The Big Bang Theory’s Surprisingly Authentic Food

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The Big Bang Theory, which aired five years ago, still stands out due to its significant elements. The humor based on science, sci-fi collectibles, and other aspects were instrumental in the series’ success. One element of the show, in particular, became so prominent that it sparked conversations among fans.

As a devoted movie critic, I can’t help but notice the significant screen time dedicated to the characters from ‘The Big Bang Theory’ indulging in their culinary escapades. From takeout meals hailing from a local Chinese joint to home-cooked delicacies courtesy of a parental figure, or even the restaurant where Penny once held down a job – food plays an undeniable role in this series.

The dedicated prop team behind the scenes worked tirelessly to ensure that every scene was brimming with an abundance of edibles. However, the question of whether the actors are genuinely chowing down or engaging in a more performative act of eating, or perhaps even feasting on replicas, has sparked much debate among dedicated fans.

Intriguingly, it took a team of NASA scientists to finally crack this gastronomical conundrum.

How NASA Discovered What’s Authentic in ‘The Big Bang Theory’

Back in 2010, as “The Big Bang Theory” continued to dominate our TV screens, I found myself immersed in writing a blog post for NASA about an extraordinary beach ball that held data from the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe. My aim was to showcase this unique teaching tool, but I needed an image to accompany my article. A replica of the ball just happened to be sitting on a shelf in the apartment set of “The Big Bang Theory.”

My director had a brilliant idea: reach out to the show’s producer for a snapshot of the ball and perhaps gain some insight into this popular sitcom. To our delight, we were invited to step onto the set of “The Big Bang Theory” for that perfect picture and an enlightening tour behind the scenes.

On stage, scientists left some items for the performance, chatting with prop master Scott London in the process. It was during this conversation they found an intriguing detail about The Big Bang Theory – surprisingly enough, even though it’s filled with scientific props and dialogue, one of the show’s most genuine aspects is its portrayal of food.

In a NASA blog post, Masetti disclosed that he is responsible for preparing all the food seen on the show, as he explained during their call with London. London commented, “I have to cook meals not only for the actors but also all the background food. Some shows even had food in every single scene, ranging from three cafeteria scenes and two restaurant scenes.

In London’s case, the substantial culinary tasks weren’t just hard work; they also had a bonus. He mentioned that the team affectionately called him ‘Chef London’. Interestingly, London once considered becoming a chef himself, and the cooking duties as a prop master offered him the opportunity to do so.

Having Real Food Is Unusual in Hollywood

On a Hollywood set, it’s not common to have real food because there are often numerous takes for a single scene, so stand-ins for food are employed to prolong the life of props. For instance, a prop master recently disclosed on TikTok that ice cream appearances can be convincingly imitated using powdered sugar and cake frosting. In a more particular scenario, the prop master for ‘Midsommar’ confessed that in a scene involving a character eating a meat pie, oatmeal and cocoa powder were utilized to simulate ground beef, ensuring the pies could remain intact during a lengthy and hot shoot.

In the series known as “The Big Bang Theory”, it wasn’t convenient to employ artificial food items because the show was shot in front of a live audience with multiple cameras running simultaneously. Since the characters were eating, interrupting filming every time an actor needed to discard fake food wouldn’t have been feasible.

When it comes to eating food on set, people often wonder if we actually do so. As a matter of fact, Kaley Cuoco, who portrays Penny, admitted she is one of those who truly indulges in the food during scenes. She revealed that she waits for those moments to eat as she wants her consumption to appear genuine. However, it’s important to note that not every actor on the show consumes the food as authentically as it may seem, with some needing to learn techniques for pretending to eat, like Kunal Nayyar, who demonstrated this trick to talk show host Conan O’Brien by sneaking the food back into its packaging.

The Food Is Essential to the Friendship

It appears that the writers intentionally made the characters in “The Big Bang Theory” preoccupied with food during live tapings. However, this turns out to be quite effective as the show’s characters often eat, discuss food, or visit restaurants. In essence, food serves as a common ground for their friendship in The Big Bang Theory.

In some episodes of the show, there have been incredibly funny scenes involving food. One instance that stands out is when Leonard revealed in Season 2 that the Chinese restaurant they frequently ordered from had closed two years prior. Unbeknownst to Sheldon, Leonard had accumulated around 4,000 containers from the place so he could pass off dishes from other restaurants as Sheldon’s favorite cuisine.

Food love permeated its way into the spinoff series of ‘The Big Bang Theory’. Many episodes in ‘Young Sheldon’ and ‘Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage’ feature dining table scenes. In an episode of ‘Young Sheldon’, George Sr. even develops a fascination for a recipe of Meemaw’s brisket. Another spinoff is being developed from ‘The Big Bang Theory’, this time focusing on the comic-book store, potentially leading to reusing some of the same restaurant sets.

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2025-03-06 04:06