When The Big Bang Theory debuted in 2007, not much was expected of it. No one could imagine it would become the highest-rated sitcom on television and run for 12 seasons. It rose above the simple "hot gal with some nerds" concept to be a major success and launch several careers. It finally ended its run in 2020 with the spin-off, Young Sheldon, going strong as well.
As one can imagine, there are a lot of things about the making of the show that may be surprising. From details of the characters to what the actors really do on set, it's incredible how well the show worked. Here are 15 behind-the-scenes facts about The Big Bang Theory which makes rewatching the show even more fun today.
15 Sheldon's Shirts Are Always Color-Coded For Mood
One of the more notable bits on the show is Sheldon's love of unique t-shirts. What few realize is that they're always color-coded for his mood.
He'll wear blue if he's in a good mood, yellow if afraid of something and a Green Lantern one when he's on a mission. It's why you usually see him in a Flash t-shirt as Sheldon is often red with anger over something.
14 Kaley Cuoco's Dad Was At Every Taping
While she'd had some TV roles before, TBBT boosted Kaley Cuoco to stardom. She's credited her parents with helping her out in her career.
That's not the only support, as Cuoco's father, Gary, attended every taping of the show's 279 episodes. Now that's a candidate for Father of the Year.
13 A Lot Of Thought Went Into Every Detail, Like The Accurate Brochures At Raj's Conference
One thing that always impresses about the show, is its eye for details. When the gang attends a conference with Raj, they have fully printed brochures packed with details on Raj's life and career.
The photos on Penny's fridge are all Kaley Cuoco and friends. Any props in the comic book shop are exactly what would be in a real one, as the series adores these details.
12 Mayim Bialik Had The Flu While Filming Her Big Kiss With Sheldon
The "will they or won't they" banter between Sheldon and Amy was a major part of the show. Finally, they gave fans what they wanted and kissed
As it turns out, Mayim Bialik had the flu when shooting that scene, but they couldn't reschedule. So when rewatching this romantic moment, remember Balik was sick as a dog during it.
11 They're Never Really Eating While Filming
A fun game for fans is noting how few times you actually see any characters eat on-set. From the Cheesecake Factory to take out in their home, these folks really know how to push their food around.
It's obviously hard to say lines when you have food in your mouth, but still, they always featured meals in every episode! The actors claim they do eat between takes and give away leftovers but are pretty bad at fake-eating.
10 Their Science Advisor Is A True Genius
When your show revolves around science, it'll look bad if your characters don't know what they're talking about. Thus, the series has David Saltzberg, a UCLA physics professor on hand for input.
He makes sure to explain these complex theories, so the cast can pretend they know it. Saltzberg is why real-life scientists praise the show's accuracy.
9 Kate Micucci Was Nearly Amy
It's hard to imagine anyone but Mayim Bialik as Amy Fowler. But initially,Kate Micucci auditioned for the role and came close to getting it.
They went with Bialik thanks to her talent and real-life smarts. Micucci did get the role of Lucy, but it's funny how close she came to being a bigger star.
8 Leonard Wears Lensless Glasses
Leonard's eyeglasses are part of his character and establish his "nerd" credentials. In real life, Johnny Galecki has 20/20 vision, so wearing authentic glasses would ruin that. They'd also reflect the lights and cameras too much.
Thus, whenever Leonard is on camera, look close, and you can see the "glasses" are just plastic frames with no lenses.
7 Jim Parsons Stole 'Bazinga' From A Writer
Even folks who have never watched TBBT know the phrase "Bazinga!" pops up as a go-to catchphrase for Sheldon. Young Sheldon reveals it was inspired by a novelty company.
In reality, it came from writer Stephen Engel pulling pranks on fellow writers. Jim Parsons borrowed it for a taping and turned it into a crucial part of the show.
6 Only Two People Know The Truth Behind Howard's Alien Pins And They're Not Telling
One of the smaller gags on the show is that every time Howard shows up, he has a different alien pin on his outfits. Fans speculate on the reasons from a love of sci-fi to thinking a UFO abducted his dad.
It turns out the whole thing is a joke between Simon Helberg and costume designer Mary T. Quigley...and neither is saying what the true meaning is.
