LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'The Big Bang Theory' marks its 16th anniversary as its pilot premiered on September 24, 2007.
Before the beloved Sheldon-Amy dynamic, the memorable Wil Wheaton rivalry, and Howard Wolowitz's space voyage, there was the pilot episode that made its debut on CBS.
In this initial episode, Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Copper, two nerdy scientists played by Johnny Galecki and Jim Parsons, respectively, discovered that an attractive blonde woman had moved across the hall.
While the concept was straightforward, the impact was profound, leading the show to run for twelve seasons.
The journey of 'The Big Bang Theory'
The popular sitcom 'The Big Bang Theory' aired for 12 seasons and 279 episodes, premiering its first season on September 24, 2007, and concluding on May 16, 2019.
With gradual seasons, the show focused on the lives of a group of scientists, exploring their nerdy friendships, romances, and disputes. It was filmed in front of a live audience, providing an engaging viewing experience for its fans.
Initially, the show had two pilot episodes, with the second leading to a 13-episode order by CBS in 2007. Even though James Burrows directed both pilots, he chose not to continue with the series.
In the unaired pilot, Leonard and Sheldon apparently met a drunk girl named Katie (Amanda Walsh) and let her stay in their apartment as she had nowhere to stay. Moreover, the awkward duo was supposed to have a female friend called Gilda (Iris Bahr), as per IMDb.
Later, Katie went on to inspire the character of Penny, played by Kaley Cuoco, and Gilda went on to become Amy, who was portrayed by Mayim Bialik.
Salaries of 'The Big Bang Theory' cast
The main cast, including Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, and Kaley Cuoco, started with salaries of up to $60,000 per episode for the first three seasons.
Their earnings apparently increased to $200,000 per episode for the fourth season and continued to rise by $50,000 per season, reaching $350,000 per episode by the seventh season.
In 2013, Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch ( Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz) renegotiated their contracts, doubling their earnings from $20,000-$30,000 per episode to $60,000 per episode initially, with gradual increases up to $100,000 per episode, as per Insider.
Challenges of revisiting 'The Big Bang Theory'
The quirky ensemble of characters in 'The Big Bang Theory' resonated with many viewers, and their camaraderie and misadventures quickly captured the hearts of fans globally.
By the time the series concluded in 2019, it had aired 279 episodes and earned numerous accolades, including four Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actor awarded to Jim Parsons.
Now, 16 years after the pilot's debut, the show's creators, Bill Prady and Chuck Lorre, reflect on the show's legacy, their favorite moments, and the possibility of a reunion.
While the busy schedules of the show's alumni pose a challenge to a potential revival, there are several current projects involving former cast members, such as Kaley Cuoco's quirky rom-com 'Meet Cute' and Mayim Bialik's 'Call Me Kat'.
As the fall TV season of 2022 aligned with the 15th anniversary of 'The Big Bang Theory's premiere, Prady shared his perspective on the difficulty of envisioning a revival after such a satisfying finale.
He said, "I know that people do get characters together for reunions and things like that. But it's hard to imagine what you would see after the finale because I found the finale was just one of the most beautiful and satisfying episodes. The closure it brought was astonishing. It's hard to imagine reopening the story," as per Cinemablend.
Will 'The Big Bang Theory' ever get a reunion?
Given the episodic nature of sitcoms like 'The Big Bang Theory', where character traits are more serialized than storylines, bringing everyone back for a new season with familiar material might be somewhat strange.
However, the show's dedicated fanbase and studio executives may still be open to the idea, even though it would be challenging to woo stars like Jim Parsons and Johnny Galecki, given their current commitments.
Chuck Lorre echoed a similar sentiment, saying, "I don't think we left anything undone. That was as close to a perfect finale as we could have ever dreamt of doing. I loved it."
Bill Prady did express his desire to reunite the cast, but the likelihood of a scripted reunion seems uncertain. Nonetheless, with the success of 'Friends: The Reunion', a similar approach to 'The Big Bang Theory' might eventually become inevitable.
'The Big Bang Theory' is currently available for streaming on HBO Max, and it's possible that reunion or revival offers may surface in the future.
