The Big Bang Theory is a cute show. I watched the first four seasons because it's got nice jokes, likable characters, and enjoyable plots. It's not surprising that it's one of the most-watched shows on network TV, and the fans wearing "Bazinga!" shirts around Hall H are a testament's to the program's popularity. The show's previous Comic-Con appearances were in Ballroom 20, but the show's become so big that it demands the San Diego Convention Center's biggest hall. This year, there were a jovial time with the cast and showrunners. There was also a prize for a fan to go to outer space.
Hit the jump for the recap, and click here for all of our Comic-Con coverage.
The panel began by showing off the gag reel that will be included on the Season 5 DVD. Like most gag reels, they're funnier to the people on the gag reel than the people watching it, although there were a few chuckles from the audience.
After the gag reel, moderator Adam Savage (Mythbusters) comes on stage to introduce showrunners Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady, and Steven Molaro and cast members Mayim Bialik, Jim Parsons (via Satellite), Kaley Cuoco, Kunal Nayyar, Simon Helberg, and Melissa Rauch. Johnny Galecki was unable to attend because his flight was delayed.
Savage opens by asking the panelists their favorite moment from last season:
Lorre, Prady, Balik, Parsons, Cuoco, Nayyar, and Rauch all liked the hand-holding scene when the characters look at Wolowitz blasting off into space. Parsons also likes where Sheldon and Amy's relationship is going. Molaro says he thought it was special to shake Stephen Hawking's hand. Helberg noted that everyone's favorite scene was the one he wasn't in. He said his favorite moment was doing an impression of Stephen Hawking in front of Stephen Hawking.
Audience Q&A:
When asked about his character's absurd costumes, Helberg said that getting into Wolowitz' outfit occasionally required assistance like asking wardrobe assistants to help him take his pants off. But he says it's exciting to walk into his dressing room and see what new outfit they have for him.
To Parsons: "Are you a man or a muppet?" Parsons says he's a man, but it was appropriate to cast him as a muppet since that's how he feels. "But I am a man," he reiterates.
Is Raj going to find someone? "After falling in love with Siri…" Nayyar says, "I'm not sure how much lower on that rope you can go." Lorre said that they have a love story planned for Raj next season.
A fan asked if the cast could sing "Soft Kitty" in a round. They did, and you should try to find the video online if you can.
"Can Magneto lift Thor's hammer?" Balik is instantly shaking her head no, but all of the other cast members seemed kind of confused.
A child asks Parsons, "Why does Sheldon like The Flash?", Parsons threw the question to the showrunners, and Prady responded that Sheldon liked the Flash because Sheldon was bullied a lot and the Flash was able to run away really fast.
Do they share any attributes with their characters? "I live next door to people," Cuoco quips.
"Why is there always take out?" Parsons says the characters are always busy thinking and changing the world so they don't have time to cook.
"Is the Higgs-Boson discovery going to be factored into the show?" "I've been meaning to ask you that all day," Cuoco says to Lorre. Parsons was surprised that he recognized the headline about the discovery, and that even though he didn't fully understand the article, he knew it had implications for his job.
The actors' favorite lines:
Roach: "Anything Ms. Wolowitz says." Then she does a spot-on impression saying "Howard! Mayim Bailik's book on parenting says it's okay to breastfeed children until they're a little older. Want to give it a try?"
Helberg: He enjoyed the line "I ate a butterfly", but he also loves the exchanges with Ms. Wolowitz.
Nayyar: Anytime Raj says a word that begins with "p".
Cuoco: The knocking on Penny's door scenes.
Parsons: When he tells Leonard, "I don't know your life."
Balik: From this past season, "It's a tiara."
[Nayyar keeps joking about how young the people asking the questions are. "Where are your parents?" he exclaims.]
How Parsons doesn't break character: "I'm a professional and I stay focused!" saying it like a promotional video actor. I thought he was going to finish his answer with a big thumbs up at his satellite camera.
Are we ever going to know Penny's last name: "I think she's just like Cher," says Cuoco. Lorre says they're a little superstitious at this point. "The big reveal at the series finale," jokes Lorre.
Helberg gets the heavy-hitter question: "Where do you see yourself professionally in 10 to 15 years?" "Boring," Nayyar mockingly says about the heavy question. "I'm excited to do different things," says Helberg. "Hopefully it will take me back here to Comic-Con."
After the Q&A, astronaut Rick Searfoss makes a surprise appearance. He then asks Helberg if he would be interested in flying with him in the Lynx suborbital space machine. Then we see a video of what the experience is like. After watching the promo video about the experience of being up in the spaceship, Helberg declines, joking about how dehydrated food doesn't sit well with him. Lorre then says maybe someone in the audience wants to go. Everyone who asked a question (other than the children) or was in line to ask a question gets to come up on stage. Envelopes are handed out and one of them has a golden ticket that will take you to outer space. "Wouldn't this be terrible if this was a joke?" says Cuoco, "And we were all like, 'Bazinga!'"
Everyone opens their envelopes at the same time, and a woman named Mercedes has a golden ticket. I have never seen a trip to outer space given out at Comic-Con and I probably never will again. It kind of makes the prize tickets for the Redemption Room pale in comparison.
"The Big Bang Theory: Going where no sitcom has gone before," says moderator Adam Savage.
Like all TV show panels, this was for the die-hard fans, which is great for them, but it leaves out everyone who isn't up to date on the show. It looks like the fans had a good time when they weren't cringing from bad questions. Overall, the panel was as light and fluffy as the TV series.
