The Big Bang Theory creator Chuck Lorre’s candid confession revealed the true reason behind the absence of a Penny spinoff.
Six years after The Big Bang Theory came to an end, its creator, Chuck Lorre, has revealed why there is no Penny spinoff in a candid confession. Since its premiere back in 2006, TBBT has become one of the best and most popular TV series of its time.
After enjoying a 12-season run on CBS, the show continues to live on in its fans’ hearts, especially with its extended spinoff, including Young Sheldon, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, and the upcoming Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. However, it still raised questions about the other popular characters, who much likely deserved a show of their own, one of them being Penny, portrayed by Kaley Cuoco.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lorre reflected on how he came to learn the value of comedy spinoffs, suggesting why there is no Penny spinoff despite the popularity of the character in the sitcom.
“You never get a green light because it’s deep. You get a green light because they think they can make a profit,” he said, revealing that the only reason CBS went ahead with the Young Sheldon as they saw it as a guaranteed profitable venture, as it has a clear formula, broad family appeal, and built-in audience.
Why CBS Never Went Ahead With a Penny Spinoff After Chuck Lorre’s The Big Bang Theory
For over a decade, The Big Bang Theory dominated television screens, turning its ensemble cast into household names. Yet, for all the love Kaley Cuoco’s character, Penny, received, a solo spinoff about her never materialized, and now, it seems we finally know why.
Chuck Lorre shed some light on the decision-making process behind CBS’s spinoff choices. It turns out, no matter how beloved a character might be, the cold, hard reality of network television often boils down to simple economics; if a show doesn’t promise clear profitability, it doesn’t get the green light.
This sheds a new perspective on why Young Sheldon, a prequel about Sheldon Cooper’s childhood in East Texas, moved forward so quickly while a Penny-focused project never made it off the ground or likely never even came into consideration.
While a Penny spinoff would have been rich with potential, whether it explored her roots in Nebraska or a continuation to where TBBT left off, it’s likely that it didn’t click the same commercial box as Young Sheldon.
And it’s certainly not a reflection of Cuoco’s talents or character’s popularity. Penny remains and will continue to be the heart of the show, the bridge between the geeks and the outside world.
For now, the TBBT universe continues through Young Sheldon and its upcoming spinoff, but Penny’s story remains frozen where the finale left it, much to the frustration of die-hard fans who feel there’s still more to explore.
Our Take on the Lost Penny Spinoff That Never Happened
It is disappointing to see such beloved characters as Penny being neglected just because they may not hold the same commercial value as others. However, it was most likely for the best that the network did not move forward with a Penny-centered spinoff. Why, one may ask?
Though The Big Bang Theory established Penny and Leonard as the central couple, their dynamic remained a topic of mixed reactions even years after the show ended in 2019. While there was still a potential for a series about their future as a family with their child, it just gets a lot more complex.
Unlike Young Sheldon, a show focusing solely on Penny or her family life would leave an awkward, glaring absence of other familiar characters. For an audience so used to seeing the group share lunches and dinners in Apartment 4A, the magic just wouldn’t translate.
A prequel focusing on Penny’s younger years might have sounded tempting, as a coming-of-age series set in a small town and focusing on a young and ambitious Penny. However, it risked repeating a recycled formula of already hit shows like The Carrie Diaries, Gilmore Girls, and even That ’70s Show, rather than a fresh expansion of The Big Bang Theory universe.
And let’s be honest, there have been spinoffs based on some of the most popular characters from the all-time hit shows, looking at you, Joey from FRIENDS, that just don’t work for several reasons. And with that, it was probably the best that CBS kept its hands off of a Penny spinoff.
As for Kaley Cuoco, she has successfully avoided being typecast, a frustrating fate that often follows actors from iconic shows. Instead, her career has since flourished beyond TBBT, earning her critical acclaim, including an Emmy nomination for The Flight Attendant and a successful run on the comedy thriller, Based on a True Story.
While not a spinoff, it would still be a treat for longtime fans to see her return in the upcoming TBBT spinoff, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, with an update on where Penny and Leonard are now.
