I remember watching Jim Parsons for the first time, on the big screen in 2004, as Tim in Garden State and thinking: 'this guy has serious potential'. Then, I looked into Parson's acting credits and realised that he had appeared on other notable shows beforehand and at the time, such as Ed and Judging Amy. It can be safely said, however, that viewers in television land, in time, will always remember Jim Parsons for his role as Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory, the show's socially awkward but intellectually advanced scientist.
Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady should be commenced on their conception of the show and its characterisation. They use an amusing but always caricatured blend of intellects and anti-intellects onscreen; their juxtaposition of pretty Penny (Kaley Cuoco) with Leonard (Johnny Galecki), Howard (Simon Helberg), Rajesh (Kunal Nayyar) and, of course, Sheldon is what engages audiences in their viewing of the sitcom. I would argue, however, that the sitcom's Friends-esque structure, or, its 'quirky cohort of twenty-somethings living in a city apartment block' narrative works particularly well thanks to the dry, mechanical comical delivery of Parsons, as Sheldon.
Many people, I believe, still underestimate just how good of a performer Parsons really is. The man has cleaned up a myriad of awards for his role as Sheldon, ranging from the Television Critics Association award all the way through to claiming Emmy and Golden Globes. Not only that, Parsons has a laundry list of credits for the stage, having featured in Guys and Dolls and The Cherry Orchard in the 1990s, as he rose to fame. Sure, The Big Year received critically divided reception and little return on its budget, but Parsons was on-set with comical powerhouses such as Steve Martin and Jack Black, a sure sign that he has made it in the world on onscreen comedy. He made the shift from Texas to the big smoke to pursue a career and, well, it's paying off.
So, where to from here for Parsons? He has conquered the world of small screen comedy in his role as Sheldon on Lorre's series and, as the years pass, he continues to build his list of film and television credits. I just hope that his talent will not be compromised with future typecasting. Other than that, it's all good news for the star. Bazinga!
By Chris Traficante