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Yet another sign The Big Bang Theory is on track to become the next Friends (See my May column Is ‘The Big Bang’ The Next ‘Friends’?). The comedy series, which had a great debut on CBS last night in the former Friends slot, also scored huge ratings in Canada where it also relocated from Mondays to Thursdays at 8 PM. On CTV, the show drew drew 3.11 million viewers. That is the second most watched comedy series telecast in Canada ever. What is No. 1? The finale of Friends.
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CTV is already showing TBBT 5 nights a week.
Used to enjoy the show but of the returning comedies it was the least funniest last night. I’ll stick to my niche comedies.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Big Bang a big show stateside, but sadly no international hit like Friends in UK.
BBT plays on E-4 (channel 4′s sister digital channel) to audiences of 300,000. Loyal but tiny. Friends was 3m plus on Channel 4. You ask the average Brit person in the street, few would have heard of BB. Ask them if they’ve heard of Ross, Rachel, Monica etc even now, a different story…
No comment on quality of BBT, but surely to be ‘the next Friends’ i.e a mega international sensation, you would need to have made some impact in UK?
Exactly. Why ask the question – and then don’t give the answer? Research the international markets and how TBBT is doing elsewhere (as in all the markets where it’s actually playing) and then get back to us with the answer. I love the show but sadly, my bet would be that the answer is NO. Some other shows like Two And A Half Men or Scrubs might do better, but that’s just my guess.
YES! GO BIG BANG THEORY!
And TBBT does have a strong Canadian component which probably helps a little. The theme song was written and sung by the Canadian group The Barenaked Ladies.
Right…b/c a theme song is all that is needed to attract an audience.
In other news…you’re an idiot.
Sigh, B, really? Kudos for having attained at least a rudimentary education that allows you to read and type, but comprehension just slips through your fingers doesn’t it? BNL are huge in Canada and were huge long before TBBT came along. Ergo (just look it up or don’t, I doubt there’s much use for it at the drive through window) that’s going to have some weight in the Canadian market, hence my statement that the massive popularity of the show in Canada is helped “a little” by that Canadian piece.
FYI, B, remember to include the S after the B next time cause you’re full of it.
Unlike Friends, BBT is actually funny.
Don’t watch Big Bang Theory. Very limited and restricted in audience age demo. Not a funny show at all.
Go Two and A Half Men!
I don’t think you can make fun of another show’s lack of comedy and then champion Two and a Half Men.
14 mil American viewers is not niche, dearie.
Such a funny show! Love The Big Bang Theory
I have seen so many Big Bang Theory ads for the premiere around Toronto that I’m not surprised a bunch of curious people tuned in.
The ratings system in Canada changed last year, so comparisons with programming that aired before 2008 are not reliable.
Which is not to taking anything away from “Big Bang” (though I’m a Community person myself). It did incredibly well. But to compare its large ratings to earlier large ratings deserves an asterisks.
Friends has balance to the show. Equal male ratio to female ratio so much stronger in storyline development and international appeal. Still playing strong as ever today. Big Bang Theory is restricted in its primary theme so Friends is Number 1 First rate, first class show with a variety of elements and brought in parents of the characters and had the beautiful cast who brought out appeal to a wider broader audience. There was something for everyone in Friends and sadly it is not the case with Big Bang Theory. BBT is too restricted and limited. Friends had broader appeal.
Very accurate in what your saying. The show may still go on for a few more seasons but it will never have the same reach that friends did.
I believe the comparison is based more on the outlook of the show for the next five years. Friends was a long running thirty minute comedy, BBT will be as well.
And who liked Mike and Molly?
So about 10% of the population of the country watched that show? That’s actually impressive. It will still be hard pressed to get 30 million viewers where it counts, though, whereas Friends consistently averaged in the 20-30 million US viewers range, and drew more viewers than there are people in Canada on more than one occasion. BBT only gets half (or less) the viewership.
Comparing these two shows is like comparing apples and oranges. One is written for men, the other written for women. Plus,
Friends was more like a soap opera, no? I mean, the hair styles of the Friends’ women became a topic of discussion for pete’s sake. That’s not going to happen with BBT. That said, I did try on some tees at Target just because I saw them wore on BBT.
My sisters-in law loved watching Friends and it was the only show they made time to watch and they aren’t tv watchers. My Mom is the same way with Coronation Street.
I’m Canadian and really like BBT. The theme song is definitely a component of why I like it. It completes the package.
Does anyone know if the theme song influences the CRTC’s ‘Canadian Content’ rating?