The Big Bang Theory is one of the most successful sitcoms of all time. Over the span of twelve seasons, Sheldon (Jim Parsons), Leonard (Johnny Galecki), Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and co. But how did the hit sitcom manage to stay funny throughout its 12 seasons? Amy actress Mayim Bialik knows the answer.
Because, as the actress revealed, there’s a golden rule for the series produced by Chuck Lorre (which also features “Two And A Half Men”), which is the top priority for a sitcom’s success: Responding to the studio audience. Even though the laughs on many sitcoms these days are canned — that is, artificially generated — The Big Bang Theory still stuck to classic concepts and was actually performed in front of a live audience. 250 guests were allowed to attend one episode at a time.
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 too. The 250 people present in the studio were therefore an indicator of the success of a gag. Through explained Bialik: “No matter how much a producer likes it, if the audience doesn’t get it, it has to change.”
While there have been instances where some scenes in The Big Bang Theory had to be pre-recorded, that didn’t mean the laughs were artificially added. Instead, the recordings were presented to the studio audience – and if most of them were animated for laughter, nothing needed to be changed. The laughter on the soundtrack is therefore always sincere.
Moreover, Mayim Bialik revealed that filming in front of a live audience can also significantly boost the acting process: “The feedback when people laugh is just magical.” In addition, you received immediate feedback if you did not convey a scene 100 percent. That way Bialik could always be sure that in the end she did her best to make not only laugh 250 people in the studio, but also the millions of people in front of the television screens.