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Fans still love The Big Bang Theory after all these years!

The hit sitcom – starring Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik, and Melissa Rauch – first premiered on CBS back on September 24, 2007.

Throughout the course of the show, The Big Bang Theory won tons of awards, including seven Critics’ Choice Awards, 14 People’s Choice Awards, and 10 Emmy Awards.

After 12 seasons, The Big Bang Theory came to an end in 2019.

In April 2023, HBO Max revealed that they are developing a new Big Bang Theory spinoff series!

The cast of the hit show has gone on to achieve incredible things in their own careers, and have amassed an impressive amount of money.

We’ve gathered all of the main cast members of The Big Bang Theory, and ranked them from lowest to highest estimated net worth.

If you didn’t know, The Big Bang Theory is available...

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Fans of "The Big Bang Theory" know that, for twelve seasons and the same number of years, Kaley Cuoco brought some much-needed levity to the role of Penny, the beautiful and outgoing aspiring actress who moves into the apartment across the hall from Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki). Penny is basically an audience surrogate who hangs out with a group of intensely nerdy guys with a ton of esoteric knowledge about science and pop culture.

As the resident "normie," Penny translates their nonsense for the viewers and, within the universe of the show, helps all of the guys evolve. Leonard, Penny's on-again, off-again boyfriend, is a much better person after he spends years as Penny's partner. Penny ultimately breaks Sheldon's barriers down to the point where he considers her one of his best friends in the world.

Can you believe it’s been eighteen years since The Big Bang Theory first graced our television screens? From 2007 to 2019, this groundbreaking sitcom not only dominated ratings but also revolutionized how mainstream media portrays geek culture. What started as a simple show about four socially awkward scientists and their beautiful neighbor evolved into a cultural phenomenon that spoke to millions worldwide.

A still from The Big Bang Theory | Credits: CBS

Whether you were a die-hard fan from day one or discovered the show through reruns, there’s no denying its lasting impact on television history. As we look back at this beloved series, let’s count down twenty unforgettable elements that still make us laugh, cry, and occasionally want to shout “Bazinga!”

20. The friend group dynamic A still from The Big Bang Theory | Credits: CBS

Remember when we first met this oddball bunch? Who would’ve thought that a group...

Season 3 of The Big Bang Theory introduced Mayim Bialik as Amy Farrah Fowler after Howard and Raj set up a curated dating profile for Sheldon. The character was introduced in the season finale, where she was depicted almost exactly like Jim Parsons’ Sheldon Cooper.

A still from The Big Bang Theory | Credit: CBS

And these are some of the few elements early in her character that left the devoted fans infuriated, especially with the show effortlessly trying to introduce her as the female counterpart to the beloved character, something the actress herself later acknowledged in an interview.

Why did The Big Bang Theory fans hate Mayim Bialik’s Amy Farrah Fowler?

Mayim Bialik’s introduction in the hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory was largely defined by her striking similarities to Sheldon Cooper, the show’s most beloved and popular figure.

Portrayed by Jim Parsons, Sheldon is known for his exceptional intelligence,...

"The Big Bang Theory" spin-off "Young Sheldon" overcame the challenges of being an offshoot of a popular show, moving the action to a prequel setting, and even switching the format from multicam to single-camera to the tune of seven seasons and considerable success. "Young Sheldon" chronicles Sheldon Cooper's (Iain Armitage) path from childhood to Caltech in a manner that leaves room for just about every reference adult Sheldon on "The Big Bang Theory" (Jim Parsons) makes to his formative years. Combining the origin story with a touching family comedy approach proved to be so successful that "Young Sheldon" gave birth to its own spin-off, "Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage," and there's no telling what the Chuck Lorre-created sitcom universe will come up with next.

With 141 episodes and an almost entirely different cast from "The Big Bang Theory," "Young Sheldon" provided plenty of work for many sitcom veterans and comparative...

The cast of "The Big Bang Theory" were in an extremely bright spotlight during the show's 12-season run. As such, many of the actors have found it fairly easy to keep busy since the Chuck Lorre-created hit sitcom came to a close in 2019. Jim Parsons (who played Sheldon Cooper) -- a classically-trained theater actor -- has been busy with stage projects both on and off-Broadway, as well as the "Big Bang Theory" spinoff "Young Sheldon." Kaley Cuoco (who played Penny Hofstadter) has likewise starred in a string of live-action movies and TV shows while voicing the titular character on Max's animated "Harley Quinn" series. Cast members like Simon Helberg (whose character was Howard Wolowitz), Kunal Nayyar (Raj Koothrappali), Melissa Rauch (Bernadette Rostenkowski), Mayim Bialik (Amy Farrah Fowler), Sara Gilbert (Leslie Winkle), and Kevin Sussman (Stuart Bloom) have also found plenty of work since the show ended.

Not every member...

Throughout the course of the show’s 12 seasons, several unexpected characters found common ground, which led to some interesting matches. While the sitcom heavily focused on the chemistry between the existing bonds, one episode highlighted the bond between Simon Helberg’s Howard Wolowitz and Mayim Bialik’s Amy Farrah Fowler.

The Big Bang Theory | Credit: CBS

Unfortunately, the dynamic between the duo after The Scavenger Vortex was left on the back burner for the entirety of the show, which many felt was a big missed opportunity on the writers’ part.

Amy and Howard’s bonding moment over Neil Diamond was short-lived The Scavenger Vortex | Credit: CBS

Chuck Lorre and his fellow writers were no strangers to dropping several engaging narratives abruptly, including the time when they wrapped Isabella and Raj’s relationship after just one episode. While the sitcom primarily focused on the existing friendship between the main characters, including...

What made Jim Parsons want to quit after 12 seasons of The Big Bang Theory? ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

‘The Big Bang Theory’ was able to pull in large audiences as it wrapped up, but Jim Parsons, who played the irreplaceable Sheldon Cooper, felt it was time to move on after 12 seasons, a decision that ultimately marked the show’s end.

I raise to you Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper.

No one in the industry would execute the Sheldon role better than him. It was meant for him. https://t.co/EtUflN3qeJ pic.twitter.com/QvLDBP78OF

— Khanya_Siluma (@SilumaKhanya) January 22, 2023

Jim Parsons’ Departure From The Big Bang Theory

In an appearance on ‘David Tennant Does a Podcast With…,’ Jim Parsons revealed that his choice to leave the show was a major factor in its conclusion, acknowledging that it would have been impossible to continue without him in such a central role.

In the season 9 finale of "The Big Bang Theory," titled "The Convergence Convergence," Penny and Leonard Hofstadter (Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki) decide to renew their vows after their disastrous Las Vegas elopement in that season's premiere, "The Matrimonial Momentum" (which, as it happens, is one of the lowest-rated episodes of the entire show). When everyone's families gather in Pasadena for the ceremony, something very unexpected happens ... which is that Leonard's father Alfred (Judd Hirsch) and Sheldon Cooper's (Jim Parsons) mother Mary, played by Laurie Metcalf, really hit it off. Leonard's mother Beverly, played by Christine Baranski, is also present — and not particularly pleased by this development.

After "The Convergence Convergence" aired in May of 2016, executive producer Steve Molaro spoke to Entertainment Weekly about the potential tryst between Alfred and Mary and what that could mean for longtime best friends Leonard and Sheldon. "I don't know what happened,...

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For 12 years and the same number of seasons, Simon Helberg played Howard Wolowitz — the turtleneck-wearing, would-be lothario who's best friends with Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki), and Raj Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar) — so you'd think it would be tough for him to really hone in on his favorite episodes. You'd be a little bit right about that, actually.

In an interview with Newsweek in April of 2022 to promote his film "As They Made Us" — directed by Mayim Bialik, who played Sheldon's girlfriend and eventual wife Amy Farrah Fowler and worked alongside Helberg on "The Big Bang Theory" — Helberg said he couldn't really choose a "favorite" episode of the long-running Chuck Lorre sitcom. "I don't have a quick answer for that," Helberg replied when asked about his all-time favorite episode. "I guess the answer is, I don't have a favorite one.

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"The Big Bang Theory" wrapped up its 12-season run in the spring of 2019 — and according to an interview with The Hollywood Reporter shortly after it aired, showrunner and creator Chuck Lorre was extremely anxious about getting the finale right ... largely because he felt he hadn't done that with a previous project, the popular TV series "Dharma & Greg."

In an expansive chat with Mikey O'Connell, the interviewer began a question — "With 'The Big Bang Theory, how important was it for you to ..." only for Lorre to immediately respond. "To land the plane safely? It meant a lot — to be there from our very clumsy beginnings, to when we actually figured out how to do it and sustain it, to end with what I think is a wonderful [episode]," he replied. "I know what it's like to leave too soon. I...

Because formulaic sitcoms are typically meant to be consumed as quickly digested standalone episodes, they do not often deal with the heaviness of death. When they do acknowledge the ultimate bummer, it's usually because their hand has been forced by powers beyond the writers' control, like a combative John Amos getting fired by the producers of "Good Times" or Nicholas Colasanto dying after Season 3 of "Cheers."

This makes the conundrum facing writers who work within the "Big Bang Theory" universe particularly interesting. During the sitcom's initial 12-season run, its creatives had ample time to fill in bits and pieces of every character's backstory. This gave the likes of Leonard (Johnny Galecki), Penny (Kaley Cuoco), and Howard (Simon Helberg) a little more depth while also opening up narrative avenues for the writers to explore as the immensely popular series kept getting renewed.

As "The Big Bang Theory" continued its run, it...

The Big Bang Theory star Melissa Rauch deeply connected with the Hollywood star Sylvester Stallone amid her struggles to star in her own movie, The Bronze. Rauch, known for playing the role of Bernadette in the hit sitcom, took the lead role in the 2015 sports comedy-drama which she co-wrote with her husband, Winston Rauch.

The Big Bang Theory star Melissa Rauch | Credit: CBS

However, the actress later revealed that she had a hard time finding a producer who was willing to let her star in the movie, as many of them suggested casting a more experienced actress in the lead role.

Melissa Rauch was advised against starring in her own movie, The Bronze

Amid her run as Bernadette Rostenkowski in the hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory, Melissa Rauch worked on a sports comedy-drama titled, The Bronze.

Focusing on a former bronze Olympic gymnast, Hope Ann Greggory, the film follows...

"The Big Bang Theory" ended its 12-season run in 2019, but apparently, it's still a major hit with audiences. According to Deadline, the series was the "most-binged" title in all of streaming in 2024 (which the outlet pulled from a Nielsen report).

According to Nielsen, "The Big Bang Theory" boasted an average of 265.5 episodes per audience member, which apparently translates to 29.1 billion minutes of streaming (which is seriously impressive). The show also managed to place seventh in all of the year's most-streamed titles, and 58% percent of its audience was from the highly valuable age group of 18 to 49. Deadline also noted that, in the Nielsen report, "most-binged" is drawn from shows that have at least 50 episodes ("The Big Bang Theory" has 279) and viewers had to spend the length of a single episode, which in the case of this series is about 20 minutes, in order to qualify. "While half-hour programs tend to be more binge-able,...

Every A-lister in Hollywood is loaded, but to state the obvious, it is not like TV stars aren’t, especially in this era of prestige streaming. If you’ve got the star power and the right role, you’re looking at million-dollar paychecks. So, naturally, to rank them in order of their salaries becomes a laborious affair. Does one take into account the total money made throughout the course of the show? Per episode, perhaps?

A tall order of names, meanwhile, emerges if one were to rank them using the per-episode metric. James Gandolfini in The Sopranos, Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons in The Big Bang Theory, Nicole Kidman in Big Little Lies, and Jennifer Aniston in Friends all clocked in a million dollars for their respective roles.

Johnny Galecki (L), Jim Parsons (R) in The Big Bang Theory | Credits: CBS

For this list, however, we’re ranking the ten highest-paid TV roles,...

Played by Simon Helberg in The Big Bang Theory, the character of Howard Wolowitz has not been the most loved character in the show, primarily due to how the character was initially portrayed. While he undergoes significant growth over time, some underlying issues of inappropriateness remain throughout the series.

Simon Helberg in The Big Bang Theory | Credit: CBS

Fans of the show have since noted Howard’s hypocrisy in calling out Sheldon for making fun of him throughout their friendship despite having done the same to Raj (portrayed by Kunal Nayyar), by not only making fun of him but also making racial remarks.

The complex relationship of Raj and Howard in The Big Bang Theory

Howard (Simon Helberg) and Raj (Kunal Nayyar) shared a complex friendship throughout The Big Bang Theory, marked by both genuine support and moments of toxicity.

While they had times of mutual care, there were also...

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"The Big Bang Theory" ran for 12 years and as many seasons, and as a result, it featured plenty of guest stars along the way. Some, like Wil Wheaton, played themselves, and if we're talking about Wheaton, the show also played host to a ton of "Star Trek" veterans ... but some people played clearly defined characters, as was the case with Riki Lindhome. She first appeared as Ramona Nowitzki but returned much later in season 10. It's a pretty big gap between seasons, but it was all by design.

In an interview with TVGuide just before the season 10 finale, showrunner and executive producer Steve Molaro explained that Lindhome's return as Ramona was specifically meant to cause conflict in Sheldon Cooper's (Jim Parsons) slow-moving romantic relationship with Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik). Back in season 2, Ramona made it abundantly clear — to everybody...

CBS' hit sitcom "The Big Bang Theory" went through several changes before it made it to screens. A notable example is the creators' decision to replace the show's original female lead with Kaley Cuoco's Penny, who became a stalwart of the series for 12 successful seasons. Penny is an aspiring actress who moves next door to the nerdy physicists Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki) and Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), but the original plan was for her neighbors to have a different vocation.

While speaking to The Paley Center for Media, "Big Bang Theory" co-creator Chuck Lorre revealed that he and his colleagues originally planned on making the nerdy characters computer programmers instead of physicists. In his own words:

"I don't even know why, you [Bill Prady] were telling me stories about computer programming in New York in the '80s, and talking about the guys that he worked with, and they were fascinating.

In the "The Big Bang Theory" episode "The Celebration Experimentation", Sheldon (Jim Parsons) is about to turn 36 but is reluctant to celebrate his birthday. He explains that birthday parties were always terrible for him as a child as he would have to share them with a twin sister and that his sister's friends were aggressively mean to him. One particularly painful memory involves Sheldon's sister telling him that Batman would be coming to the party, even though no such appearance had been arranged. Sheldon was disappointed that Batman didn't arrive and has hated birthdays ever since.

Sheldon's girlfriend Amy (Mayim Bialik) convinces Sheldon to have a party anyway, hoping to erase the stigma. He reluctantly agrees. Meanwhile, Raj (Kunal Nayyar) and Howard (Simon Helberg) decide to finally make good on Sheldon's unfulfilled Batman promise by hiring Adam West himself to come to the party and meet Sheldon face-to-face. West, of course,...

The death of George Cooper Sr. (Lance Barber) was set in stone as soon as "Young Sheldon" aired its first episode. Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) had revealed that he'd been forced to deal with his old man passing away during his teenage years on "The Big Bang Theory," so the prequel series was always going to chronicle the heartbreaking event. Sure, "Young Sheldon" flat-out changes some plot points from "The Big Bang Theory," but George's death was unavoidable, and it's a tear-jerking viewing experience.

Of course, the creators of "The Big Bang Theory" probably weren't thinking about making "Young Sheldon" when they decided to seal George's fate. Fortunately, Steven Molaro and Steve Holland had no regrets about their decision when they returned for the prequel, as they explained in a 2024 interview with Glamour. To quote Holland on the matter:

"I think it gave the show a real strong emotional closure,...

While the growing industry trends have led to a gradual decline in sitcoms’ popularity, which once dominated the small screen, this has done little to impact Chuck Lorre’s illustrious run as the king of sitcoms. Although Lorre has helmed several acclaimed shows, including Two and a Half Men and the recent Young Sheldon spin-off, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, nothing has come close to The Big Bang Theory‘s success.

Jim Parsons in The Big Bang Theory | Credit: CBS

As for what made the sitcom stand out from the rest of its peers, per Jim Parsons, it boiled down to the show’s structure, which didn’t prioritize viewers’ commitment to the entire show.

The Big Bang Theory didn’t require viewers’ full commitment The Big Bang Theory | Credit: CBS

Following the success of The Sopranos and other shows that leaned towards telling an extended narrative, stretching over several seasons,...

Jim Parsons, who originated the role of (old) Sheldon Cooper on Chuck Lorre's hit CBS sitcom "The Big Bang Theory," may be hesitant about returning to the role ... but his on-screen wife Mayim Bialik, who played Amy Farrah Fowler on the series, has a very different take on the idea.

Bialik, who recently guest-starred on the NBC reboot of "Night Court", told Yahoo that she had a great time reuniting with Rauch and that she would love to bring "The Big Bang Theory" back in some shape or form. "With all due respect to Jim, I think that there's a lot of interest and love for these characters and I'd be super happy to get to revisit [it] in any way," Bialik told the outlet, keeping Parsons' less optimistic words in mind. "I think we all really have a lot of respect for the brand as it were and for...

Katie Holmes has the support of her daughter on her big night!

On Sunday (January 19), the final performance of the 46-year-old actress’ hit Broadway show Our Town took place after a limited run at the Barrymore Theatre in New York City.

Katie‘s 18-year-old daughter Suri was seen in attendance supporting her mom.

Keep reading to find out more…Suri bundled up in green puffy jacket as she exited backstage after the show, as seen in photos published by Page Six.

Our Town opened back in October and starred Katie, Jim Parsons, Zoey Deutch, and Ephraim Sykes.

Last week, Katie took to Instagram to share a sweet photo hugging Jim, 51, to commemorate the final days of the show.

“The final days of @ourtownbroadway are upon us,” Katie wrote. “I am so grateful for these beautiful souls that continue to bring Thornton’s words to life. I love you @therealjimparsons...

The revival of Our Town, starring Jim Parsons, Zoey Deutch and Katie Holmes, ended its limited run Sunday at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre with its highest gross yet.

The Thornton Wilder revival, directed by Kenny Leon, brought in $1.08 million last and played to 95 percent capacity, with an average ticket price of $134.51. The play opened on Broadway on Oct. 10.

Wicked remained the top grossing show in the industry for the week, bringing in $2.6 million, followed by Hamilton with $1.9 million and Gypsy with $1.89 million. The Great Gatsby brought in $1.85 million as lead Jeremy Jordan celebrated his last week in the show before joining the musical Floyd Collins this spring. The Lion King rounded up the top five with $1.7 million.

In Cole Escola’s last scheduled week in Oh,Mary!, the show brought in $1.25 million and played to 100 percent capacity at the Lyceum Theatre. Betty Gilpin takes over the lead role starting Tuesday,...

Broadway said a few so-longs last week, with the star-studded Our Town ending its limited run and some original cast members of Oh, Mary! and The Great Gatsby giving way to replacements. Ticket-buyers were there to see everyone off.

Our Town, the Thornton Wilder classic starring Jim Parsons, Katie Holmes, Ephraim Sykes and Zoey Deutch, among others, had its best week since opening last fall: The revival at the Ethel Barrymore grossed $1,084,024 for its final week, up $128,404 from the previous week. Just more than 95% of seats were occupied.

Oh, Mary! star (and creator) Cole Escola played their final week in the title role of Mary Todd Lincoln (American Primeval‘s Betty Gilpin takes over tonight for an eight-week run). The comedy has been selling out for months, and Escola’s final performances were no exception. Oh, Mary! grossed $1,253,871 for the week ending January 19.

The Great Gatsby, meanwhile, said goodbye to...

One of the more exciting casting choices in "Young Sheldon" (a show partly inspired by Jim Parsons) was the decision to pick Zoe Perry for the role of Mary, Sheldon's stern, loving, religious mother. The role in "The Big Bang Theory," which takes place in Sheldon's adulthood, went to Laurie Metcalf, an award-winning big-name actor who's also Perry's real-life mother. It's a casting choice that makes a lot of sense, although it also gets a little awkward when you take into account the ongoing discourse around nepotism in Hollywood. When asked in a 2017 interview with The Hollywood Reporter how she felt about getting the role at least partially because she's the daughter of such a famous performer, Perry offered her thoughts:

"I don't think there's any way to negate that because, why would you? We have lots of similarities when it comes to our voices and mannerisms, and I'm...

The Big Bang Theory is a sitcom that people love for the awkward brainy humor, with weird geniuses and their complex companions. Amongst all the misfits, there’s Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz, a character that is somewhat controversial to many fans.

Melissa Rauch in The Big Bang Theory | CBS

She seemed to have a bit of sass to her, but then it started going south when her tendencies became questionable. So, viewers are divided over her behavior, and can’t help but discuss the questionable things she did on the show.

Bernadette seemed like a supervillain in The Big Bang Theory Melissa Rauch in The Big Bang Theory | CBS

Melissa Rauch played the role of Bernadette aka Bernie in The Big Bang Theory and nails the part of someone who has a no-nonsense attitude. But the character’s actions started to seem mean, and beyond playful teasing, especially the way she treated Penny.

When you consider the fact that Johnny Galecki starred as experimental physicist Leonard Hofstadter for 12 seasons and the same number of years on "The Big Bang Theory," it's probably not a huge surprise that the guy prefers some episodes to others. So which episodes did Galecki particularly love? In an interview with TBS, which airs "The Big Bang Theory" in syndication — helping the main cast rake in a solid income even though the show ended in 2019 — he specifically mentioned five episodes that occupy a special place in his heart, in no particular order.

Galecki begins with the season 3 episode "The Wheaton Recurrence," which features real-life "Star Trek" veteran Wil Wheaton (who almost turned down the opportunity to appear in the role as himself) as an antagonist to Leonard's on-screen best friend and roommate Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons). While the whole gang, including Wheaton, is out bowling, Leonard tells his...

Will Mayim Bialik Appear In The Big Bang Theory Spin-Offs? (Photo Credit – Instagram)

When one talks about popular sitcoms, names like Friends, Modern Family, and The Big Bang Theory come to mind. The latter enjoyed a run of 12 seasons from 2007 to 2019, but fans still love the characters and cannot stop rewatching the old episodes. Its popularity led to the announcement of The Big Bang Theory spinoff being in the works, and the viewers were elated.

Since then, there has been a lot of buzz as the audience has been excited to find out who will be cast in the spinoff and whether any original stars would be a part of it. Recently, Mayim Bialik shared if she was asked to be a part of the upcoming series. Here’s what she revealed.

Will Mayim Bialik Be A Part Of The Big Bang Theory Spinoff?

During a conversation with US Weekly,...

While Mayim Bialik might be open to a return to The Big Bang Theory, her recent comments serve to remind viewers why the hit sitcom ended in the first place. By The Big Bang Theory’s finale, it was pretty clear who the show’s real main character was. When the series began back in 2007, the slow-burn romance between Johnny Galecki’s nerdy scientist and his glamorous neighbor, Kaley Cuoco’s Penny, was the main focus of The Big Bang Theory. However, although The Big Bang Theory’s entire cast of characters was funny, there’s a reason its first spinoff was Young Sheldon.

Related Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage Highlights Georgie's The Big Bang Theory Sheldon Grudge

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage proves that Georgie's grudge with Sheldon in The Big Bang Theory is even sadder than it seems, but justified.

Jim Parsons’ Sheldon swiftly became the sitcom’s breakout character and,...

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It's hard to make a successful network television show. It's even harder to make a successful spin-off of a successful series. Audiences have a certain expectation and, when it comes time to follow another character or two elsewhere, it can get tricky. But CBS hit it out of the park with "Young Sheldon," which focused on a young Sheldon Cooper as he was growing up in Texas long before the events of "The Big Bang Theory," itself one of the most successful sitcoms of the 2000s.

Because "Young Sheldon" takes place decades before the events of the show that inspired it, it was difficult to have characters from "The Big Bang Theory" show up. However, the show's producers did manage to sneak Kaley Cuoco in during the series' third season for a stealthy cameo. Cuoco, of course, played Penny on...

Audition tapes from The Office feature a virtual who’s who of 21st-century American comedy, with Seth Rogan, Adam Scott, Eric Stonestreet, John Cho, Bob Odenkirk, Kathryn Hahn, Judah Friedlander and Patton Oswalt all trying and failing to land a spot on the sitcom.

It’s a fascinating sliding-doors exercise — what if Odenkirk had been Michael Scott? — but The Office isn’t the only show for which famous comedy actors auditioned without success. Here are five more examples of TV stars who were in the wrong place at the wrong time…

1 Tiffani Thiessen, ‘Friends’

Kelly Kapowski could have been Rachel Green. “Did you know I tested for Friends, for Jennifer Aniston?” Thiessen said on SiriusXM's You Up With Nikki Glaser, per Entertainment Weekly. “I was just a little too young. I was a little too young to the pairing of the rest of them.”

Indeed, Saved By the Bell’s...

Chuck Lorre’s hit CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory has had numerous guest appearances throughout its long run. And among the multiple guest stars, Lorre also invited the star of his other successful sitcom, Charlie Sheen from Two and a Half Men.

The Big Bang Theory | Credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment

And the actor did not fail to deliver in his brief yet memorable appearance as he managed to steal the spotlight, even outshining the show’s leading stars like Jim Parsons and Kunal Nayyar.

Charlie Sheen’s brief yet impactful cameo in The Big Bang Theory

Before the fallout between Charlie Sheen and Two and a Half Men creator Chuck Lorre, Sheen made a brief but memorable appearance in Lorre’s other hit sitcom, The Big Bang Theory, during its second season episode, The Griffin Equivalency.

A still from The Big Bang Theory | Credit: CBS

The episode follows Kunal Nayyar’s Raj,...

When it comes to "The Big Bang Theory," there are a whole bunch of stories about the wild casting process. Even though Simon Helberg ultimately earned the main role of Howard Wolowitz, Kevin Sussman very nearly booked it ... and wound up playing comic book owner Stuart Bloom on the show anyway. Kunal Nayyar, who plays Raj Koothrappali for the entire series, was nearly fired before filming even began, and Kaley Cuoco replaced the show's original female lead with her character, Penny. Johnny Galecki ended up playing Leonard Hofstadter for the show's entire 12 season (and 12-year) run, but before he came on board, John Ross Bowie auditioned for the part. Like Sussman, he ended up scoring a recurring role ... with a twist.

In a 2017 interview with The Spectrum, Bowie told the outlet that he did audition for Leonard but understood why Galecki got it. "They were seeing pretty much every nerd...

Starring an ensemble cast, including the Emmy-winning actor Jim Parsons, The Big Bang Theory is no stranger to star-studded cameos. Over the course of its run, the sitcom has had cameos from acting legends to some of the most brilliant minds, such as Stephen Hawking.

The Big Bang Theory | Credit: CBS

However, while most of the cameo has been met with appreciation and reverence from the characters within the show, the same courtesy was notably absent for author Neil Gaiman, who was repeatedly ignored by the characters, during his frequent visits to Stuart’s comic book store.

How The Big Bang Theory treated author Neil Gaiman’s cameo

Best known for the comic book series The Sandman, Neil Gaiman is a celebrated figure in the literary world, with a diverse body of work that spans novels, children’s books, graphic novels, short stories, and poetry.

Neil Gaiman in The Big Bang Theory | Credit: CBS

However,...

The sun is gonna surely shine on Tuesday, when Mayim Bialik reunites with Big Bang Theory co-star (and self-proclaimed Blossom superfan) Melissa Rauch on NBC’s Night Court. The five-time Emmy nominee plays a heightened version of herself, who arrives as a defendant and befriends Judge Abby Stone.

Like Rauch, Abby grew up on Bialik’s 1990s sitcom, and is overjoyed when the television star expresses interest in spending time together. “This is a little bit of art imitating life,” Bialik tells TVLine. “Melissa did confess that she was a Blossom fan. I think the first day we met [on tt0898266 autoBig...

"The Big Bang Theory" lasted for 12 successful seasons, and during that time, the sitcom brought in several characters from Sheldon Cooper's (Jim Parsons) life. His mom, brother, and sister all show up for on-screen roles, and his deceased father gets a mention. That said, not everyone who impacted Sheldon gets acknowledged in the nerdy sitcom. Paige Swanson (McKenna Grace) from "Young Sheldon" doesn't appear on "Big Bang Theory," even though she was a notable part of his coming-of-age years, while Dr. John Sturgis (Wallace Shawn) is also ignored in spite of having dated Sheldon's Meemaw (Annie Potts) and mentored him.

Case in point: Sheldon's Nobel Prize speech in the "Big Bang Theory" finale made the cast cry, proving that it's an emotional moment. The scene sees the socially awkward physicist thank most of the important people in his life for supporting him throughout the years, marking a rare expression of gratitude from the character.

Portrayed by the Emmy-winning actor Jim Parsons in The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon Cooper is specifically known for his intellectual genius along with his quirky preferences, such as having a rigid weekly meal plan, and his designated spot on the couch among many.

Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory | Credit: CBS

While such traits have contributed to the iconic and memorable character that Sheldon Cooper has become, some may find his behavior peculiar or eccentric. However, these might not be as unusual as they appear, especially since many fans have admitted to sharing similar habits with the Nobel Prize-winning theoretical physicist in The Big Bang Theory.

“You’re in my spot”

One of the many odd things about Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) in The Big Bang Theory has been his insistence on having a specific spot on the couch. The conversation regarding his sitting spot on the sofa is brought up on many occasions.

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Although "The Big Bang Theory" is relatively mild and family-friendly, at least compared to its contemporaries like "How I Met Your Mother" or "Modern Family," it did still regularly delve into sexual humor. Howard's always got some skeevy joke to tell and there are no shortage of jokes about Penny's sex life. With Sheldon (Jim Parsons), however, the show was borderline G-rated; the character had seemingly zero interest in sex for the first few seasons, and even by the end of the show, the evidence of his libido was still scant. The introduction of Amy (Mayim Bialik) in the season 3 finale helped clarify him as heterosexual, though that label for Sheldon's sexuality will always have a giant asterisk next to it.

Sheldon's lack of interest or awareness of sex is what helped make one risqué joke in season 6's "The...

Mayim Bialik is well-known for playing Amy Farrah Fowler on the long-running series, The Big Bang Theory. The actress admitted that she herself doesn’t really watch the series. Discussing this in an interview, the star also touched on the end of the show.

Mayim Bialik First Joined The Big Bang Theory During The Third Season

Bialik first came to prominence as a child star in the television series Blossom, playing the title character. Over the years, she’s had many notable roles, such as appearing as a Jeopardy! host from 2021 to 2023.

However, she notably had a career resurgence through playing Amy Farrah Fowler on The Big Bang Theory. Starting to play the character in 2010, the shy neuroscientist, who served as Sheldon Cooper’s love interest, quickly became a fan favorite. Notably, the character was a good fit for Bialik, as she also has a PhD degree in neuroscience in real life.

The Big Bang Theory is a show with many quirks, and one of the most notable ones is Sheldon Cooper’s soothing lullaby, Soft Kitty. This song was the ultimate comfort moment for Sheldon, and it felt almost contradictory due to the kind of personality he had.

Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory | CBS

But what seemed like an innocent melody that was used on the show for some comic effect turned out to be the reason for a lawsuit, which challenged the show creators and CBS. So, let’s take a look at the origins of this song and the legal drama that followed.

Soft Kitty: the comfort song on The Big Bang Theory and its origins Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory | CBS

Whenever life’s uncertainties felt too overwhelming for Sheldon Cooper, essayed by Jim Parsons, he found solace in Soft Kitty.

The Big Bang Theory was recently added to the Nick at Nite lineup!

The popular CBS comedy series originally ran for 12 seasons on the network, and now airs via syndication, and is available to stream online.

Throughout the series’ 12 seasons, the show aired 279 episodes, centering on roommates and friends Leonard and Sheldon learn about the social aspects of life through their relationships with the beauty who lives next door.

Across its run, the show won several accolades, including 10 Emmy awards, three TCA Awards, a Golden Globe and seven Critics’ Choice Awards.

Starring in the hit sitcom were Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Kunal Nayyar, Simon Helberg and Melissa Rauch, as well as Sara Gilbert, Kevin Sussman and Laura Spencer.

We have gathered info on all 12 seasons, and ranked each one based on how audiences have rated the show.

Keep reading inside to see which season of The Big Bang Theory is the most popular…...

The Big Bang Theory gave us plenty of memorable characters over its 12-season run. While Sheldon’s intellect and Penny’s humor often took center stage, one character quietly stood out in the later seasons. He wasn’t part of the main group, but his funny moments made a lasting impression on fans.

Brian Posehn in The Big Bang Theory | Credits: CBS

The character is none other than Bert Kibbler, played by Brian Posehn. Whether it was his excitement over winning the MacArthur Grant or his hilarious attempts to fit in with the gang, Bert added a fresh dynamic that stood out.

How did Brian Posehn’s Bert carry the last season of Tbbt?

When people think of The Big Bang Theory, Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper often comes to mind first. His quirky genius made the show a cultural phenomenon and kept fans hooked for 12 seasons. On the other hand,...

How Did The Big Bang Theory Turn Melissa Raunch’s Real-Life Pregnancy Into A Plot Twist? (Photo Credit – Instagram)

The Big Bang Theory turned Bernadette’s real-life pregnancy into a plot twist. Season 11 started with a bang—Amy (Mayim Bialik) saying yes to Sheldon’s (Jim Parsons) proposal. But in a move that shocked everyone (including Bernadette herself), she was pregnant again! Talk about unexpected news—especially since her first baby was barely nine months old. Here’s the scoop: when Melissa Rauch announced she was expecting her own bundle of joy, the producers had a lightbulb moment.

As per Looper, executive producer Steve Holland later spilled the tea: “When Melissa told us that she and her husband were pregnant, we were just talking about how we want to do that in the show. Do we just put her behind laundry baskets and couches all the time like people do on sitcoms?...

So, imagine you’re on a super celebrated TV show. You’re playing a beloved character for nine whole seasons, and millions of people know your face. You’d think you’d be glued to the TV, watching every single episode, right? Well, not Mayim Bialik.

In fact, she’s never actually watched herself on The Big Bang Theory. Can you believe that? The very actress who played Amy Farrah Fowler, one of the show’s most requisite characters, has openly admitted that she never watches her performances on the show. Ever.

Mayim Bialik in The Big Bang Theory (Credits: CBS)

You’d think an actor would love watching themselves, especially if they’re in a hit show that made them famous. But Bialik? Nah, she just doesn’t see the hype. However, the 49-year-old is not alone, either. Many actors feel the same way—watching their own performances can feel awkward,...

The Big Bang Theory wasn’t short on oddball moments, but Bernadette’s craziest secret hit like a plot twist from outer space. Turns out, the sweet and sassy Melissa Rauch was pulling off an acting masterclass in disguise.

Melissa Rauch in The Big Bang Theory | Credits: Warner Bros.

This bizarre reveal had us all doing double takes and wondering how Rauch managed to juggle comedy and this jaw-dropping surprise like a pro.

Melissa Rauch’s vocal mastery turned Bernadette into a Big Bang Theory icon A still from The Big Bang Theory | Credits: Warner Bros.

On The Big Bang Theory, Melissa Rauch’s Bernadette was channeling a masterclass in vocal gymnastics. We loved Mrs. Wolowitz’s high-pitched sweetness paired with sudden outbursts of screaming rage. But you know what, neither voice came naturally to Rauch. In real life, her tone is calm, normal, and reminiscent of Kaley Cuoco’s,...

The Big Bang Theory quickly became one of the most popular television shows in the world, breaking records, and drawing a huge audience, and the Big Bang Theory cast salary reflected the demand for the series. The quirky sitcom lasted a whopping 12 seasons, and famously, by the end of the series, the main Big Bang Theory cast was pulling in a huge salary per episode - over one million per episode by the final season (via Et Online).

The Big Bang Theory followed a group of scientists in different fields who became friends with the woman who lived across the hall. Their lives and relationships changed drastically as a result. With twelve years of their lives invested in making people laugh as nerdy scientists and hilarious friends, there's no doubt that the cast only continued to make more and more money as the series gained popularity and continued at the top of everyone's radar.

"Young Sheldon," the "Big Bang Theory" spinoff that ran for seven seasons, is for the most part a pretty standard lighthearted network sitcom. The main exception to this rule is that, thanks to all the little bits of backstory we got of older Sheldon's childhood on "The Big Bang Theory," viewers knew that tragedy would eventually strike the Cooper family. George Cooper Sr. (Lance Barber) would die at some point in Sheldon's youth, we just didn't know exactly how or why.

For seven seasons, then, the sword of Damocles hung over George Sr.'s head, and the foreboding was even worse because "Young Sheldon" portrayed George Sr. as being far more kindly than expected. Sheldon in "The Big Bang Theory" talks about his father as if he was a good-for-nothing drunk who cheated on his wife and never cared for Sheldon, but throughout "Young Sheldon" George Sr. was portrayed as a pretty nice guy.

There are some pretty big differences between "The Big Bang Theory" and its prequel spin-off series, "Young Sheldon." For one, "Young Sheldon" is a single-camera series whereas "Big Bang" was multi-cam to allow for a studio audience, which was a pretty massive change-up for the show's creators. Not only that but "Young Sheldon" is completely different tonally, starting as a pretty standard family comedy before becoming more of a dramedy, giving all new context to "The Big Bang Theory." Instead of just cracking jokes or making references to the later events of Sheldon's life, the series actually expanded upon some of the ideas from "The Big Bang Theory" and made Sheldon Cooper a richer, more complex character. And because "The Big Bang Theory" was written without ever planning on making a prequel series, sometimes that meant they had to retcon a few things in order to make it all make a little more sense.

Creating movies and TV shows with the goal of spawning spin-offs is all the rage these days. As such, it's easy to assume that "Young Sheldon" was born from a desire to continue milking the popularity of "The Big Bang Theory" after it ended with season 12. However, as Chuck Lorre told The Hollywood Reporter, the genesis for Sheldon Cooper's coming-of-age story came from a conversation he had with Jim Parsons about a real-life child genius.

"The beginning was a phone call from Jim Parsons, who sent me a video of his 10-year-old nephew in Texas who is a prodigy — brilliant, extraordinary, off the hook, crazy smart kid. And Jim asked, 'Is there anything we can do with this?' I said, 'Well, if we wanted to do a show about a young man who is brilliant — a comedy — we have that built into our show. That's the backstory of...