The Big Bang Theory was not only a very successful series on its own. It also contributed to the success of another CBS production that at least thematically features a similar main character.
The Big Bang Theory started in 2007 after initial difficulties in the USA and developed into a major success for CBS. Not without reason, twelve seasons were produced by 2019. The series also likely paved the way for the breakthrough of another production that launched in 2014.
We’re talking about Scorpion, a crime series that received four seasons and ended in 2018. If you ask the then CBS manager Kelly Kahl, it is thanks to The Big Bang Theory that Scorpion achieved its success.
One nerd helps another
How does Kahl come to this statement? To initially gather the necessary audience for the series Scorpion, they used a simple trick. They aired the latest episode of The Big Bang Theory directly before the crime series.
Thus, CBS hoped that viewers would simply stay tuned. But there are also slight parallels in content. The protagonist of Scorpion, Walter, is, like Sheldon Cooper, a true genius with an IQ of 197. Sheldon himself has an IQ of 187.
Walter is a computer expert and ensures security for the US government through his advanced IT skills. Together with his team, he solves various problems week after week.
Similar to Sheldon, Walter is also a genius, but he lacks emotional intelligence. Perhaps it was these parallels, among others, that prompted CBS to have the two series run back to back.
Kelly Kahl confirmed this in an interview with The Wrap:
We really viewed the series as a sort of continuation of The Big Bang Theory, just in the drama aspect. We liked that there were some new faces, and we liked that there were some younger characters.
The venture seems to have paid off. Even though the two series differ tonally, many viewers likely found interest in Scorpion. According to Variety, around 26 million viewers were reached in the first season.
The story of Walter is actually based on the real Walter O’Brien, who claims to have hacked NASA at the age of 13. However, his statements are considered controversial.
Have you already seen Scorpion and can relate to the serious approach? Or do you prefer the humorous tone of the nerdy scientists from The Big Bang Theory? Let us know in the comments. Another production also drew on Sheldon & Co. but in a much cheekier way: Seventeen years ago, a series copied The Big Bang Theory and was caught red-handed
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