It's time for another edition of Dave-El's Book Report where I read a book then write about it.
The text in the graphic I use for this book report is an accurate representation of my attitude towards reading. If given a choice between reading and actually doing something, I will choose reading every time.
The graphic's visual component is a woman and I am not but that does not change the truth of the message.
Or consider that's me in drag in it helps you to cope but it may prevent me from reading to children in libraries.
The book is in the form of an oral history which is a format I quite enjoy. I've read oral histories about Saturday Night Live and The Daily Show and I find the form engaging and interesting. You get to hear people speak in their own voices which provides for some very candid insights.
Reading the oral history of The Big Bang Theory held a special interest for me given the ubiquitous nature of BBT reruns here at the Fortress of Ineptitude.
After a hard day of work, Andrea and I like nothing more than to settle in for an evening's TV watching. We have specific shows we like and follow but if there are no episodes of those shows available and quite frankly our brains are fried and not up for making any decisions, we'll just settle for whatever reruns of Big Bang Theory that TBS puts in front of us. BBT is the ultimate in TV comfort food that does not ask too much from us.
One can't watch and re-watch these episodes without being a bit curious as to what went on behind the scenes in the making of the show.
Jessica Radloff's book is a fascinating look behind-the-scenes look at how television is made. If you thought Chuck Lorre was just making stuff as he went along, well, Chuck will tell you he was. The original concept of two science nerds living across the hall from a hot girl evolved into something beyond what Chuck imagined. He credits a lot of that to Steve Molaro who was a writer and later show runner who brought heart and nuance to an otherwise broad comedy.
The closest we get to any scandal is the secret courtship of
Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco. Oh no! What happens to the show if they break up? Well they did and nothing happened. The two had resolved from the get go that if this didn't work out, they would be professional about it and the show would go on. And they remain particularly close friends, attending each other's weddings.
Jim Parsons cops to a few prima donna moments whenever there was a last minute change to the script. Parsons put a lot of work into learning Sheldon Cooper's complex dialogue and really didn't like it when all the preparation went out the window if the script changed.
There is some discussion of what exactly was Sheldon' deal. The character was based on a real life person who was super smart and "quirky" but admittedly they didn't think about the particulars of what it means to be super smart and quirky. Until they realized that viewers were responding to Sheldon's behavior in a very real and empathetic way. They were reluctant to precisely define Sheldon's condition but recognized his resonance with those on the spectrum.
One thing that bothered me about Big Bang Theory was all the food the actors pretended to eat and did it all go to waste. The food was prepared by Scott London, the show's head prop master but it was real food and while the actors were limited in how much they could actually eat while on camera would voraciously consume it for real once the scene was done. The cast reports the food was really good.
In addition to making the food, Scott London also made the brains Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler would dissect in her lab.
Speaking of Amy, the infamous painting of her & Penny still hangs on the wall outside Chuck Lorre's office.
There's not a lot of hot goss as it were since the cast got along well off screen. Given the often contentious relationship between Sheldon and Howard on screen, one of the closest friendships off the set was between Jim Parson and Simon Helberg, frequently going out on double dates with their respective spouses.
The only real bone of contention among the cast seems to be the end of the show. When Jim Parsons told the producers he would not be returning after the 12th season, Chuck Lorre and the other producers decided the show should end as Sheldon was such an integral part of the show. A wise decision, really but it was a decision that was not communicated to the cast and crew in the best way, leaving everyone blindsided and a feeling a bit betrayed.
There was every effort to act with the best of intentions to prevent any leaks to the press before the producers had a chance to sit down with the cast but the cone of silence was too good and no one had a clue it was coming.
That issue aside, the cast seemed genuinely to enjoy sitting down with Jessica Radloff to discuss their time on the show and to reflect positively on their time there.
Kaley Cuoco contributes to the book photos from her personal collection of candid moments from on and off stage.
The book is a fun and revealing look at the inner workings of how a television show is made and what it takes to achieve, enjoy and survive it's success.
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