‘The Big Bang Theory’ is one of the most successful sitcoms of all time. Over twelve seasons, Sheldon (Jim Parsons), Leonard (Johnny Galecki), Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and Co. not only loved an audience of millions, but could also entertain them. But how did the popular sitcom manage to stay funny for twelve seasons? Amy actress knows the answer to that Mayim Bialik.
As the actress revealed, there is a golden rule in the series produced by Chuck Lorre (which also includes “Two And A Half Men”) that is the top priority for the success of a sitcom: Responding to the studio audience. Although the laughs in many sitcoms today are canned – i.e. artificially created – ‘The Big Bang Theory’ still follows a classic concept and was actually performed in front of a live audience. 250 guests were allowed to attend one episode each.
If the audience laughs, everything is fine
Chuck Lorre had a guiding principle that just because he or his screenwriters find something funny doesn’t mean the rest of the world will find it funny. The 250 people in the studio were an indicator of the success of a prank. Through Bialik explained: “No matter how much a producer likes it, if the audience doesn’t understand it, it needs to be changed.”
It sometimes happened that some scenes from “The Big Bang Theory” had to be filmed in advance, but that did not mean that the laughs were artificially added. Instead, the recordings were presented to the studio audience – and if the majority of them were encouraged to laugh, nothing needed to change. The laughs on the soundtrack are always real.
Mayim Bialik also revealed that filming in front of a live audience can also significantly boost the acting process: “The feedback when people laugh is just magical.” You also got immediate feedback if you didn’t get a scene 100 percent right. This way, Bialik could always be sure that in the end she did her utmost to make laugh not only the 250 people in the studio, but also the millions of people in front of the television screens.