serial ini berkisar pada lima karakter: leonard hofstadter dan sheldon cooper yang merupakan teman seapartemen, keduanya adalah fisikawan yang bekerja di california institute of technology (caltech); penny, seorang pramusaji berambut pirang yang juga bercita-cita menjadi aktris, yang tinggal di seberang; teman-teman leonard dan sheldon yang lain, howard wolowitz yang merupakan insinyur penerbangan dan luar angkasa, serta rajesh koothrappali, seorang astrofisikawan.
keempat pria ini memiliki sifat canggung secara sosial dan kecerdasan di atas rata-rata, kontras dengan penny yang pandai bersosialisasi.
tiga karakter pendukung lainnya antara lain leslie winkle, seorang fisikawan di caltech yang juga merupakan kekasih leonard dan howard pada waktu berbeda, dan telah meninggalkan acara ini setelah musim ketiga; bernadette rostenkowski, istri howard, seorang ahli mikrobiologi dan sebelumnya seorang pramusaji paruh waktu bersama penny; dan amy farrah fowler, seorang neurosaintis yang bergabung dengan kelompok ini setelah dipertemukan dengan sheldon lewat situs pencarian jodoh.
acara ini diproduksi oleh warner bros.
television dan chuck lorre productions.
pada agustus 2009, sitkom ini memenangkan serial komedi terbaik pada penghargaan tca dan jim parsons (sheldon) memenangkan penghargaan yang sama.
pada 2010, acara ini memenangkan people's choice award untuk komedi terfavorit, sementara parsons memenangkan primetime emmy award.
pada 16 januari 2011, parsons dianugerahi golden globe untuk aktor terbaik dalam serial televisi komedi/musikal, penghargaan yang juga dibacakan oleh kaley cuoco (penny).
pada 18 september 2011, parsons sekali lagi dianugerahi emmy untuk aktor terbaik dalam serial komedi.
ketika musim ketiga ditayangkan pertama kalinya pada 21 september 2009, sitkom ini mendapatkan peringkat rating tertinggi di cbs pada malam tersebut, dengan demografi dewasa usia 18-49 (4.6/10), dengan 12.83 juta penonton.
pada 19 mei 2010, diumumkan bahwa cbs akan memindahkan jadwal tayang sitkom tersebut ke hari kamis pada pukul 8:00 et untuk tahun 2010-2011.
pada 12 januari 2011, cbs mengumumkan bahwa acara tersebut telah diperbaharui untuk tambahan tiga tahun, memperpanjangnya sampai musim 2013-2014.
musim kelima ditayangkan pertama kalinya pada 22 september 2011, dan selesai pada 10 mei 2012.
musim keenam akan ditayangkan pada musim gugur 2012.
amy farrah fowler
the complete first season
september 2, 2008
january 12, 2009
april 3, 2009
the complete second season
september 15, 2009
october 19, 2009
march 3, 2010
the complete third season
september 14, 2010
september 27, 2010
october 13, 2010
the complete fourth season
september 13, 2011
september 26, 2011
october 5, 2011
the complete fifth season
september 11, 2012
september 3, 2012
october 1, 2012
the complete sixth season
september 10, 2013
september 2, 2013
penghargaan dan nominasi untuk the big bang theory tahun
2008 1st ewwy awards best actor in a comedy series best actress in a comedy series best comedy series 2009 61st primetime emmy awards outstanding lead actor in a comedy series outstanding guest actress in a comedy series outstanding art direction for a multi-camera series 25th tca awards outstanding achievement in comedy individual achievement in comedy satellite awards 2009 best television comedy or musical series best actor in a comedy or musical series american film institute the best 10 television programs of the year 2nd ewwy awards best lead actress in a comedy series best comedy series 2010 36th people's choice awards favorite tv comedy favorite tv comedy actor 26th tca awards outstanding achievement in comedy individual achievement in comedy teen choice awards choice tv comedy choice tv actor: comedy choice tv actress: comedy choice scene stealer: male choice scene stealer: male 62nd primetime emmy awards outstanding art direction for a multi-camera series outstanding makeup for a multi-camera series or special (non-prosthetic) outstanding lead actor in a comedy series outstanding guest actress in a comedy series outstanding technical direction, camerawork, video control for a series 3rd ewwy awards best supporting actor in a comedy series best comedy series 2011 68th golden globe awards best series  musical or comedy golden globe award for best actor  television series musical or comedy people's choice awards favorite tv comedy favorite tv comedy actor teen choice awards choice tv: comedy choice tv: actor comedy choice tv: actress comedy 63rd primetime emmy awards outstanding lead actor in a comedy series outstanding lead actor in a comedy series outstanding comedy series 1st critics' choice awards best comedy series best actor 2012 69th golden globe awards golden globe award for best actor  television series musical or comedy people's choice awards favorite tv comedy favorite tv comedy actor favorite tv comedy actress 18th screen actors guild awards outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series kerrang!
awards best tv show cbs fan awards best meltdown moment best catchphrase favorite rotfl moment best dramatic pause teen choice awards choice tv: comedy 28th tca awards outstanding achievement in comedy individual achievement in comedy 64th primetime emmy awards outstanding comedy series outstanding lead actor in a comedy series supporting actress in a comedy series multi camera picture editing in a comedy series technical direction, camerawork, video control satellite awards 2012 best tv comedy best actor in a comedy series best actor in a comedy series best actress in a comedy series best supporting actress in a comedy series 2nd critics' choice awards best comedy series best actor 2013 39th people's choice awards favorite network tv comedy favorite tv comedy actor favorite tv comedy actress 19th screen actors guild awards male actor in a comedy series outstanding performance by an ensemble in a comedy series 70th golden globe awards golden globe award for best actor  television series musical or comedy golden globe award for best television series  television series musical or comedy 65th annual directors guild of america award outstanding directorial achievement in comedy series 18th national television awards situation comedy teen choice awards choice tv: comedy choice tv: actor comedy choice tv: actress comedy 3rd critics' choice awards best comedy series best actor in a comedy series best supporting actor in a comedy series best supporting actress in a comedy series best supporting actress in a comedy series best guest performer in a comedy series 29th tca awards outstanding achievement in comedy cbs fan awards best tell it like it is best butt-kicking moment best chemistry 65th primetime emmy awards outstanding comedy series outstanding lead actor in a comedy series outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series outstanding guest actor in a comedy series outstanding art direction for a multi-camera series outstanding multi-camera picture editing for a comedy series outstanding hairstyling for a multi-camera series or special outstanding technical direction, camerawork, video control for a series kids' choice awards brazil favorite character