THE COOL KIDS

Jocks, not geniuses, are usually the most popular kids on campus, but nobody on TV — smart, average or Homer Simpson — has a higher N.Q. (as in Nielsen Quotient) than Sheldon, Leonard and their scientist buddies on toprated The Big Bang Theory.

Big Bang has had fun with its super-smart characters but has never looked down on them, says Jim Parsons, who plays Sheldon. “If anything, it’s a celebration. I don’t think we’d still be here if it was anything less than that.”