PALEY CENTER FOR MEDIA, THE: PALEYFEST 2016: THE BIG BANG THEORY {LONG VERSION}
Summary
One in a series of evenings and special screenings presented as part of The Paley Center for Media's 33rd William S. Paley Television Festival in Los Angeles. Held this year at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, the festival celebrates the excellence and diversity of American television and is dedicated to television's creative community. This PALEYFEST 2016 seminar honors "The Big Bang Theory," the comedy series about a quartet of nerdy scientists in Pasadena and their attempts to master the cooler aspects of life and love. Host Rene Reyes (director of public programs and festivals, The Paley Center for Media) offers opening remarks and brings Alie Ward (science correspondent, "CBS Innovation Nation") to the stage. Ward introduces the episode "The Solder Excursion Diversion," which is screened in its entirety. (For synopsis and credits, see ACCNUM 125666.)
After the screening, Ward moderates the following panelists: cast members Jim Parsons (Sheldon Cooper), Johnny Galecki (Leonard Hofstadter), Kaley Cuoco (Penny Hofstadter), Mayim Bialik (Amy Farrah Fowler); Simon Helberg (Howard Wolowitz), Kunal Nayyar (Raj Koothrappali),executive producers/creators/writers Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady; and executive producer/writer Steven Molaro.
The panelists touch on such topics as: Penny and Leonard's long-awaited marriage, which gave the single-named Penny a surname; the return of Bob Newhart as Sheldon's late mentor Arthur "Professor Proton" Jeffries; Howard and Bernadette Rostenkowski's (Melissa Rauch) forthcoming child and advice from real-life dad Helberg; the reasoning behind Raj's signature hairstyle; the cast's familial closeness after nine seasons; other memorable guest stars, including iconic "Batman" actor Adam West and inventor Elon Musk; Galecki's recruitment of "Taxi" star Judd Hirsch to play Leonard's father in an upcoming episode; the crafting of the 200th episode, which focuses on Sheldon's previously-uncelebrated birthday; interactions with extremely friendly fans; Cuoco's contentment with Penny's evolution and marriage to "the guy next door"; the actors' lack of "ownership" over the characters and their constant surprise at the scripts' reveals; Parsons' shock at the consummation of Sheldon and Amy's non-traditional romance; their views on multi-camera sitcoms and performing in front of live audiences; the challenges of writing and shooting the complex show on a tight schedule; and Lorre's sense that the audience "lets them know" if the show's content has gone off-target.
Questions from the audience then lead to a discussion of the following topics, among others: the many-layered costumes and praise for meticulous costume designer Mary T. Quigley; Parsons' and Nayyar's love of fantasy football; whether the actors genuinely love comic books, as their characters do; and hints about appearances by Sheldon's extended family.
Details
- NETWORK: N/A
- DATE: 7:30 PM
- RUNNING TIME: N/A
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 125654
- GENRE: Seminars
- SUBJECT HEADING: N/A
- SERIES RUN: N/A
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Rene Reyes … Host
- Alie Ward … Moderator
- Kunal Nayyar … Panelist
- Simon Helberg … Panelist
- Johnny Galecki … Panelist
- Kaley Cuoco … Panelist
- Jim Parsons … Panelist
- Mayim Bialik … Panelist
- Bill Prady … Panelist
- Steven Molaro … Panelist
- Chuck Lorre … Panelist
- Judd Hirsch
- Elon Musk
- Bob Newhart
- Mary T. Quigley
- Melissa Rauch
- Adam West