favorite character is Wil Wheaton
at 4:15 pm
Sheldon. Hands down. His awkward self is slowing evolving, and I enjoy watching the situations he is put into each week to test it.
I also have a school girl crush on him. ;)
at 4:17 pm
Bernadette..especially for the line “I am very vengeful person.” (Read it in her voice with her smile ^^)
at 4:18 pm
Howard Wolowitz, reminds me of myself
at 4:19 pm
My favorite character is Sheldon! His antics are hilarious. His ignorance to sarcasm is so funny. This is my favorite show! I have all the dvds, i have a Bazinga tshirt and i watch it every single day!
at 4:23 pm
Sheldon
at 4:23 pm
Sheldon is the greatest!
at 4:27 pm
Sheldon never fails to make me laugh. I
While I do not have his amazingly smarts, real or written, I find myself understanding and laughing outloud
His personia always has such whitty amangly smart and funny comments, I often find myself understanding and agreeing with the comments he makes.
His great little smirk aka laugh, has me giggling every time.
Jim Parsons pulls the roll off like a genious every time. I have to wonder if he is like Sheldon in real life. Either way, he is brilliant.
We can not afford tv and was blessed to watch the show back home on Alaska. I wish CBS would put the last say 5-6 episoids online. I truly miss Penny and the gang!
at 4:31 pm
Sheldon Cooper of course. He clearly owns the show :)
at 4:40 pm
My favorite character is Penny, she brings out the best in the guys and her one liners are funny.
at 4:40 pm
It has to be Amy. She’s the character that has shown the most grown and is the most dynamic. Anything can come out of her mouth!
at 4:44 pm
My favorite BBT character is Leonard because he has such a huge heart, despite the baggage he carries. He’s so willing to help other people, put up with Sheldon and do whatever is necessary to win the love of the beautiful Penny. He’s smart, lovable, loyal, honest, and would not only make a wonderful friend but an excellent boyfriend/husband/whatever he chooses. GO LEONARD!!!!!!
at 4:49 pm
Oh it has to be Sheldon. He is just awesome, naive, genius and classy dresser.
Whats the jist physicist
I want a flash t shirt, green lantern t shirt
In fact I just want to be Sheldon
at 5:41 pm
I do love all the characters but I think Wolowitz just can’t help but be funny. Whether its wearing tat sleeves or driving the Mars rover into a ditch, he’s just pure comedic genius.
at 5:49 pm
Amy Farrah Fowler: the way she idolizes Penny is hilarious!
at 5:53 pm
my fave person on the big bang theory is shelden.
at 6:54 pm
Leonard-because he has the best chance of overcoming his geek-and living a somewhat normal life-perhaps with Penny
at 7:50 pm
Dr. Sheldon Cooper, Supervillain and Howard. And AmyFarrahFowler. Bazinga.
at 9:27 pm
I can’t get enough of Amy!
at 10:54 am
DR. SHELDON COOPER!!!
at 4:33 pm
My favorite character is Penny. Although Sheldon is a close second. Penny’s patience with the guys and the soft spot she has for them is endearing. Also, the various ways she takes them out of their comfort zone and out of their shells are hilarious and witty. :)
at 6:06 pm
My favorite character would be Penny. She brings the show to life. :D
at 6:07 pm
Penny! She’s absolutely hilarious and beautiful.
at 10:03 pm
Leonard is my favorite for putting up with Sheldon in all his glory.