"We never wrote them as nerds," Lorre says. "From the very beginning we approached it as great minds who are ill-equipped to deal with the mundane world that everyone takes for granted, with the focus on them as extraordinary individuals.

"Nerds diminishes them. It's too easy just to make them goofy characters. They're not. Yes, they like comic books and all things Star Trek and Star Wars. But that's their hobby. That's how they escape the real world, because the real world is hurtful to people like this, because it's inexplicable, it's dangerous, it's threatening."

He's talking, of course, about the scientists in The Big Bang Theory, which is Australia's favourite comedy, and which has just been renewed for three years by the US network CBS (at a time when most shows have trouble getting renewed for six months).

The continuing international success of Big Bang is a mystery, considering it's an old-fashioned "multi-camera" sitcom filmed in front of an audience. All the cool comedies these days (Modern Family, for example) are "single camera", eliminating the laugh track on the assumption that sophisticated viewers are suspicious of audience reactions that may have been "sweetened" by technology.

Lorre doesn't do many interviews, particularly since the big noisy fuss of 2011 when he had to sack Charlie Sheen from his other sitcom, Two and A Half Men. But he did allow himself to be filmed by the Television Academy Foundation's Archive of American Television.

In that three-hour discussion, he speculated that the appeal of Big Bang is that the audience feels an instinctive urge to protect and nurture the vulnerable heroes.

Robyn Butler, co-creator of last year's hit ABC comedy Upper Middle Bogan (and before that The Librarians and Very Small Business), thought there was a bit more to it when asked why Big Bang was Australia's favourite comedy.

"It's an extremely well-crafted broad comedy with big characters - risible and identifiable in equal measure," she says. "The simplicity of the story and jokes ensures a large family audience.

"It's the odd couple. Chuck Lorre has followed the formula he has used in every one of his highly successful comedies. Dharma and Greg: she's a hippie, he's an uptight lawyer. Two and a Half Men: one brother is a rich, womanising cad, the other brother is a nerdy, divorced father. BBT: They're genius and socially outcast boys, she's the not-bright and socially cool girl. Lorre's skill is making these stories part of the zeitgeist each time he reinvents."

Rick Kalowski, the ABC's head of comedy, could not resist using the N-word when asked why Big Bang is so popular with Australians: "The organising idea - nerds trying to make themselves believe they're cooler than they are but strongly suspecting they're just nerds - is inherently comedic, light and fun. There's an especially strong breakout character in the Jim Parsons role. And the Kaley Cuoco character's romantic story with Johnny Galecki is loveable and very charming."

Kalowski says Big Bang's success proves there is still some life in the "multi-camera" sitcom format, and confesses he is currently developing two comedies that will be filmed in front of audiences. This is the style that Chuck Lorre describes as "more like a small play than a small movie".

"I'd like to believe Australian audiences would - far from rejecting a local multi-camera sitcom - be particularly tickled by a quality, home-grown one," Kalowski says.

''My attitude to comedy development is 'idea first, and let form follow content'. These multi-camera shows are being developed that way because it's what's best for those shows. Without giving too much away, one project is in development with a team of writers led by Marieke Hardy, who is the show's creator/producer. That show is a very contemporary workplace satire.

"I would hope both shows surface next year on ABC TV in some form. I promise there'll be no 'sweetening' of the laughs on either."

Australia's favourite comedies

1. The Big Bang Theory (Nine)  1.3 million
2. Shaun Micallef's Mad As Hell (ABC1)  950,000
3. Rake (ABC1)  840,000
4. Modern Family (Ten) 553,000
5. Two Broke Girls (Nine) 530,000
6. How I Met Your Mother (Seven) 491,000
7. Spicks and Specks (ABC1) 458,000
8. The Moodys (ABC1) 412,000

Average viewers per episode in the five mainland capitals (includes "time shifted" viewing later and the total if episode is repeated in same week). Source: OzTAM

New episodes of The Big Bang Theory are on Channel Nine on Tuesdays at 8.40pm. Repeats are on GO! each weeknight.

Comeback kids

US dramas are not the craze they once were with Australians - we tend to prefer our own stories - but plenty of us have been anxiously awaiting the US announcements on series renewals for 2014/2015.

We can now put you out of your misery on at least some cult faves. Coming back next season will be Chicago Fire, Grimm, Criminal Minds, Elementary, CSI, Hawaii 5-0, NCIS, Blue Bloods, Bones, Glee, The Blacklist, Person of Interest and The Good Wife (despite the fact that a key character was shot dead in the episode shown last week in the US).

More news as it comes to hand.

Bogies begin

Here's your chance to vent your spleen on TV networks that have insulted you, frustrated you and taken you for granted for six decades: you get to vote on The Bogie Awards, which celebrate the silliest, slickest and sorriest programs, personalities and powerbrokers on the box during the past 12 months.

The Bogies have no connection to any other awards system of similar name - beyond the fact they will be announced on the same day (April 27). We want you to study our nominations, choose your candidates and add any names we may have missed. These are among the Bogie nom-noms so far, awaiting your insights:

Smuggest talent quest judge

Last year's winner was Matt Preston (MasterChef). This year's nominees are: Kyle Sandilands (Australia's Got Talent); Alex Perry (Australia's Next Top Model); George Calombaris (MasterChef); Pete Evans (My Kitchen Rules); Shaynna Blaze (The Block); Naomi Campbell (The Face Australia).

Least real "Reality" show

New category for 2014. Nominees: The Real Housewives of Melbourne (Arena); Young, Lazy and Driving Us Crazy (Seven); The Bachelor Australia (Ten); Beauty and the Geek (Seven); Please Marry My Boy (Seven).

Most insidious use of breasts to exploit viewers' base instincts

Previous winners include Underbelly, Nigellissima and The Shire. Nominees: Fat Tony & Co (Nine); Game of Thrones (Showcase); Girls (Showcase); True Detective (Showcase); The Vikings (SBS1); Sunrise (Seven).

Most over-exposed

Last year's winner was The Big Bang Theory. Nominees: Stephen Fry; Shaun Micalleff; Rhonda in the AAMI ads; World War II (in SBS programs); Kerry Packer (in assorted dramas); My Kitchen Rules; Grand Designs; Two and a Half Men.

Most under-rated

Last year's winner was 30 Rock. Nominees: The Checkout (ABC1); Sherlock (Nine); Elementary (Ten); Secrets and Lies (Ten); Orphan Black (SBS2); The Good Wife (Ten); Justified (FX); Clarke and Dawe (ABC1); The Returned (SBS2); Rectify (SBS1); Modern Family (Ten).

The Black Bogie

(The Sandilands Chalice): Last year's award for most irritating person on Australian television was shared between David Koch and Karl Stefanovic. Nominees: Eddie McGuire; Kyle Sandilands; Melanie Brown; Matt Preston; Andrew O'Keefe; Richard Wilkins; Andrew Bolt; The Fraser twins (pictured left); David Koch; Karl Stefanovic.

See the full list of nominations at The Tribal Mind and email your choices or extra nominations to bogiesvoting@gmail.com.