I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I was a super fan of The Big Bang theory and enjoyed reading this book and seeing the pictures. Perfect gift for all the BBT fans.

With the end of the Big Bang Theory the follow up book behind the series gives a peak into the hit show that almost wasn't made, hear cast and crew interviews and stories that haven't been heard before. I had such a fun time reading this book and getting a glimpse behind the curtain of creating a show

Overall I enjoyed reading this book. There are a lot of fun behind the scenes stories of the show from the beginning to the season finale. I enjoyed hearing stories from those behind the camera esp stories that did not make the gossip shows/pages. Also included are tons of backstage photographs. Whether you are a big fan or casual fan you will enjoy reading this book

What a great read and I can't believe level of insight this gave into the creating the series. The writers, actors and producers were so open to share the key aspects that created and almost destroyed the series. The author, Jessica Radloff, does an amazing job of providing chronological history about the development of the show. What a great story and very easy read for any Big Bang Theory Fan.

This is a must must read for any Big Bang Theory fan. It was so interesting to read how the show became from the beginning to the end of the series. It was such a great show and a great read.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

First off, I was really excited to get an ARC of this book. I was a really big fan of The Big Bang Theory and I still watch it in reruns.

This book was the perfect companion to the show. It has really great Indepth interviews with the creators and the cast, and I found it really fascinating. This is definitely one that I will read again. I would really recommend giving this as a gift to anyone who enjoyed the show.

Nonfiction, oral history of the sitcom The Big Bang Theory. This book was not on my radar at all until I received a print copy of it from the publisher. Luckily, I received it about a week before the book was due to be published, so I ran to my library’s Overdrive website to request the ebook and audiobook copies to be purchased. Let me tell you that I was very excited to have received the ebook and audiobook from the library on the same day, and just in time for my commute home for work. I listened to maybe about the first chapter or so on audio before I realized I would enjoy it more in reading (with photographs interspersed throughout the text). I had been a casual viewer of this series for many years and was delighted to be able to read the history of the show and all the juicy behind the scenes. So, this was a really long book, but I was really captivated by the pacing and the style of the narrative and how all the transcripts from interviews with the cast, crew, writers, and guest stars were woven together. If you are a fan of this series, you will appreciate all of the reflections within this book. And I recommend the print or ebook version to see all of the photos!

Its funny because as I write this I am actually watching Big Bang on the tv right now lol. We're in the episode where the gang goes to a wine tasting that Penny won at work, and Sheldon and Bernadette are together playing D&D since she can't drink because she's present with Halley.

This book was a great edition to this show. Giving you a behind the scenes look at everything you could ever ask for. I really miss this show being on the air and I would so love for it to come back with Penny and Leonard having their child and maybe Amy and Sheldon having their first as well. The dynamics could change to the children of the show and how all the characters deal with that.

An oral history of the tv show Big Bang Theory gives fun stories and delightful insights to fans.
This book is told through interviews with the cast and crew and includes snippets from special guest stars like Wil Wheaton and Mark Hamill.

As a fan of the Big Bang Theory and as a person who also see the flaws in the show with hindsight I was curious if this book would address them. It did but not necessarily in the way you would think. It did give me new appreciation for the characters and their development for the show as well as being a fascinating insight into the creative process that goes into making a show.

Overall I enjoyed this book and I feel like I walked away with a better understanding of a show that I enjoy.

I've been a "Big Bang Theory" fan since the beginning— while I was excited about the book's release, I was ultimately disappointed because it's little more than a lengthy interview with the creators and cast members. I expected a well-written, in-depth coffee-table book on one of my favorite sitcoms, but that's not what I received. Why is a writer credited? It's presumably for the brief introduction before the interview questions, which look to have been created by a studio executive. I'd go online if I wanted to read an interview with Chuck Lorre—I'm sure there are plenty of them.

Maybe I'm being too harsh, but this book appears to have convened hastily.

DNF @ 60% - I just couldn't with this book anymore. I am a big fan of The Big Bang Theory and was really excited to read this book and just learn more about this show that I've watched and has entertained me for so many years. Sadly enough this book quickly just became infuriating to read for me and I just knew that if I kept reading I would only grow to resent this book and I didn't want that to happen. I think this book's biggest flaw is its lenght. It's just way too long. There's so much that could have been cut from this book, in my opinion, and it wouldn't have affected much. The actually interesting stuf is very much few and far in between of each other. I really liked the interview style this was written in but that also just caused for a lot of repetitiveness as we sometimes heard the same story told by multiple different people in almost the exact same manor. On top of that I also just didn't like how everyone in this book acted like the Big Bang Theory was the greatest piece of television ever made, had absolutely 0 flaws, and wrote the guide book on how to portray positive and good representation (like literally so many people in this book patted themselves on the back for the "autism representation" this show gave through Sheldon in the same breath that they also mentioned that they never actually diagonosed the character on screen because that would cause them to have to do research into how actual autistic people act, and actually give a shit about representation). I absolutely love this show and consider it one of my ultimate comfort watches and I totally understand the love and adoration these people have for something they worked so incredibly hard on for years, and I'm not saying they are wrong in that but I also really started to hate how this show was often represented to be something that it just objectively is not in this book. So yeah, I could have maybe finished this book but I just ultimately decided it was better for my love of this show and my respect for the people who made it that I just not continue any further with this book.

I can't say I've ever watched more than a few minutes of the Big Bang Theory, but as someone interested in TV and sitcoms especially, I needed to read about what might be the last gigantic network hit that may ever exist. After reading this book, I respect the creators for taking what would seem like niche subject matter, science, and building a situation comedy around it. Good for them. Can't say I'll ever watch it, but the making of it sure was interesting!

This is a fun book for fans of The Big Bang Theory television show. It includes interviews with the creators and producers of the show as well as many of the stars. I really enjoyed the details about the casting of the main characters and the story about the two pilot episodes! I also really liked the input from some of the guest stars on the show.

I liked reading the inside story about some of my favorite episodes, guest stars, and cast relationships/interactions. The information and photos that are in the book is interesting, but sometimes a little disjointed and incomplete.

An extensive, wide-ranging oral history of The Big Bang Theory, written with the full participation of the cast and crew. Overall, an engaging, exhaustive, and enjoyable read. A must for super-fans of the show.

The fact that Radloff was able to write this with the full participation of the cast and crew of the show makes this oral history stand out from many of the other recent releases in the same sub-genre — for example, Andy Greene’s The Office and Marc Freeman’s Modern Family (and certainly stand out from the various books about Friends that just regurgitate what the stars and creators have said in interview and podcasts — one book owes a considerable debt to Scott Feinberg’s Awards Chatter podcast…).

The book is presented more-or-less chronologically in topic, as Radloff et al walk readers through the creation, development, casting, and more of the show, with the occasional “coffee breaks” that cover specific aspects of the show and give less-well-known and less-publicized aspects of the creation some love (for example, costumes). This approach gives readers a good idea of how the show developed, as well as its popularity (which was, at certain points, quite insane — although, as a fan of the show, not particularly surprising in my opinion).

As someone who knows a lot of people who occupy space in the science and/or geek culture worlds, I was always surprised to see who did and didn’t like the show. For me, there were many moments throughout the show’s 12 years that were superb, and even among the best comedy moments on American television. But one thing that really stands out for me, and this is covered in the book, is the evolution of the characters and cast in general. Each character has a clear story-arc — they all grow, develop, and evolve naturally based on the situations in which they find themselves. The addition of Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) and Amy (Mayim Bialik), in particular, but also any number of supporting cast members, kept the show pretty fresh throughout the 12 seasons. Each of the cast members tells Radloff about how they see their characters evolution, their place in the show, and it does add a lot to one’s understanding of the story being told.

Of particularly interest, for me, though is the behind-the-scenes stuff, and Radloff provides this in spades. To cover any of it in meaningful fashion would risk this review becoming almost as long as the book (it is a substantial read). It certainly felt like everything was covered — from Cuoco and Galecki’s relationship, to Parson’s eventual desire to leave the show, to Rauch and Bialik’s anxieties over becoming regulars and then main cast — each topic is handled very well, and Radloff allows the interviewees to provide the context, details, and more of each story. (Radloff does include plenty of useful editorial comments for context.)

There were times when I thought the book could have been tightened up a bit — usually if something was reiterated or gone over again, but from a slightly different angle. However, for the main, this is a very well constructed oral history. This is a must-read for super-fans of the show. Casual TBBT fans may find it a bit too long, but I still think they’ll find some interesting content — the cast, in particular, provide plenty of interesting observations about their characters, the show as a whole, and the process of making and starring in a mega-hit show.

Recommended.

Pub date: 10/11/22
Genre: nonfiction, TV, pop culture
One sentence summary: THE BIG BANG THEORY gave viewers 12 seasons of laughs - now hear the behind the scenes stories - including the rocky start when the initial pilot had to be reshot!

I'm somewhere in the middle of the pack in TBBT fandom - I haven't seen every episode, but a friend introduced me to it a few seasons in, and I was hooked for a few years. It was fun getting to hear all the details from the creators, writers, and actors - I had no idea about the early years of the show before it became a household name. I also loved the explanations of how the show evolved to showcase more female characters, as well as the growth of the original cast. A number of guest stars also contributed their stories - and Kaley Cuoco and others provided entertaining photos!

I think TBBT fans will love this book, but more casual viewers may also enjoy it too. Some chapters felt a bit too detailed, but I enjoyed all the topics the book covered! 4 stars.

Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a HUGE TBBT fan. I rewatch the seasons constantly. I was so excited to see this book and it did not disappoint!! I love the behind the scenes stories, cast commentary, and the images. This book is a treasure for any true TBBT junkie like myself. I will read it again and find new things every time!

This is a delightful book for the fans of the television series The Big Bang Theory. If you are a fan of this show or curious about this book then you must definitely pick this one up. This book has the interviews of the creators and producers along with the details about casting. There are also some inside stories about my favorite episodes of this show.

Having watched the Big Bang theory several times, I was so excited for this book and insider’s look into this special show. Radloff absolutely delivered. I loved all the tidbits. I learn through the book and how involved the cast was. A special book and show!

Until The Big Bang Theory became available to stream (on Netflix), I’d paid it little attention. I made the assumption the show wouldn’t appeal to me as a middle age woman. But I was wrong, and I binged ten seasons in about two weeks. Full of heart and humour, The Big Bang Theory is a delight, and I was saddened by its end in 2019. I’ve since re-watched the show in its entirety at least twice, and it still makes me laugh.

I’m not a rabid fan though, and to be honest I picked up The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series primarily to meet a reading challenge requirement, but I’m not sorry I did.

While Radloff includes a mix of official and personal photographs (apparently Kaley is a bit of a shutterbug) The Big Bang Theory is not a table top book. Drawing on comprehensive interviews with the creators, writers, cast and crew conducted by Jessica Radloff, The Big Bang Theory is full of fascinating behind-the scenes information and secrets, presented more or less chronologically. It begins with the story of the show’s creation and development, including the casting process which originally had Kevin Sussman (Stuart) in Leonard’s role, and moves through its twelve seasons, highlighting some of the Big Bang’s most iconic episodes and scenes. The cast reflects candidly on their professional and personal experiences, both good and bad, during the show’s run, and share anecdotes that are funny, moving and sometimes surprisingly intimate. Kaley Cuoco (Penny) and Johnny Galecki (Leonard) discuss their on and off screen relationship, Jim Parsons (Sheldon) reveals his cry of ‘Bazinga’ was unscripted, and Kunal Nayyar (Raj) admits fame went to his head. Even cast members were surprised by some of the disclosures in this book, so I’ve no doubt fans will be to. Radloff also includes commentary from guest stars such as Wil Wheaton, Mark Hamill and Bob Newhart, and reveals how they convinced Stephen Hawking to appear on the show.

I found the Big Bang Theory to be both a fun and interesting read, not only as an insiders view of an iconic sitcom and its star’s, but also for what it reveals about working in the television industry in general.

This was an absolutely fabulous backstage look at one of my all time favorite television shows. I loved reading about all the personal secrets from the show.