The Big Bang Theory’s Infamous Robot Poster Has An Historic Secret

The Big Bang Theory's Infamous Robot Poster Has An Historic Secret

As a gamer with a keen eye for detail and a soft spot for shows that delve deep into the world of science and technology, I must admit that “The Big Bang Theory” has always held a special place in my heart. The show’s intricate attention to detail, especially when it comes to background elements like the mysterious robot beer keg poster, is something I appreciate immensely.


Even though “The Big Bang Theory” wrapped up its 12-season journey in 2019, certain subtle details from the show continue to offer insights into the characters’ lives. For instance, there’s a poster hanging in Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and Leonard Hofstadter’s (Johnny Galecki) kitchen depicting an anthropomorphic robotic beer keg laughing with a glass of beer. It was discovered that this advertisement was for Petro Devos Audenaerde, a Belgian beer company that no longer exists, having brewed their beers in the village of Oudenaarde.

The poster’s author still hasn’t been discovered all these years later; “X. A.” or “X. Ch.” are the only hints given as to who may have created it back in the day. But it turns out it’s contributed something uniquely geeky to the computer world: the poster inspired the creation of the AUDEN type font, which can be downloaded and used by consumers everywhere to this day. It’s a contribution to the technical arts that Sheldon would be proud of. Also proud: the show’s set designers, who had a lot of fun putting together the sitcom’s look.

The set decorator loved working on The Big Bang Theory

The Big Bang Theory's Infamous Robot Poster Has An Historic Secret

In “The Big Bang Theory,” the team responsible for set design worked diligently to create the appropriate ambiance for the show’s intelligent, young singles. As shared with Entertainment Weekly by set decorator Ann Shea, it was essential to consider each character when designing a set to achieve the desired mood. At that time, she mentioned her familiarity with comic-book store owners in L.A., explaining that she tailored Raj’s (Kunal Nayyar) rooms with a more refined style based on his character being depicted as wealthy in the scripts. She also purchased silk sheets for the bachelor Howard (Simon Helberg) at the time.

Decorating Penny’s (Kaley Cuoco) place seemed to inspire Shea with its lively, colorful style. As she put it, “Penny is a fun, vibrant, young woman, so I opted for bright, bold hues to decorate.” However, her main intention was to keep it somewhat chaotic. In the end, viewers found themselves appreciating her work, from the robot poster right down to the smallest details. These creative touches tapped into fans’ inner geeks, although some of the set dressing choices left them puzzled.

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2024-08-12 03:59