Series/The Big Bang Theory

With such a large cast, the show is pretty sparse on Character specific stories and more just ensemble events. I don't feel Bernadette is lacking in presence, at least no more than anyone else. She did get that hilarious pageant Old Shame singing Spice Girls a few episodes back.

At this point, does the show really have anywhere to go? Leonard & Penny don't seem to be spending any time planning their wedding. Raj's new girlfriend seems nice, but doesn't really do much so far. There haven't been many wacky hijinks either. Is the show just treading water at this point?

Wow, I'd heard Melissa Rauch did a dang good impression of Howard's mom, but this is the first time I've actually heard her do it.

I just now noticed that Kevin Sussman (Stuart) is listed in the opening credits. How long has that been going on?

I think he got promoted to regular in season 6.

There's been a trend in recent years to have common recurring guest stars to be listed as main cast only in episodes they appear. I think sometimes it's cheaper to to pay them as a cast member rather than as a Fake Guest Star.

I always assumed if someone got their names added to the opening credits, it meant they (aside from being added to the main cast) were also getting paid more. Not sure how adding someone to the opening credits is "cheaper".

Depends on the individual show. Being a regular on TV is the place to get consistent employment but they tend to not pay as much per episode as for a movie. A big, one time guest spot on a tv show often pays more for that single episode than the main cast because they are being paid over the course of an entire season.

Doing the math, the producers would have to pay him $600,000 an episode per union rules (I am guessing here) as a guest star but they are forced to be frugal by using him in only 5 episodes, or they could make him a cast member and pay him a guaranteed $300,000 per episode for 10 episodes. Actors sometimes prefer to be a "day player" because they get more money, but not the stability of being a cast member. That's part of the reason actors get paid so much.

...*watches the newest ep* You know what would be nice/interesting? Seeing if Mother Hofstadter treats her other children *just the same as Leonard*

Like, she's at the Lawyer kids place? "You must be proud of your son." "Yes, he recently got a prestigious award for a revolutionary physics theory. Oh you mean this son?"

Yeah. I want to see Leonard's siblings. We got to see Sheldon's sister. Hell, Howard has a half brother that we didn't even know existed til he showed up. And Raj's sister has had extensive screen time. Why no Hofstader siblings?

Or has there been an episode where they showed up and I've just never seen it?

Maybe they'll show up to the wedding?

The reason is justified by the show, neither Sheldon or Leonard are very close to their siblings and they live on opposites sides of the country. Missy only visited because of some paperwork and, despite some personality conflicts, they still care about each other as family. In fact, Sheldon does seem to have some fun stories and fond memories of his family and extended family. Leonard said the only family member he liked was an uncle who died, and he only keeps in contact with his mom because of all sorts of Freudian excuses.

Have any family members of Penny or Amy ever turned up?

Penny's dad showed up.

Amy's mom was shown via webcam in one of her first episodes.

edited 3rd May '15 3:57:47 PM by TheLastEveryMan

Well that's one way to end a season.

O__O

edited 7th May '15 9:45:15 PM by TheSpaceJawa

Wow. It certainly is. Although after 8 seasons, I think it's about time they wrapped it up.

That was quite the Wham Episode. I could tell something was significantly different as soon as all four plotlines were set up. Probably the densest story the show has ever done, with every character intimately involved with just about equal screentime. I'm actually surprised how well it worked, largely because every subplot had the same theme to it and mirrored each other.

Something I've always enjoyed about the show is it never flips a switch to approach the deeper stuff, but tries to maintain the same tone even as serious things are happening (A lot of dramedies fail because it does become a switch, making it feel like two different shows). There is a lot of potentially deep stuff going on but it never quite explodes, which I think makes the emotional parts hurt that much more. There is so much more tension when Penny get quiet after Leonard's confession than if she started screaming at him.

While, I thought it was a good Season Finale, and I liked the cliffhangers, but....

I'm kinda bugged that Raj is considering breaking up with his girlfriend. He's spent 7 seasons trying to find love, and now that he has a girlfriend, he wants to break up with her, just because he finds her too eccentric. That, is what I call Character Derailment.

Also, Howard has known Stuart since, what Season 2, and didn't know when his birthday was? I know Stuart is supposed to be the Rock Bottom loser on the show, but.....

I think its less that she's eccentric and more that she's freaking him out and making him uncomfortable.

which, to be fair, are legitimate concerns. Not that break-up is the only option there.

edited 9th May '15 1:12:37 PM by 3of4

Sure, she's morbid and creepifyin', but it seems that she genuinely cares for Raj, wants to spend time with him, and appreciates the things he does for her.

edited 9th May '15 1:50:35 PM by Lawyerdude

Yes, why I'm saying Raj should talk about the issues he has and not just bail like a scared puppy and break up.

I think it shows potential character development for Raj in that he isn't so desperate for a girlfriend he will just unthinkingly keep one whose interests make him extremely uncomfortable. Will be nice to see if he ever works up the nerve to discuss it with her. Accepting a skull lamp is one thing, excepting having sex in a graveyard letalone on a grave is another.

edited 9th May '15 8:18:30 PM by denisewinters

It does show character development but from a narrative perspective breaking Raj up would just be stupid. They can only have him go through so many girlfriends before it gets old. It's time they moved on from him being the only one without a girlfriend.

Well, technically, it's him and Stuart, even if you don't count Stuart as part of the gang.

Speaking of Stuart, if the writers decide to have Amy break up with Sheldon, as the Season finale implied, whose up to the idea of Stuart and Amy dating? I mean there's been a few instances where he's shown some interest in her.