Christopher Manhoff

Best. Show. Ever. At least for this reformed geek/D&D aficionado. The nerdiverse is brilliantly played by the cast with relentlessly witty dialogue, perfect timing and more than a touch of humanity. The ensemble is perfect from genius/autistic savant Sheldon and gentle and humane Leonard as Watson to Sheldon's Sherlock. The rest of the cast aren't just supporting characters. They are integral to the chemistry from smarter-than-she-looks Penny, Sheldon's adoring wife, and equal opportunity nerd, Amy, nebbish-cum-mensch Howard Wolowitz and his cute-as-a-button/go-for-the-jugular wife Bernadette, to the original Indian metrosexual Koothrapali. These actors were born for their roles and provide perfect foils for each other; remove one and the whole would be greatly diminished. Add a rotating cast of cameo characters including Adam "Batman" West, Christine Baranski, Bob Newhart, Will "Ensign Crusher" Wheaton, Melissa Gilbert, and Stephen Hawking (yes, that Stephen Hawking) and it is probably the best comedy ensemble ever put together. One of the funniest scenes ever in TV was everyone singing Happy Birthday to Sheldon with Hawking's hopelessly out of tune, off the beat and badly timed electronic voice trying to keep up. This show may be equaled in the future but will never be bettered, at least to the generations that grew up with Star Wars/Star Trek fan fights, Dungeons and Dragons, Carl Sagan's Cosmos and the ridiculously high expectations of the pre-1986 Space Shuttle flights. If you remember when "geek" was a scathing put-down, rejoice. The dweebs have come, seen and conquered. Long live the quest for the perfect Pad Thai and faultlessly executed Movie Night.