“What if they always had to walk up the stairs?”: The Big Bang Theory’s Reason Behind the Broken Elevator is Why We Got Those Legendary Kaley Cuoco, Jim Parsons Scenes.
The Big Bang Theory’s most memorable scenes were presented to the fans as a result of the malfunctioning elevator.
Summary
- Fans of The Big Bang Theory are always bringing up the show’s caution-taped broken elevator.
- The creators acknowledged that it was a purposeful artistic decision to allow the characters to use the stairs and provide some memorable dialogue.
- But Raj actor Kunal Nayyar disclosed that filming those short but iconic staircase shots was quite difficult.
What if they always had to walk up the stairs? The Big Bang Theory’s Reason Behind
TV program fans have praised The Big Bang Theory as one of the greatest sitcoms ever. Fans find its moments incredibly memorable because of the witty humor that is consistently there together with the well-known pop culture references. Still, the malfunctioning elevator remained a central theme throughout the entire series.
The malfunctioning elevator from the CBS sitcom developed into a major plot point for the narrative of TBBT, which continued until the very conclusion of the program.
It’s interesting to note that The Big Bang Theory’s creators claim that the malfunctioning elevator was a deft attempt to highlight more intimate moments amongst the renowned nerd team. They claimed that’s why we had some of the most memorable dialogues in the entire show.
The Broken Elevator Played An Important Purpose In The Big Bang Theory
Fans of The Big Bang Theory have noticed a warning tape on the elevator in Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter’s building since the show’s premiere. The Staircase Implementation’s Season 3 Episode 22 is when we first learn of the group’s unsuccessful experiment, which took place four years before the events of Season 1, and which ultimately led to the elevator’s demise.
Although the malfunctioning elevator amused viewers, the creators of the show saw a very valuable use for it. The gang would usually use the stairs to reach the fourth floor because of the malfunctioning elevator. Along with providing us with many unforgettable small talk and chit-chats, this lengthy ride also greatly enhanced the interpersonal dynamics in the show.
During his WonderCon speech, Bill Prady, who co-created the show with Chuck Lorre, disclosed that during their work on Dharma and Greg, they had a street set that served as a conversational area for the characters. In TBBT, the staircase fulfilled a similar function and was a major contributing factor to several memorable scenes starring Jim Parsons and Kaley Cuoco.
So, one of the things you need is a place for characters to walk and talk. When Chuck Lorre and I had worked on Dharma and Greg we had this outside street set where characters could have a conversation. And we had it because it was an unused stage at 20th Century Fox where we shot Dharma. We tried to do that at Big Bang and it was just too much real estate and we started talking about, ‘What if they always had to walk up the stairs?’
Jim Parsons & Kaley Cuoco
In the penultimate episode of Season 12, the elevator was cleverly handled by the creators before the show’s eventual conclusion. The showrunner, Steve Holland, said to Entertainment Weekly that the moment when the fixed elevator was shown was so legendary that it took 42 seconds for the cheers of the live crowd to subside before Kaley Cuoco could finally see her lines. It also demonstrated that it was among the most important components for the duration of the event.
What Did Kunal Nayyar Say About The Staircase?
For fans of TBBT, the staircase has always held special meaning since they have witnessed numerous fleeting yet profound exchanges between the characters there. But, Raj Koothrappali star Kunal Nayyar revealed that filming those sequences was extremely difficult when discussing the staircase in an interview with the UK’s Channel 4 Sunday Brunch show (via The Independent).
It was filmed on a set rather than in a genuine building, despite what we see in the TV show. Because they were required to get to the fourth floor canonically, the actors had to climb and descend multiple times in order to film the scenes involving the stairs.
The procedure is as follows: once you down the steps, someone yells, “Hold.” For example, if the apartment reads 1a, it can suddenly read 2a or 3. The set is altered to make it appear like a whole other floor. You dash back up the empty stairs and descend as though it were a brand-new surface.
The way it works is, you go down the stairs, and then they yell, ‘Hold.’ They change the scenery from like if the apartment says 1a it suddenly says 2a or 3. They change the set so it looks exactly like another floor. You run back up the stairs, that go nowhere, and then you walk back down as if it’s a new floor.
The Big Bang Theory
As perplexing and tedious as that may sound, it also demonstrates how the filmmakers skillfully combined those scenes to portray those staircase moments accurately. There’s no denying that The Big Bang Theory’s staircase and malfunctioning elevator were underappreciated features that set it apart from other conventional sitcoms.
Max allows you to watch The Big Bang Theory online.
Source: Wikipedia
Read Also: Kaley Cuoco Looks Exquisite In Red Slip Dress, Pictures Here
