The writers of the Emmy award-winning comedy, The Big Bang Theory, have decided to home in on the storylines of Penny (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting) and Dr Rajesh “Raj” Koothrappali in the seventh season. Debashine Thangevelo looks at what’s on the cards for them…
To date, Penny (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting) has been painted as this über-hot aspiring actress-cum-airhead waitress. And the writers had oodles of fun penning a romance for her with the cool geek of the genius bunch – Dr Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki).
Their on-again-off-again status quos have certainly kept fans entertained. Honestly, this relationship has defied the laws of attraction and logic.
In an interview with TVLine, the actress shed light on her character’s growth and about the series being renewed for another three seasons.
She smiled: “I think anybody would like to know that they have a job for the next three years, so I was completely on board with that – and very grateful and excited. It’s such a rarity to know that you have a place (to work) for the next couple of years.”
At $1 million (R11.5m) an episode and 22 episodes a season, that’s quite a lucrative gig in Hollywood. That The Big Bang Theory outperformed Modern Family in the US to become the leading comedy – well, that’s great bragging rights for Chuck Lorre, right there.
Reflecting on Penny from the earlier episodes, she noted: “After seven years, you’re like, ‘what was I thinking?’ The set seems different, too. Everything does. It’s very strange. I think she knows a lot more about stuff than she would like to or ever thought she would. I think it’s funny when she catches herself talking about Star Trek or under-standing what they say. She’s come a long way.”
On Leonard and Penny getting engaged, she offered: “Yeah, I think she started to realise that life is happen-ing and this fairytale of ‘oh, I want to be an actress’ (needs evaluation). She has this perfect guy next to her and she wanted to start making life happen for her and not wait for it to come to her.”
Interestingly, Cuoco-Sweeting would love for Lisa Kudrow to play her mum when that big day does come.
She shared: “I don’t know what they are going to do, but I have always thought that – and I hope I don’t offend her – Lisa Kudrow would be perfect. I have said that for years. I think it would be hilarious plus I’m a huge fan of hers, so it’s a selfish wish.”
Meanwhile, producer Steve Molaro told Vulture.com more about their plans for Raj now that he has broken the curse and is able to have a sober conversation with a woman.
He said: “It’s something we have been thinking about for a while; it’s not the greatest situation (to have) a character who can only speak in front of women when he has alcohol in his hand. So, it’s a moment of growth for him. What I particularly enjoy is that it didn’t happen in an episode where it’s, ‘hey let’s fix Koothrappali’. It came from him falling in love (with Lucy) as opposed to, ‘let’s get him a psychiatrist or on medicine and give him these weird side effects’.”
How does this impact on his funny Raj moments – as they often stemmed from his awkwardness?
Molaro pointed out: “I can tell you just because he can speak to women now doesn’t mean he’s going to be very good at it. He does not have a lot of experience speaking to women while sober.”
The creative team haven’t written off the idea of Kate Micucci, who played Lucy, returning either.
He revealed: “We all love her. I think the character’s really fun. It’s a definite possibility that Raj will try and find her in the future.”
By the way, actor-director-poet-singer Leonard Nimoy and Stephen Hawking, renowned English theoretical physicist and cosmologist, guest star in the new season of the comedy.
On their plans for Penny’s acting career, he offered: “Well, we saw last season that she’s actually a pretty talented actress when she is on stage. We don’t have immediate plans for or against her career taking off. In general, I think what we have so far is a pretty accurate portrayal of a pretty girl who moved to Los Angeles, and took acting classes, and is trying, and is struggling, and is a waitress.
“I think for a lot of people, that’s the reality… but nothing’s ruled out!”
The Big Bang Theory season 7 airs on M-Net (DStv 101) on Wednesday at 7.30pm.