The Big Bang Theory

On Nov. 21, “The Big Bang Theory” pulled in an estimated23.9 million viewers, and in the key 18-49 demographic, the show handily beats all other scripted shows with a 5.3 rating. Its next-closest competitor, “Modern Family,” pulls in a 3.4 — with about 40% fewer young viewers. Throughout its run, “Friends” was averaging 20 million viewers each season, one of the most dominant comedies in TV. It only got more popular as the show aged, a rarity on television. 

In its sixth season, “The Big Bang Theory” is showing the same legs, continually breaking viewership records for the show. Its most recent installment was the most-watched ever.

The show has accomplished this feat while other programs continue to watch their audiences dwindle. As Hulu, Amazon Prime and other streaming services give Americans more platforms to watch their favorite shows on, fewer viewers are tuned in to their TV set than in previous generations. With the increasing popularity of cable and Netflix’s influx of successful original programming — like “House of Cards” and “Orange Is the New Black” — “The Big Bang Theory” is becoming a sure bet at a time when there are no sure bets in TV.

But what is by far the strangest and most surprising component of the show’s success isn’t just that it pulls down impossible numbers in the U.S. This year, numbers from Eurodata TV Worldwide showed that “The Big Bang Theory” is the most popular comedy around the world, replacing “Desperate Housewives,” which had its finale last season.

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