Even The Big Bang Theory Fans Have To Admit This Harsh Truth About The Show

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I was a huge fan of The Big Bang Theory, and like many others, I loved it for years. But looking back, it’s hard to ignore something a little awkward. By the time the show ended, it was absolutely massive – easily the most popular sitcom on television. At its best, around 20 million people tuned in every week, which made it arguably bigger than even Friends was in its prime!

While The Big Bang Theory was very successful, some other sitcoms are actually considered better. However, very few shows have achieved the same level of popularity and lasting impact. Community received higher praise from critics, but it didn’t lead to any spin-off series like The Big Bang Theory did.

Although New Girl received a lot of critical praise, it didn’t achieve the same level of viewership as The Big Bang Theory. Because of this, The Big Bang Theory appears destined to be remembered as CBS’s most iconic sitcom – unless audiences start thinking about a different show that stands out as an exception.

The Big Bang Theory Is Not CBS’s Most Iconic Sitcom

Image courtesy of IMDb

While The Big Bang Theory was a popular sitcom for CBS, it’s unlikely to become the network’s most iconic show. That title probably belongs to MASH, which aired decades earlier. MASH was a huge ratings success, and its final episode, “Goodbye, Farewell, And Amen,” still holds the record with an incredible 106 million viewers when it originally aired in 1983.

Even today, the final episode of MASH remains one of the most-watched TV events in history, and its cultural influence far surpassed that of The Big Bang Theory. The show, set during the Korean War in Uijeongbu, South Korea, was originally based on a 1970 film directed by Robert Altman.

The TV series and the earlier movie are both based on the novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors by Dr. Richard Hornberger, who wrote under the name Richard Hooker. Many of the characters in the book—like Radar, Hot Lips, and Hawkeye, famously played by Alan Alda—appeared in both the movie and the show.

Despite dealing with serious topics like the horrors of war and the emotional scars it leaves, MASH was, at its heart, a funny sitcom. The show’s humor is actually what made its powerful and heartbreaking final episode so impactful.

MASH Was Hugely Influential On Two Generations of Sitcoms

It’s unlikely viewers will find a sitcom as politically bold as MASH on American television today. However, MASH undeniably influenced two generations of television comedies by essentially creating the modern workplace sitcom format.

Following the success of MASH, shows like Barney Miller, Taxi, and Cheers adopted a similar comedic style centered around the workplace. Cheers itself later spawned the spin-off Frasier, further solidifying MASH‘s influence on television sitcoms. Workplace comedies continued to grow in popularity throughout the 2000s and 2010s.

Shows like Night Court, Murphy Brown, Scrubs, NewsRadio, and Just Shoot Me continued the tradition of workplace comedies in the 1990s. However, the American version of The Office really brought the genre back into the spotlight, building on the foundation laid by MASH decades before. Following The Office’s success, shows such as Parks and Recreation, Brooklyn 99, Superstore, Abbott Elementary, and DMV have continued to entertain audiences with this popular format.

While The Big Bang Theory led to the creation of Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, it didn’t have nearly the same lasting influence on popular culture as MASH. Even before MASH finished airing, several successful spin-off shows based on its concept were already popular.

Unlike MASH, The Big Bang Theory didn’t inspire a wave of similar shows featuring awkward but good-hearted characters. The few that did emerge, like Dads and The Great Indoors, were short-lived. MASH, however, established a classic workplace comedy format that was widely copied in the 1980s and again in the 2000s.

MASH is remembered as a groundbreaking comedy, particularly for its focus on the dynamics of a workplace. This success paved the way for shows like The Big Bang Theory, but MASH’s enduring impact remains unique. What really helped MASH stay popular for so long, though, were its truly exceptional episodes.

MASH’s Message Made The CBS Sitcom Uniquely Powerful

When The Big Bang Theory premiered in 2007, it stood out because it centered around characters who were intelligent but socially awkward – or ‘nerds.’ At the time, it was unusual for a comedy to feature this type of group as the main characters. Shows like Friends and Cheers generally didn’t focus on detailed discussions about things like Lord of the Rings trivia.

The initial appeal of being a “nerd” faded as geek culture became more popular in movies, TV, and other media. Comic books, superheroes, and fantasy stories gained wider acceptance, making these interests less unusual. Unlike this trend, the appeal of MASH remained strong over time.

It’s fair to say that MASH‘s strong anti-war stance had a bigger impact than anything on The Big Bang Theory. This willingness to tackle difficult themes is likely why the show still resonates with audiences long after it ended.

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2025-11-08 21:41