1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,799 Take one. 2 00:00:02,463 --> 00:00:06,002 'The Big Bang Theory is one of the most popular shows on television, 3 00:00:06,007 --> 00:00:10,006 'loved by millions of people all over the world. 4 00:00:10,527 --> 00:00:13,966 'I've access to everything you don't normally see that brings the show 5 00:00:13,967 --> 00:00:15,566 'to life every week.' 6 00:00:15,567 --> 00:00:18,166 As soon as I got onto the set, I was very excited 7 00:00:18,167 --> 00:00:20,166 and walked down the stairs... 8 00:00:20,167 --> 00:00:22,766 'From the secrets of the wardrobe room...' 9 00:00:22,767 --> 00:00:26,766 I'll know. If this is missing when you leave, you're in trouble. 10 00:00:28,047 --> 00:00:30,006 'To watching the cast record the show.' 11 00:00:31,407 --> 00:00:33,606 Isn't it fun to learn things? 12 00:00:33,607 --> 00:00:37,606 This is great. 13 00:00:50,807 --> 00:00:53,966 Welcome to The Big Bang Theory, Access All Areas. 14 00:00:53,993 --> 00:00:57,432 Within reason. I can just go waltzing into the ladies' loos 15 00:00:57,433 --> 00:00:59,872 or ladies' rest rooms, whatever they call them. 16 00:00:59,873 --> 00:01:03,872 'Luckily for you, I am a long allowed to waltz onto the set 17 00:01:04,033 --> 00:01:07,752 'to meet the cast and I'll be starting with the tough questions.' 18 00:01:07,753 --> 00:01:11,272 Which character do you most enjoy shooting scenes with? 19 00:01:11,273 --> 00:01:12,632 Goodness! 20 00:01:12,633 --> 00:01:14,232 That is Sophie's Choice. 21 00:01:14,233 --> 00:01:18,232 Who makes you laugh the most when you're doing scenes with them? 22 00:01:18,993 --> 00:01:20,632 Who makes me laugh the most? 23 00:01:20,633 --> 00:01:22,552 Favourite people to work with? 24 00:01:22,553 --> 00:01:24,752 How can I answer that? 25 00:01:24,753 --> 00:01:26,912 Are you trying to start World War III? 26 00:01:26,913 --> 00:01:28,552 I'm not going to answer that. 27 00:01:28,553 --> 00:01:31,632 Kunal, diva... 28 00:01:31,633 --> 00:01:33,112 Kunal, I don't like working with at all. 29 00:01:33,113 --> 00:01:34,192 Sure. Sure. 30 00:01:34,193 --> 00:01:35,512 He, to be fair, said the same. 31 00:01:35,513 --> 00:01:36,672 I'm sure he did. 32 00:01:36,673 --> 00:01:40,392 Johnny Galecki, just outrageous. 33 00:01:40,393 --> 00:01:42,952 Who makes me laugh the most? Erm... 34 00:01:42,953 --> 00:01:44,072 You can say none of them. 35 00:01:44,073 --> 00:01:47,472 I'm racking my brain. I can't even remember their names. 36 00:01:47,473 --> 00:01:50,232 Simon. Another diva. 37 00:01:50,233 --> 00:01:53,992 I'm going to be diplomatic and say... the cast. 38 00:01:53,993 --> 00:01:55,992 Or none is probably better. 39 00:01:55,993 --> 00:01:57,472 Or myself. 40 00:01:57,473 --> 00:02:00,232 You should hear the things I say. 41 00:02:00,233 --> 00:02:03,632 But I enjoy them all equally. 44 00:02:11,313 --> 00:02:14,592 Not really. Is that my yearbook? 45 00:02:14,593 --> 00:02:16,792 Mm-hm. "Dear Leonard, You're really good at science. 46 00:02:16,793 --> 00:02:20,792 "Maybe one day you'll come up with a cure for being a dork." 47 00:02:24,793 --> 00:02:27,112 OK, jokes aside, what I really want to know 48 00:02:27,113 --> 00:02:30,352 is how they go about making the show each week. 49 00:02:30,353 --> 00:02:32,072 We start on Wednesday mornings. 50 00:02:32,073 --> 00:02:35,992 We do the table read, which is all the actors, producers and writers. 51 00:02:35,993 --> 00:02:38,752 We read the script and we laugh. 52 00:02:38,753 --> 00:02:39,792 Hopefully! 53 00:02:39,793 --> 00:02:42,752 Hopefully. 54 00:02:42,753 --> 00:02:46,072 And that's usually when we find out what's going to be happening, 55 00:02:46,073 --> 00:02:49,912 so it's as much a surprise to us as everyone else. 56 00:02:49,913 --> 00:02:52,552 The writers take notes of what seems to work well, 57 00:02:52,553 --> 00:02:55,712 what didn't work, and they go off to start rewriting. 58 00:02:55,713 --> 00:02:58,392 Thursdays and Fridays we rehearse more, get it on its feet 59 00:02:58,393 --> 00:03:00,032 and we do run-throughs for producers 60 00:03:00,033 --> 00:03:02,272 and network and studio. 61 00:03:02,273 --> 00:03:04,192 That's when rewrites come through, 62 00:03:04,193 --> 00:03:06,552 so sometimes the script will change by as much as a third, 63 00:03:06,553 --> 00:03:10,552 and then we have a weekend in between to learn our lines. 64 00:03:11,033 --> 00:03:12,792 Monday we rehearse with cameras. 65 00:03:12,793 --> 00:03:16,792 I prefer 20 minutes of rehearsal, but these guys need hours. 66 00:03:16,953 --> 00:03:18,672 But you are a consummate professional. 67 00:03:18,673 --> 00:03:20,592 It's what a lot of people have been saying. 68 00:03:20,593 --> 00:03:23,832 Tuesday night is live audience taping. 69 00:03:23,833 --> 00:03:27,792 Take a bow and they immediately hand us a warm envelope 70 00:03:27,793 --> 00:03:31,072 with the next morning's script in it. 71 00:03:31,073 --> 00:03:33,912 So, that's the actors' week from start to finish, 72 00:03:33,913 --> 00:03:36,592 but before they can do any rehearsing or recording, 73 00:03:36,593 --> 00:03:38,232 they're going to need a script. 74 00:03:38,233 --> 00:03:41,232 But there is an original finals draft Ghostbusters script 75 00:03:41,233 --> 00:03:44,472 with actual slime stains. 76 00:03:44,473 --> 00:03:47,792 Oh, you're right. It's Ghostbusters II. Never mind. 77 00:03:47,793 --> 00:03:51,792 Each and every episode of The Big Bang Theory starts in this building 78 00:03:51,993 --> 00:03:53,032 in the writers' room. 79 00:03:53,033 --> 00:03:55,272 Led by creators Bill Prady and Chuck Laurie, 80 00:03:55,273 --> 00:03:59,272 the team have to conjure up new and exciting ways of making us laugh. 81 00:03:59,553 --> 00:04:02,992 Ooh, dark matter... we'd better bring a flashlight. 82 00:04:02,993 --> 00:04:06,352 'And if anyone knows the pressure of writing a hit show, 83 00:04:06,353 --> 00:04:10,272 'it is Chuck Lorre, who also created Two And A Half Men.' 84 00:04:10,273 --> 00:04:14,272 How do you keep coming up with ideas that feel fresh 85 00:04:14,593 --> 00:04:18,272 and interesting when you've made 100 episodes of a show? 86 00:04:18,273 --> 00:04:20,872 Desperation and fear is a good motivator. 87 00:04:20,873 --> 00:04:23,312 It's like riding through a tunnel 88 00:04:23,313 --> 00:04:25,952 with a train behind you. For nine months, you can't stop. 89 00:04:25,953 --> 00:04:29,512 All aboard! Whoo-whoo! 90 00:04:29,513 --> 00:04:32,472 And how much does the script change 91 00:04:32,473 --> 00:04:35,112 from when you do your first table read? 92 00:04:35,113 --> 00:04:36,952 About 30% to 40%. 93 00:04:36,953 --> 00:04:37,512 Yeah? Is that quite typical? 94 00:04:37,513 --> 00:04:39,592 Gosh, I've been on shows 95 00:04:39,593 --> 00:04:42,952 where it changed 100% from table to shoot night. 96 00:04:42,953 --> 00:04:45,712 120%, you know? 97 00:04:45,713 --> 00:04:48,312 I've never seen a show consistently 98 00:04:48,313 --> 00:04:51,312 where what we read at the table is so funny 99 00:04:51,313 --> 00:04:53,672 that the rewriting becomes a minimal amount. 100 00:04:53,673 --> 00:04:55,552 I can't seem to get in touch with Amy. 101 00:04:55,553 --> 00:04:58,792 I tried email, video chat, tweeting her, posting on her Facebook wall, 102 00:04:58,793 --> 00:05:01,112 texting her... nothing. 103 00:05:01,113 --> 00:05:04,312 Did you call her on the telephone? 104 00:05:04,313 --> 00:05:06,952 The telephone! 105 00:05:06,953 --> 00:05:10,952 'It's common on many shows where what we read on the first day, Monday,' 106 00:05:11,513 --> 00:05:14,152 there's not one word from that script that's there on Friday. 107 00:05:14,153 --> 00:05:15,272 OK. 108 00:05:15,273 --> 00:05:16,992 'We hear all the time,' 109 00:05:16,993 --> 00:05:18,992 the condition our scripts come in, 110 00:05:18,993 --> 00:05:21,752 the good condition they come in, it's a anomaly. 111 00:05:21,753 --> 00:05:24,312 And it makes a difference. You know, I mean, 112 00:05:24,313 --> 00:05:25,512 they're not perfect. 113 00:05:25,513 --> 00:05:27,752 We've certainly had scripts we've had to work on. 114 00:05:27,753 --> 00:05:29,032 Some have had more changes 115 00:05:29,033 --> 00:05:30,272 during the week than others, 116 00:05:30,273 --> 00:05:32,032 and those are rough weeks. 117 00:05:32,033 --> 00:05:34,672 Guys, we are going to do a different line there. 118 00:05:34,673 --> 00:05:36,632 'If life was always like that here,' 119 00:05:36,633 --> 00:05:39,192 it'd be a tear-your-hair-out experience, I think. 120 00:05:39,193 --> 00:05:41,752 On the flip side, now I'm a little spoiled. 121 00:05:41,753 --> 00:05:43,512 Why do you even want this here?! 122 00:05:43,513 --> 00:05:46,632 Its size is completely disproportionate to its purpose. 123 00:05:46,633 --> 00:05:50,632 Seeing as its purpose was to piss you off, I'd say it's spot-on. 124 00:05:53,753 --> 00:05:55,352 Now, the writing's one thing. 125 00:05:55,353 --> 00:05:58,552 Sure it's very good, but then every show has writers. 126 00:05:58,553 --> 00:06:00,952 But a show that features a theoretical physicist, 127 00:06:00,953 --> 00:06:04,952 an astrophysicist, an experimental physicist, a neurobiologist, 128 00:06:05,113 --> 00:06:08,072 a microbiologist and a... well, a Howard Wolowitz, 129 00:06:08,073 --> 00:06:10,672 obviously needs to use a lot of sciencey language 130 00:06:10,673 --> 00:06:12,752 that us at home can barely understand. 131 00:06:12,753 --> 00:06:15,872 Now, luckily, the actors and writers have someone to help them 132 00:06:15,873 --> 00:06:18,192 to ensure that they don't embarrass themselves 133 00:06:18,193 --> 00:06:21,152 by saying "loop quantum gravity" when they mean string theory. 134 00:06:21,153 --> 00:06:23,872 And, trust me, thatisfunny... I checked. 135 00:06:23,873 --> 00:06:26,912 I will graciously overlook the fact that she is an arrogant, 136 00:06:26,913 --> 00:06:29,912 sub-par scientist, who actually believes loop quantum gravity 137 00:06:29,913 --> 00:06:32,632 better unites quantum mechanics with general relativity 138 00:06:32,633 --> 00:06:33,832 than does string theory. 139 00:06:33,833 --> 00:06:37,832 How do you deal with all the kind of scientific content of the show? 140 00:06:39,393 --> 00:06:40,112 Do you leave blanks... 141 00:06:40,113 --> 00:06:41,152 Sub-contract it. 142 00:06:41,153 --> 00:06:42,632 And then go...? 143 00:06:42,633 --> 00:06:46,472 We have a brilliant astrophysicist named David Saltzberg, 144 00:06:46,473 --> 00:06:48,232 who's a professor at UCLA. 145 00:06:48,233 --> 00:06:51,352 I basically get every script in advance and I look it over, 146 00:06:51,353 --> 00:06:53,512 and, er, the writers actually know a lot of science 147 00:06:53,513 --> 00:06:56,352 and fill out what they want. And maybe it'll just need 148 00:06:56,353 --> 00:06:59,032 a little tiny tweak here and there, a change of word. 149 00:06:59,033 --> 00:07:01,032 Other times, they'll say, "Science to come." 150 00:07:01,033 --> 00:07:02,632 What is physics? 151 00:07:02,633 --> 00:07:04,752 We're designing an experiment to look 152 00:07:04,753 --> 00:07:08,512 for the annihilation spectrum resulting from dark matter collisions in space. 153 00:07:08,513 --> 00:07:12,432 My tests of the bomb quantum interference in fact have reached an interesting point. 154 00:07:12,433 --> 00:07:16,432 Force of gravity equals mass times 9.8m per second per second. 155 00:07:17,193 --> 00:07:19,712 Now we're testing phase shift due to an electric potential. 156 00:07:19,713 --> 00:07:23,432 Our 9.8m per second squared as a, can... 157 00:07:23,433 --> 00:07:26,112 Thematic theory, algebraic gossip and epidemiology. 158 00:07:26,113 --> 00:07:28,552 Time dependent backgrounds and string theory. 159 00:07:28,553 --> 00:07:30,992 You work on fundamental tests of quantum mechanics? 160 00:07:30,993 --> 00:07:34,912 It's specifically quantum field theory and D-dimensional de Sitter space. 161 00:07:34,913 --> 00:07:38,912 I preserved it in a 1% solution of polyvinyl acetal resin. 162 00:07:40,433 --> 00:07:42,752 Oh, my God! That's the most romantic thing 163 00:07:42,753 --> 00:07:46,552 anyone's ever said to me that I didn't understand. 164 00:07:46,553 --> 00:07:50,472 And now we have Mayim Bialik, who is a, you know... 165 00:07:50,473 --> 00:07:52,232 A neuroscientist... neuroscientist. 166 00:07:52,233 --> 00:07:54,712 So she tells us when we're wrong in that area. 167 00:07:54,713 --> 00:07:57,472 When it comes to neuroscience and neurobiology, 168 00:07:57,473 --> 00:07:59,952 I guess I'm the unofficial authority. 169 00:07:59,953 --> 00:08:01,352 Come on, tumour. 170 00:08:01,353 --> 00:08:05,352 Mama needs an aggressive little glioblastoma. 171 00:08:05,353 --> 00:08:09,352 Did you ever think that you would start using your neuroscience again? 172 00:08:10,473 --> 00:08:11,632 In this way? 173 00:08:11,633 --> 00:08:12,752 No. 174 00:08:12,753 --> 00:08:14,112 'Since getting my PhD,' 175 00:08:14,113 --> 00:08:17,512 I never thought I would be acting as a neuroscientist, no. 176 00:08:17,513 --> 00:08:21,512 Amy's at the dry-cleaner's and she's made a very amusing pun. 177 00:08:21,553 --> 00:08:25,552 "I don't care for p-chloro-ethylene and I don't like glycol,ether." 178 00:08:28,993 --> 00:08:32,232 Personally, I like that physics is out there and incomprehensible, 179 00:08:32,233 --> 00:08:36,192 but I really like it when it's what we call freshman physics. 180 00:08:36,193 --> 00:08:38,512 We don't need strength... we're physicists. 181 00:08:38,513 --> 00:08:40,912 We are the intellectual descendants of Archimedes. 182 00:08:40,913 --> 00:08:43,992 Give me a fulcrum and a lever, I can move the earth. It's a matter... 183 00:08:43,993 --> 00:08:45,752 I don't have this. I don't have this! 184 00:08:45,753 --> 00:08:48,552 It's something that people have been exposed to in some way 185 00:08:48,553 --> 00:08:52,552 and so there's a chance of knowing what's going on. 186 00:08:55,993 --> 00:08:59,352 Ah, gravity, thou art a heartless bitch. 187 00:08:59,353 --> 00:09:02,752 And, frankly, if people disagree with the science, 188 00:09:02,753 --> 00:09:06,752 they can send a letter to Dr Saltzberg or Dr Bialik. 189 00:09:08,393 --> 00:09:10,472 There's nothing wrong with the science. 190 00:09:10,473 --> 00:09:14,472 Perhaps you mean a different thing than I do when you say, "Science." 191 00:09:16,433 --> 00:09:19,472 Fashion's probably not the first thing that springs to mind 192 00:09:19,473 --> 00:09:21,352 when you think of The Big Bang Theory, 193 00:09:21,353 --> 00:09:24,152 but for a show that's about pretty unfashionable guys, 194 00:09:24,153 --> 00:09:27,072 they do all have their own distinctive style, 195 00:09:27,073 --> 00:09:29,552 from Sheldon's T-shirts to Howard's... 196 00:09:29,553 --> 00:09:31,952 eye-wateringly tight trousers. 197 00:09:31,953 --> 00:09:33,432 They do stand out in a crowd. 198 00:09:41,673 --> 00:09:45,672 So I assume this is all divided up into different characters? 199 00:09:45,753 --> 00:09:47,712 Yes, we call them character closets. 200 00:09:47,713 --> 00:09:50,432 Sheldon, staring with the plaid pants, of course. 201 00:09:50,433 --> 00:09:51,512 Yes. 202 00:09:51,513 --> 00:09:53,872 And then all of his T-shirts back here. 203 00:09:53,873 --> 00:09:56,352 He's got his Green Lantern and Flash shirts. 204 00:09:56,353 --> 00:09:59,272 He has a lot of T-shirts. They all have a lot of clothes, to be fair. 205 00:09:59,273 --> 00:10:00,552 Oh, yes. 206 00:10:00,553 --> 00:10:03,032 'Do you have a favourite Sheldon piece?' 207 00:10:03,033 --> 00:10:04,312 I like this. 208 00:10:04,313 --> 00:10:06,192 Yes, that's nice... 209 00:10:06,193 --> 00:10:08,072 the evolution of an into a robot is nice. 210 00:10:08,073 --> 00:10:09,552 It screams Sheldon to me. 211 00:10:09,553 --> 00:10:10,272 Wow! 212 00:10:10,273 --> 00:10:12,512 Wow! I really like Raj's outfits. 213 00:10:12,513 --> 00:10:15,752 I like the fact that I think he looks quite cool. 214 00:10:15,753 --> 00:10:17,472 They all bridge cool, 215 00:10:17,473 --> 00:10:20,872 except I throw something else that just ruins it all. 216 00:10:20,872 --> 00:10:22,511 I think he thinks it's cool. 217 00:10:22,513 --> 00:10:24,152 'When Raj first came to America,' 218 00:10:24,153 --> 00:10:26,552 he was dressed head-to-toe in Miami Vice clothes, 219 00:10:26,553 --> 00:10:29,752 because that was a big popular show in India at that time. 220 00:10:29,753 --> 00:10:33,192 What about arguably my favourite character, 221 00:10:33,193 --> 00:10:35,192 dress-wise and otherwise, Howard? 222 00:10:35,193 --> 00:10:36,432 Where's his stuff? 223 00:10:36,433 --> 00:10:38,792 He's got a room to himself. 224 00:10:38,793 --> 00:10:40,272 Of course he has. 225 00:10:40,273 --> 00:10:42,632 Hey, qu'est-ce que s'up? 226 00:10:50,873 --> 00:10:51,552 Look at that! 227 00:10:51,553 --> 00:10:52,832 Very eclectic. I know. 228 00:10:52,833 --> 00:10:53,872 Look at that. 229 00:10:53,873 --> 00:10:55,392 If this is missing when you leave... 230 00:10:55,393 --> 00:10:56,232 I've got my eye on it. 231 00:10:56,233 --> 00:10:57,312 You're in trouble. 232 00:10:57,313 --> 00:10:59,832 There is one outfit he wore with an eye patch and leather pants... 233 00:10:59,833 --> 00:11:01,112 The guy's a hero. 234 00:11:01,113 --> 00:11:03,032 'And a flowy blouse. He pulled it off.' 235 00:11:03,033 --> 00:11:04,712 Hello, boys. 236 00:11:04,713 --> 00:11:07,632 I would say he's a clothes... horse. 237 00:11:07,633 --> 00:11:09,032 Whore or horse? I don't know. 238 00:11:09,033 --> 00:11:10,312 I think horse. 239 00:11:10,313 --> 00:11:12,072 I think for him, let's say whore. 240 00:11:12,073 --> 00:11:14,712 I want to blend in. 241 00:11:14,713 --> 00:11:15,752 To what? 242 00:11:15,753 --> 00:11:17,112 Toy Story?! 243 00:11:17,113 --> 00:11:17,832 This is Leonard. 244 00:11:17,833 --> 00:11:18,792 I recognise these cords. 245 00:11:18,793 --> 00:11:20,032 Yes. 246 00:11:20,033 --> 00:11:21,192 A muted rainbow. 247 00:11:21,193 --> 00:11:23,992 Yes, muted. He's got a bit of a bucket of water thrown on him 248 00:11:23,993 --> 00:11:26,312 compared to some of the other characters. 249 00:11:26,313 --> 00:11:28,072 Is this all stuff you want me to try on? 250 00:11:28,072 --> 00:11:30,591 No, this is stuff I want you to throw out. 251 00:11:30,592 --> 00:11:35,628 When I had to dress up as Supergirl, that was especially liberating. 252 00:11:35,873 --> 00:11:38,872 I don't know about you, but I feel empowered. 253 00:11:38,873 --> 00:11:40,316 Come on, I made that look good. 254 00:11:40,491 --> 00:11:41,730 Yeah. 255 00:11:43,153 --> 00:11:44,192 I'm Batman! 256 00:12:00,717 --> 00:12:02,717 Camera... Action! 257 00:12:04,962 --> 00:12:06,962 Does anyone have any wood? 258 00:12:07,471 --> 00:12:09,903 Oh, come on! I just want wood! 259 00:12:10,581 --> 00:12:12,148 Why are you making it so hard? 260 00:12:16,625 --> 00:12:18,984 OK, we've got the writing, the science, 261 00:12:18,985 --> 00:12:20,464 the wardrobe and the actors. 262 00:12:20,465 --> 00:12:23,144 But the world of the Big Bang Theory wouldn't be complete without 263 00:12:23,145 --> 00:12:24,944 the incredibly detailed sets. 264 00:12:24,945 --> 00:12:28,904 Designed by legendary production designer John Shaffner, 265 00:12:28,905 --> 00:12:31,224 who designed the famous Friends set amongst others, 266 00:12:31,225 --> 00:12:34,464 the sets each have their own special charm. 267 00:12:34,465 --> 00:12:38,104 Actually, my favourite set is the hallway between the two apartments. 268 00:12:38,105 --> 00:12:41,504 The producers wanted this walk and talk in the stairwell. 269 00:12:41,505 --> 00:12:45,504 Well, we built the set and Chuck and Bill came down and they looked 270 00:12:45,865 --> 00:12:48,864 at it and said, "We really need to see the stairway go down." 271 00:12:48,865 --> 00:12:50,664 So I was like, "Oh, dear, 272 00:12:50,665 --> 00:12:54,584 I'm not authorised by the studio to cut a hole in the floor. 273 00:12:54,585 --> 00:12:55,904 So then we went to the studio 274 00:12:55,905 --> 00:12:57,824 and said we need to cut a hole in the floor. 275 00:12:57,825 --> 00:13:00,824 So that's how we came about building the staircase that actually 276 00:13:00,825 --> 00:13:02,064 goes down about six feet. 277 00:13:02,065 --> 00:13:05,464 If you get to the bottom of the stair and make a corner, 278 00:13:05,465 --> 00:13:09,464 there's dirt and there's a wall full of gum on it from the actors 279 00:13:09,782 --> 00:13:11,821 who wait to go on and put their gum on the wall! 280 00:13:12,025 --> 00:13:16,024 So it's sort of starting to look like the underside of a table in a cheap diner. 281 00:13:16,225 --> 00:13:18,184 Obviously as soon as I got onto the set 282 00:13:18,185 --> 00:13:21,984 and walked downwards I was amazed at how little the gap is to fit in. 283 00:13:21,985 --> 00:13:25,384 Once you've got down you just sort of stand there against a wall. 284 00:13:25,385 --> 00:13:28,384 Um, and the other thing about it was trying to give them enough 285 00:13:28,385 --> 00:13:32,384 space between the two apartments so there'd be working space for a scene. 286 00:13:33,265 --> 00:13:36,704 Um, I put this elevator in the middle and I showed it to Chuck 287 00:13:36,705 --> 00:13:39,664 and Bill and they said, "We don't want the elevator 288 00:13:39,665 --> 00:13:42,224 "because why would they walk up and down the stairs?" 289 00:13:42,225 --> 00:13:44,304 And I said, "Because it's always broken. 290 00:13:44,305 --> 00:13:46,704 The landlord has never fixed it." 291 00:13:46,705 --> 00:13:50,704 Give me that. 292 00:13:51,625 --> 00:13:53,264 What did you do that for, I had plenty of time?! 293 00:13:57,185 --> 00:14:00,344 So, this is it, I've chatted to the cast and crew, I've poked around 294 00:14:00,345 --> 00:14:04,344 behind the scenes, I know exactly how the Big Bang Theory gets made. 295 00:14:04,825 --> 00:14:06,984 All I've got to do now is take my place in the audience 296 00:14:06,985 --> 00:14:09,064 and watch them actually record the show. 297 00:14:09,065 --> 00:14:12,304 This is about as exciting as it gets for a Big Bang fan. 298 00:14:12,305 --> 00:14:15,024 In a way, I wish you could be here. 299 00:14:15,025 --> 00:14:17,384 In another way I don't cos you'll be in my seat. 300 00:14:17,385 --> 00:14:21,384 What I can promise is that I'll really enjoy it for you. 301 00:14:23,185 --> 00:14:27,184 Excuse me. Sorry. 302 00:14:29,145 --> 00:14:33,144 OK, hold the over, Richard. 303 00:14:34,625 --> 00:14:37,224 Ladies and gentlemen, round of applause, are you ready to meet our cast? 304 00:14:37,225 --> 00:14:39,024 Let's hear it! 305 00:14:43,345 --> 00:14:47,344 It's just so electric in here on our take nights. 306 00:14:49,105 --> 00:14:51,344 It's very exciting to have that energy from the audience. 307 00:14:51,345 --> 00:14:55,344 Give it up! 308 00:14:55,945 --> 00:14:59,944 Oh, it's amazing, I love it. 309 00:15:02,345 --> 00:15:06,344 It's great, it's sort of like a short play every week. 310 00:15:10,185 --> 00:15:12,544 I wouldn't be half as happy as I am here 311 00:15:12,545 --> 00:15:16,424 if we didn't have that live audience. 312 00:15:16,425 --> 00:15:19,064 Here's Sheldon, the incredible Jim Parsons! 313 00:15:19,065 --> 00:15:23,064 It does add that element of surprise and adrenaline. 314 00:15:24,425 --> 00:15:26,984 Cameras A, B, C, X. 315 00:15:26,985 --> 00:15:30,544 On the mark. 316 00:15:30,545 --> 00:15:32,144 Here we go, and action! 317 00:15:32,145 --> 00:15:35,064 I don't think I could ever get a massage from a guy. 318 00:15:35,065 --> 00:15:38,264 Really? What was I doing to your neck last night while you were playing Xbox? 319 00:15:41,945 --> 00:15:44,464 Not much, it's still killing me. 320 00:15:44,465 --> 00:15:45,504 We always get comments like, 321 00:15:45,505 --> 00:15:47,304 "OH, my God that laugh-track is driving me crazy," 322 00:15:47,305 --> 00:15:49,904 but it's not a laugh-track, it's real people! 323 00:15:49,905 --> 00:15:50,864 Where's Howard? 324 00:15:50,865 --> 00:15:52,624 No, "Hi, Raj, how are you, Raj?" 325 00:15:52,625 --> 00:15:56,464 Straight to, "Where's the other white guy?" 326 00:15:56,465 --> 00:15:58,864 When I watch scenes on every show when you know 327 00:15:58,865 --> 00:16:01,984 there's not a live audience, 328 00:16:01,985 --> 00:16:04,664 it's just slightly soulless. Something's missing, 329 00:16:04,665 --> 00:16:08,664 they are a tangible presence in the room, almost like another character. 330 00:16:10,905 --> 00:16:12,424 Some of my favourite scenes, 331 00:16:12,425 --> 00:16:15,624 which also seem to be fans' favourite scenes, 332 00:16:15,625 --> 00:16:18,024 between Amy and Sheldon, do not play that way all week. 333 00:16:18,025 --> 00:16:21,104 The way you see them on TV is the way that the studio audience 334 00:16:21,105 --> 00:16:22,784 determines that they get played. 335 00:16:22,785 --> 00:16:26,384 There's nothing like people seeing Sheldon 336 00:16:26,385 --> 00:16:29,104 and Amy kiss for the first time. 337 00:16:29,105 --> 00:16:30,784 You can't gauge that. 338 00:16:34,625 --> 00:16:37,064 Fascinating. 339 00:16:37,065 --> 00:16:40,024 Um, and for me, that's really where a scene gets life that it 340 00:16:40,025 --> 00:16:42,784 doesn't have for the previous five days. 341 00:16:42,785 --> 00:16:45,424 It's like I'm living in a dictatorship. 342 00:16:45,425 --> 00:16:49,424 "You must take a vacation, you must have fun, you must enjoy life." 343 00:16:50,745 --> 00:16:53,824 I don't think you have a good handle on dictatorships. 344 00:16:53,825 --> 00:16:56,304 There are moments when you can't help 345 00:16:56,305 --> 00:16:59,864 but get carried away like I guess you would in theatre. 346 00:16:59,865 --> 00:17:02,624 You try to keep your pants on. 347 00:17:02,625 --> 00:17:04,304 It's not always possible! 348 00:17:04,305 --> 00:17:06,264 No, but we do our best. 349 00:17:06,265 --> 00:17:09,424 The audience is amazing cos they give you instant reaction. 350 00:17:09,425 --> 00:17:11,944 And they don't lie. 351 00:17:11,945 --> 00:17:15,944 They'll tell you immediately if something is working or not. 352 00:17:16,425 --> 00:17:18,984 I am the king of nerds. 353 00:17:23,865 --> 00:17:25,984 What does that mean? 354 00:17:25,985 --> 00:17:28,544 That means if anyone displeases me 355 00:17:28,545 --> 00:17:31,624 I can arrange to have their email inbox spammed. 356 00:17:33,865 --> 00:17:36,584 We do quite a bit of re-writing here on the fly with them. 357 00:17:36,585 --> 00:17:39,624 Well, it means if anyone displeases me 358 00:17:39,625 --> 00:17:42,624 I don't help them set up their printer. 359 00:17:44,905 --> 00:17:48,664 You have to listen to the audience to get the rhythm of it and then 360 00:17:48,665 --> 00:17:52,664 we wait for the laugh and sometimes it never comes and then we cry... 361 00:17:53,345 --> 00:17:55,064 Um, guys? Guys? 362 00:17:55,065 --> 00:17:56,304 No, it's gonna come. 363 00:17:56,305 --> 00:17:58,064 I know it's been ten minutes, just trust me. 364 00:17:58,065 --> 00:18:01,104 I've been doing this for a really long time and it's humbling 365 00:18:01,105 --> 00:18:02,824 how often the studio audience 366 00:18:02,825 --> 00:18:06,824 will tell you that what you thought was hilarious is not hilarious. 367 00:18:07,825 --> 00:18:10,864 And what you thought was, meh, is fabulous. 368 00:18:10,865 --> 00:18:14,064 I just don't know how I'm going to break it to him. 369 00:18:14,065 --> 00:18:15,984 How about topless? 370 00:18:15,985 --> 00:18:17,944 Well, you waggle those puppies in his face I bet you'd get him 371 00:18:17,945 --> 00:18:19,944 to join the marines. 372 00:18:22,145 --> 00:18:25,104 I think this is good, I dunno, I hope it is, 373 00:18:25,105 --> 00:18:28,744 if it's not the audience will tell us and we'll fix it. 374 00:18:28,745 --> 00:18:30,824 I just don't know how I'm going to break it to him. 375 00:18:30,825 --> 00:18:33,424 Hey, you know, I'm a big believer in breaking bad news to a guy 376 00:18:33,425 --> 00:18:34,424 when you're in bed with him. 377 00:18:34,425 --> 00:18:36,984 That's how I told my high school boyfriend I slept with his brother. 378 00:18:39,385 --> 00:18:42,744 That's how I told his brother the same thing! 379 00:18:42,745 --> 00:18:45,544 You can't anticipate what other people are going to respond to 380 00:18:45,545 --> 00:18:48,064 and if you think you can, you're crazy. 381 00:18:48,065 --> 00:18:51,504 Time and again we've run into situations, 382 00:18:51,505 --> 00:18:55,504 with Sheldon especially, where it's like, just coming off too mean. 383 00:18:56,025 --> 00:18:59,264 They're not laughing they're going, "Ohh..." You know? 384 00:18:59,265 --> 00:19:01,224 And that's not the intent. 385 00:19:01,225 --> 00:19:05,224 Sheldon's not cruel, he's honest. 386 00:19:05,385 --> 00:19:07,664 When instead of a laugh there's an "Ohhh." 387 00:19:07,665 --> 00:19:09,144 Yeah. 388 00:19:09,145 --> 00:19:11,824 Richard Feynman was a famous American physicist. 389 00:19:11,825 --> 00:19:13,664 Part of the Manhattan project. 390 00:19:13,665 --> 00:19:17,664 Everyone in the world of science knows who Richard Feynman was. 391 00:19:18,225 --> 00:19:20,184 Now you do too. 392 00:19:22,985 --> 00:19:26,424 In front of the audience most of us can stay pretty focused 393 00:19:26,425 --> 00:19:28,904 but it's some of the playfulness that Jim 394 00:19:28,905 --> 00:19:32,904 and I have that really kind of brings out some of the giggles. 395 00:19:38,345 --> 00:19:41,424 She broke that, it was fine! 396 00:19:41,425 --> 00:19:45,424 Control yourself! 397 00:19:46,305 --> 00:19:48,904 Are there times when you do just totally lose it 398 00:19:48,905 --> 00:19:50,784 even when the audience are there? 399 00:19:50,785 --> 00:19:52,864 Oh, in as far as getting the giggles? 400 00:19:52,865 --> 00:19:55,184 Yeah. 401 00:19:55,185 --> 00:19:58,624 Kunal is the worst for that, he cracks himself up constantly. 402 00:19:58,625 --> 00:20:01,104 Follow your heart. 403 00:20:19,425 --> 00:20:20,584 I'm the worst at that. 404 00:20:20,585 --> 00:20:22,424 Yeah, I heard that. 405 00:20:22,425 --> 00:20:24,304 That's why you asked me this question? 406 00:20:24,305 --> 00:20:27,184 Yeah, it's leading. It's leading. 407 00:20:27,185 --> 00:20:31,184 No, it's so bad, like, it's cos I'm having the most fun. 408 00:20:31,225 --> 00:20:33,384 No, it's probably cos I'm the most unprofessional. 409 00:20:33,385 --> 00:20:36,144 He can't stop laughing at his own jokes. 410 00:20:36,145 --> 00:20:39,984 And so I'll come over and whisper to him "Sometimes babies die." 411 00:20:39,985 --> 00:20:41,104 And that steels him up. 412 00:20:41,105 --> 00:20:43,624 When I first got here the... 413 00:20:43,625 --> 00:20:47,184 Can I take it from there? 414 00:20:47,185 --> 00:20:50,784 English is tough! 415 00:20:50,785 --> 00:20:53,584 I'm going to be doing some brain-stem estology 416 00:20:53,585 --> 00:20:54,984 while you get yourself on the. 417 00:20:54,985 --> 00:20:58,984 I have no idea what that line is. 418 00:20:59,385 --> 00:21:00,504 With a live audience, 419 00:21:00,505 --> 00:21:02,784 when they're enjoying it 420 00:21:02,785 --> 00:21:06,784 and their laughter is sincere and loud, it's... 421 00:21:07,225 --> 00:21:11,144 That's a great, great sense of gratification. 422 00:21:11,145 --> 00:21:13,104 Too much? 423 00:21:13,105 --> 00:21:14,664 Ooooh! 424 00:21:14,665 --> 00:21:17,504 Yeah. No. 425 00:21:17,505 --> 00:21:21,504 And that's a cut! 426 00:21:25,225 --> 00:21:27,544 We have a wonderfully loyal audience 427 00:21:27,545 --> 00:21:30,224 and there's a bond there over five years. 428 00:21:30,225 --> 00:21:32,304 You have given us your half hour to watch the show, 429 00:21:32,305 --> 00:21:36,304 I want you to come away thinking it was a half hour well spent. 430 00:21:38,745 --> 00:21:41,904 What an experience, I genuinely feel quite lucky to have gained 431 00:21:41,905 --> 00:21:43,904 this insight into the making of the show. 432 00:21:43,905 --> 00:21:47,784 Turns out it's both complicated and fun in equal measure. 433 00:21:47,785 --> 00:21:49,904 But I think I'll leave the final word 434 00:21:49,905 --> 00:21:53,904 on the last hundred episodes to the cast. 435 00:21:54,105 --> 00:21:57,144 What are you tuning in for every week? 436 00:21:57,145 --> 00:22:00,704 It's not the story and the sense of what will happen this week 437 00:22:00,705 --> 00:22:04,504 as much as it is, whatever happens I want to see what these people do. 438 00:22:04,505 --> 00:22:06,424 Here we are five years later... 439 00:22:06,425 --> 00:22:10,424 Really close and a hundred episodes that's over 500 days 440 00:22:10,545 --> 00:22:13,464 here in the same room with the same people. 441 00:22:13,465 --> 00:22:15,824 Part of the reason we're still here is it's a great cast. 442 00:22:15,825 --> 00:22:17,504 These are really talented actors 443 00:22:17,505 --> 00:22:19,744 and they can do anything we ask them to do. 444 00:22:19,745 --> 00:22:23,744 They couldn't be a nicer group of people, they were so welcoming. 445 00:22:24,465 --> 00:22:28,464 And the fact that nobody's killed another person yet... 446 00:22:28,825 --> 00:22:30,584 Is a real achievement! 447 00:22:30,585 --> 00:22:32,594 Yeah, is a real achievement!