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The Big Bang Theory fans, rejoice! For the past many, many months, I have thought about this very moment. The moment when I could officially say, “The band is back together!” The moment when I could tell you all that the actors who made up one of the most talented ensembles ever to appear on our TV screens was reuniting for one purpose: my upcoming book, The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series.
On Tuesday, March 29, 2022, the entire cast—Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik, and Melissa Rauch—broke the news that come this October, you’ll be able to read how a show about a bunch of brilliant misfits came to be one of the most successful series in television history.
But not just that history; you’ll get the stories of what it was like behind the scenes that you’ve never heard before. Over the past year and a half, I spent over 120 hours interviewing the cast, cocreators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, executive producers Steve Molaro and Steve Holland, the writers, and even the crew to uncover all the behind-the-scenes details never before told. The result was something completely unexpected.
When the project was first floated to me, I was intrigued by the idea but also terrified. Now, let me preface this by saying that’s a normal reaction for me. I freak out in my head over everything. I am the most prepared person on the planet, so jumping into anything new requires a lot of thought, planning, and then more thought. (Truly, my head can be an exhausting place to live.)
And I knew there was no way I would do this kind of book unless the major players were on board. Having watched Big Bang when it first premiered in 2007 and having covered it for Glamour since 2011, I have come to know them all well and have an immense respect for them. If they weren’t interested in going down memory lane and talking about the difficult times as much as the wonderful times, then this wasn’t going to work. If we were going to do this book, we had to do it right.
Another thing—since the series is one of television’s most popular, it felt as is The Big Bang Theory had been covered ad nauseam. If I was going to ask fans to pay $30 for a book, it had to be worth it. It had to be filled with new stories you haven’t heard before, or go much deeper into those that had already been told.
I will never forget that first phone call with Steve Molaro on Rosh Hashanah 2020. I mention the holiday because it’s the start of the Jewish new year and a period of intense reflection. If this project was to go forward, I knew it would be the start of something new, and also one that required a lot of thought and contemplation. But I wasn’t even two minutes into my “inquiry” when he said, “Yes!” Steve then talked to Chuck, who graciously said yes. And then, one by one, so did the cast and rest of the producing and writing team. I’d like to say I had no doubt they would, but again, I get anxious about everything. I had great relationships with them all through the years and knew how much they loved the show, but I was also aware they might think it was too soon to revisit something so monumental to their lives. Perhaps they felt they were still too identified as their characters and needed more space? (After all, look how long it took the Friends cast to reunite). I wouldn’t have blamed them if they’d said they needed more time. But here’s the thing about the cast of The Big Bang Theory: They love and respect the show so much that not only did they all agree to participate, but they also gave me unlimited time and access. No question was off the table, no topic too difficult, no request went unanswered.
Of course, I didn’t know this at the beginning. The first time I got on the phone with Jim Parsons, I’d been panicking for days wondering how I was going to get through 12 pages of questions in the 90-minute time frame we were scheduled to speak. (I should mention here the more than 200 pages of notes I took rewatching all 280 episodes, including the first, unaired pilot). But I’ll never forget what Jim said to me in that first of our many sessions, as we called them. He said, “I’m reading Mike Nichols’s biography right now, and you just love to go back and hear the stories about how it was made, because you felt something for the work. It moved you. It changed you in some way. And that’s a real honor. It’s one of the reasons I was so glad to say we should do these conversations, however many we’re going to do. Because if it’s worth looking into, it’s worth getting new and interesting facts out there.”
“However many we’re going to do.” For the first time in days, I felt like I could take a deep breath. I wouldn’t have to rush through my questions; I wouldn’t have to leave things out. When all was said and done, Parsons and I did more 20 hours of new interviews (not including a 90-minute Zoom I did with his lovely mom, Judy). Even then, I had to wrap up our sessions—not because I wanted to, but because my deadline was approaching and I had no more room in the book.
Then there was Johnny Galecki, who spent four hours with me on Zoom just for our first interview. For someone who was probably the most apprehensive about opening up, he would later admit it was one of the greatest gifts. In fact, as I am in the middle of writing this piece, he’s texting me with additional photos for the book, which I can’t wait to eventually share with you all. Johnny’s candor opened the door to some really powerful conversations, and for that I am extremely grateful.
Then there’s Kaley Cuoco, who has one of the best memories of anyone I’ve ever met (a true asset when you’re doing an oral history). She also took it upon herself to suggest that some of our Zooms include Johnny. And so they did—one day even with all of us in our pajamas, sans makeup. I’ve never laughed so hard in my life as the two of them opened up about their on-and-off-screen relationship. They are truly as close as they say they are and have each other’s backs through thick and thin. And not only did Kaley coordinate everything, but she had me over to go through all her Big Bang Polaroids, later sending me home with them. (Don’t worry, Kales, they are safe and sound and will be returned!).
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Kunal Nayyar and I did Zooms and phone calls from New Delhi, London, Los Angeles, and St. Louis. On some occasions, my parents and sister took over our conversations, and I think he might have enjoyed conversing with them more than with me. (They ask easier questions.) This is a guy who once took his parents on a vacation with the rest of the cast; if anyone understands enthusiastic family members, it’s Kunal. I think you’ll find that Kunal has one of the most emotional stories in the book, one that will make you have an even greater appreciation for Chuck Lorre and speaks to the notion that everything works out the way it’s supposed to.
His on-screen BFF—Simon Helberg—did our interviews over the phone, which was probably a good thing because he couldn’t see me as I started singing the karaoke bits he did in the episode where Bernadette tells everyone she’s pregnant for the first time. I’m still amazed he didn’t hang up on me. And somehow, he also agreed (at least I think) to promote the book by wearing Howard’s Nintendo belt buckle and making a video to mark the occasion.
One of my favorite stories of the research for this book is the day I was on the phone with Simon’s on-screen wife, Melissa Rauch, when he beeped in on the other line. I ended up connecting the three of us for an impromptu reunion between Mr. and Mrs. Wolowitz. I’ve never felt more like a proud Jewish mother. Somewhere, Debbie Wolowitz was smiling down on us.
Speaking of Melissa, I can’t say enough about this talented powerhouse. I’ve never seen anyone handle more on her plate and still make you feel like you’re the most important person in the room. With two small kids and pre-production on a new show (NBC’s upcoming Night Court), she was and is a trooper with a heart of gold.
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And then there’s Amy: Mayim Bialik. In between Jeopardy!, Call Me Kat, her Bialik Breakdown podcast, and directing her first movie, she got on Zoom to pay homage to our beloved Shamy and share plenty of surprising and honest stories that I know everyone will appreciate.
This list is just the main cast, and it barely scratches the surface of everything we discussed. But for now, I’m just glad to have this news out in the world. The book—timed to Big Bang’s 15th anniversary in the fall—will be here before you know it. And I can’t wait, anxiety and all.
Jessica Radloff is the Glamour West Coast editor and author of the upcoming The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series. Follow Radloff on Instagram at @jessicaradloff14 and Twitter at @JRadloff to see photos of the making of the book.
