Blu-Ray Review: Emmy-Winning Third Season of ‘The Big Bang Theory’

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CHICAGO – Now that CBS’ “The Big Bang Theory” has broken through as one of the most popular shows currently on the air and has won its star Jim Parsons an Emmy for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series could Warner Brothers begin producing more-enhanced Blu-ray releases for the fans? The third season of this excellent comedy features less than thirty minutes of special features.

Blu-ray Rating: 3.0/5.0

The great thing about “The Big Bang Theory” is how much creator Chuck Lorre has expanded upon his original concept. At first, the show was essentially just about two dorky guys, their two even-dorkier friends, and the sexy girl who lives across the hall. While the cast has been good from day one, the set-up seemed a bit generic and the writing sometimes came off as cliched.

The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Third Season was released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 14th, 2010.
Photo credit: Warner Brothers Home Video

In the second season, the writers of “The Big Bang Theory” expanded all five of the characters on the show by taking the pretty girl (the highly-underrated Kaley Cuoco) and essentially making her one of the guys. At the same time, they also built the show into a true ensemble piece, allowing Howard (Simon Helberg) and Raj (Kunal Nayyar) significant screen time and making them as distinct characters of their own as Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons).

The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Third Season was released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 14th, 2010. Photo credit: Warner Brothers Home Video

The Emmy-winner still regularly steals episodes but it’s amazing how often Cuoco, Galecki, Helberg, and Nayyar steal them back. This is a true ensemble piece, as most great comedies are. I’ve often said that you can judge a sitcom by its worst actor. Everyone on “The Big Bang Theory” is great.

As great as the show is and as wonderful as it is to FINALLY see the series released on Blu-ray (the first two seasons were not), the home releases for “The Big Bang Theory” continue to disappoint. It feels like the producers go the bare-minimum route, getting the cast together to discuss their favorite moments from the season and offering a cheesy behind-the-scenes tour. It’s understandable that there’s not a lot to say about “The Big Bang Theory,” but why not ONE commentary? Wouldn’t it be interesting to hear the cast break character and discuss their favorite episodes for longer than ten minutes? And are there no deleted scenes or alternate jokes? Come on.

Technically, “The Big Bang Theory” looks great on Blu-ray and I couldn’t be happier that the film is finally available in the same quality as its initial HD broadcast, but what’s it going to take to get a notable special feature? It’s arguably the most popular comedy on television and now it’s a major Emmy winner. “The Big Bang Theory” couldn’t get bigger but its home releases remain too small.

Synopsis:
“Worlds collide in Season 3! A love affair with Penny has opened a big, wide, wonderful world of romance for Leonard. But Sheldon likes the world just the way it was, thank you. All of which makes for a zany comic triangle with brainy, clueless Sheldon and practical, grounded Penny hilariously vying for the role of hypotenuse. This complete 2-Disc, 23-Episode Season 3 Set also features Raj, Howard, tattoos, football, awkward dates, jail time, Stan Lee, a The Lord of the Rings ring and all the fun of a series that only gets better. The Big Bang Theory ?”has transformed from a cute comedy about eggheads and their hottie neighbor into an addictive ensemble piece that could be this decade’s answer to Friends” (Lynette Rice, Entertainment Weekly).”

Special Features:
o “Takeout with the Cast of The Big Bang Theory”
o “Set Tour with Simon and Kunal”
o Gag Reel

By BRIAN TALLERICO Content Director HollywoodChicago.com [email protected]