The rest of Season Grate (Eps 8.07-8.15 and 8.17)

[Trust No One]

"Leonard and Sheldon are brilliant physicists - geniuses in the laboratory, but socially challenged everywhere else. Enter beautiful, street-smart neighbor, Penny, who aims to teach them a thing or two about life. Despite their on-again, off-again relationship in the past, Leonard believes he's found true love with Penny. Even Sheldon has found a female companion, entering into a "Relationship Agreement" with neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler. In their free time, Leonard and Sheldon continue to enjoy frequent trips to the comic book store and fantasy role-playing games with their ever-expanding universe of friends, including fellow scientists Koothrappali, Wolowitz and Wolowitz's adorable microbiologist wife, Bernadette"

The very structure of the paragraph sets up the tiers of casting. Sheldon, Leonard and Penny are lead. Amy is on the cusp of lead as she is under the cap of 'even Sheldon' which puts her as an extension rather than a point, BUT she's labeled as a companion and there is a lot of space given to her write up (rather ironic that even in a write up it takes a lot of b.s. to explain Amy's presence on the show). More importantly, she is above the generalized statement which splits the cast in two.

The fact that we go back to Sheldon and Leonard with a secondary introduction to their extracurricular activities at the comic book store before making a generalized comment about their friends and then mentioning Koothrappali and Wolowitz places Howard and Raj as an extension to the background rather than as main cast members. Also, notice that these two don't merit a first name. This keeps them formal, distanced, unimportant. This is enhanced by their lack of description. Leonard and Sheldon are 'brilliant', Penny is 'beautiful, street smart', Amy is a 'companion' and Bernadette, 'adorable'. Yes, Raj and Howard are labeled 'scientists' but that's nothing tangibly personal to give them individuality. Yes, there's the implication that they are part of the 'universe of friends' that role play and go to the comic book store but by using the word 'including' after such a generalized statement of 'universe of friends' they become a part of an interchangeable cast which is compounded by the fact that they don't have first names.

This really makes me curious as to how the contract negotiations for MR and particularly MB will go. Given the structure of this write up, MB is more in line with the lead actors than the rest and therefore she should expect compensation that reflects that. There really seems to be an 'Amy is a secondary character *wink*wink*' as we've seen a whole whack of story lines center around or heavily involve Amy. Not that I'm expecting her to rake in the one million that the top three make, but if I was to base the salary tier on what I've read above, she should be making at least as much as SH and KN--particularly as the gents were given a take it or you're written out of the show ultimatum. Amy's position in the paragraph and her write up suggests she is more critical to the show than they are. Granted, we've all said that apart from the big three everyone else is expendable. True, but still I do think this gives us a better view of how TPTB see the construct of their show.

For instance, Leonard is mentioned before Sheldon as he has top-billing even though Sheldon is the breakout character and JP winner of four Emmys. Then it's the mentioning of the Lenny, with its 'on-again off-again' description which gives it the sense that it is the central pillar of the show as it links the past to the present. The only monkey wrench in it is the suggestion that 'Leonard believes' instead of knows he's found 'true love' but I don't believe for a moment that Lenny isn't anything other than end game.

There are references to comic books and role playing games but they are secondary to the two central relationships. 'Geeky stuff' is relegated to their 'free time' as opposed to being one of the defining and distinguishing parts of the early seasons. Note, there is no mention of science beyond their occupations. No corn starch experiments here.

This is really a piss-poor write-up. It's plotting a linear course, telling us how to interpret what we see and to sit back and follow the plot even though they've clearly spelled out the end game. Perhaps this is saying that the frame of the show, the Lenny, relationships, etc, are really irrelevant to what is important—the jokes—as this is first and foremost a sitcom. Only the use of melodramatic 'sentimental' plots/scenes in later seasons counter the argument. So that leaves me with the conclusion that TPTB are promoting a formulaic show with nothing unpredictable occurring. Something safe (which dev suggested would be favorable to syndication).

When we look at the original line, "Leonard and Sheldon are brilliant physicists - geniuses in the laboratory, but socially challenged everywhere else. Enter beautiful, street-smart neighbor, Penny, who aims to teach them a thing or two about life", it introduces us to the characters and sets the scene for the show's premise. The additions to this assert a central interpretation which equates Penny's 'life lessons' with romantic relationships. Something which would NOT interest me if I was flipping through the television guide.

No wonder I feel like an idiot. I fell for the old bait and switch.

(Sorry for being so babbly here but this really interests me. Thanks for bringing this up, Nutz!)

I've mentioned before that TPTB are going about things very strangely if they think MB should not be in line with the big three's salaries. I'd be interested in hearing their arguments against giving MB the same money when the Amy character sure seems to be very central to the show. Whether TPTB like it or not, they have a big 4 now and not a big three.