'Big Bang' producers dislike their new time slot

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — To say that the producers of "The Big Bang Theory" are enthusiastic about the show's move to Thursday nights in the fall would be, well, a total lie.

They're not overly happy about it.

"I was surprised," said executive producer/creator Chuck Lorre, mustering as much enthusiasm as he could. "This coming fall will be the fourth time slot in four years."

The show premiered in the fall of 2007 on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. MT. It moved to Mondays at 7 p.m., leading off the night for CBS.

Then it got moved to Mondays at 8:30 p.m., and the ratings rocketed.

'"We liked last year. Last year was phenomenal," Lorre said. "It was a great opportunity for the show to find a new and bigger audience behind ('Two and a Half Men.')"

"The Big Bang Theory" has become such a big hit that CBS is once again counting on the show to lead off a night. Only this time it will lead off the Thursday lineup as the network tries to establish a comedy beachhead; it will be paired with the new "$#*! My Dad Says."

Sometimes shows are moved to new time slots when they're on the downward slide and nearing the end of their runs. Not so with "The Big Bang Theory" — CBS is expecting big things out of the show.

CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler said the decision to make the move was "difficult, but not in the sense that you don't have complete faith and belief in the show."

"The time felt right. The show is certainly enjoying an extraordinary amount of support and love. And this was a great opportunity for us to really move it into a strategic place, let it open the night. And it earned its way there."

Which is all well and good, except that the show's ratings are almost certainly going to take a hit. For one thing, there are fewer people watching TV in the first half hour of prime time than in the fourth half hour. And launching a new night of comedy is a tough thing even with an established show.

Tassler, however, says the benchmark won't be a comparison between "Big Bang" on Mondays and "Big Bang" on Thursdays, but between "Big Bang" and its Thursday-night competition on the other networks.