He really likes his co-workers.
Having acted his entire life, actor Johnny Galecki knows a thing or two about faking it. So when it comes to pretending he knows the difference between an Elf and Lich King in the world that is Warcraft… no problem! The ability to solve complex theorems in a single bound… just say the word! Fake a friendship with three nerds and a really hot next-door neighbour… err… easier said than done! Which is partially why Galecki attributes the success of THE BIG BANG THEORY to one of the most integral ingredients to any hit television show: Genuine chemistry. “A priceless part of the show, or anything really — be it office work or whatever — is the people you’re surrounded by,” explained Galecki. “And we, all of us, just happen to be very lucky that we’re surrounded by people we adore. You can’t fake that.”

He trusts the writers.
Just how nervous was Galecki upon discovering that show runners Bill Prady and Chuck Lorre were going to take Leonard and Penny where no couple on THE BIG BANG THEORY has gone before. “Knowing that that kind of romantic dynamic has been done before and done really really well, the scenes between Penny and Leonard were always looked at very carefully and rehearsed the most cautiously and stringently,” revealed the actor. “But the good thing is that Leonard and Penny aren’t together because viewership is dwindling, it’s being done for creative reasons and I trust the writers to handle the relationship with care.”

He knows who Leonard’s constant really is.
Relationships may come and go, but friendship lasts forever. Which is why, fans of television’s most dynamic duo can sleep easy, Galecki doesn’t believe anything can break them up. “At least not for more than a couple of days,” joked Galecki. “I think as much as Leonard and Sheldon drive each other crazy they really do like each other and have kind of become two different sides of the same brain. I think they’d be afraid to function without one another.”

He is a survivor.
Having survived five seasons on ROSEANNE, a set so tumultuous it makes the behind-the-scenes antics of GREY’S ANATOMY look like a walk in the park, Johnny Galecki has seen it all. “I always knew it was something special from day one to my last day. I remember watching the pilot with my family in Chicago long before I had anything to do with the show,” explained Galecki about his career-starting turn on ROSEANNE as Darlene’s on-again-off-again boyfriend David. “It was terribly intimidating to be on that set and that’s kind of what snowballed into that character. Me being the shy little rabbit watching from the corner of the stage because I couldn’t f*cking believe I was there.”

He give others hope.
To all those struggling actors who have yet to strike gold following the cancellation of their once-hit-show. Yes, we’re talking to you cast of FRIENDS and Jason Alexander and to a lesser extent Michael Richards. “Don’t let anyone tell you that lightening doesn’t strike more than once.”

DOLLHOUSE
What is with those Whedon’s and their ability to always leave us wanting more. Fresh of the heels of this week’s DOLLHOUSE debacle that has FOX benching the ratings anemic series for November sweeps, comes a harrowing Sierra-centric episode that recounts the terrifying circumstances in which the Aussie beauty found her way to the Rossum Corporation. Both gripping and gut-wrenching, the episode was not only right up their as one of the series’ bests, but showed the few who bothered to watch, just how much potential this show has if given the chance.

MODERN FAMILY
Erik Estrada eat your heart out. For what FAMILY’s two “E’s” (Ed O’Neil and Eric Stonestreet) lack in the matinee idol looks department, they more than make up for by delivering the laughs. Yes, five episodes into the freshman series, O’Neill and Stonestreet, alongside the rest of the ridiculously talented cast, continue to raise the bar when it comes to L.P.M. (Laughs per minute). So much so that we’ll forgive showrunners Lloyd and Levitan (Christopher and Steven respectively) for leaving out the obvious ‘Four touchdowns in a single game’ shout-out many MARRIED WITH CHILDREN fans (okay, this TV Addict) was waiting for.

GREY’S ANATOMY
Thursday’s story-telling departure which had the good doctors of Seattle Grace (both new and old) recount the unfortunate circumstances that resulted in the unexpected death of a patient and the firing of a one of their own (Can someone please give Sarah Drew a regular series gig, and STAT!) was not only the best episode of the season, but continued to prove that the merger between Seattle Grace and Mercy West has been the best thing to happen to GREY’S ANATOMY since JOURNEYMAN’s cancellation and Dr. Owen Hunt’s arrival on the scene.

COMMUNITY
After a rocky start, the gang from Greendale Community College finally seems to have found their rhythm. Thursday’s episode — that had Britta learning about ‘bathroom girl-talk-etiquette’ from Shirley, Annie learning about selflessness from of all people Jeff, and Abed learning that less is more — gave virtually every COMMUNITY member a moment to shine. Plus bonus points for Moby Dean Pelton, who’s quickly becoming our favorite Principal since Mr. Belding.

THE BIG BANG THEORY
WHEEEAATONNNN!

Wil Wheaton: Because there is nothing this TV Addict enjoys more than an actor who doesn’t take himself too seriously, the actor earned his pips by hilariously skewing his real-life persona and offering up what was clearly a ‘Mirror Universe’ version of Wil Wheaton. (Incidentally, If you know what a pip is and caught our reference to STAR TREK’s mirror universe you are most definitely watching the right show.)

Jim Parsons: Further perpetuating HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER’s some-what accurate assumption that all Canadians are hockey obsessed, Jim Parson (Sheldon) continues to prove that he is the Wayne Gretzky of THE BIG BANG THEORY. Raising the game of everyone around him, with Raj, for the second week in a row, benefitting greatly from the crazy that is Sheldon.

Wolowitz: Often guilty of treading dangerously close to unfunny and annoying territory, last night’s realization by Wolowitz’s that the only thing he had in common with the brainy blonde bombshell was their resentment of their over-bearing mothers for once had us rooting for who we sometimes mistaken for a real-life albeit far less successful version of FAMILY GUY’s Quagmire.

Leonard: While we have the utmost respect his portrayer actor Johnny Galecki, when it comes to THE BIG BANG THEORY, Leonard has the thankless role of playing the straight man, the ‘Ted’ (HIMYM) or Jerry (SEINFELD) if you will. Which is why we couldn’t help but find it oddly amusing that last night Leonard’s sole mission was to literally move the plot forward, serving as chauffeur to Wolowitz and girlfriend.

Wheeeaatonnnn: Yup, the only thing that was missing from that shocker of an ending that had Wheaton lying about his dead Nana to curry favor with Sheldon and ultimately win the Mystic Warlords of Ka’a strategy game was an iconic “To Be Continued…”

While Robert Knepper’s ‘King of the Carnival’ certainly piqued our interest, and Claire giving it the ol’ college try had us intrigued, Hiro and Ando’s ‘Dial a Hero’ had us dialing another channel… RIP HEROES.

Neil Patrick Harris was robbed! Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, there really isn’t that much else to say about last night’s HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER season premiere. After-all, it comes as little surprise that Barney has a ‘whip guy,’ or that we’re already in love with Robin and Barney together. Which is why, we’ll leave you with the following. A message if you will, to all those shows (*cough*cough*HOUSE*cough*BONES*cough*) who are terrified of putting their will-they-or-won’t-they couples together for fear that it will destroy their show and/or possibly cause a rift in some sort of time and space continuum… Allow us to present an argument for doing so: Marshall and Lilly, happily married remain one of television’s best twosomes. Oh yeah… you’ve been lawyered!

When it comes to THE BIG BANG THEORY we’re willing to accept a whole lotta crazy. Sheldon running off to his Mom upon discovering that his North Pole possé completely duped him into thinking he had discovered some sort of Nobel-winning-paradigm-shift makes total sense. Wolowitz donning a red cowboy hat to better fit into his southern Texas surrounding and to match his red turtleneck, ditto. But Penny and Leonard together, in the biblical sense? Sorry, not buying it. Seriously. Creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady can keep trying, but we will never buy into your bizarro version of Ross and Rachel because deep down inside, you know the truth: Penny is meant to be with Sheldon. (Exhibit A: Did you see how quickly she rushed to his bedside (again!) to console him?)

At what point does it sink in that you’re a part of something special?
Simon Helberg: It’s funny, because when we’re shooting the show, it’s just about five people who love each other and hang out which you might not get when you’re watching at home. But things like seeing the cover of TV Guide, or attending Comic Con, it’s moments like those where you’re like “Oh My God!” That’s surreal.

Do you think we’ll ever see the day when Wolowitz gets a steady girlfriend?
It would definitely be possible, but it would have to be a very specific type of girlfriend. Especially when you consider that if Wolowitz had to choose between his mother and a girl, he may choose his mother.

Speaking of which, will we ever meet Wolowitz’s mom?
I don’t think so. I don’t think you’d ever want to see the face behind such a shrill and shredding voice. It’s much better to leave it to the imagination.

One thing fans don’t want to leave to their imagination is a sequel to DR. HORRIBLE’S SING-A-LONG BLOG. Does Moist [Helberg's character] have a role in part deux?
However the sequel manifests itself, be it as a movie, Broadway show [I've heard rumors about it all] they, [the Whedons] have hinted, so I believe the answer to that is yes.

Would it be safe to say that in Hollywood it helps to be a “F.O.J.” [Friend of Joss]
I’m actually really good friends with his brother Jed who wrote and did the music for DR. HORRIBLE. But they’re all supremely talented and being a friend with any Whedon — yes, I lucked out! It was a fantastic thing to be a part of.

“Flabbergasted,” is how Jim Parsons summed up his reaction to his 2009 Emmy nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series.

Our theory: Parsons clearly has yet to actually watch THE BIG BANG THEORY. How else to explain his “God No!” response when this TV Addict casually suggested he might wish to consider jotting down a few thank-you’s.

“It’s hard to accept that I’m actually going to go to the Emmys, let alone nominated,” explained Parsons in a recent one-on-one with the TV Addict. “It’s something I’ve watched on TV for so long and now to be attending… I know that I have to wear a tux and that’s really about as far as my brain has gone!”

Something else the actor has trouble wrapping his head around is what can fans expect when everybody’s favorite theoretical physicist returns this Monday September 21 at 9:30PM on CBS (’A’ Channel in Canada)

“They don’t tell me anything,” he admits. “But I think any changes Sheldon will go through will be very slow.”

In other-words, fans hoping for a Penny/Sheldon meeting of the err… minds, might have to wait a while. A very long while.

“The obvious thing that I would love to see at some point is some sort of relationship, even a friendship that calls some emotion to the forefront.” says Parsons. “I don’t think it will happen this year.”

Lucky for Parsons, we’re pretty okay with seven or eight more seasons of THE BIG BANG THEORY.

On the September 28 episode of THE BIG BANG THEORY titled “The Jiminy Conjecture” it’s up to special guest star Entymologist Lewis Black to resolve a wager over the species of a cricket that has Sheldon and Wolowitz staking their most valuable comic books on the answer. Also at stake, Leonard and Penny’s relationship, as the twosome ‘brilliantly’ attempt to recover from an awkward first hookup with alcohol. More photos of which can be found after the jump.

One doesn’t need to have a Sheldon-sized intellect to piece together that the gang’s three month arctic expedition didn’t exactly go as planned over the summer. How else to explain some of these seriously spoileriffic photos from THE BIG BANG THEORY season premiere titled “The Electric Can Opener Fluctuation” that has one member of our fearsome foursome really happy to be home, and another fleeing to Mommy (Also known as special guest star Laurie Metcalf!) in disgrace? But hey, don’t take our word for it, judge for yourself by checking out the photos after the jump.

Think different is so 2005. Which is why our vote for the new season of THE BIG BANG THEORY is think bigger. Not only did CBS show big confidence in the little-series-that-could by renewing it for two seasons, expect big guest stars courtesy of THE DAILY SHOW’s Lewis Black (Who drops by the show’s second episode playing a Professor whose life is in shambles), and big romance when Leonard and Penny finally go where we have a feeling Sheldon has yet to go before (Teased executive producer Bill Prady to EW’s Michael Ausiello, “When they finally make it all the way, they have trouble finding their groove.”) Thankfully, one thing that won’t be getting bigger are the cast’s egos. With star Johnny Galecki remaining refreshingly humble when this TV Addict had the opportunity to interview him at CBS’s recent TCA party (”I can’t imagine the ego trip that you would have to accept to actually become accustom to 4500 screaming fans at Comic Con”), Simon Helberg continually uttering the phrase “surreal” when asked to describe his take on the show’s success, and Jim Parsons living up to his reputation as one of the nicest actors in Hollywood by offering up his take on his much-deserved Emmy nomination (”Flabbergasted, I don’t see how you couldn’t be surprised!?”) Clearly Parsons has yet to see his work on the show!

THE BIG BANG THEORY returns to CBS on Monday September 21st at 9:30PM