'The Big Bang Theory: The Complete Third Season' DVD Review

THE BIG BANG THEORY: THE COMPLETE THIRD SEASON

(not rated)
MOVIE: ****1/2 (out of 5)
BLU-RAY EXPERIENCE: **1/2 (out of 5)

STARRING
Johnny Galecki as LEONARD HOFSTADTER
Jim Parsons as SHELDON COOPER
Simon Helberg as HOWARD WOLOWITZ
Kunal Nayyar as REJESH KOOTHRAPPALI
Kaley Cuoco as PENNY

Studio: Warner Bros.

BY KEVIN CARR

WHAT IT’S ABOUT
One of the most popular sit coms is back for a third season with the quartet of geeks dealing with life and love in Pasadena. Leonard faces various problems with his real relationship with Penny, the pretty girl next door. Wolowitz is still living with his mother but manages to date as well this season. Koothrappali plays the silent wingman through all this while Sheldon continues to be Sheldon in the most annoying way.

WHAT I LIKED
I came to this series a little late when the second season DVD showed up in my mail, and I was hooked almost immediately. Some might say this is because I’m a geek at heart, have been to Comic-Con multiple times and understand pretty much every reference to nerd culture in teh series. And they’d be absolutely right. “The Big Bang Theory” understands the appeal of the geek lifestyle, and it heralds it as well as points out its obvious flaws.

But even without any geek knowledge, you can still enjoy “The Big Bang Theory.” Wipe away all of the comic book references and science mumbo-jumbo, and you have a very basic American sit com about lonely guys living across the hall from the beautiful girl. It’s not the same scenario, but this show has a real “Three’s Company” feel to it. It doesn’t try to solve the world’s problems, but rather gives its loyal audience a chance to laugh and escape for a half hour each week.

Like many series, “The Big Bang Theory” really hits a stride in the third season. It continues the geek references, showing love for Green Lantern (as a lantern toy becomes a bargaining chip for Sheldon), having a sexy cameo for Katee Sackoff and a brilliant double cameo with Wil Wheaton (a geek at heart himself).

I also appreciated the Leonard/Penny love story not overshadowing the rest of the show. It’s one of the critical elements, but unlike a show like “Cheers,” the stability of the romance does not dictate the success of the series.

WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
Not a whole lot. Right now, “The Big Bang Theory” is one of the best sit coms on television. As it gears up for its fourth season, it’s something that can be enjoyed by people in many different demographics. There’s really nothing about it that bothers me.

DVD FEATURES
The third season Blu-ray includes a relatively thin amount of special features. It’s not barren, but there really should be more on here, especially for just a third season.

There’s a gag reel, which actually is pretty well put together and quite funny. Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar take the audience through a pretty typical set tour. Finally, there’s a cast roundtable called “Takeout with the Cast of The Big Bang Theory” in which the actors open fortune cookies which feature questions about the highlights of season three.

WHO’S GOING TO LIKE THIS MOVIE
Geek chic sit com fans.