The Big Bang Theory had a significantly different pilot episode to air in 2007, but CBS decided to re-evaluate the show, resulting in what ultimately broadcasted. Here’s what happened in the sitcom’s scrapped premiere and why the creatives decided against it.
Created by TV legends Bill Prady and Chuck Lorre, the popular sitcom focused on the adventures of the Pasadena gang of five original characters: Sheldon (Jim Parsons), Leonard (Johnny Galecki), Penny (Kaley Cuoco), Howard (Simon Helberg), and Raj (Kunal Nayyar). By season 4, The Big Bang Theory’s cast of characters grew with the addition of Melissa Rauch’s Bernadette and Mayim Bialik’s Amy. Despite strong ratings performance and majority of the actors expressing their desire to continue the series, the longest-running multi-camera sitcom wrapped up after 12 seasons last May.
In the vein of friend-oriented sitcoms such as Friends and How I Met Your Mother, much of the series’ appeal came from the chemistry of its characters. With big TV creatives like Prady and Lorre backing The Big Bang Theory, fans were obviously thrilled about the series when it was announced. However, things didn’t go as smoothly with the series’ original pilot wasn’t even picked up by any broadcasting station for the 2006-2007 season. At this point, the show only had Parsons and Galecki locked in from the main cast, with a female character named Katie played by Amanda Walsh, as well as Gilda played by Iris Bahr.
The unaired The Big Bang Theory episode opens with Leonard and a more sexually-adept Sheldon pushing through with their decision to donate at a high-IQ sperm bank in exchange for money. After a brief conversation with the place’s concierge, they find a heartbroken Katie sitting on the side walk. Obviously good looking, Leonard approaches her and asked if there’s anything they can do to help, despite Sheldon’s annoyance. Katie explains that she doesn’t have anywhere to go after her boyfriend unceremoniously revealed that he’s married and her mother is not allowing her back home because she slept with his stepfather. Leonard couldn’t help himself but offer their spare room at the apartment and the three go home together. The scrapped episode played into Katie’s sexuality, with both Leonard and Sheldon showing an interest in her. This whole theme was prevalent in the outing, although it started to cut some of that with the introduction of Gilda - the best pals’ research partner and the total opposite of Katie.
From the original pilot, it’s clear that Katie was originally going to be The Big Bang Theory’s version of Penny. She’s street-smart, confident, sexy, and has no regard whatsoever about the the boys’ intelligence or interests. What makes Penny work better in the story, however, was the fact that despite her disinterest in Leonard and Sheldon’s fixations, she’s charming and sweet enough to genuinely befriend them. Meanwhile, Gilda appeared to be an earlier, unpolished version of Amy - or even Leslie (Sarah Gilbert). Unfortunately, just like Katie, her chemistry with the boys just wasn’t there.
According to Nina Tassler, CBS Entertainment chairman who ultimately pushed through with the show, she asked for a pilot rework because it was a mix of things that worked, such as Galecki’s Leonard and Parsons’ Sheldon, and things that didn’t. With that, the characters Katie and Gilda were written out of The Big Bang Theory, and additional leads Penny, Raj, and Howard were added, while they brought in iconic director James Burrow to direct the second pilot. They also changed the theme song from Thomas Dolby’s hit “She Blinded Me with Science” to the catchier “The Big Bang Theory” by Barenaked Ladies.
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