[1] Although this season received mixed reviews from critics, Johnny Galecki and Sara Gilbert both selected the episode "The Hamburger Postulate" as a Primetime Emmy Award submission for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, respectively, at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards, but both ended up not receiving a nomination.

From the later series, only Johnny Galecki and Jim Parsons were in the cast, and their across-the-hall neighbor Katie was envisioned as "a street-hardened, tough-as-nails woman with a vulnerable interior".

[7][8] David Saltzberg, a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of California, Los Angeles, checks scripts and provides dialogue, math equations and diagrams used as props.

[9] Clips from the first season finale, "The Tangerine Factor", gained popularity on the Chinese video-sharing website Tudou because of Sheldon's comically inaccurate Mandarin.

[29] Tom Shales of The Washington Post gave the show a positive review, saying "Big Bang is the funniest new sitcom of the season".

[30] Robert Bianco of USA Today also gave the show a positive review, saying "This may not be the sitcom breakthrough for which we've all been hoping, but Lorre has produced a first episode that leaves you eager to try the second".