The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series
The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series book cover

The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series

Hardcover – October 11, 2022

Price
$16.57
Format
Hardcover
Pages
528
Publisher
Grand Central Publishing
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1538708491
Dimensions
6.5 x 1.75 x 9.25 inches
Weight
1.72 pounds

Description

NAMED A BEST COMEDY BOOK OF 2022 BY VULTURE "[An] exhaustive, almost academic oral history... [T]his book serves as a general, and fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at how television is made."― Vulture "[T]here may be no one better to document the series than journalist turned author Jessica Radloff, who undertakes the herculean task in the new, 500-plus page opus, The Big Bang Theory." ― Forbes "From who was almost cast on the show — literally Marisa Tomei nearly played Penny — to the failed pilot that had to be reworked, [ The Big Bang Theory ] goes into all the behind-the-scenes details, and it's a fascinating read."― Buzzfeed "Each and every interview subject shares with Radloff the kind of stories that most folks save for their memoirs."― TV Insider “The book is a must for any The Big Bang Theory fan, but also a fascinating look at the television industry for even the casual viewer.”― Paste Magazine "At some point while talking with Jessica, I realized how easy it had been for me to kind of put all 12 years of my time on Big Bang Theory under one general umbrella, as it were. The questions she asked and the information she’d reveal to me from someone else she’d interviewed forced me into a frame of mind where each season - and sometimes each episode - became it’s own, separate entity again, revealing how much we as people had changed through this process, how much the characters changed… but also how certain things remained the same. Frankly, it turned into a version of therapy I hadn’t realized I’d needed and couldn’t have known how much I’d enjoy it, going down memory lane like this."― Jim Parsons "I'm so excited for fans to finally see my behind-the-scenes Polaroids for the first time. These photos are very special and super personal, so knowing Jess was taking such care with them, as she did with this book, was very comforting to me."― Kaley Cuoco "There is no one more enthusiastic, more knowledgeable, more competent, or more dialed into the pulse of TBBT than Jessica Radloff. Jessica cultivated deep and rich relationships with all of us on TBBT over many years so that she can bring you the most detailed, delightful, and authentic TBBT book there will ever be. Bravo, Jessica, for putting up with us for so many hours of discussion, reminiscence, laughter and tears; thank you for being a part of our show's impact with this thorough and exceedingly well-researched work of art!"― Mayim Bialik “I knew we would learn things in this book, but...wow.”― Simon Helberg "Jessica Radloff is the ultimate Big Bang whisperer...if you're a fan of the show, you owe it to yourself to read every fascinating word she unearthed in this incredible book!"― Melissa Rauch “We spent 12 years together in a very safe bubble. There is no one we trust more than Jessica to share all those years on stage 25. You know the characters, now you’ll get to know the people who played them.”― Kunal Nayyar "[T]his book is an excellent testament to the show that will leave fans wanting to rewatch the entire series. . . This extensive and enjoyable oral history of The Big Bang Theory will make fans feel nostalgic for its glory days."― Library Journal, starred review "A fun look at the sitcom megahit. . . Entertaining in its own right, this book examines the how and why behind the success of a landmark series."― Kirkus Reviews “A definitive and immensely entertaining oral history. . . Filled with delightful memories and charming candid photos, this is a treat for TV fans.”― Shelf Awareness “The book is undeniably a valentine to the show.”― New York Daily News “If you’re looking for the perfect Christmas gift for someone in your life who happens to be a big fan of “The Big Bang Theory,” there is no better gift than this new book…”― Williamson Daily News " The Big Bang Theory , an epic behind-the-scenes oral history by Jessica Radloff, is a must-read book that goes above and beyond. . . I’ve read oral histories before but none have gone to the level of detail. . . It’s impossible to put down and the minute you do, you want to read more!"― Solzy at the Movies Jessica Radloff is the Senior West Coast Editor at Glamour . She joined the brand in 2011 as West Coast entertainment correspondent before becoming West Coast Editor. She regularly appears on Access Hollywood, The Talk, Good Morning America, TODAY, and more on behalf of the brand.xa0 Prior to Glamour , she wrote fo r AOL, The Huffington Post, Modern Luxury Media, WHERE Los Angeles , and Major League Baseball’s St. Louis Cardinals GameDay magazine. She is a member of the Television Critics Association, the Critic’s Choice Association, and Screen Actors Guild. She is also an Associate Member of the Television Academy.

Features & Highlights

  • AN INSTANT
  • NEW YORK TIMES
  • BESTSELLER A
  • USA TODAY
  • BESTSELLER NAMED A BEST BOOK OF 2022 BY GLAMOUR "Talking with Jessica, I realized how easy it had been for me to kind of put all 12 years of my time on
  • Big Bang Theory
  • under one general umbrella, as it were. The questions she asked and the information she’d reveal to me from someone else she’d interviewed forced me into a frame of mind where each season - and sometimes each episode - became it’s own, separate entity again. . . Frankly, it turned into a version of therapy I hadn’t realized I’d needed and couldn’t have known how much I’d enjoy." —Jim Parsons The definitive, behind-the-scenes look at the most popular sitcom of the last decade,
  • The Big Bang Theory,
  • packed with all-new, exclusive interviews with the producers and entire cast.
  • The Big Bang Theory
  • is a television phenomenon. To the casual viewer, it’s a seemingly effortless comedy, with relatable characters tackling real-life issues, offering a kind of visual comfort food to its millions of dedicated fans. But the behind-the-scenes journey of the show from a failed pilot to a global sensation is a fascinating story that even the most die-hard fans don’t know in its entirety.  THE BIG BANG THEORY: THE DEFINITIVE, INSIDE STORY OF THE EPIC HIT SERIES is a riveting, entertaining look at the sitcom sensation, with the blessing and participation of co-creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, executive producers Steve Molaro and Steve Holland, as well as Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Melissa Rauch, Mayim Bialik, and more.
  • Glamour
  • senior editor Jessica Radloff, who has written over 150 articles on the series (and even had a cameo in the finale!), gives readers an all-access pass to its intrepid producing and writing team and beloved cast. It’s a story of on-and-off screen romance told in hilarious and emotional detail, of casting choices that nearly changed everything (which even some of the actors didn’t know until now), of cast members bravely powering through personal tragedies, and when it came time to announce the 12th season would be its last, the complicated reasons why it was more difficult than anyone ever led on. Through hundreds of hours of interviews with the sitcom’s major players, Radloff dives into all this and much more. The book is the ultimate celebration of this once-in-a-generation show and a must-have for all fans.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(781)
★★★★
25%
(325)
★★★
15%
(195)
★★
7%
(91)
-7%
(-91)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Best book ever on the making of THE BIG BANG THEORY!

My wife bought me this book, so I'm reviewing it on her account. I imagine this is the best book that'll ever be published on THE BIG BANG THEORY, and it's pretty darn definitive--it's got countless quotes from virtually everyone involved with the show, from the lead actors down to the technical team that made it happen on-screen. The drawback to it, is that everyone's so nice and full of praise for each other it has the feel of a show-produced puff-piece, frankly, although I SUPPOSE it could be the way things were. But it seems pretty unlikely that everyone on the show was so nice that no one had anything bad to say about anyone else. Ultimately, the avoidance of any kind of friction makes it feel like it's been heavily sanitized. Regardless, I zipped through it (all 500-plus pages) in record time, so it's definitely not dull. On the contrary, it's VERY entertaining. The quotes from Penny, Sheldon, Leonard, etc., really give it validity, as far as inside info on favorite scenes, characters and especially, the impact of it being such a popular show and on the actors playing such sudden pop culture icons. I was lucky, as we'd just finished rewatching the entire series before I got the book, so it really had immediacy for me.

To tell the truth, I had forgotten how we kinda lost interest in the show around the 10th season (when we were watching as it aired weekly), because after Sheldon and Amy had sex, it seemed like those characters pretty much had nothing more to achieve. That was a false assumption actually, but there was also a definite decline in the story lines after that--like the writers floundered trying to come up with funny and interesting ways to keep those characters moving forward--especially Sheldon. Sheldon-as-boyfriend, and eventually, Sheldon-as-husband, took the edge off the character so much he didn't seem like Sheldon anymore.

I also blame YOUNG SHELDON for distracting the writers and production team--I think splitting them off to create the spin-off definitely had a negative impact on the original show. Truth is, seasons 10 and 11 are noticeably weaker than what came before, and I KNOW we watched them when they aired, but I swear-- there were episodes I had completely forgotten--so when we watched this time, it was like they were brand new. But as for some of those storylines (like the endless 'baby' stuff)... well, the less said, the better. But thankfully, the show actually rallied for the final season. It never quite achieved the "must-see TV" heights we saw earlier, but it definitely had its moments--and the climax with Sheldon's Nobel prize speech was extremely well-done and quite (sniff) emotional.

Anyway, as far as this book, despite my criticism, I give it a big thumbs-up. It entertained me for days.
17 people found this helpful
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Let’s not be snobbish

I begin by admitting that I am a huge fan of The Big Bang Theory. Sometimes we are proud that we didn’t get sucked up into the commercial fantasy world of television. I did not share but did chuckle at the memes that declared “I have never seen an episode of Game of Thrones”. As if this was a monumental achievement worthy of a statue or blue ribbon. But I can’t say that about TBBT. Because it was smart and loving and funny.
So with that in mind I must also confess that I am a fan of this book. I’m a Big Bang Nerd and I emerge from the closet with good news: this book is a remarkable work for two reasons. One. It satisfies something in the gossip hungry fans who desire just a little more from CBS and Chuck Lorre Productions. And two. In the future it will serve as a fantastic recording of television history, much the way books about Mary Tyler Moore and M*A*S*H* are today.
But this one goes above and beyond what any other cultural phenomenon has done. Hundreds of hours of interviews, mostly by Zoom with the multitudes of actors, producers (meaning writers) directors, ADs, PAs, costumers, set designers, and network executives. All during the pandemic. Every stone is overturned and whom ever set the standard of honesty and openness in the interviews has established an inviting and honest story. When I think of the work that Jessica Radlof did to bring this book to fruition it makes me remember writing thesis’ and dissertations from grad school. Her work in this book is so cleanly done that we never see her as front and center but rather it’s the story that we focus on. And it’s one hell of a story.
10 people found this helpful
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I wrote the book, so I don't know who will read my review lol

All I can say is this is the reunion fans have been asking for, and speaking of asking for things, I couldn't have asked for more from the cast and producers, who gave me their untold stories, personal photos, and honest and emotional memories. I personally think it's more than a 5-star book, but I may be biased. ;)
10 people found this helpful
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An incredible oral history of the longest running comedy in the IS

Can you imagine a Big Bang Theory in which Leonard and Sheldon's neighbor wasn't Penny? Or where Howard wasn't played by Simon Helberg? (spoiler alert - someone else in the cast almost played Howard and Simon had no idea!).
 
If you are a fan of The Big Bang Theory, I cannot recommend this book enough! Jessica Radloff has created an incredible oral history on the longest-running comedy in the US. Interviewing 40 people, including the cast, guest stars, creators, showrunners, and others who worked behind the scenes, the things we didn’t know and that have never been shared before (even among the cast!) are just as amazing and endearing as the show and its characters.
 
The book comes in at a whopping 500 pages and covers everything from the creation of the idea for the series all the way up to the very end of the show. Despite being so long and including so much, you never feel bogged down by detail. It could’ve been 800 pages and I’d have still loved it.
 
What’s most incredible is how much of an impact the show had on science education. Jessica focuses not only on how BBT helped get people interested in STEM, but how the cast and crew created foundations and scholarships to help those who want to study STEM. BBT was even name checked in the 2019 announcement for the actual Nobel Prize in Physics. That just totally blew my mind! 
 
The stories presented in this book are incredible, and it comes down to the fact that Jessica Radloff was someone who the cast and crew trusted wholly with their story. If she hadn't endeared such trust in them all, this book would be very different - or may never have happened. Her work to create and maintain the relationships that allowed this project to happen should not be overlooked.
 
Full disclosure, I was (and still am) a huge fan of this show. The Big Bang Theory, along with Gilmore Girls, rates as one of my absolute favorite shows because it made being smart and nerdy into positive.

A huge thanks to the publisher for a gifted advanced review copy!
10 people found this helpful
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A treat for fans

I should start by disclosing that I am biased. First, I am a fan of the show. Second, I love a good how it happened.

The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series by Jessica Radloff tells the story of the hit television show conversationally. The author was treated to long conversations with the cast, production/crew, and guest stars who narrate the story of Television's longest-running multi-camera sitcom more or less chronologically. The author's evident rapport with her subjects, her enjoyment of the show, and her understanding of its cultural impact serve the story.

You'll probably enjoy this book if you've ever wondered about behind-the-scenes details about how the show was developed or cast. Or if you'd enjoy stories about how favorite episodes were made from the source. The creators, production, and the cast give candid details about their relationships, business dealings, and hi-jinks. Throughout the book, there are candid snapshots to aid the illustrations. This book is a perfect accompaniment to the iconic series.
10 people found this helpful
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Awful, unreadable book

Got this for Christmas and was looking forward to reading it. It starts out with a bunch of interviews of Chuck Lorre and other people involved in it. I thought...well, this must be how they start out and the actual writing takes place in a few pages.

There IS no actual writing. The entire book is comprised of interview transcripts. Maybe if you distilled it down and put someone with talent in charge it might have made a good 60 minute YouTube interview or a magazine article.

OK...some people might enjoy it and apparently many have. But when I read, I want to read something that was actually written...not transcribed.

I'm VERY disappointed.
4 people found this helpful
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Really enjoying it

I am really enjoying this book but it has a HUGE error in it! When Wil Wheaton shows up at the Star Wars movie wearing an ORIGINAL SERIES shirt and Spock ears, it says that Wil is wearing his uniform from his time on Star Trek. Huh? Wil was on Next Generation, not the original series. A tiny bit of research would have told that to the author. Other than that glaring error, I am enjoying reading insights from the actors from the show and how much each one loved and protected their own character.
4 people found this helpful
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Pretty good

I finished the book in 4 days. At 500 pages it’s pretty thorough. Jessica did a great job on it and I enjoyed all the pictures. There were some surprises of course. I did notice how Kaley never really mentioned Mayim in her comments though. Not exactly sure what the problem was there. Had heard back when the show was airing she didn’t like her. I did notice that Mayim didn’t really praise Jim near as much as he praised her. That of course isn’t that big of a deal. I’ve heard they’re good friends off screen too. Was just surprised.

All in all, it is a great book. Plan to give my aunt a copy of it for Christmas. She’s a big fan.
4 people found this helpful
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Not worth the price

I'm only half way through and If it were more interesting I would've finished it 3 days ago. A few interesting tidbits. Too much focus on how much chemistry Leonard and penny had on and off screen. Personally I don't think they had physical chemistry together at all. Too much nonsense in the book. It's a nice size book, could have been shortened by 100 pages by taking out the repetitive stuff. I do like how it's formatted, makes easy to read and understand
3 people found this helpful
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Fun read!

If you love Big Bang, this is the book for you!
2 people found this helpful