This article is about the television series. For the scientific theory, see Big Bang. For other uses, see Big Bang Theory (disambiguation).
"TBBT" redirects here. For the Discovery Channel series, see The Big Brain Theory.
The Big Bang Theory
BigBangTheoryTitleCard.png
Genre Sitcom[1]
Created by Chuck Lorre
Bill Prady
Directed by Mark Cendrowski
Starring
Johnny Galecki
Jim Parsons
Kaley Cuoco
Simon Helberg
Kunal Nayyar
Sara Gilbert
Melissa Rauch
Mayim Bialik
Kevin Sussman
Theme music composer Barenaked Ladies
Opening theme "Big Bang Theory Theme"[2][3]
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 9
No. of episodes 185 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Chuck Lorre
Steven Molaro
Bill Prady
Producer(s) Faye Oshima Belyeu
Editor(s) Peter Chakos
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time 18–24 minutes (without commercials)
Production company(s) Chuck Lorre Productions
Warner Bros. Television
Distributor Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Release
Original channel CBS
Picture format HDTV 1080i
Audio format DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Original release September 24, 2007 – present
External links
Website
The Big Bang Theory (also abbreviated as TBBT) is an American sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, both of whom serve as executive producers on the show along with Steven Molaro. All three also serve as head writers. The show premiered on CBS on September 24, 2007.[4] The ninth season premiered on September 21, 2015.

The show is primarily centered on five characters living in Pasadena, California: Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper, both physicists at Caltech, who share an apartment; Penny, a waitress and aspiring actress who later becomes a pharmaceutical representative, and who lives across the hall; and Leonard and Sheldon's similarly geeky and socially awkward friends and co-workers, aerospace engineer Howard Wolowitz and astrophysicist Raj Koothrappali. Geekiness and intellect of the four guys is contrasted for comic effect with Penny's social skills and common sense.[5][6]

Over time, supporting characters have been promoted to starring roles: Bernadette Rostenkowski, Howard's girlfriend (later his wife), a microbiologist and former part-time waitress alongside Penny; neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler, who joins the group after being matched to Sheldon on a dating website (and later becomes Sheldon's girlfriend); and Stuart Bloom, the cash-strapped owner of the comic book store the characters often visit, who, in season 8, moves in with Howard's mother.