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The Big Bang Theory is a television show that ran from 2007 to 2019 and became one of the most popular sitcoms of all time. The show followed a group of socially awkward scientists and their relationships with their neighbor, Penny, and other recurring characters. It quickly became a fan favorite due to its unique blend of humor and relatable characters.
Over the course of 12 seasons on CBS, The Big Bang Theory achieved remarkable success, countless viewers were captivated by the show's beloved characters, including Sheldon, Leonard, Penny, and the rest of the ensemble cast. Audiences were drawn to the show for its geeky references, witty one-liners, and the endearing quirks of the main characters. The Big Bang Theory quickly established itself as a pop culture phenomenon, with merchandise and references to the show appearing in everything from movies to memes.
Behind the scenes, the work culture of a large-scale television show can be intense. The cast and crew work long hours to create each episode, and the pressure to maintain the show's popularity can be overwhelming. Despite this, the cast of The Big Bang Theory has spoken fondly about their experience working on the show. Here's what the cast of The Big Bang Theory really thought about the behind-the-scenes process...
How Close Were The Cast Of The Big Bang Theory?
From the very beginning, the cast and crew of The Big Bang Theory had a strong sense of camaraderie. They spent long hours on set together and formed close friendships that would last throughout the show's run.
Jim Parsons, who played the iconic character Sheldon Cooper, spoke about the closeness of the cast in a 2018 interview. He described the group as "a tight-knit family," and said that the cast "spend a lot of time together, we go back and forth to our dressing rooms, we've talked for almost 12 years now."
In a 2018 interview with ET, Kunal Nayyar, who played the role of Raj Koothrappali, discussed the strong bond between the cast. He remarked, "We're family, we've spent a lot of time together, we were there when we found out together, and we're there to support each other, and that's all there is to it really."
Kaley Cuoco, who played Penny on the show, also spoke about the bond between the cast and crew in an interview with ET, saying: "I love our crew. I just love the people that we're with every day."
Before Mayim Bialik joined the cast of The Big Bang Theory, she and co-star Johnny Galecki were already good friends, having met as young actors in the early 90s. Bialik was a teenage star, playing the lead role in the popular NBC series Blossom.
In an episode titled "Sex, Lies and Teenagers", Bialik's character Blossom had her first on-screen kiss, and the boy who played her love interest was none other than Johnny Galecki.
The closeness between the cast and crew of The Big Bang Theory wasn't just for show. The actors frequently shared photos and videos of themselves hanging out on set and off, and they often spoke about their friendships in interviews.
The close bond between the cast and crew was not only evident on screen but also behind the scenes. The actors and crew members formed lasting friendships that continued long after the show ended.
Big Bang Theory Cast Was Taken by Surprise By Jim Parsons Quitting The Show
Jim Parsons' decision to leave The Big Bang Theory reportedly left the show's cast feeling blindsided. In her book titled "The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series," author Jessica Radloff revealed that the cast was left in shock when Parsons decided that season 12 would be his last.
Johnny Galecki, who played Leonard in the hit show, recalled how some of his castmates "emotionally crumbled" upon learning of the show's cancelation due to its most popular star's decision to move on. The cast was reportedly caught off guard because Parsons did not have a conversation with them before he told the bosses about his plans to leave.
"I just disagreed with how it was handled. We thought we were going into [co-creator] Chuck Lorre’s office to talk about renegotiating, and then Chuck tossed the baton to Jim. And Jim was shocked and obviously caught off guard," Galecki said.
Kaley Cuoco reportedly took the news of Jim Parsons's exit the hardest. Speaking to Variety, Cuoco recounted the moment when Parsons broke the news to the cast. "Jim said, ‘I don’t think I can continue on.' I was so shocked that I was literally like, ‘Continue on with what?’" Cuoco told the outlet. "I didn’t even know what he was talking about."
According to producer Steven Molaro, the tension on set was palpable, with Kaley Cuoco, who played Penny, barely able to make eye contact with Parsons during the run-through. However, Molaro noted that things eventually calmed down on set. "Pretty quickly I saw Kaley and Jim talking between scenes and laughing," Molaro said. "They seemed to be able to be around each other and not just want to get into their cars and leave immediately afterward."
Despite the initial shock, the cast eventually found peace moving towards the finale. "After the shocking moment of [that meeting], things eventually began to fall into place, and got peaceful moving towards the finale," Molaro said.
Despite Dating And Breaking Up, Kaley Cuoco And Johnny Galecki Remained Close Friends
Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki, co-stars on CBS's popular sitcom The Big Bang Theory, played onscreen love interests Penny and Leonard Hofstadter from 2007 to 2019. Off-screen, their chemistry was equally electrifying, as the two dated in real life from 2008 to 2010.
Cuoco admitted to having a huge crush on Galecki from the beginning, saying, "I had a very big crush on Johnny early on." She added, "He has such swagger. We were both dating people at the time, but I only had eyes for Johnny. Then, when I found out he had eyes for me too, I was like, Uh‑oh, this is going to be trouble."
Meanwhile, Galecki was initially unaware of Cuoco's feelings for him. He said, "I have a healthy ego, but you really have to kind of club me over the head to let me know you're flirting with me. I had zero idea of any sort of crush before Kaley and I began dating."
Despite their breakup, Cuoco and Galecki remained close friends, and their off-screen dynamic continued to positively impact their on-screen chemistry. "I think a lot of what made Leonard and Penny work so well was my relationship with Johnny off-camera," Cuoco said. "We've always had each other's backs, and you can't lose that. And I do think it happened on-screen. It made our relationship funny and endearing."
