The Big Bang Theory's Untapped Character That Could Have Revolutionized Penny's Character Development

The Big Bang Theory could have resolved its Penny problem with an original character. CBS struck gold when Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady pitched the sitcom, eventually becoming one of the most beloved comedies of the decade. However, bringing The Big Bang Theory to life was not without its challenges. After submitting the initial pilot, the network requested changes. While the premise was excellent, certain elements did not mesh well together. Consequently, Lorre and Prady had to revise their original story plans, which they did successfully.

It is hard to imagine what the show would have been like if it had not unfolded as it did, now that four years have passed since The Big Bang Theory finale. Over the span of 12 seasons, the Pasadena group won over their dedicated fans. Nonetheless, there was a time when the show's core friend group looked quite different. Only Jim Parsons' Sheldon and Johnny Galecki's Leonard were part of Lorre and Prady's original lineup. Kaley Cuoco's Penny, Simon Helberg's Howard, and Kunal Nayyar's Raj were added later. Furthermore, Melissa Rauch's Bernadette and Mayim Bialik's Amy did not become regular cast members until season 4.

Big Bang Theory’s Scrapped Gilda Character Explained

The Big Bang Theory retained its core concept, but certain aspects of the creators' original vision did not make it into the final version of the show. In a recent interview, Parsons discusses the removal of a female scientist character named Gilda from the original pilot episode of The Big Bang Theory. Played by Iris Bahr, the character, similar to Katie portrayed by Amanda Walsh, was eliminated from the show after CBS requested changes to the series. Limited information is available about Gilda, although like Sheldon and Leonard, she was a scientist at Caltech. The initial plan was to explore potential romantic storylines between her and the two lead physicists in the sitcom.

Gilda was intended to be the fourth main cast member in the original version of The Big Bang Theory, keeping the show connected to the field of science as she also worked at Caltech. Based on the sparse details revealed, she possessed a strong personality, which would have created a compelling and often contentious dynamic with the rest of the cast. Regrettably, in the grand scheme of things, Gilda did not align with the overall vibe that CBS sought for The Big Bang Theory. Eventually, the character of Gilda was divided into two separate roles and the genders were swapped to become Raj and Howard.

Keeping Gilda Would Have Fixed TBBT’s Big Penny Mistake

Despite its popularity, The Big Bang Theory faced consistent criticism for its humor, which often crossed into racism, sexism, and offensive territory. The character Sheldon's lack of social awareness was frequently used to justify his demeaning comments and treatment of others, particularly Penny. When Walsh's Katie was written out of the show, she was replaced by Kaley Cuoco's character who brought a more cheerful and kind demeanor. However, this unfortunately led to her becoming the target of many jokes, portraying her as a dumb and promiscuous stereotype of a blonde. The situation was exacerbated by the fact that she was the only main female character for several seasons.

In contrast, had CBS kept Gilda as a character, The Big Bang Theory could have addressed criticisms of misogyny towards Penny. Gilda's presence would have provided support for Penny whenever Sheldon ridiculed her intelligence or romantic choices. Additionally, it would have demonstrated that women have a rightful place in the scientific field. While Penny may not have been an intellectual, she made up for it with her street-smarts and sensitivity. Having Gilda as a companion would have protected her from numerous tasteless jokes.

How Big Bang Theory Replaced Gilda

Parsons recalls that Raj and Howard were direct replacements for Gilda. However, there were other ways in which The Big Bang Theory filled the void left by Bahr's character. One of these was through Leslie Winkle, played by Sara Gilbert. Although Leslie only made regular appearances in the earlier seasons and wasn't officially part of the Pasadena gang, she shared similarities with Gilda. This included working with the boys at Caltech and having a casual relationship with Leonard. Another replacement for Gilda came with the introduction of Bernadette and Amy, two female members of the Pasadena gang who were also highly accomplished in the scientific field.