Fans of the TV series The Big Bang Theory now have another reason to yell “bazinga.”
NCM Fathom Events and the Paley Center of Arts are collaborating together for the first time to bring the stars of the popular TV show to movie theaters. The event will play on Athena Grand screens, scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are $15.
“Fathom Events realized PaleyFest brought a unique programming opportunity, i.e., TV content, in a unique way to theaters across the country,” said Michelle Portillo, senior manager of public relations and communications for NCM Fathom Events. “We have been working with the Paley Center for over a year to do so.”
Broadcast in front of a sold-out panel in the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills, the event will feature Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, the creators of the show, along with executive producer Steven Molaro and stars Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch. Audience members will also get the chance to ask the stars and creators questions via Twitter.
The Athena Grand management believes that this event will attract a lot of fans of the TV program, as the live, interactive shows have had large crowds, at least compared to pre-recorded events.
“Live events tend to do better (than) pre-recorded (events) because of the fact that it’s live,” said Matt Crabtree, a manager at the Athena Grand. “I wouldn’t think that someone who hasn’t seen or disliked the show would come.”
As the event is live and uncensored, it is unclear how appropriate the material will be for younger audiences. The theater has been told to treat the event as if it were a PG-13 rated film.
Above all else, PaleyFest and NCM Fathom Events hopes the event will allow audiences the chance to watch a panel that they’d normally never get the chance to witness live.
“PaleyFest is the ultimate TV fan festival that, until now, only fans lucky enough to score tickets to the L.A. event could enjoy,” said Shelly Maxwell, executive vice president of NCM Fathom Events. “Thanks to the Paley Center, now all fans of these popular TV shows can enjoy the festival from their local movie theater as the cast of each show takes part in a live, uncensored and no-holds-barred audience Q&A.”
wa054010@ohiou.edu
