Episode 2.11 Ratings December 16, 2008
The Big Bang Theory posted its highest ratings ever last night. With softer competition from ABC, the show placed first in its slot and pulled 11.4 million viewers. The show posted a 4.2/11 rating in the important 18-49 demographic.
How I Met Your Mother, which follows Big Bang, held steady with 11.4 million viewers and a gain in the 18-49 demographic. Two and a Half Men, the hit show from Bang co-creator Chuck Lorre, pulled 17.9 million viewers and posted a 5.6/13 rating. Worst Week, which follows Men, held just 12.1 million viewers giving it a 3.6/9 rating in the 18-49 demo.
Episode 2.11 Overview December 15, 2008
The final new episode of The Big Bang Theory for the year has just aired. Episode 2.11, "The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis", was the first Christmas episode of the show. We'd like to hear your views on the episode. You can add your comments to our Episode Guide, our forums, or comment on this story.
The vanity card from this episode will be posted at ChuckLorre.com.
New episodes will return January 12th with reruns filling the slot until then. There will be a special broadcast of The Big Bang Theory on New Year's Day at 8PM.
We'll be back later today with the ratings for the episode.
Holiday Reruns December 15, 2008
The holiday season is upon us and with it comes reruns. Here is a list of the upcoming broadcasts.
Monday, December 22nd - 2.01 The Bad Fish Paradigm.
Monday, December 29th - 2.02 The Codpiece Topology.
Thursday, January 1st 2009 - 2.03 The Barbarian Sublimation.
Monday, January 5th - 2.04 The Griffin Equivalency.
New shows will return January 12th!
SAG rift might avert strike December 15, 2008
The Screen Actors Guild is suffering an internal rift that might avert a costly actors' strike. The union's New York board publicly came out against striking, causing the union to call an emergency national meeting. The union will vote on whether to strike over demands for greater profits for actors from new media distribution of their work.
The prospect of a strike has highlighted differences within the SAG union and the entertainment industry as a whole. Many actors think that during a recession is not the right time to stage a strike that would halt the production of movies and many TV shows.
Many actors have spoken out against a strike include Danny DeVito (Taxi), Rhea Perlman (Cheers), Mike Farrell (M*A*S*H), and former SAG president Richard Masur.
The alternative actors' union, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, has already accepted a new contract for its members. The producers' union, Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, is understandably against the strike and is appealing to actors to vote against the strike.
With so much public opposition to a strike, along with many who oppose it privately, it could be that the SAG would lose the vote on the strike, but it is cautioned that the SAG would not be pushing for a vote if it did not believe it would win it.
The strike would deal a swift blow to the entertainment industry that suffered a lengthy and costly strike last year, the estimated cost of the 3 month strike is put as high as $2.5 billion. The Writers' Strike damaged many TV shows by pulling them off air for months, the Strike was blamed for the death of many shows such as Bionic Woman or Pushing Daisies.
Any strike would be devastating for the economy of California, already suffering because of the general economic climate.
The SAG will send out ballots on January 2nd, votes will be counted by January 23rd.
BBT article in the WSJ December 12, 2008
The Big Bang Theory has today featured in the prestigious business newspaper The Wall Street Journal. The article by Media correspondent John Jurgensen covers the show's rising success.
The article has quotes from Chuck Lorre & Bill Prady, along with Johnny Galecki. The ratings success and the general decline of the four-camera sitcom are discussed.
Read the full article at WSJ.com.
Holiday Reruns December 10, 2008
The holiday season is almost here and along with good tidings comes a few reruns of The Big Bang Theory. There is just 1 new episode remaining this year, airing Monday 15th, a Christmas-themed episode, then there are reruns on Monday 22nd and 29th along with a special rerun airing on Thursday, January 1st 2009.
Here are the full listings:
Monday, December 15th - 2.11 (NEW) The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis.
Monday, December 22nd - 2.01 The Bad Fish Paradigm.
Monday, December 29th - 2.02 The Codpiece Topology.
Thursday, January 1st 2009 - 2.03 The Barbarian Sublimation.
New shows will return January 12th, that means there will also be a rerun January 5th.
Twittering Away December 9, 2008
We'd like to remind people that you can follow all the latest Big Bang Theory news on Twitter, the popular messaging site. If you do so you will receive all our updates via Twitter, an application or even your cell phone. You can find us here. So, if you're on Twitter or going to join, please follow us so we're not twittering away to ourself - a sign of madness, I'm told.
Incidentally, there are a couple of interesting people on Twitter. Barack Obama, Stephen Fry, and, wait, who's that? Sheldon! Penny! Leonard! Howard! Leslie! Raj! We're not sure who is behind these profiles, it could be any one - it beats pretending to be a British politician - but these characters are fun to follow so check them out!
Episode 2.10 Final Ratings December 9, 2008
The final ratings of last night's episode have been released.
THE BIG BANG THEORY won its time slot in households (6.5/10), adults 18-34 (2.9/08), tied for first in adults 25-54 (4.4/11, with ABC), placed second behind "Charlie Brown Christmas" in viewers (10.50m) and adults 18-49 (3.7/10, -0.1 behind ABC). BIG BANG THEORY posted series highs in households and viewers.
The Biggest Bang Yet! December 9, 2008
CBS has put out a release on the back of the highest rated Big Bang Theory yet.
A stellar night by CBS's Monday comedy block, which included the largest audience ever for THE BIG BANG THEORY, gave CBS a nightly win in viewers and key demographics, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Dec. 8.
THE BIG BANG THEORY won its time slot in households (6.7/10), adults 18-34 (2.8/08), placed second behind "Charlie Brown Christmas" in viewers (10.80m), adults 25-54 (4.4/11, -0.1 behind ABC) and adults 18-49 (3.7/10, -0.1 behind ABC). BIG BANG THEORY posted series highs in households and viewers.
Episode 2.10 Ratings Update December 9, 2008
We have some more information on the ratings for last night's episode. The show faced stiff competition from ABC's "A Charlie Brown Christmas", which placed it second, but it delivered a record-breaking audience again.
The show was watched by 10.80 million people and recorded a 3.7/10 rating the adults 18-49 demographic.