You’ve probably watched the hit comedy series The Big Bang Theory – following Leonard, Sheldon, Penny, Howard, Raj, Bernadette, Amy, and the rest of the gang in their nerdy adventures. Think you know everything about the show? We bet there’s at least one fact here that will surprise you!
1 Penny doesn’t have a last name…
Penny (played by Kaley Cuoco) is the only character in The Big Bang Theory whose last name is completely unknown. It’s never mentioned once throughout the entire series. [source]
2 Jim Parsons landed the role of Sheldon immediately…
Jim Parsons’ audition for Dr. Sheldon Cooper was so impressive that creator Chuck Lorre asked him to come in for a second audition right away, wanting to be 100% sure Parsons was as brilliant as he seemed. After the second audition went perfectly, Lorre immediately offered him the role of Sheldon Cooper. [source]
3 Why we didn’t see Penny in an episode of Season 4…
Kaley Cuoco (Penny) missed an episode in Season 4 due to a broken leg from a horseback riding accident. In her first appearance after the accident, she was filmed standing behind a bar, cleverly hiding her cast. [source]
You may also like
4 Newly discovered orchid bee named after the show…
On January 3, 2013, a team of Brazilian biologists announced they had named a newly discovered orchid bee after the series. The bee was called “Euglossa Bazinga” (pictured below) to honor the show and, specifically, Sheldon’s famous catchphrase “Bazinga”. [source]
5 Belarus plagiarism show ended itself…
During Season 3, the producers discovered a show called The Theorists airing in Belarus. It was a complete copy of The Big Bang Theory, and taking legal action would have been nearly impossible since the production company was mostly state-owned. However, a lawsuit wasn’t even necessary – once word spread that the show was a blatant rip-off, the actors began quitting, and the series was immediately canceled. [source]
6 Raj’s inability to talk to women is actually based on real events…
Raj’s struggle to speak to women, unless he’s drunk, is based on a former colleague of executive producer Bill Prady from when he worked at a tech company. [source]
You may also like
7 Same floor – over and over again…
Floors two, three, and four of Sheldon’s and Leonard’s apartment building are actually the same floor. The crew just takes time to “redress” the set for each scene. You can even notice it because the scuff marks on the molding are identical on every floor as the characters walk up the stairs. [source]
8 No, Sheldon does not have a diagnosis…
Although many viewers interpret Sheldon’s behavior and social skills as signs that he might have Asperger’s or be on the autism spectrum, the producers and directors have repeatedly denied in multiple interviews that Sheldon has Asperger’s or any form of autism. [source]
You may also like
9 They actually learned to play real instruments on the show…
The actors actually learned to play real instruments for The Big Bang Theory – Amy plays the harp, Sheldon plays the theremin, and Leonard plays the cello. [source]
10 Kevin Sussman actually worked in a comic book store…
Kevin Sussman, who played Stuart Bloom, the comic book store owner, had actually worked in a comic book shop before becoming an actor. [source]
You may also like
Xtra Genius on set: Real scientists behind the scenes…
The show had scientific consultants from Caltech who made sure the dialogue and experiments were as accurate as possible, giving the series extra credibility among science fans. [source]
5 Frequently Asked Questions About The Big Bang Theory
The show was created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, who wanted to blend nerd culture with sitcom comedy.
It ran for 12 seasons, from 2007 to 2019, totaling 279 episodes.
The series concluded as the cast and producers felt it was the right time to wrap up the storylines and give the characters satisfying conclusions.
Yes — it spawned the successful prequel Young Sheldon, which explores Sheldon’s childhood, and the sitcom Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, following Georgie Cooper and Mandy McAllister after Young Sheldon.
Most of the science is reviewed by consultants from Caltech, ensuring that equations, experiments, and theories are as realistic as possible for a sitcom.
