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The Big Bang Theory Series Finale Details: The Producers Explain the Biggest Moments


Michael Yarish

That’s funny. I said this at Paleyfest last year, but my theory was that in the finale Penny was going to wake up from a nightmare where in reality she’s the expert scientist and the guys were just dudes she knows.

Prady: Well, pragmatically Penny was always the smartest one. Look, one of the driving ideas in The Big Bang Theory is intelligence is not an asset in so many aspects of life.

So true. Let’s talk about the elevator working again. That payoff was amazing. How long did it take to come up with the reveal?

Holland: It’s interesting, because when we were breaking out the finale that moment was going to come much, much later in the episode. Then as we were breaking out the episode, it just felt right. It felt like Sheldon was dealing with so much change and was at his breaking point. It seemed like the one thing that could push him over the edge. Also, it coming so early in the finale felt like it would be a much bigger surprise because no one would be expecting it to happen that early.

Penny gets into the elevator
Michael Yarish/Warner Bros. Entertainment

Penny is the first to ride in the elevator, so with her in mind, had you guys discussed revealing her maiden name? Or having her return to her acting roots?

Molaro: Never discussed it. It still falls under the category of superstition for us. Even though we finished the series, we’re still somehow afraid revealing that will get us canceled. [Laughs]

Prady: It’s also one of those odd things where characters got last names when they needed them. Chuck likes names because of how they sound, while I’m a hunting-for-deep-meaning kind of guy. For example, in the original version of the pilot, Leonard and Sheldon found her on the street. In my mind, she was a lucky penny. And then Leonard and Sheldon’s names came from [producer/writer/actor] Sheldon Leonard.

Here’s another funny story: Stuart didn’t have a last name, but there were [audition] sides that went out and he was given a temporary last name of Bloom just for them. Fans got ahold of those sides because they go out on websites for actors to download, and so his last name appeared in an online database. I remember looking at it in the writers’ room, and we were like, “That’s his last name?!” We were all baffled by it. So we said, “OK, well, that’s it” and put it in. But the Penny thing definitely became a superstition.

Bernadette Howard Penny and Leonard dressed up
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Shamy fans were hoping that Amy would be pregnant in the finale, or they’d see them with kids in a flash forward. What was the reason not to show that, since we know they do become parents one day?

Prady: I think the feeling was because that’s a reveal on Young Sheldon, it had no weight as a Big Bang finale reveal. It winds up being an “Oh, by the way…” kind of thing.

The Nobel speech that Sheldon and Amy gave in Stockholm was perfection. How hard was that to get right?

Holland: That’s the piece of the finale we’ve probably known for the longest. Since we found out this was the last season we talked about where we wanted to land, and the Nobel prize ceremony was a thing we knew early on. That moment in that speech was a thing we knew we wanted to do, so that’s probably the piece we’ve been thinking about longer than any other part of the finale.

Molaro: We were all crying our eyes out in the writers’ room while we were writing it. Everybody. The speech was moving to begin with, but because we were getting close to typing the words “End of Series” on the screen it was a tough day.



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The Big Bang Theory Season 12, Episode 22 Recap: Leonard and Beverly Just Broke My Heart


Michael Yarish/CBS

Across town, Raj is preparing to board his flight to London while Howard and Bernadette sit at home questioning his decision. They reckon that Raj—a hopeless romantic—is off to try and be with a woman who doesn’t believe in romantic comedies. “You can’t really think this is a good idea,” Bernadette tells her husband. “Of course I don’t,” Howard says. When he questions what else there is left to do, Bernadette urges him to run after Raj and get his best friend back. Maybe it’s Bernadette’s voice, but Howard is out of there faster than Usain Bolt.

Back at the Hofstadter’s house, Penny tells Beverly to apologize to Leonard, but she refuses in the most monotone, emotionless voice. I don’t know why I never realized this before, but Beverly is so Miranda Priestly.

Meanwhile, Leonard wants to know why he so desperately wants his mother’s approval. “You’d think I would have learned,” Leonard says. “It’s too bad you didn’t,” Sheldon says. Yes, it really is a shame Beverly isn’t Sheldon’s mother.

Over at the comic book store, Denise tells Stuart that if he would have moved in with her when she asked, they wouldn’t be in this weird situation with her roommate. Stuart says she’s right, but when he had the chance he was scared. Now he says he wants to move in with her. The two engage in witty banter about comic books that I don’t understand, further proving that everyone’s person is out there.

Denise and Stuart look lovingly at each other
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A good 45 minutes away, Howard rushes to the airport to stop Raj. “If you’re getting on the plane because you love Anu and can’t imagine spending another day without her, then go. If not, then stay here, with the people who love you.”

Raj is perplexed. “But what if this is my last chance at marriage and family?” (Well, if that’s the case, then me and a bunch of other 30-something singles are all screwed.)

Howard promises it’s not his last chance. Somewhere out there, there’s a woman who loves cooking shows and sweater vests and all the other dumb things he loves. “And I don’t think she’s waiting for you in England,” he says. “When you propose to someone in Notting Hill, it should be to someone who knows what that movie is.” Howard usually annoys me, but I’m here for his TED talk.

Raj’s response is brilliant. “Are you saying you’re just a boy standing in front of another boy saying you don’t want him to leave?”

“Sure,” Howard says, reluctantly. Then the two best friends hug. The airport lounge bursts into applause. And with that, Raj is returning home. But is this really the end of Anu? Or will she decide she can’t live without Raj?

While all of this is going down, Leonard storms into his apartment, prepared to have it out with Beverly. She asks if he’s calmed down. “No, I’m not calm! You really hurt me,” he says. Beverly says it wasn’t what she intended, and Leonard says it doesn’t matter. “What matters is the way you made me feel. Actually, the way you’ve always made me feel.” (Yes, Leonard!)

Beverly—giving us her best Miranda Priestly impression—says, “I see. You’re here to tell me all the ways I’ve failed you as a mother.” Leonard says yep, and it’s a long list. But then he adds it doesn’t matter because she’s never going to change. “If I want you to accept me for me, then I guess I’m going to have to accept you for you,” he says. “So…I forgive you.”

Beverly says she didn’t ask for forgiveness, but Leonard says too bad. It’s so heartbreaking and honest and once again a reminder that Johnny Galecki has never gotten the critical acclaim he deserves on this show. Leonard, with his voice cracking, says he forgives himself for taking so long to make peace with the fact that his mother will never change.



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The Big Bang Theory Season 12, Episode 20 Recap: Leonard's New Future Surprises Penny


Sheldon and Amy have taken center stage on The Big Bang Theory the last few weeks, but with less than five episodes left it was time to press pause on Nobel Watch 2019 to focus on the other main characters, specifically Leonard and Penny.

In “The Decision Reverberation,” Leonard admits to Penny that he’s not happy at work and wants a change. Before we get to that, though, we finally see Anu again (for one scene at least) and all seems well with her and Raj. They’re flirty and cute, and I’m bummed we haven’t gotten more scenes with them. Howard and Bernadette are basically supporting players to Raj this week, who is worried that people won’t take him or his work seriously. He hypothesized that there are many unknowns in the universe, which could mean aliens exist, causing everyone to have an opinion. Sure.

Michael Yarish/CBS

But let’s get back to the episode’s big story: Penny, Leonard, and their future.

Sheldon diagnoses Leonard as a “textbook satisficer,” someone who always put others’ interests above their own. Penny tells Leonard he shouldn’t do things to please others if it constantly makes him feel bad. She wonders when he last did something totally selfish without worrying what anyone else wanted. “Probably when I was born,” Leonard says.

As you might have guessed, the rest of the episode centers around Leonard trying to break free from his people-pleasing ways and take control of his life. Thanks to Penny’s suggestion to be more assertive with his wants and needs, Leonard tells her he wants to have sex and then watch Star Trek: Discovery. That’s followed by the groundbreaking decision to order barbecue on what is typically Chinese food night. And then, a new route on the drive to work the next day.

Best of all is Leonard’s decision to sit in Sheldon’s spot on the couch. “It’s my house, and I’m tried of being told where I can and can’t sit,” he says. When Sheldon storms off in a huff, Leonard tells Penny that standing his ground over Sheldon’s spot was better than sex. “Don’t take this the wrong way,” Penny says, “but yes it was.” New Leonard has arrived, and I’m so here for it.

Amy Sheldon and Leonard chat on couch
Michael Yarish/Warner Bros. Entertainment

The next day Leonard tells Sheldon that all these years he’s been afraid to say what he wanted for fear of ruffling feathers or stepping on toes. Now that he’s feeling more confident, he’s ready to make a change at work as well: He wants to be the principal investigator on a plasma physics study. And if work won’t let him? “Well, there are plenty of other universities that will,” Leonard tells Sheldon.

Except Sheldon doesn’t think it’s a good idea. Leonard thinks that’s because Sheldon doesn’t want to see him be successful, but Sheldon later tells Amy he’s confused if he feels that way because of a noble reason or a selfish reason. “Leonard’s about to demand a job that I don’t think the university will give him,” he explains to Amy. “I’m worried he’s making a giant mistake. Maybe deep down I don’t want him to succeed.”

Amy says the fact that he’s worried about his motivation supports the idea that he genuinely cares about Leonard. “I do,” Sheldon says. “Thank you, Amy.”

Sheldon sits on the stairs looking sad
Michael Yarish/CBS

Later, Leonard tells Penny he spent the entire day putting together his proposal so he can tell President Siebert this is what he wants to do. Sheldon comes by and tells him he’s been agonizing about saying something. “I don’t think you should demand to be in charge of a plasma project,” he says. Leonard reiterates it’s because Sheldon doesn’t want him to succeed, but Sheldon says that’s not it. Penny interrupts and says Sheldon shouldn’t worry about what happens because worst comes to worst, the university will just say no.



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The Big Bang Theory Season 12, Episode 19 Recap: Amy Is Feeling the Pressure of the Nobel


Nobel Watch 2019 continued on The Big Bang Theory this week as Amy and Sheldon were forced to do damage control following their outburst (well, Amy’s) in front of laureates, peers, and imposters (Pemberton and Campbell, for those keeping track). It’s no Game of Thrones cliffhanger, but it’ll do, especially since we’re down to the last five episodes. Shamy has to win the Nobel eventually, right?

If it’s going to happen, President Siebert and Ms. Davis (Oscar winner Regina King, praise be) tell Sheldon and Amy that they’re going to have to run a near flawless campaign the rest of the way. That means keeping their mouth shut and not throwing accusations at anyone. “The science world is a small community. People talk,” Siebert says. The only thing to do is lay low and cancel all further speaking engagements.

But then, as if Sheldon and Amy don’t already know this (I mean, why do you think Amy had her outburst?), Ms. Davis says that “winning the Nobel is very important to us, and not just the university. Dr. Fowler, you would only be the fourth woman to win a Nobel prize in physics.” I have trouble believing that Amy isn’t aware of this, but apparently it’s news to her. Ms. Davis piles on the pressure by also pointing out that a win for Amy would be inspirational to an entire generation of young women. Hey, Ms. Davis and President Siebert, here’s a news flash: Why don’t you tell that to the fellow Nobel winners voting for them? Amy already knows she has to be on her best behavior, so what’s this added pressure going to do?

Well, for the sake of the next 18 minutes of the episode, it drives the story forward. Amy is so overwhelmed by potentially being only the fourth woman to win a Nobel in physics that she goes through an entire stick of antiperspirant in an hour. Leonard—clearly worried about the amount of sweat that Amy is producing—suggests that she and Sheldon (who’s also panicking) self-soothe in a sensory deprivation tank.

Michael Yarish/Warner Bros. Entertainment

Shamy decides that self-care can’t be that bad and end up soaking in a tank that looks more like the egg-shaped vessel that Lady Gaga rode in on at the 2011 Grammys than anything else. I’m claustrophobic just looking at it.

Anyway, while Amy’s inside the vessel she sees an image of Ms. Davis talking to her and reiterating the dismal stats of female Nobel winners. That’s followed by images of young women blaming Amy for ruining their chances to win a Nobel. “I was going to be a scientist, but since you lost, I’m just going to have to give makeup tutorials on YouTube!” says one young woman. “Thanks for letting us down,” says another. “You’re such a disappointment!” adds someone else. Maybe this should be the punishment for all the parents involved in Operation Varsity Blues, but what on earth did Amy do to deserve this?

When the hour is up, Sheldon is calm as can be while Amy panics and calls herself a failure.

That afternoon, Amy’s more anxious than ever. She tells Sheldon it was bad enough when she was letting the two of them down; now if she doesn’t win the Nobel she’ll be letting all women down. Sheldon doesn’t know what to do except to Google “what to do when someone’s freaking out.” It says a walk can be calming, so Sheldon does that. It’s rude, but funny.

When he gets back, Amy is still upset so Sheldon asks Leonard and Penny for some advice. Leonard says the only thing he can do is just be there for Amy, but Sheldon doesn’t seem to know what that means. Penny points out that Amy’s always taking care of him, so perhaps that’s why it’s so hard with the roles being reversed. I don’t agree. Even though Sheldon will always think about Sheldon, he’s grown a lot in this area over the last few years. He knows what to do. The whole thing is kind of been there, done that.



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‘The Big Bang Theory’ Season 12, Episode 17 Recap: Are Sheldon and Amy Ready to Have Kids?


The Big Bang Theory has only seven episodes to go before the show wraps up its 12-year run. While there are a few things I don’t expect to be resolved—Penny’s maiden name, or the elevator being fixed—there are some storylines that have a good chance of happening before we say goodbye: Namely, Amy and Sheldon becoming parents. No, Shamy fans, nothing has been confirmed…yet. But it’s been established on Young Sheldon that they have kids eventually. (In the season-one finale, adult Sheldon says, via narration, that he often drew up relationship contracts for his roommates, his wife, and “even with my own children.”)

And on tonight’s episode of Big Bang—titled “The Conference Valuation”—we see the first big step toward that actually happening. Howard is in charge of the kids, Michael and Halley, while Bernadette is out of town, so Amy uses the opportunity to get Sheldon more comfortable around children. She shows him a book on experiments to do with kids (no way to write that without it sounding weird, right?), which leads to a weekend of fun Sheldon didn’t know was possible before.

The episode seemed like it was setting up a reveal at the end—I thought once Sheldon came around to enjoying the little “scampers,” Amy would announce she’s pregnant. For example, take this exchange while Amy and Sheldon are in bed:

Sheldon: Spending time with Michael and Halley today made me think about our future children….

Amy: [Playing dumb.] What an unforeseen development. What are you thinking?

Sheldon: Well, either five sets of triplets or three sets of quintuplets. [Pauses.] You know what, it doesn’t matter, as long as they’re healthy. And divisible by three.

Amy: That’s a lot of babies, Sheldon.

Sheldon: Well, only for humans. For frogs it’s just a drop in the bucket.

Amy: Sorry I’m not a frog.

Sheldon: Aww, don’t feel bad, Amy, you’re good enough for me.

Instead of an announcement, though, the episode faded to black and the credits rolled. What gives? “An announcement did not happen,” executive producer and showrunner Steve Holland tells Glamour with a laugh. “But we know they do eventually have kids. I can’t answer this exactly, but I will say that having that revealed on Young Sheldon was a big moment for our series. I think it’s part of our journey to end Sheldon in a spot where that future is possible.”

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Holland wasn’t able to say anything more than that, though he was a bit more open about his plans for Penny—especially after she turned down what appeared to be a major offer from a rival pharmaceutical company. “I don’t want to tease too much, other than to say this show has always been a positive show about people who love each other,” Holland says. “We want to honor that in the finale. We don’t want to give fans every happy moment they want, but we love these characters and want the best for them.”

For the time being, Holland says he loves to find any reason to group Kaley Cuoco, Mayim Bialik, or Melissa Rauch in a scene together. “Whether it was the Dungeons and Dragons episode, or tonight with Melissa and Kaley at the conference, it’s great. They are so funny together; anytime we can pair them in a scene, we do.” Those scenes were also fulfilling for another reason, as it shows Penny thriving in a career she didn’t envision for herself. “For her to find this job that she’s actually good at and enjoys is important for us,” Holland says. “I like watching her grow in a career that she’s starting to like.”



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'The Big Bang Theory' Season 12, Episode 15 Recap: Leonard Makes a Decision About Fatherhood


The Big Bang Theory finally concluded the most random storyline in the show’s 12 years. Spoiler alert: Leonard is not going to donate his sperm to Penny’s ex-boyfriend.

Hear that cheering? That’s me, thrilled that this arc has come and gone. But at the beginning of tonight’s episode—”The Donation Oscillation”—things certainly didn’t look good. Marissa and Zack begin by telling Leonard he shouldn’t have sex in the days leading up to his sperm donation. Oh, and they’re hoping for a boy so they want him to keep that in mind when he’s, you know, doing his thing. Somehow, Leonard remains committed to making Zack and Marissa parents.

Michael Yarish/Warner Bros. Entertainment

But then, for reasons I don’t quite understand, Sheldon wants Zack to choose him for the sperm donation instead of Leonard. Maybe that awful virus that infected Leonard in the last episode has now crept into Sheldon’s brain? I don’t know how else you explain this, because it came out of nowhere.

Around this time, Penny’s dad, Wyatt, comes to visit. Penny asks Leonard not to tell her father that she doesn’t want a baby, or that he’ll be donating sperm to Zack. Of course, per sitcom rules, both topics come up within a minute of Wyatt’s arrival. Wyatt makes a snide remark that Penny can drink all the beer she wants, because she’s not pregnant. It’s an awful comment, and Penny isn’t pleased. But Wyatt’s got more pressing matters to deal with: Leonard’s sperm donation.

Wyatt wants to know if Penny is really OK with Leonard donating his sperm; she says yes, she supports her husband. But then adds that if Wyatt is not OK with this, he should voice his opinion. Meanwhile, Leonard tries to explain why he’s doing it, but bottom line: I’m still not on board.

Penny then hopes that if she seduces Leonard in bed, it’ll change his mind (and break Marissa and Zack’s rule). When that plan doesn’t work, she disrobes to reveal a superhero meets cheerleader bikini/lingerie combo and starts whispering Batman phrases into his ear. Leonard does the unthinkable: He leaves to spend the rest of the night curled up on Sheldon and Amy’s couch. Wow. Never get in the way of a man and a sperm donation to his wife’s ex-boyfriend, I guess?

Amy and Leonard talk on the couch
Michael Yarish/Warner Bros. Entertainment

The next morning, Leonard has a heart-to-heart with Amy and Sheldon. Amy says maybe Penny isn’t on board with this idea as much as he thinks she is. Leonard—as clueless as ever—says, “But Penny says she is…although she also said I look dope.” He adds that if Penny has a problem with it, she should say something. “She tried to seduce you! If that’s not a cry for help, then I don’t know what is!”

Leonard says he respects Penny for not wanting to have kids, but donating his sperm to Zack and Marissa is a chance to leave a part of him behind. Amy reminds him that donating his sperm isn’t going to make him a dad. “It’s going to be their baby, not yours.” Suddenly it dawns on me: What if this whole storyline was just paving the way for a Big Bang Theory spin-off where Zack and Marissa’s kid is old enough to live on his/her own and moves into Leonard and Sheldon’s old apartment? And Leonard is the landlord? (My God, look at what this show has done to me.)

Anyway, back to “reality.” Penny comes home, and Wyatt asks if she’s avoiding him. He thinks Penny’s mad at herself for not wanting a baby, which is why Leonard’s about to go through with his sperm donation. Penny isn’t amused and says it’s really crappy to make her feel bad about not wanting kids. Wyatt insists he’s not trying to make her feel bad, but he still wants to know if she’s upset about everything. “Yes,” Penny says. “I feel like I’m letting everybody down. I hate disappointing Leonard, but I really hate disappointing you.”



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