Top 10 Things You Missed in the Background of The Big Bang Theory

Have you ever noticed Sheldon’s t-shirts? Of course you have. Whether they depict a superhero or a scientific principle, Sheldon’s shirts are a defining part of his personality. What you may not know is how much further they extend beyond just his outward appearance. As it turns out, the colors of his shirts often represent his current emotional state. Green often has Sheldon feeling overly happy or confident. Red shirts, like his Flash one, are often seen when he’s angry, upset, or showcases feelings of passion on a subject. As you rewatch the old episodes, take note of how Sheldon’s acting and what shirt he’s got on. You’ll spot a correlation.

In Season 4, Sheldon made it known that the best number was 73. He provides a long-winded explanation to the boys about why the nature of this number makes it so perfect. He loves this number so much that from time to time you can often see him sporting a shirt with nothing more than the number 73 on the front. Aside from his fascination with it, and its mathematical curiosities, it also happens to be the year Jim Parsons, who plays Sheldon, was born. Lastly, the episode this bit aired in was the 73rd overall episode of the show.

“Star Trek” stars like William Shatner, Brent Spiner, George Takei, and even Leonard Nimoy all had appearances in one form or another throughout the run of the show. Most notable, however, has been Wil Wheaton’s recurring role as a version of himself. He was a major cast member of “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” On occasions where Sheldon has shown up at Wil’s doorstep, keen observers will have picked up on one very specific nod to Wil’s “Star Trek.” The number on his door reads “1701.” For fans of “Trek,” you’ll recognize that as the four-digit portion of the registration number for the starship Enterprise. It’s certainly a step up from the nod to Pi on Amy’s apartment door.

They have been a staple of Howard’s torso since the first day we met him. Forever wearing belt buckles of every shape and size, fans would often wonder which one he’d have on next week. We even got a big glance at his collection when he made Sheldon wash them all. But perhaps the most overlooked one popped up in the show’s series finale. While planning for the trip to Switzerland, Howard can be seen on the couch wearing a very familiar buckle. Look close. Yup. That’s the logo from the very show we watched for 12 years. It’s a blink and you’ll miss it moment but a perfect accessory for the final episode.

Back near the end of season three, we caught a flashback of Leonard and Sheldon’s first meeting. While being oriented about the apartment and its rules, Leonard is given a flag that represents the apartment itself. Certainly an oddity among most apartments, but not as curious as to what happened later. At the start of season six, eagle-eyed fans can spot a small version of the same flag affixed to the refrigerator in Sheldon and Leonard’s apartment. Its position seems to move depending on the episode, but it definitely matches the flag Sheldon gave his new roommate. Leonard also claimed the full-sized version as his own when Sheldon moved out.

Fun fact: Have you ever noticed there are no Marvel characters in Stuart’s comic book shop? That’s because Warner Bros. owns the show, and the rights to the DC characters. And as much as you’ll find countless other comic books within the walls of this store, there seems to be a section that is off-limits to minors. During Raj’s Valentine’s Day party at the store, you can spot a sign in the back that reads “No one under 18 beyond this point.” What kind of books is he keeping back there? We may never know given that in later seasons, the back section seemed to shift several times.

From early on, David Saltzberg was the science consultant on the show. It was his job to make sure the formulas on the boards were always scientifically accurate; save for one. During the Season 7 episode, “The Raiders Minimization”, the formula on the wall behind the DNA decoration is an exact copy of the one shown in the film “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” the very movie this episode is about. We love how the show found a unique way to honor the source material while hiding it in plain sight. It reminds us of Sheldon’s “physicist” meltdown that showed a YouTube username called “OB1.”

In the beginning… Okay, maybe not THE beginning but certainly near the start of the show, Leonard kicks Sheldon out of their Physics Bowl competition team. To soften the blow, he gives him a Batman cookie jar. It could have easily just been a throwaway prop that we never saw again. But instead, that same jar has resided in that apartment ever since. Normally seen on the back shelf by the sink, it’s been a staple of the set ever since its introduction. It can even be seen briefly in the very last episode of the series.

What do you keep pinned to your fridge? Takeout menus? Souvenirs? Well, if you’re Penny, you put notable photographs there. From early on Penny’s fridge could be seen with the occasional picture. As time went on, the pictures would change, but often incorporated things you might not expect. Depending on the episode, you’ll see photos of Kaley Cuoco with other members of the cast and crew. When Penny and Leonard are dating, you can spot a photo of the couple on there as well. The photos are reminiscent of some of the same kinds of family photos seen in Howard’s home.

We could hear her a mile away but we never saw her face. Howard’s mom was the bane of his existence until about halfway through the eighth season. Forever yelling at her son, audiences only caught a handful of glimpses of Debbie throughout those eight years. Sadly, the actress who played his mom, Carol Ann Susi, passed away unexpectedly. The show chose to honor her by both saying goodbye on the show, and leaving a little piece of her behind. A small photo of the actress can be seen on Leonard and Penny’s fridge in the immediate follow-up episode. This small tribute remained there until the show’s final curtain call.