Both shows performed extremely well during their runs (both in ratings and critically). And with TBBT getting its biggest ratings ever despite being in its 7th season, is it fair to call TBBT the new FRIENDS.???

Also, are King Sheldon and Queen Phoebe >>>>>>>>>

It has been the new Friends for a while now, although I at least tolerated Ross on Friends. Leonard on TBBT is just...

Yes but better.

Yes and ppl can seethe about it

TBBT is not beloved by critics

It's seen as lazily written with two-dimensional, stereotype-driven characters. You gyals need to learn to look past award shows.

in terms of audience, yes.

That would be true for the first season but the next seasons were reviewed greatly. Also, the Emmys and the current season average of 19 Million Viewers/episode doesn't lie.

ABSOLUTELY NOT. Every single person on friends was irreplaceable. the Big Bang Theory would be NOTHING without sheldon.

How I Met Your Mother was the new Friends, but now that it's ending after this season, TBBT is definitely the it show.

what? that sitcom has some of the best writing ive ever heard. its smart, funny and above all original. what is lazy about the writing?

Every person has a role.

And no, Jim Parsons would be a failure without Johnny, Mayim, Kaley, Simon, Kunal and the rest of the gang.

I personally like how Mayim plays Amy than any other character in the series.

Um, yes, they do. Plenty of shows get lots of viewers, that doesn't mean they're good and the Emmys are as reliable indicators of quality as the Grammys are (i.e. not at all).

Every criticism I've seen used against the first season of TBBT could also apply to every season since. The writing has improved marginally but the characters are no less of lazy caricatures that have been done to death on other shows.

Friends is and always will be better than TBBT.

Definitely not. TBBT is terrible and often critically panned, isn't it? The characters have very linear personalities unlike the characters of Phoebe and Monica in Friends. There hasn't been a sitcom phenomenon like Friends since it finished

Nope. Friends is better and will always be.

I have to agree with this. HIMYM is more similar to Friends than TBBT is.

But I'm still very much amazed at how this show have gone from an 8 Million-average a season to an 18.7 Million-average per season. The whole gang does this. Saying Sheldon could do it without the rest of the gang is rubbish. Without Penny, Sheldon's peak of dragging wouldn't come out. Without Leonard, Sheldon wouldn't be able to be the innocent bully that he is. It may all be interconnecting to Sheldon but Sheldon definitely wouldn't work without his peers.

yes, i agree!! when it first came out and for about 3 season it was perfection. now it isnt even funny. Friends actually got funnier with each season.

Guess I'm the only one who likes TBBT even though Friends is still my fave

Not here for HIMYM though