Top 20 Things You Didn't Know About The Big Bang Theory
#20: Howard, Leonard & Sheldon Are Named after Real People
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They say you should write what you know - and when it came to naming the characters on “The Big Bang Theory” that’s exactly what the creators did. Besides being a television writer, producer and co-creator of shows - such as “The Big Bang Theory” - Bill Prady once worked as a computer programer. That job that not only gives him solid nerd cred when it comes to the series, but also provided the name for Howard Wolowitz (as it was the name of a programer Prady had worked with). As for Leonard and Sheldon, their names were also inspired by real people. Actually, just one real person - television writer, producer Sheldon Leonard - of whom Prady and Chuck Lorre were fans.
#19: A Chance Encounter Led to the Theme Song
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Did you know that Simon Singh’s book, “Big Bang: The Origin of the U niverse” has more to do with “The Big Bang Theory” than just the similar titles? It was the book that Barenaked Ladies lead singer Ed Robertson had read, and led to him freestyling a rap about the origins of the universe at a show in Los Angeles. And who happened to be at that show? Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady. Who, upon hearing said rap, asked Robertson to write the theme song for their upcoming series. To paraphrase the catchy tune - that is one mystery unraveled. One mystery that has never been unraveled though, is why the timeline in the opening credits reads 91,000 9C instead of 91,000 BC.
#18: Scientific Episode Titles
While some shows don’t really seem to spend much time thinking about the titles of their episodes, “The Big Bang Theory” had a real method to their madness. A scientific method that is. While each episode title makes reference to a key moment or storyline of said episode, the way they do it fits in perfectly with the science-based theme that began with the show’s title. Each episode title is phrased in the format of a scientific theory, principle or experiment. From “The Big Bran Hypothesis” to “The Stockholm Syndrome” - and the over 270 episodes in between. The only exception being the series’ first episode which - as is usually the case - is just called “Pilot.”
#17: It Set a Record with Back-to-Back Renewals
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With so many shows getting canceled every year, most series are just happy to get renewed for one more season. Well, to that “The Big Bang Theory” said ‘hold our beer’ - or more likely ‘that’s our spot’ - as they not once, but twice got renewed for 3 more seasons in one shot. That ain’t no Bazinga either. In 2011 and in 2014 CBS showed massive confidence in the series’ ability to continue dominating network television and gave them three more years. No show in the history of modern television has ever received two back-to-back three-year renewals - except “The Big Bang Theory.”
#16: Kunal Nayyar Landed His Role with His First Audition
If watching Penny struggle to become a successful actress on “The Big Bang Theory” for all those years taught us anything, it’s that making it in Hollywood is hard. It takes lots of patience and lots of auditions - and even then you might never really get a break. Unless you’re Kunal Nayyar it turns out. Because as Kaley Cuoco revealed on the “Anna Faris Is Unqualified” podcast - “Big Bang” was “his first audition. [Either his] first audition or first pilot audition.” Looks like things really did all start with a ‘big bang’ for Mr. Nayyar.
#15: Johnny Galecki Might Have Been Sheldon
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Could you imagine Sheldon as a short, curly-haired guy? No? Well, turns out Johnny Galecki couldn’t either. Having seen Galecki in various roles on other sitcoms in the past, series co-creator Chuck Lorre knew he wanted him on the show and initially wrote the character of Sheldon Cooper with Galecki in mind. And it was Galecki who turned it down. Having played the friend or assistant to the romantic lead in the past, Galecki wanted to do something different and play the guy “who seems to have a future of romantic triumphs and difficulties.” We’re not sure how obvious it was at the time, but we can now say with confidence…. GREAT CHOICE JOHNNY!!
#14: Johnny Galecki’s Glasses Didn’t Have Lenses
Occam's razor is the idea that the most obvious answer is usually the correct one. Did you ever wonder why you never saw lights from the set reflecting off the lenses of Leonard’s glasses? Well, Occam’s razor would lead one to the conclusion that there were no lenses in the glasses - and in this case Occam would be correct. Galecki wanted Leonard to have glasses and during rehearsal for the first episode he wore a pair with lenses in them. However, this led to issues of light reflections and glare. Especially with the shorter Galecki having to look up at his taller friend Sheldon much of the time. So, when he was asked to take them off, he instead just “popped out the lenses.”
#13: Jim Parsons & Mayim Bialik Learned How to Play Their Characters’ Instruments
Their brains weren’t the only instruments the characters on the show knew how to play. Many of them could play actual instruments as well. However, while Johnny Galecki already knew how to play the cello, and Simon Helberg was an accomplished pianist, Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik learned their instruments for their roles as Sheldon and Amy respectively. Bialik played many instruments growing up, but the harp wasn’t one of them - as she told Wired magazine, “I learned to play the harp for The Big Bang Theory”. And the same is true for Parsons and the theremin.
#12: Lucy & Ramona Wrote “If I Didn’t Have You”
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While the characters Lucy and Ramona Nowitzki brought mostly heartache and problems to the show, we do have them to thank for one of the most romantic moments of the series. And no, we don’t mean how Ramona kissing Sheldon sent him to propose to Amy. We’re talking about something that happened thanks to the actresses who portray Lucy and Ramona, Kate Micucci and Riki Lindhome - also known as the comedy folk duo, Garfunkel and Oates. It was actually these two talented ladies who wrote “If I Didn’t Have You” - the song Howard plays for Bernadette on the anniversary of their first date. A classic happy-cry moment that would never have happened if the show didn't have them.
#11: There Was Only One Set of Stairs
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You’d think that since so many scenes take place walking up and down the stairs at the apartment building that they would’ve built a full 3-flight staircase to use every time. Well, you might think that - but you’d be wrong. Instead, what they had was one flight of stairs that they would reuse and redecorate for each consecutive flight the cast walked up. But wait! Wouldn’t that mean they would have to stop the scene after each flight, wait for the crew to decorate for the next floor and then pick up the scene? Yes it would mean that - and that’s exactly what would happen.
#10: It Originally Had a Different Title
Top 10 Things You Didn't Know About The Big Bang Theory
It’s no secret that “The Big Bang Theory” is named after the cosmological model for our universe. Before settling on this title, however, the show was initially going to be called “Lenny, Penny and Kenny.” While Penny ultimately stuck around, Lenny evolved into Leonard and Kenny went on to become Sheldon. These changes were probably for the best, especially since the original title doesn’t really tie into the show’s science theme or nerdy sense of humor. “Lenny, Penny and Kenny” sounds like a generic sitcom that’s trying to be the next “Three’s Company.” And we all know how frustrating Sheldon can get when he comes and knocks on your door.
#9: We Still Don’t Know Penny’s Last Name
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Audiences knew Penny for 12 years and 279 episodes, but they never heard her full name. After tying the knot with Leonard at the beginning of Season 9, Penny adopted the surname Hofstadter. Yet, her maiden name has never been spoken throughout the show’s lengthy run. Co-creator Bill Prady has said that Penny’s surname would come out of the bag at some point. Executive producer Steve Molaro, on the other hand, insists that her last name will forever be a giant question mark. In other words, Sheldon could prove the string theory before we hear Penny’s full name.
#8: Mayim Bialik Has a PhD
At the end of Season 3, actress Mayim Bialik entered the equation as Amy Farrah Fowler. Given the instant chemistry with Sheldon, it wasn’t long until Bialik became a series regular. Long before that though, Bialik herself was actually referenced in a Season 1 episode. Listing off potential candidates for a physics bowl, Raj suggests “the girl from TV’s 'Blossom'” noting that she has a PhD in neuroscience. This, of course, is Mayim Bialik, who broke out into stardom playing Blossom Ruby Russo, and later went on to become a neuroscientist. Interestingly enough, the girl from “The Wonder Years” would also eventually pop up in the series.
#7: Melissa Rauch Based Bernadette’s Voice on a Family Member
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When actress Melissa Rauch made her debut on the show back in Season 3, she noticeably didn’t have the cute, high-pitched voice Bernadette Rostenkowski has become iconic for. Rauch would evolve and perfect Bernadette’s voice over time, deriving inspiration from a family member. At a PaleyFest panel, Rauch mentioned that Bernadette’s voice is tonally very similar to her mother’s, but, quote, “without the Jersey.” Perhaps this is fitting, seeing as how Bernadette and Howard really started to hit it off after swapping stories about their overbearing mothers.
#6: The Show Had a Science Adviser to Consult on Scripts
Seeing as how the cast of characters includes two physicists, an engineer, an astrophysicist, a neuroscientist, and a microbiologist, the writers need to take extra precautions to make sure this show is scientifically accurate. Enter David Saltzberg. A physics and astronomy professor at the University of California, Saltzberg was a science consultant for “The Big Bang Theory” from the very beginning. His duties involve checking each script, pointing out any errors, and adding scientific information. And those complicated equations you see on the whiteboards? He’s responsible for overseeing those as well. Sheldon Cooper may have an IQ of 187, but Saltzberg is the real genius.
#5: An Executive Producer’s Coworker Inspired Raj’s Selective Mutism
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While Raj has never exactly been smooth with the ladies, at least he can maintain a conversation with them now. Raj struggled with selective mutism for the first six seasons, generally requiring alcohol to speak in the presence of women he’s not related to. The idea for this character trait stemmed from the show’s co-creator and executive producer Bill Prady. Prior to the show, he worked for the Small Computer Company as a programmer, and had a colleague who, like Raj, couldn’t talk to women without being inebriated. As for actor Kunal Nayyar, he obviously has no problem talking to the opposite sex: he’s married to former Miss India Neha Kapur.
#4: Penny Wasn’t in the Original Pilot
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It's hard to believe, but Penny was nowhere to be found in the original pilot. Instead, Leonard and Sheldon cross paths with a hard-boiled woman named Katie, played by Amanda Walsh. After breaking up with her boyfriend, Katie moves in with the dorky duo. Test audiences didn’t respond well to Katie, however, and the network found the pilot underwhelming on the whole. Still, the creators knew they had struck gold with actors Johnny Galecki and Jim Parsons, so they went back and retooled several aspects, most notably switching out Katie with Penny. The new pilot was subsequently picked up, and the rest is history.
#3: Jim Parsons Has Never Seen “Star Trek”
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Sheldon Cooper is about as hardcore as Trekkers get. He’s dressed up as “Star Trek” characters on numerous occasions and practically had a meltdown after attaining some of Leonard Nimoy’s DNA. Plus, he knows Next-Gen actors LeVar Burton and Wil Wheaton personally. But ironically, actor Jim Parsons claims to have never even seen an episode of “Star Trek.” Rather than growing up with the voyages of the starship Enterprise, Parsons has always been more of a sports guy. When the cameras are rolling, though, Parsons still manages to speak fluent Klingon, demonstrating his incredible versatility as an actor.
#2: The Show Got Sued for “Soft Kitty”
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One of the show’s most famous running gags, “Soft Kitty” is a song that’s known to soothe Sheldon when he’s feeling sick or depressed. This song originated from a Polish lullaby, as was a song called “Warm Kitty,” written by Edith Newlin. In 2015, Newlin’s daughters brought a copyright lawsuit against the companies attached to the show, claiming that Willis Music had published the rhyme in a 1937 songbook. The lawsuit was dismissed in 2017, however, on the grounds that Newlin’s heirs had failed to prove that they owned a valid copyright on their mother’s work. That must’ve made Chuck Lorre a happy kitty.
#1: “Bazinga” Was Inspired by Real-Life Practical Jokes
“Bazinga” has become such a popular term that it even inspired the name of a Brazilian bee species known as Euglossa bazinga. As for where Sheldon’s catchphrase came from, we have writer Stephen Engel to thank for that. Engel would say, “Bazinga,” whenever he played a prank on another writer, like when he gave Bill Prady a scooped out grapefruit and yelled the immortal punchline when Prady tried to eat it. “Bazinga” later popped up during the show’s Season 2 finale, although it wasn’t originally scripted, and was instead inserted at the last minute during filming. Although it took two seasons to arrive, “Bazinga” is now practically synonymous with “The Big Bang Theory.” Did any of these “Big Bang” facts come as a BIG surprise to you? Let us know which ones shocked you more than Leonard and Howard were shocked when Raj and Penny walked out of the bedroom together.
