The legacy of American sitcoms is a varied one. Most of them, from here in the UK, can seem trivial, weak, brash and unoriginal. If you disagree, you’re probably thinking of Friends, or maybe Cheers or Frasier.

Well, let me break it to you; those are an exception rather than the rule. First of all, there are dozen upon dozens of US sitcom you’ve never seen. Some will be airing somewhere in the UK, but most wont.

Second, you have to consider a situation best summed up by US writer and TV producer Rob Long, “The American US TV system is designed to destroy a show by the time it gets out”. This means there are a lot of obstacles in the way between the concept and a pilot being aired on TV.

So a good way to ensure a show can survive is by making it appeal to as broad a range of people as possible, because its also needs good, steady ratings for it to continue past the first six episodes. This result is one of two outcomes – innovation or stagnation.

Cheers, Frasier, Friends and Seinfeld are in the first category (you don’t have to innovate very much to do something original on US TV), whereas The Big Bang Theory is very much in the second.

Its cheap, formulaic premise and blocky dialogue leaves me with a sour taste in my mouth, like when I watched BBC 3’s Two Pints Of Lager. Four perpetually stereotypical academic ‘geeks’ sitcoming with a stereotypical sexy blonde ‘woman’ has been done. The fact that The Big Bang Theory has even gotten as far as Season 3 is a testament only to the stagnation brought about by the aforementioned US TV production system.

Never mind the patronising approach to the portrayal of a life dedicated to knowledge and science and that all pretty blondes must be thick – The Big Bang Theory has nothing to laugh at. It’s just weak. Episode after episode it’s the same cheap gags, the comedy is monotonous.

At the time of writing there were only two of the five discs from the set available for review so I don’t know what the extras are. But I couldn’t imagine any joy taken from watching good actors fluffing bad dialogue, or from candid behind-the-scenes features.

If you want a good post-Friends US sitcom to enjoy, try How I Met Your Mother if you haven’t already. Or go back a few years to 8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter. Hell, even Home Improvement.

If you want a funny US TV show about how geeks are nerdy and regular people aren’t, try Chuck, even Psych. They have survived the system, innovated in their own small way and are ready for your enjoyment.

You’re welcome.

The Big Bang Theory – Season 3 is out on DVD on September 27th. RRP £25.