Jessica Radloff could use it about her book, “The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series.” All too often, definitive and inside compendiums are neither.

Seventeen years after “The Big Bang Theory” made its debut, spinoff “Young Sheldon” has remained one of the bigger hits that network TV can still produce in this diluted day and age.

But,' Simon conceded, 'people weren't watching it, and I hear that's part of the equation.' However, when a call for The Big Bang Theory came up the star thought: 'I don't wanna play nerds anymore.' ...