The Big Bang Theory is an American sitcom television series created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, which premiered on CBS on September 24, 2007, and features five characters who live in Pasadena: Theoretical physicist Sheldon Cooper and experimental physicist Leonard Hofstadter, both living together, sharing an apartment and working at the California Institute of Technology - Caltech; Penny, a waitress and aspiring actress who later becomes a pharmaceutical representative, and who lives as a neighbor to both; aerospace engineer Howard Wolowitz and astrophysicist Rajesh Koothrappali, similar and socially awkward geek friends and co-workers from Leonard and Sheldon.
The geeky habits and intellect of the four boys contrast with the comic effect with Penny's social skills and common sense. The show is produced by Warner Bros. Television in conjunction with Chuck Lorre Productions. In August 2009, the sitcom won the TCA award for "best comedy series" and Jim Parsons won the award for his individual performance in the comedy.