# EVIL WILL WHEATON ALERT--The Big Bang Theory 11/11--"The 21-Second Excitation" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 11, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303 "2010-11-11T14:28:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/81 "2010-11-22T16:32:18Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > [The story of Kaley’s broken leg](http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/10/13/kaley-cuoco-leg-breaking-story/) - I knew she broke it, I didn’t know she BROKE it! They were talking amputation! :eek: I thought [this vanity card](http://www.chucklorre.com/index-bbt.php?p=309) from Chuck Lorre was pretty funny. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/82 "2010-11-22T16:33:57Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Galecki’s biggest claim to fame before Big Bang Theory was a minor character on Roseanne, so I’d say he definitely qualifies as a member of the cast nobody saw coming, as are the rest of the geeks. Excuse me? Galecki’s character David Healy was on Roseanne for five years, first as Darlene’s nerdy boyfriend, and later he moved into their basement. He was nominated for four and the winner of one Young Artist Award. Minor character my arse! I started watching Big Bang from the beginning solely because Galecki was in it. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/83 "2010-11-22T16:37:58Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Galecki’s biggest claim to fame before Big Bang Theory was a minor character on Roseanne, so I’d say he definitely qualifies as a member of the cast nobody saw coming, as are the rest of the geeks. I wouldn’t call him a minor character. He first showed up in season 4 and appeared in every episode of season 5 - season 9. For a while, he was a more important character than any of the Connor kids. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/84 "2010-11-22T16:41:47Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I started watching Big Bang from the beginning solely because Galecki was in it. He is the sole reason I gave Big Bang a shot in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/85 "2010-11-22T16:46:30Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Galecki’s character David Healy was on Roseanne for five years, first as Darlene’s nerdy boyfriend, and later he moved into their basement. And don’t forget that he wound up marrying Darlene and they had a baby together (though possibly not in that order). Galecki really showed his acting chops in the birth episode, when the baby was sick and they weren’t sure if it would survive. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/86 "2010-11-22T16:47:58Z")
He was absolutely a minor character on Roseanne. The major characters were Roseanne, Jackie and Dan. Plenty of minor characters appear in every episode of a series for years. Let me put it another way: I bet only John Ritter made more money than Cuoco on 8 Simple Rules. How do you think Galecki’s paychecks ranked on Roseanne? EDIT: In fairness I think I only watched four or five seasons of Roseanne, so if Galecki took over the show and became a headliner, I’ll stand corrected. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/87 "2010-11-22T17:01:38Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Let me put it another way: I bet only John Ritter made more money than Cuoco on 8 Simple Rules. How do you think Galecki’s paychecks ranked on Roseanne? You think the ditzy teenage daughter (who at the time had barely any acting credits) was higher paid than Katey Sagal, James Garner and David Spade on 8 Simple Rules? ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/88 "2010-11-22T17:07:07Z")
Yes, absolutely I think the title character who had become the established star got more than the replacement players got. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/89 "2010-11-22T17:12:03Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Yes, absolutely I think the title character who had become the established star got more than the replacement players got. There was a title character in 8 Simple Rules? Her name on the show was 8? Really? Obviously, I’m busting your balls, but you don’t honestly believe she was paid more than two established sitcom stars and a bona fide movie star do you? ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/90 "2010-11-22T17:13:20Z")
Having never seen 8 Simple Rules, Cuoco flew completely under my radar. Didn’t even know she’d been on that show until watching BBT. The only thing I know about 8 simple rules is that it’s the show John Ritter was working on at the time of his unfortunately early demise. Was it popular? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/91 "2010-11-22T18:14:26Z")
8 Simple Rules was your average run-of-the-mill family sitcom. It was not a huge hit, and Ritter’s death really tolled its death bell. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/92 "2010-11-22T18:31:28Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > 8 Simple Rules was your average run-of-the-mill family sitcom. It was not a huge hit, and Ritter’s death really tolled its death bell. According to IMDB. there were 76 episodes total, 31 episodes with Ritter, 45 after he died. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/93 "2010-11-22T18:47:27Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > You think the ditzy teenage daughter (who at the time had barely any acting credits) was higher paid than Katey Sagal, James Garner and David Spade on 8 Simple Rules? I could see her being paid more than Garner or Spade, but not Sagal. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2010, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/94 "2010-11-23T05:25:42Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > There was a title character in 8 Simple Rules? Her name on the show was 8? Really? The original title was “8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter.” Kaley Cuoco played the teenage daughter in question. (The other teenage daughter didn’t date.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303.md?page=4)