# Big Bang Theory -- Conclusion Airs Tonight, May 16, 2019! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 16, 2019, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053 "2019-05-16T13:53:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/101 "2019-05-20T14:08:02Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Overall, outside of TBBT, it looks like Galecki has the larger, more prominent resume, but Cuoco was more popular at the time TBBT started, as she was coming off the end of “8 Simple Rules” shortly beforehand. And a season of _Charmed_. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/102 "2019-05-20T14:10:55Z")
> [@bump](#): > > …but Cuoco was more popular at the time TBBT started, as she was coming off the end of “8 Simple Rules” shortly beforehand. Between 8SR and TBBT, she was a regular on the final season of _Charmed_. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/103 "2019-05-20T19:40:53Z")
So, what show will be taking TBBT’s place in CBS’s schedule? ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/104 "2019-05-20T19:42:16Z")
Young Sheldon is taking the 8pm Thursdays slot. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 20, 2019, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/105 "2019-05-20T20:57:04Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > Limiting myself to the Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine (because that’s what I’m most familiar with): > > [ul] > [li]Paul Hermann Müller, chemist (1948) - DDT[/li][li]Maurice Hugh Frederick Wilkins, physicist (1962) - structure of DNA[/li][li]Max Delbrück, physicist (1969) - replication and genetic structure of viruses[/li][li]Rosalyn Yalow, physicist (1977) - radioimmunoassay[/li][li]Allan MacLeod Cormack, physicist, and Allan MacLeod Cormack, electrical engineer (1979) - CAT scan[/li][li]Paul Lauterbur, chemist, and Peter Mansfield, physicist (2003) - MRI[/li][/ul] Marie Curie won Nobel prizes for Physics (for radioactivity) and Chemistry (for discovering radium and polonium.) The second Nobel was especially impressive, given that earlier in the year it was discovered she’d had an affair with a married (although separated) man. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/106 "2019-05-21T02:21:12Z")
Annie-Xmas writes: \> I heard that the producers were auditioning people for the main characters of Lenny & \> Penny, and both Galecki and Parson came in to audition for the role. But Parsons \> insisted he’d be a better Sheldon. When he did his Sheldon audition, the producers \> made him come back the next day and do it again because they thought it was a \> fluke. “Nobody could be that good twice.” He did, got hired, and the rest is TV history. That contradicts everything I’ve read. I’ve read that Galecki was well known to the show’s creators. They offered him the part of Sheldon. He read the script and told them that he would prefer the role of Leonard, so they gave him that part. They then auditioned people for the role of Sheldon. Parsons was very impressive in his audition, so they asked him to come back the next day. They were still impressed with him on that day, so they gave him the part of Sheldon. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/107 "2019-05-21T03:02:24Z")
Drat. Double posted! ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/108 "2019-05-21T03:04:47Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > BTW, Amy’s PhD is in neurobiology but she won the Nobel Prize for Physics. Did anyone in real life win one of the science Nobel Prizes for a field other than the one in which they’re educated? There was also that [del]charlatan[/del] TCM doctor who won for medicine, [Tu Youyou](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tu_Youyou). ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/109 "2019-05-21T12:03:49Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > The seven parts of the original pilot are called these names on YouTube: > > The Big Bang Theory Unaired Pilot Scene 1 > > The Big Bang Theory Unaired Pilot Scene 2 > > The Big Bang Theory Unaired Pilot Scene 3 > > The Big Bang Theory Unaired Pilot Scene 4 > > The Big Bang Theory Unaired Pilot Scene 5 > > The Big Bang Theory Unaired Pilot Scene 6 > > The Big Bang Theory Unaired Pilot Scene 7 Well, that…how should I put this…sucked out loud. > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Googling, the original female lead was played by Amanda Walsh (who played “Katie” instead of Penny). I wonder if she contemplates where she could be today if the role hadn’t been recast. I think the final casting decision turned out to be the right one. Maybe it was just the Katie character, but nah, Penny was a much better character. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/110 "2019-05-21T12:40:03Z")
There are a fair number of cases where a TV series changed from the way it was originally supposed to be to something quite different: > **[11 TV Pilots That Are Drastically Different Than The Show You Know](https://screenrant.com/major-changes-tv-series-pilots/)** > > Not every show gets it right in the first episode, but the pilots of these shows were far from the series most people remember. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/111 "2019-05-21T12:51:50Z")
Note that Simon Hedberg and Kunal Nayyar were _not_ cast anywhere around the same time as Galecki and Parsons. Originally there was one _female_ scientist friend: Gilda played by Iris Bahr. The only characters that appear in the first pilot that appear later are Leonard, Sheldon and Althea (Vernee Watson), the generic nurse. It was a major sin not to have her in the finale. Perhaps as the nurse who confirms Penny’s pregnancy. Speaking of which, this definitely means that things will be changing significantly for at least two people within the show. So it’s not exactly a “life goes on as usual” ending. Pretty good finale. Loved the appearance by Halley. First and only credit for the kid. Would be a nice starting point if she becomes a regular actor. Ditto the kid who plays the boy, but he doesn’t have a line. For the final shot it would have been a nice touch if Sheldon wasn’t sitting in his spot. The worst, as noted, was the stupidity of all trying to cram into one run of the elevator. This was\* not this kind of show. But at least the were consistent with which side of the elevator the interior buttons was on, cf. _The Staircase Implementation_. Notes on Nobels: Linus Pauling won in Chemistry and Peace. And I don’t think he has a degree in “Peace”. Also, the Peace Prize is handed out in Oslo, not Stockholm like the others. - Past tense, oh well. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/112 "2019-05-21T13:25:07Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > The worst, as noted, was the stupidity of all trying to cram into one run of the elevator. When you go without something for a long time, you tend to binge, like a drunk falling off the wagon. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/113 "2019-05-21T15:47:46Z")
> [@Wendell\_Wagner](#): > > panache45, have you seen the original pilot? It wasn’t shown on TV. You can see it in parts on YouTube. Just watched it. Jesus, that was brutal. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/114 "2019-05-21T20:32:47Z")
Haven’t watched regularly in a few years. Watched the finale. It was cute and tied things up nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/115 "2019-05-21T21:57:40Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > Only six main characters? Who are you excluding as a main character? I bet it’s Raj. Poor Raj always gets excluded from things. Yes, it was Raj I skipped. I’ve been feeling bad about it for days. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/116 "2019-05-21T22:30:02Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Notes on Nobels: Linus Pauling won in Chemistry and Peace. And I don’t think he has a degree in “Peace”. Also, the Peace Prize is handed out in Oslo, not Stockholm like the others. The question was limited to _science_ Nobels. Random thoughts. I was astounded at how good the finale was. It focused perfectly on the characters and their growth over the years. Amy’s transformation was a spectacularly good idea. Everybody in the audience knew that the elevator would get fixed, but they made it a plot point goosing Sheldon’s horror of change. How perfect is that? They should strap D&D from Game of Thrones into chairs, tape their eyes open, and make them watch this finale over and over until it finally sinks in. Kaley Cuoco has had a regular part of a sitcom every year since 2000. What do you think she’s doing next? I wouldn’t bet on any of the others continuing their runs. Chuck Lorre has created two separate shows so popular that the regulars wound up with million-dollar-an-episode paychecks. Has anyone else in television ever achieved that? ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2019, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/117 "2019-05-21T23:05:19Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > They should strap D&D from Game of Thrones into chairs, tape their eyes open, and make them watch this finale over and over until it finally sinks in. Do we _really_ need to pile on the GoT hate-fest here in a thread that has nothing to do with it? Sorry if I’m being pissy, but it’s become extremely tiresome here on the SDMB as well as everywhere else on the internet. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/118 "2019-05-22T01:51:30Z")
The two shows’ endings took place three days apart. I watched them two days apart. That’s a good enough association for me. Besides, you know what \*wouldn’t \*have been tiresome? A good ending for GoT. If that had had as good an ending and I compared the two favorably, I bet you wouldn’t mind a bit. But they weren’t and I didn’t. Such is life. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/119 "2019-05-22T02:00:48Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > The two shows’ endings took place three days apart. I watched them two days apart. That’s a good enough association for me. > > Besides, you know what \*wouldn’t \*have been tiresome? A good ending for GoT. If that had had as good an ending and I compared the two favorably, I bet you wouldn’t mind a bit. But they weren’t and I didn’t. Such is life. So you didn’t like the GoT finale. Big deal. Go talk about that in the thread about it. You don’t see anybody in the GoT thread gloating about how great TBBT finale was. Sheesh! ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2019, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/120 "2019-05-22T03:19:32Z")
I put in a number of comments about TBBT in my post. Feel free to talk about them. We could even have a conversation. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053.md?page=7)