Bazinga.
Kaley Cuoco’s role as struggling actress Penny in The Big Bang Theory nearly went to Marisa Tomei together with many different actresses, in accordance to a preview of Jessica Radloff’s upcoming oral historical past of the present, The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story Of The Epic Hit Series, revealed by The Hollywood Reporter.
“I had the part of Sheldon for a long time before everything was settled. I read with Marisa Tomei,” recalled Jim Parsons, who received 4 Emmys for his starring role as physicist Sheldon Cooper.
He was advised on the time that the Oscar winner, 57, had successfully been auditioning him.
“I went, ‘Oh, that makes sense.’ But oh my gosh what a different world that would have been,” stated Parsons, 49.
At the time, Penny – who for years was the one constant feminine presence within the group of nerdy mates Sheldon, Leonard (Johnny Galecki), Howard (Simon Helberg) and Raj (Kunal Nayyar) – was supposed to be Katie, who was meant to be “cynical, down on her luck, and off-putting”.
Cuoco, 36, the Emmy-nominated star of The Flight Attendant, upon testing for the pilot was adored by community CBS however, being “so sunny and bubbly” she “didn’t bring the dark qualities” to the role’s authentic incarnation, casting director Ken Miller stated within the guide.
Prior to Cuoco’s casting, Canadian actress Amanda Walsh – recognized for her role on ABC’s short-lived Sons & Daughters – recalled having “had a really positive first audition” for Katie, although she didn’t initially nab the half, both.
Instead, She’s All That actress Jodi Lyn O’Keefe bought the role and took part in a desk learn. But O’Keefe’s “darkness … just didn’t work” and he or she was inevitably axed, casting director Nikki Valko stated.
“We had to recast in three days, so I remember holding auditions Easter Sunday,” Valko added.
That introduced the crew again to Walsh, who stated she had a second audition that “went really well and was a lot of fun,” and resulted in a near-immediate casting. Walsh performed Katie within the present’s unaired preliminary pilot, however was later changed with Cuoco as Penny earlier than a brand new pilot was filmed.
Other actresses thought of for the half earlier than it turned to Cuoco’s Penny embody Tara Reid and Elizabeth Berkley.
The Big Bang Theory aired for 12 seasons on CBS and through its tenure took house 10 Emmys, together with 4 for Parsons as excellent lead actor in a comedy collection. – New York Daily News/Tribune News Service
