An original The Big Bang Theory character could have solved the show’s big Penny problem. CBS struck gold when Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady pitched them the sitcom that eventually became one of the most popular comedies in the last decade. That being said, getting The Big Bang Theory off the ground wasn’t a walk in the park. After submitting the original pilot, the network asked the duo to make some changes. While the premise was great, some aspects of it just didn’t work well together. This forced Lorre and Prady to alter some of their original story plans, and so they did.
Four years removed from The Big Bang Theory finale, it’s difficult to imagine what the show would have been like other than how it panned out. Over the course of 12 seasons, the Pasadena gang endeared themselves to their legion of fans. That being said, there was a time that the show’s friend group looked very different. Only Jim Parsons’ Sheldon and Johnny Galecki’s Leonard were part of Lorre and Prady’s original ensemble. Kaley Cuoco’s Penny, Simon Helberg’s Howard, and Kunal Nayyar’s Raj were belatedly added. Meanwhile, Melissa Rauch’s Bernadette and Mayim Bialik’s Amy didn’t become series regulars until season 4.
Big Bang Theory’s Scrapped Gilda Character Explained
While the crux of The Big Bang Theory remained, some significant elements from the pair’s envisioned show didn’t make it to what eventually became the hit series. In a new interview, Parsons talks about the cut female scientist character from the original The Big Bang Theory pilot. Named Gilda, the role was portrayed by Iris Bahr, but like Amanda Walsh’s Katie, it was scrapped after CBS asked Lorre and Prady to rework the show. Not much is known about Gilda, but like Sheldon and Leonard, she was another Caltech scientist. The initial plan was also to explore some romantic storylines between her and the two lead physicists in the sitcom.
Gilda was supposed to be the fourth main cast member of the original The Big Bang Theory. Her addition would have kept the show tied to science as she would have also worked at Caltech. Based on the little that is revealed about her, she has a strong personality, which makes for a contentious but interesting dynamic with the rest of the cast. Unfortunately, in the bigger scheme of things, she just didn’t fit with the overall vibe that CBS was looking for when figuring out The Big Bang Theory. Eventually, the role of Gilda was then split into two and then gender-swapped to become Raj and Howard.
Keeping Gilda Would Have Fixed TBBT’s Big Penny Mistake
As popular as The Big Bang Theory was, it was also constantly criticized for its brand of humor that tended to be racist, sexist, and downright offensive. Sheldon’s lack of social awareness was often used as an excuse for his demeaning comments and attitude toward other people, especially Penny. After Walsh’s Katie was also scrapped from the sitcom, she was replaced by a bubblier and kinder female lead played by Kaley Cuoco. Unfortunately, this also meant that she was the butt of many punch lines from the show. She was depicted as dumb and promiscuous — the stereotypical ditzy blonde. The fact that she was the only main female character on the show for several seasons made this worse.
Had CBS kept Gilda, however, The Big Bang Theory could have battled criticisms of being misogynistic against Penny. Not only would the aspiring actress have a backup when Sheldon would make fun of her intellect and romantic choices, but The Big Bang Theory would have also effectively established that women also have a place in the scientific field. Penny was far from stupid. Granted that she wasn’t an intellectual, but what she lacked in that department, she made up for by being street-smart and sensitive. Still, Gilda being with her would have saved her from numerous distasteful jokes about her.
How Big Bang Theory Replaced Gilda
Gilda’s direct replacements were Raj and Howard, as Parsons recalls. That being said, there were a couple of other ways that The Big Bang Theory replaced Bahr’s character. Firstly, via Sara Gilbert’s Leslie Winkle. While the character only regularly appeared in the earlier seasons of the show, and she wasn’t exactly a member of the Pasadena gang, shades of Gilda were in her. This includes working with the boys at Caltech and being in a casual affair with Leonard. The second coming of Gilda also came via the introduction of Bernadette and Amy — two additional female members of the Pasadena gang who also excelled in the scientific field.