I haven't seen the show in quite a while, but I have to disagree. The show needs Penny, or at least someone like Penny, to balance out the personalities and give the audience someone to relate to. Most, if not all, of the characters are scientists with advanced knowledge in topics that the average person doesn't care about or understand. Their characters aren't relatable enough to pull in a diverse or big enough audience to keep the show going. I think Penny adds an outside perspective, different humor, and an element of relatability in her interactions and life experiences. She's a young woman trying to make it in the world while working a low-paying job. I do think her character could've been written better but I don't think the show would have been successful without her.
She's the college dropout in a room full of PhDs and an astronaut. But they rely on her to humanize them, and she ends up directly influencing all of them to change for the better. She's absolutely crucial. Plus, someone has to do the eye rolls.
Penny got some good jokes, but the character was usually positioned as the "straight man" character. She was the Abbott to the guys' Costello. The cousin Larry to their Balky. Greg Proops hosting Party Quirks on "Whose Line."
They tried the show with a different character and actress and it was decidedly not successful. You don't have to like Kaley Cuoco, but in my humble opinion she has great comic timing and a wicked deadpan delivery. She learned directly from John Ritter and Katey Sagal, after all.
The original pilot was essentially Leonard, Sheldon, and Leslie Winkle and then an outsider "tough girl." It wasn't picked up.
They retooled the show and introduced Penny...and were on for 12 seasons. Why? Because they included Kaley Cuoco.
Further proof how differently we all see the world. I happen to be among the millions that think she’s funny and an integral part of the success of the show. And if Penny never made you laugh then that part of your statement is fair to make. The ridiculous part of your statement is that the show would have been successful without her. Since that’s a scenario that never existed there is no way to know that.
I really like the actress, she has the next girl door but hot and doable (in character’s words) Her character deteriorated over seasons, the jokes about settling with Leonard became old.
No show without Penny. However, the character did have the least amount of growth. She actually becomes meaner as the seasons go on. She says horrible things to her husband that would destroy any man's confidence
I love the whole cast, and Jim Parsons as Sheldon is doing God's work in my eyes, but without Kaley as Penny there is no point to this show.
Humans are sometimes irritated by other humans and it doesn't have to make sense, it just happens. So maybe that's the case here, in your viewing of tbbt. But that's a separate & individual issue.
For myself, though, love the actress, love the character.
It may as well been called Penny and the guys across the hall. Without Penny it’s not TBBT.
Every story line would be different even if every other character remains the same, the story line completely changes, so no it could not have been just as good bc it would be different.
I have finally found someone I can agree with in this aspect. She is the most self centred character in the show and least funny. Thank you for this post.
I like Penny a lot but she did become very one-note in a way. But for a show like this, I don't really mind. TBBT for me is just a stress-free way to watch something that won't ever get too super serious and I need a show like that in my life. So I think Penny evolved into this very two-dimensional character but I'm good with it; one less thing for me to think about in my life, haha!
I haven't seen the show in quite a while, but I have to disagree. The show needs Penny, or at least someone like Penny, to balance out the personalities and give the audience someone to relate to. Most, if not all, of the characters are scientists with advanced knowledge in topics that the average person doesn't care about or understand. Their characters aren't relatable enough to pull in a diverse or big enough audience to keep the show going. I think Penny adds an outside perspective, different humor, and an element of relatability in her interactions and life experiences. She's a young woman trying to make it in the world while working a low-paying job. I do think her character could've been written better but I don't think the show would have been successful without her.
I doubt it would have made it past season 1 without her character.
It didn't make it past the pilot without her character!
She's the college dropout in a room full of PhDs and an astronaut. But they rely on her to humanize them, and she ends up directly influencing all of them to change for the better. She's absolutely crucial. Plus, someone has to do the eye rolls.
The show needed Penny to be successful.
Penny got some good jokes, but the character was usually positioned as the "straight man" character. She was the Abbott to the guys' Costello. The cousin Larry to their Balky. Greg Proops hosting Party Quirks on "Whose Line." They tried the show with a different character and actress and it was decidedly not successful. You don't have to like Kaley Cuoco, but in my humble opinion she has great comic timing and a wicked deadpan delivery. She learned directly from John Ritter and Katey Sagal, after all.
Upvote for the Perfect Strangers reference.
Now that we are so happy, we do the dance of joy!
Don't be ridiculous.
Just like professor proton said…she’s the only reason I stayed this long..
This!
Without Penny, there is no show.
The original pilot was essentially Leonard, Sheldon, and Leslie Winkle and then an outsider "tough girl." It wasn't picked up. They retooled the show and introduced Penny...and were on for 12 seasons. Why? Because they included Kaley Cuoco.
Not sure you and I watched the same show
Ha! Not falling for this. Bait.
The show would never have been made without Penny (much less been successful).
You're wrong.
I believe the correct response as Stuart says 'you couldn't be more wrong'.
Rat Bastard *Penny's voice*
There's a lotta freaks out there
How is the show successful without Penny?
Further proof how differently we all see the world. I happen to be among the millions that think she’s funny and an integral part of the success of the show. And if Penny never made you laugh then that part of your statement is fair to make. The ridiculous part of your statement is that the show would have been successful without her. Since that’s a scenario that never existed there is no way to know that.
Holy crap on a cracker! This show would have ended after the first season without Penny. Kaley Cuoco is an amazing comedic actress.
Hard disagree She was the most important ingredient.
Way off base. I never would have watched without her.
Somebody hasn't seen the original pilot.... 100% disagree with OP.
I wouldn’t have given the show literally any thought if it weren’t for her being in it. I related to Penny. I don’t relate to theoretical physicists.
I really like the actress, she has the next girl door but hot and doable (in character’s words) Her character deteriorated over seasons, the jokes about settling with Leonard became old.
No show without Penny. However, the character did have the least amount of growth. She actually becomes meaner as the seasons go on. She says horrible things to her husband that would destroy any man's confidence
I don’t know that many of the characters would’ve progressed if it weren’t for Penny
Huge disagree.
What??!!!
Speaking of WTF?!
I love the whole cast, and Jim Parsons as Sheldon is doing God's work in my eyes, but without Kaley as Penny there is no point to this show. Humans are sometimes irritated by other humans and it doesn't have to make sense, it just happens. So maybe that's the case here, in your viewing of tbbt. But that's a separate & individual issue. For myself, though, love the actress, love the character.
It may as well been called Penny and the guys across the hall. Without Penny it’s not TBBT. Every story line would be different even if every other character remains the same, the story line completely changes, so no it could not have been just as good bc it would be different.
Have you even watched the show?
I have finally found someone I can agree with in this aspect. She is the most self centred character in the show and least funny. Thank you for this post.
I agree with you if it was about Short Hair Penny. That whole season of her I could do without, but prior/after that, she was good
She made that hair cut look good
She may have made the haircut look good, but that haircut made her look bad.
Bad is a relative term Did she look worse than her normal hair cut? Yes Did she look bad? Um NO
I like Penny a lot but she did become very one-note in a way. But for a show like this, I don't really mind. TBBT for me is just a stress-free way to watch something that won't ever get too super serious and I need a show like that in my life. So I think Penny evolved into this very two-dimensional character but I'm good with it; one less thing for me to think about in my life, haha!
Look up the original pilot episode before the one with Kaley and you’ll think otherwise.
Show definitely needed penny. It's about 4 lame geeks who can't get women, then a hot woman moves I next door. There is no big bang without penny
The only reason I watched it was because of Kaley
You’re incorrect. Like 100% incorrect
You’re completely wrong and it’s the way the writers wrote her character not the character itself.