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Any actor will tell you that it's a tall order to convincingly play drunk; try too hard and you can come off as insincere, but it can also ring false if you don't go far enough with the act. According to Jessica Radloff's 2022 book "The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series," star Johnny Galecki, who played Leonard Hofstadter on Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady's beloved CBS sitcom for 12 years and the same number of seasons, had a tricky way to convincingly fake his intoxication.

"Acting drunk is really hard to play, so I would ask Scott London, our prop master, to cut up a dish sponge into pieces, soak it in whiskey, and put it in a disposable coffee cup with a lid on it and give it to me," Galecki revealed to Radloff in the book. I would just smell that...

Bryan Cranston won four Emmys for playing a power-hungry drug kingpin on AMC's landmark drama series Breaking Bad. But when he's not masquerading as the ruthless "one who knocks," the actor also enjoys showing off his comedic side.

Two decades ago, he received a trio of Emmy nominations for his role as Hal, the carefree husband and father on Malcolm in the Middle. He also earned laughs playing dentist Tim Whatley on Seinfeld, therapist Dr. Templeton on Curb Your Enthusiasm, and a heightened version of himself on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Now, he's yucking it up as The Studio's Griffin Mill, the outlandish CEO of Continental Studios, who's never met a psychedelic mushroom he didn't like. Cranston is nominated in Best Comedy Guest Actor alongside last year's winner, Jon Bernthal as Michael Berzatto for The Bear, plus four people from The Studio who are playing comedic versions of themselves: Dave Franco,...

Following its string of shows in Los Angeles, 13-Year-Old Michael Ausiello Presents: Beverly Hills - A Pretend Soap Opera Performed by Real Actors will make its New York debut in a star-studded cold reading at the Newman Mills Theater at the Robert W. Wilson McC Theater Space on September 8, 2025. Joining the ranks of celebrities and comedians who have already performed in the show will be Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Jim Parsons, Busy Philipps, Mitch Silpa, Michael Urie, and Bowen Yang. In the 1980s’ Golden Age of television (see: Dallas and Falcon Crest), back when Michael Ausiello was but a closeted gay teen doing his damnedest to get by in small-town...

Bowen Yang, Ana Gasteyer, Jim Parsons, Rachel Dratch, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Busy Philipps, Mitch Silpa and Michael Urie are set to perform a live, cold reading of Beverly Hills, a soap opera written by TVLine founder and Spoiler Alert author Michael Ausiello when he was 13, in its New York debut.

The NYC performance is scheduled for Sept. 8 at the Newman Mills Theater at the Robert W. Wilson McC Theater Space.

Per the description: “In the 1980s’ Golden Age of television (see: Dallas and Falcon Crest), back when Michael Ausiello was but a closeted gay teen doing his damnedest to get by in small-town New Jersey, he penned 517 episodes of an original soap opera called Beverly Hills. Miraculously, the future founder of TVLine and author of Spoiler Alert: The Hero Dies saved every handwritten script, and for the past year has been staging sold-out cold readings of the episodes at Los Angeles’ iconic Dynasty Typewriter.

When key members of Mom’s creative team — including prolific sitcom producer Chuck Lorre — reunited to build a new show around Leanne Morgan, they knew they wanted to surround the stand-up comedian with trusted performers they worked with on previous projects.

That included Ryan Stiles, who for 11 out of 12 seasons recurred as Dr. Herb Melnick on Two and a Half Men, and Kristen Johnston, who for four out of eight seasons starred as recovering addict Tammy Diffendorf on the aforementioned Mom.

More from TVLineLeanne Morgan Tees Up Her Netflix Comedy From EP Chuck Lorre, Reveals How Her Real-Life Husband Feels...

Actor Jim Parsons, who rose to stardom while playing Sheldon Cooper in the long-running sitcom The Big Bang Theory, has found his next role. After a Broadway run and his work as narrator in the Big Bang spinoff prequel Young Sheldon, Parsons is ready for a major change out of comedy, as the actor has been cast in The Leader, a true-crime biopic that will tell the story of the religious cult known as Heaven's Gate.

Per Deadline, Parsons has joined Tim Blake Nelson and Vera Farmiga for the project, which is currently in production. Nelson and Farmiga are set to play the cult's leaders, Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles, while Parsons' role remains under wraps. Other actors participating in the project include Grace Caroline Currey, Simon Rex, Matthew Glave, William Mapother, Geoffrey Arend, Kelly Lynn Reiter, and Molly Robbins.

Michael Gallagher is writing and directing The Leader. His previous...

Two years ago, we heard that Tim Blake Nelson and Vera Farmiga (The Conjuring) would be starring in The Leader, a true crime biopic about a story that shocked the world back in 1997, the mass suicide of the members of the Heaven’s Gate cult. That project has finally made it into production, and Deadline reports that Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) has joined the cast. Details on the character he’ll be playing haven’t been revealed – but it’s not difficult to imagine him playing a member of the Heaven’s Gate cult.

Farmiga is playing cult leader Bonnie Nettles, a.k.a. Ti. Nelson’s character is the cult’s infamous frontman, Marshall Applewhite, a.k.a. Do. Also in the cast are Simon Rex (Red Rocket), Grace Caroline Currey (Fall), Matthew Glave (The Wedding Singer), William Mapother (In the Bedroom), Jb Yowell (A Jar Full of Christmas...

Best known for his role on The Big Bang Theory as Sheldon Cooper, Jim Parsons is taking on something very different for his next big role. He is the latest addition to the cast of The Leader, an upcoming thriller inspired by the real-life story of the infamous Heaven's Gate religious group.

Per Deadline, Parsons has officially joined the cast of The Leader, but his role has not yet been disclosed. He won't be playing Marshall Herff Applewhite, referred to as "Do" by his followers, who led the group alongside Bonnie Lu Lettles, also known as "Ti." It was previously announced that Tim Blake Nelson and Vera Farmiga were respectively playing Marshall and Bonnie.

The film was written and directed by Michael Gallagher. Other confirmed cast members include Simon Rex (Red Rocket), Grace Caroline Currey (Shazam! Fury of the Gods), Matthew Glave (The Wedding Singer), William Mapother (Lost), Jb Yowell...

Exclusive: Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) is a new addition to the cast of The Leader, the true-crime thriller inspired by the story of the infamous religious group Heaven’s Gate, which is now in production.

Character details are under wraps. Parsons joins an ensemble led by Tim Blake Nelson and Vera Farmiga.

Written and directed by Michael Gallagher, The Leader tells the unbelievable true story of UFO cult leaders Marshall Herff Applewhite (Nelson) and Bonnie Lu Nettles (Farmiga), who inspired hundreds of people to abandon their families, drop out of society, and prepare to evacuate planet Earth. Heaven’s Gate, the group that inspired the film, committed the largest mass suicide ever to take place on U.S. soil.

Others in the cast include Simon Rex, Grace Caroline Currey, Matthew Glave, William Mapother, Jb Yowell, Kelly Lynn Reiter, Danielle Vasinova, Blake Robbins, Jana Gallagher, Paten Hughes, Molly Robbins,...

The Big Bang Theory co-creator Chuck Lorre doesn't seem to be ruling out any alumni reprisals in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. The upcoming spinoff will be the third offshoot in the fan-favorite comedy franchise.

Speaking with TVLine's Ryan Schwartz to promote his new Netflix series Leanne, Lorre addressed the possibility of the main Big Bang Theory cast returning to cameo in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. "I cannot speak to that. That is a closely guarded piece of information that, you know… I’ve taken a blood oath regarding," the franchise co-creator joked. After Schwartz noted that the fans, including himself, were hoping to see the likes of Kaley Cuoco, Jim Parsons, and Johnny Galecki back as their respective Big Bang characters, Penny, Sheldon, and Leonard, in the new spinoff, Lorre remarked, "You’re going to love this show."

First announced in April 2023 by Warner Bros. Discovery,...

Even with The Big Bang Theory having been off the air for several years now, the universe continues to expand with new spin-offs. The latest is an unlikely spin-off of a character who appeared in The Big Bang Theory but wasn't part of the core friend group, Stuart Bloom (Kevin Sussman). HBO Max has recently ordered a TV series centered on the comic book store owner, titled Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. According to the show's official logline below, there are mentions of characters from the flagship series, Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki). TV Line caught up with the brains behind this universe, Chuck Lorre, while he promoted his newest comedy, Leanne, and they asked him whether viewers would see Parsons and Galecki in the upcoming show.

"I cannot speak to that,” Lorre said, unsurprisingly mum about the affair. "That is a closely guarded piece of information that,...

Sixteen veterans are about to get a run for their money when “new threats” crash the party in Season 41 of The Challenge.

In The Challenge: Vets and New Threats (which premieres on MTV Wednesday, July 30 at 8/7c), veterans are paired with rookies for another no-holds-barred battle for some big bucks. The vets team is stacked with plenty of familiar faces like Johnny Bananas, Ct Tamburello, Aneesa Ferreira, Derrick Kosinski, Ashley “Millionaire” Mitchell, and two-time winner and 10-time finalist Cara Maria Sorbello.

More from TVLineLandman Season 2: Tommy on Uncertain Ground, 'Challenges' to Cooper's Plan and More Intel From a...

The Big Bang Theory's upcoming spinoff, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, could easily see the return of characters such as Sheldon or Leonard, but not in the traditional sense. As the title implies, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe follows Stuart from the parent series. In it, he struggles to "restore reality" after "accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon."

During an interview with TVLine, Chuck Lorre (who co-created The Big Bang Theory alongside Bill Prady) addressed whether fans could expect to see main characters from the original TV show appear in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. Of course, Lorre didn't confirm if the spinoff would feature cameos. However, he didn't shut down the possibility, either. Lorre said:

"I cannot speak to that. That is a closely guarded piece of information that, you know… I've taken a blood oath regarding."

What Chuck Lorre's Comments Mean For Stuart Fails...

The Big Bang Theory universe is officially expanding once again, but will Sheldon, Leonard, and the rest of the beloved gang be back for the ride?

HBO Max’s highly anticipated spinoff, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, follows comic book store owner Stuart Bloom as he embarks on an unlikely mission to restore reality.

The story kicks off after Stuart accidentally breaks a device built by Sheldon and Leonard, unleashing a multiverse Armageddon.

Naturally, the premise has fans wondering which original stars might pop up. Could Jim Parsons (Sheldon) and Johnny Galecki (Leonard) return to set Stuart’s journey in motion?

Keep reading to find out more…

Series co-creator Chuck Lorre was asked about possible original cast cameos.

“I cannot speak to that,” he said to TVLine, adding, “That is a closely guarded piece of information that, you know… I’ve taken a blood oath regarding.”

But the new...

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Peacock is ready with an entertainment-packed August this year. The upcoming month will see the release of the much-anticipated legal drama series, The Rainmaker, as well as the streaming release of the dark comedy thriller film, Borderline. Just like every month, Peacock is ready to overload you with great content. So, we’re here to tell you about the five new movies and TV shows coming to Peacock in August 2025.

Borderline (August 1) Credit – Magnolia Pictures

Borderline is a dark comedy thriller film written and directed by Jimmy Warden. The 2025 film is set in the 1990s in Los Angeles, and it follows pop star and actress Sofia Minor as she comes under attack by Paul Duerson, an obsessive and deluded fan. Borderline stars Samara Weaving, Ray Nicholson, Jimmie Fails, Alba Baptista, and Eric Dane.

Spoiler Alert (August 3) Credit – Focus...

When HBO Max’s forthcoming Big Bang Theory spinoff Stuart Fails to Save the Universe begins, the titular comic book store owner “is tasked with restoring reality after he breaks a device built by Sheldon and Leonard, accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon.”

Naturally, such a high-falutin’ premise raises a number of questions. But above all else, longtime fans want to know if Jim Parsons and Johnny Galecki will return to help set our (unlikely) hero’s journey into motion.

More from TVLine<em>Big Bang Theory</em> Spinoff Ordered at HBO Max — Here’s How Sheldon and Leonard Factor Into <em>Stuart...

The Big Bang Theory star Simon Helberg was stunned upon seeing the script for Sheldon Cooper during his audition. Portrayed by Jim Parsons, the eccentric and genius Sheldon Cooper has been one of the most celebrated characters not just in the sitcom, but in television history. And finding the right actor for the role was no easy feat for creators until Parsons came along.

However, while Parsons nailed the audition, Helberg, who joined the show during its second pilot, recalled feeling sympathetic towards anyone who auditioned for the role. He shared in The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series,

I very vividly remember thinking, Oh my God, the actor that has to go in for this role… because it was a two-page monologue about sitting at the right position where the cross-ventilation is.

Any Big Bang Theory fan will be well aware of the monologue Helberg is referring to,...

Peacemaker is torn between a world where a livid Rick Flag Sr. wants vengeance, and a parallel world where the grass looks awfully greener, in a new Season 2 trailer unveiled Saturday at San Diego Comic-Con.

Details on Peacemaker‘s Season 2 storyline had been scarce for a long while, aside from showrunner/DC Studios co-ceo James Gunn saying, “It essentially picks up where Season 1 left off, with a couple minor differences” — including the fact that the Justice League that Peacemaker crossed paths with in the finale doesn’t exist yet.

More from TVLineWill Big Bang Theory Spinoff Bring Back Jim Parsons,...

The Big Bang Theory is still a fan-favorite show after all these years!

The comedy series – 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.

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 for streaming on HBO Max now!

Click through the slideshow to find out who...

Who would’ve thought that Dexter Morgan could be a social butterfly?

In Episode 4 of Dexter: Resurrection, Dexter infiltrates a luxurious dinner party while under cover as Ronald “Red” Schmidt, aka the Dark Passenger. After being picked up by Uma Thurman’s Charley, he arrives at the beautiful estate of Leon Prater (Peter Dinklage), a man who’s obsessed with serial killers, so much so that he collects their trophies and keeps them in his museum-like corridor. Prater has pieces like John Wayne Gacy’s clown costume, Jeffrey Dahmer’s bloody fridge, Charles Manson’s guitar, and even more notably,...

Solar Opposites will return for its sixth and final season Monday, Oct. 13 on Hulu, it was announced at San Diego Comic-Con.

In Season 6, “Once their alien diamond making machine gets destroyed, the Solar Opposites must face their greatest challenge yet: living their expensive lives on a budget!” says the official synopsis. “When their consumerist habits and expensive hobbies are gone, only their true selves will remain… but will they like who they find? Also: The epic story of the people of The Wall has all built to this thrilling and shocking conclusion….

More from TVLineThe Gilded Age Renewed for Season...

Turns out Carrie Bradshaw is like every other woman alive: She leans on Taylor Swift to help her get through a breakup.

This week on And Just Like That…, Carrie said goodbye to her longtime love Aidan after she realized he’d never get over her affair with Big all those years ago. And after they decided to split up, we heard Taylor Swift’s beautifully melancholic song “How Did It End?” on the soundtrack as Carrie took all the Virginia postcards off of her fridge, got dressed up and met her girlfriends for drinks. (The lyrics even center on a recently ended relationship,...

Amid the big Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon news out of San Diego Comic-Con — the spinoff was both renewed and cancelled (more on that here) — AMC also dropped the full-length trailer for Season 3, which premieres Sunday, Sept. 7, at 9/8c.

As you’ll see above, our heroes Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) are no longer in France but at first in the UK, where they make the acquaintance of “the last Englishman in England,” played by Stephen Merchant (who co-created The Office with Ricky Gervais and starred in HBO’s short-lived Hello Ladies). Alas, the trio’s boating expedition appears...

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Kaya Scodelario was, until recently, one of those actors who has been around for decades and starred in multiple high-profile projects, but still many people don’t know about her. All of that changed with Guy Ritchie‘s Netflix series The Gentlemen, in which she stars as the iconic Susie Glass. The role of Susie was all Scodelario needed to break out in the mainstream and become a household name despite her previous high-profile role in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and The Maze Runner film trilogy. So, if you also loved Scodelario’s performance in The Gentlemen, here are the 10 best movies and TV shows starring Kaya Scodelario you shouldn’t miss out on.

10. Spinning Out (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Spinning Out is a teen drama series created by Samantha Stratton. The Netflix series follows Kat Baker,...

When it comes to real-life issues, don’t expect Jim Parsons to be quiet. The same happened recently as well when he called out Donald Trump for shutting down the national LGBTQ+ crisis hotline. This was a move that landed like a gut punch to people who actually depend on that number ringing when no one else is there. And guess what, this didn’t quietly disappear into red tape.

The hotline was yanked right when the LGBTQ+ community needed it the most. The Big Bang Theory actor made it pretty clear via Variety that shutting down the hotline isn’t political theatre, it’s a calculated risk with real humans on the line, he said:

It’s one of the kinds of decisions that you’re like, ‘There’s no good reason for it.’ It doesn’t matter what reason you ever put towards it or say it’s the reason it’s happening,...

Jim Parsons is blasting President Donald Trump’s administration for shutting down one of the nation’s crisis hotlines, which offered tailored support for LGBTQ youth and young adults.

The Big Bang Theory star made a recent appearance on MSNBC’s The Weekend, where he criticized the decision to end the 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ service on July 17.

“I think it’s quite literally criminal,” Parsons said. “It’s one of the kinds of decisions that you’re like, ‘There’s no good reason for it.’ It doesn’t matter what reason you ever put towards it or say it’s the reason it’s happening, it’s never going to be justified.”

The openly gay actor, who is married to Todd Spiewak, continued, “It is only hurtful and it feels like it’s only being done in order to make a point, we’re getting rid of...

Even in a machine as massive as Hollywood, there's a finite pool of great talent when it comes to specific genres, and proving yourself as one of the experts in one field is likely to yield more work on similar shows. That's why actors who earned their chops on procedurals tend to keep appearing on one procedural drama after another. It's also why it's not uncommon to see established sitcom actors resurface on brand new comedy shows after they (and their old series with them) have spent some time away from the spotlight.

Usually, this is a case of individual actors entering a new show where they're surrounded by a combo cast of veterans from other series and perhaps a newcomer or two, with the ingredients combining to form a fresh new talent salad. However, there are exceptions, like the actor flow from "Roseanne" to "The Big Bang Theory." While...

“The Big Bang Theory” star Jim Parsons recently appeared on MSNBC’s “The Weekend” (via The Daily Beast) and spoke out against President Trump’s administration for shutting down one of the nation’s LGBTQ+ crisis hotlines. As of July 18, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline no longer has a specialized LGBTQ+ operation, meaning callers do not have the option anymore to “press 3” and reach counselors trained to respond to LGBTQ+ crisis issues.

“I think it’s quite literally criminal,” said Parsons, who is openly gay and married his husband, Todd Spiewak, in 2017. “It’s one of the kinds of decisions that you’re like, ‘There’s no good reason for it.’ It doesn’t matter what reason you ever put towards it or say it’s the reason it’s happening, it’s never going to be justified.”

“It is only hurtful and it feels like it’s only...

The Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons is speaking out about Donald Trump‘s decision to shut down a critical lifeline for young LGBTQ+ community members in crisis. The decision, first announced in June, has now resulted in the removal of a call option from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for LGBTQ+ callers to speak to a counselor who is specialized in related needs, and Parsons appeared on MSNBC to criticize the move. The actor appeared on the network’s The Weekend on Sunday (July 20) to promote his new documentary short Reclaim the Flag — a feature examining the LGBTQ+ community’s relationship with the American flag — and said, “I think it’s quite literally criminal. It’s one of the kinds of decisions that you’re like, this is, there’s no good reason for it. It doesn’t matter what reason you ever put towards it … it’s never going to be justified.

Jim Parsons has become synonymous with the role of Sheldon Cooper, his quirky, "bazinga"-spewing, super nerd from the long-running sitcom "The Big Bang Theory." Parsons made such an impact as Sheldon that the character received his own spinoff series, "Young Sheldon," after "The Big Bang Theory" ended. Though the series portrayed Sheldon as a child, now played by Iain Armitage, Parsons returned to deliver voiceover throughout the series. He also made a cameo appearance as the older Sheldon in the series finale. Throughout all 12 seasons of "The Big Bang Theory" and his subsequent role in "Young Sheldon," Parsons had found the character who will now define the rest of his career.

Before Parsons was cast as Sheldon Cooper, though, he had not found quite so much success in some of his early comedy appearances. In 2006, he had a background role in "School for Scoundrels," a remake of the 1960 British...

Georgie Cooper could face some complications in his romantic relationships, thanks to a subtle yet telling detail from The Big Bang Theory Season 12. While the Tbbt spin-off has already introduced Mandy as Georgie’s first wife, there’s still another woman waiting in the wings—his second ex-wife. And Season 2 of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage must introduce Georgie’s other love interest, who was subtly confirmed back in 2019.

The Big Bang Theory Season 12 gave viewers a brief but crucial insight into Georgie’s future. He has two ex-wives. This line cements the fact that Georgie will have at least two wives in his lifetime, or maybe more, with Mandy being the first. While Mandy and Georgie’s love story is unfolding in real time, this throwaway line reveals that there’s still another chapter to tell, and Season 2 could be the perfect opportunity to introduce this second key figure in Georgie’s romantic life.

The Big Bang Theory star Johnny Galecki was surprised and unable to understand Chuck Lorre’s naming methodology for the show, especially the s*xual innuendos related to Two and a Half Men, known for its crude and often controversial humor. Created by Lorre, both shows enjoyed a successful 12-season run on television.

And The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series revealed how Two and a Half Men played a key role in helping Lorre get Tbbt off the ground. Not only did its success give Lorre the leverage to pitch a new sitcom, but its tone even influenced the title of The Big Bang Theory, something Galecki shared he never picked up on.

“I never got that,” he shared in Jessica Radloff’s book. “I just literally never made the connection.” He also shared that he never understood the “double entendre” in the title as well,...

While you wait for Rihanna’s role in the Smurf Movie, here is another animated voice-over role that you need to check out! (Photo Credit – Netflix)

Rihanna is currently making waves, not necessarily for her new album, but for her latest voice-over role in the new Smurfs Movie. In addition to playing the character, Rihanna has also sung a new song for the film. This role also marks the singer’s comeback to entertainment, following a brief hiatus from music. Smurfs Movie has released in India and globally on July 18, 2025. It also stars James Corden, Nick Offerman, Jp Karliak, Daniel Levy, Sandra Oh, among others.

The Diamonds hitmaker was last seen on the Met Gala carpet in May, where she also announced her third pregnancy. Her role as Smurfette comes as a breath of fresh air and a new wave of excitement for he fans who have long been waiting to listen to the singer.

Before Kaley Cuoco was cast as Penny, The Big Bang Theory envisioned its female lead to have the same charm as Julia Roberts’ Vivian in Pretty Woman. The behind-the-scenes turmoil of the original and failed pilot of the sitcom is something that every Tbbt fan would be aware of. Before Kaley Cuoco joined the ensemble lead of the show as Penny, there was Katie, played by Amanda Walsh.

James Burrows, who directed both pilots, said the creative team wanted Katie to have the same energy as Roberts’ character in the 1990 romantic comedy. They wanted to pursue Katie as a character who would win over audiences with her charm and emotional depth. He shared in The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series,

You need[ed someone like] Julia Roberts. Those are really hard things to find in a television show, because you need a hooker with a heart of gold.

The Big Bang Theory’s iconic character Sheldon Cooper almost had a completely different name, which may not have suited his stoic personality. Played by Jim Parsons, Sheldon has become known for his exceptional genius, devoid of understanding social cues, sarcasm, and empathy.

However, I was stunned to learn that it’s not what the show creators initially had in mind. According to The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series, the character was originally named Kenny, in accordance with its original title.

“‘Lenny, Penny, and Kenny’ was the original placeholder title of the show,” co-creator Bill Prady revealed, adding, “Lenny was the Leonard character, and Kenny was the Sheldon character.” Thankfully, the idea was scrapped, eventually causing the creators to take a pivot and give meaningful names to characters, who would go on to become a pop culture phenomenon.

How The Big Bang Theory...

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When you're the star of a major TV show — like, for example, "The Big Bang Theory," Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady's massively popular CBS sitcom that ran for 12 years and the same number of seasons, you probably have to follow some basic rules. An understandable one is that, as an actor, you need to keep yourself physically safe as best as you can, because an injury could be disastrous for the entire production. Apparently, "Big Bang Theory" stars Johnny Galecki and Simon Helberg, who played friends and California Institute of Technology colleagues on the series from start to finish, didn't think about this when they kept renting ill-advised boats whenever the cast went to Comic-Con together.

As Jessica Radloff revealed in her 2022 book "The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series," Galecki and Helberg,...

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I've said it before, and I'll say it again: These days, pop culture as a whole is a snake eating its own tail — or, if we're being fancy, an "ourobouros," an ancient symbol depicting exactly that which represents the circular nature of time. Everything is getting revived. The "Jurassic" franchise is on its, like, ninth sequel. "The Big Bang Theory" is creating its own cinematic universe with spin-offs like "Young Sheldon," "Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage," and the forthcoming series led by Kevin Sussman, "Stuart Fails to Save the Universe." As it happens, Chuck Lorre — the sitcom megaproducer behind the three titles I just listed — talked about this at the Banff World Media Festival in Canada.

"I don't want to be engaged in exploiting IP. That's bulls***. That's just trying to make money or something I've done quite well at," Lorre...

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Ever since "The Big Bang Theory" ended in 2019, we've learned some fairly wild things about each cast member's specific acting process. Simon Helberg, who plays Howard Wolowitz on the series, liked to run around screaming before he started filming, and while playing Sheldon Cooper, Jim Parsons wrote some of his particularly dense scientific speeches down onto index cards and stuck them around the set. So what did Johnny Galecki, the man behind Leonard Hofstadter — best friend to Sheldon and eventual husband of Penny (Kaley Cuoco) — do to prepare? He kept a huge binder of notes, and apparently, he figured out some plot points ahead of time. Speaking to Jessica Radloff in her 2022 book "The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series," Galecki explained his mysterious binder ... and said Cuoco thought the whole thing was hilarious.

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There are some actors who probably sort of hate being identified with one project or show, and if Jim Parsons did feel that way, I think that would be more than fair. Yes, Parsons booked the role of a lifetime with Sheldon Cooper, a theoretical physicist whose disdain for others masks an unexpectedly big heart, on "The Big Bang Theory," Chuck Lorre's CBS sitcom that Parsons led for 12 years and seasons.

In Jessica Radloff's 2022 book "The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series," Parsons was quite clear: he's happy that Sheldon resonated with so many audiences, especially those who saw themselves in the nerdy, stubborn, yet sweet guy. "I am really honored to be the actor who is tasked with playing Sheldon, who has connected in that way," Parsons said of his deeply unique character.

Jim Parsons’ The Big Bang Theory character, Sheldon Cooper, has become known for several of his quirks, one of the most famous being the phrase ‘Bazinga.’ However, just as quickly as the show introduced it, the phrase virtually disappeared within three seasons.

In Jessica Radloff’s The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series, showrunner Steve Holland revealed that Tbbt had a “complicated relationship” with the phrase. He explained that while it became a recognizable part of the show, they were cautious about overusing it as it was starting to feel gimmicky and was often used to mock the show.

So, after season 5, they decided to phase it out. “It felt like it was becoming a catchphrase in a sort of not-great way, so we retired it almost entirely,” Holland revealed. However, despite that, it has become strongly associated with the series and continues to...

"The Big Bang Theory" had some excellent guest stars over the years, and thanks to the main characters' pop culture interests, quite a few of them were major "Star Trek" names. Wil Wheaton's turn as a malignant version of himself is a recurring character worthy of a spin-off, while folks like George Takei and William Shatner also have fun "The Big Bang Theory" cameos in their résumés. However, there's one "Star Trek" titan who's largely absent: Leonard Nimoy. This is explained in-universe by Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) being such a Spock mega-fan that he has a restraining order from the actor.

Entertainingly, Nimoy's absence is almost a character in its own right. Sheldon's ultimate idol was referenced on the show several times, and Nimoy ended up making a fitting cameo in "The Big Bang Theory" season 5, episode 20 ("The Transporter Malfunction") ... by voicing Sheldon's Spock action figure. In a 2012 interview with Collider,...

Hidden Figures is high on Prime Video's most-viewed movies this week, rekindling interest in inspirational dramas about the Space Race. The film was released to overwhelming acclaim for its timeless message of courage, hope, and perseverance in the face of adversity.

Hidden Figures ranked fourth on Prime Video's streaming chart as of Jul. 11 (per FlixPatrol), eight years after its breakout run at the box office. Based on the namesake non-fiction novel, the film highlighted the contributions of three female African-American mathematicians to NASA and the Space Race. Hidden Figures boasts a stellar cast led by Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monáe, also Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Mahershala Ali, Aldis Hodge, Glen Powell, and Jim Parsons.

Hidden Figures was a critical hit and commercial success, earning $236 million against its $25 million budget. Garnering multiple accolades (including an Oscar Best Picture nomination) after release, the film is certified fresh at Rotten Tomatoes,...

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Sheldon Cooper, the ostensible protagonist of "The Big Bang Theory" played by Jim Parsons, is definitely unique as far as sitcom leads go. Sure, he's surrounded by fellow eccentrics and nerds like Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki), Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg), and Raj Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar) — and he's often challenged by the dynamic presented by the group's women Penny Hofstadter (Kaley Cuoco), Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz (Melissa Rauch), and his eventual wife Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik). Still, a question has loomed for years about Sheldon: is he meant to be on the autism spectrum?

Sheldon is certainly neurodivergent; his brain quite clearly works differently than, say, Penny's or even Leonard's, and he does exhibit stereotypical symptoms of autism, as many have noted throughout the years. In fact, in Jessica Radloff's 2022 book "The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series,...

Johnny Galecki nearly passed on his popular role as Leonard in The Big Bang Theory. The show faced many ups and downs, including a failed pilot, before it hit the screens and became a sensation. One such early obstacle was Leonard’s casting. While Galecki was not the first in line, casting director Nikki Valko was adamant on the actor, saying, “Johnny Galecki is Leonard.”

However, the actor was busy with another project at the time, a Broadway production, The Little Dog Laughed. Galecki had a unique opportunity and did not want to leave it for a ‘nerdy’ role in an impending sitcom.

“Nikki called him like three times saying, ‘Please, please,’ but we kept hearing ‘It’s a pass,'” casting director Ken Miller recalled in The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series. After rejecting the offer five times, Galecki eventually decided to...

The Big Bang Theory is still a fan-favorite show after all these years!

The comedy series – 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.

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 for streaming on HBO Max now!

Click through the slideshow to find out who...

Stuart Bloom is officially getting his own show. After spending years in development, Warner Bros. Discovery has finally given a series order to the Big Bang Theoryspin-off, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, making it the first new show to get the green light under the new HBO Max era. With writing from original series scribes Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady, and Zak Penn, the show will feature the return of Kevin Sussman as the woefully unfortunate comic book store owner on a new adventure with a familiar, yet unexplored, cast of characters. Along with the announcement of the order, we also finally received details about the show's premise and how it relates to the mothership series that started it all.

Compared to the main series and its two prequel spin-offs, Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will be far less grounded. According to the official logline,...

The Big Bang Theory fans already knew that the franchise would be expanding once again with a new spin-off featuring comic book shop owner Stuart Bloom (Kevin Sussman). However, they would never have guessed what the long-awaited follow-up would actually be about, and the plot actually kind of puts the MCU Multiverse Saga to shame.

Warner Bros. Discovery has announced that HBO Max has officially greenlit Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, which takes place after the events of The Big Bang Theory. It has also been revealed that the series will follow the titular character attempting to save the universe after a machine malfunctions, leading him to encounter alternate universe versions of other beloved characters. Yes, you read that correctly. If you don't believe us, check out HBO Max's plot synopsis below:

Comic book store owner Stuart Bloom is tasked with restoring reality after he breaks a device built by Sheldon and Leonard,...

Warner Bros. Discovery streamer HBO Max’s first order of business after officially changing its name is to officially order to series The Big Bang Theory spinoff Stuart Fails To Save The Universe starring the mothership series’ Kevin Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, Brian Posehn and John Ross Bowie.

The Big Bang Theory co-creator and franchise steward Chuck Lorre, who executive produces the latest offshoot with fellow Big Bang co-creator Bill Prady and The Avengers’ Zak Penn, recently revealed that Sftstu “is trying to incorporate some of the world of science fiction, fantasy into a comedy” and will feature extensive CGI.

The pickup announcement expands on that with a detailed description of the premise which evokes superhero movie mythology while opening the door for other original Big Bang cast members to reprise their roles — sort of — in what Prady calls “a complex science fiction story.”

Sftstu is set in the future, after the events in Big Bang.

More than two years after HBO Max announced that Chuck Lorre was developing a new show “derived from” The Big Bang Theory, the streaming service has handed a series order to single-camera comedy Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.

The official pickup, which was announced Wednesday, comes with an incredibly intriguing synopsis that paves the way for Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons and the rest of the original cast to theoretically… one day… possibly return:

More from TVLine<em>Stuart Fails to Save the Universe</em>: Everything We Know About the <em>Big Bang Theory</em> Spinoff<i>Young Sheldon</i> Easter Eggs: Every Nod to...

The franchise may have started with "The Big Bang," but CBS' hit prequel spinoff has managed to cultivate a fandom of its own. One year after its series finale, Young Sheldon remains a hit on streaming.

Per FlixPatrol, Young Sheldon is ranked No. 8 on Starz's Top TV Shows Worldwide list, coming in ahead of The CW's The Flash (No. 10) but under AMC's The Walking Dead: Dead City (No. 6) and Taylor Sheridan's Lioness (No. 7). Created by Chuck Loree and Steven Molaro, Young Sheldon is a spinoff prequel to The Big Bang Theory, focusing on Sheldon Cooper growing up in East Texas in the late '80s and early '90s. Iain Armitage portrays the title character, while Jim Parsons reprises his role from the mothership to narrate the spinoff as adult Sheldon.

Starring alongside Armitage as the rest of the Cooper family are Zoe Perry as Sheldon's mother Mary,...