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Most actors would jump at the chance to star in a sitcom pilot, even if they don't know what that pilot's future holds — and according to a tell-all book about "The Big Bang Theory," one of that show's stars, Johnny Galecki, was so reluctant to join the show "about nerds" that he turned it down a whopping five times before finally agreeing to play experimental physicist Leonard Hofstadter.

In Jessica Radloff's 2022 book "The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series," everyone involved with the series ended up speaking to the author, and the story about how casting directors Nikki Valko and Ken Miller worked alongside creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady to get Galecki involved is a real doozy. After the pilot was written (by Prady and Lorre), Valko and Miller had to cast both Leonard and his best friend Sheldon Cooper; ultimately, Jim Parsons wound up playing Sheldon,...

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When "The Big Bang Theory" first started in 2007, there were only five main cast members: Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper, Johnny Galecki as Leonard Hofstadter, Kunal Nayyar as Raj Koothrappali, Simon Helberg as Howard Wolowitz, and Kaley Cuoco as Penny. Over time, co-creator Chuck Lorre and his creative team wisely brought on some supporting players who eventually became regulars, including three important additions: Melissa Rauch as Bernadette Rostenkowski (who becomes Howard's love interest), Mayim Bialik as Amy Farrah Fowler (who ultimately dates and marries Sheldon), and Kevin Sussman as Stuart Bloom. So, which one was only supposed to be a fleeting guest star? That would be Rauch's character Bernadette.

During an interview on "The Jennifer Hudson Show" in February 2023, Rauch, who stars in NBC's "Night Court" reboot, told the Oscar winner that she's still amazed by the experience and...

Auditioning for major movies and TV shows is a pretty stressful prospect, even if you've done it a thousand times. You could absolutely whiff the lines provided to you in advance. You could start visibly sweating. You could maybe eve affect a bizarre, random accent that has nothing to do with the role or anything relevant at all. That last scenario may sound rather specific, and that's because that's what actually happened to Melissa Rauch when she auditioned for the role of Bernadette Rostenkowski on "The Big Bang Theory." 

In an interview with Glamour in 2015 -- written by Jessica Radloff, the reporter who would ultimately go on to write the defining oral history of Chuck Lorre's hit sitcom -- Rauch and several of her co-stars shared some behind the scenes anecdotes, including a really, really embarrassing moment from Rauch's audition. "I had to say the word about, but I kept pronouncing it a-boot,...

It's not uncommon for actors to keep props when they finish a project, and according to Melissa Rauch, who played Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz on "The Big Bang Theory," she kept one important part of her character: her eyeglasses.

In an interview with Showbiz Cheat Sheet in the fall of 2021, Rauch revealed that she almost returned the glasses she wore to play Bernadette until one of the show's executive producers stopped her. "I was so excited," she recalled. "I was about to hand them back and Steve Molaro, the executive producer, said, 'I think you should have those.' I'm so glad that he did."

"I remember when I took the glasses off for Simon," Rauch continued, referencing her on-screen husband Howard Wolowitz (played by Simon Helberg) before stressing how emotional the moment was when she received her glasses. "I was so happy they let me take them home with me so...

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"The Big Bang Theory" is one giant ode to nerddom, so it makes sense that over the years the show featured guest stars from the biggest geeky franchises in movies and television. "Star Trek: The Next Generation" star Wil Wheaton even ended up playing a villainous version of himself for a number of episodes, and plenty of other actors also joined in on the fun. No, seriously, there are a ton of "Star Trek" actors that have guest starred on "The Big Bang Theory." But in season 7, it was time for the stars of another big sci-fi franchise to shine when superfan Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) tried to create his own Comic-Con.

In "The Convention Conundrum," Sheldon manages to find the voice of Darth Vader himself: the late, great James Earl Jones, playing himself, as he dines in a local sushi restaurant.

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It's hard to imagine "The Big Bang Theory" without its main cast — specifically, Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik, Melissa Rauch, and, of course, Kaley Cuoco. As the show's original female lead Penny, Cuoco brings a light-hearted and wholly necessary energy to the show — and if you ask people who were there during the inception of "The Big Bang Theory," Cuoco's performance saved the show from a near-certain cancellation.

As former CBS executive Nina Tassler told Emmy Magazine in 2023 (via The Direct), the original, unaired pilot of "The Big Bang Theory," which infamously featured Amanda Walsh as a different female character named Katie, flopped largely because Walsh didn't have good chemistry with Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter. "There was so much about the pilot that did work," Tassler revealed. "But there were parts of the script that didn't work,...

It's fair to say that on the Chuck Lorre sitcom "The Big Bang Theory," the female characters don't always get a fair shake. At first, the only girl in the main cast is Penny, played by Kaley Cuoco, and she doesn't even get a last name until she marries Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki) in season 9. Still, even after the character of Penny was fully reworked for a second attempt at a pilot — she was originally played by Amanda Walsh and named Katie — the show's creative team still thinks the pilot did Penny dirty.

In Jessica Radloff's 2022 book "The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series," both Lorre and his fellow showrunner (and executive producer) Steve Molaro said they don't feel great about how they depict Penny early in the series. "She was the ditzy blonde girl in the pilot, which is one of the...

The cast of the hit CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory has become memorable for their respective characters, with Johnny Galecki known for his portrayal of Leonard and Kaley Cuoco for Penny and Jim Parsons for the role of the brilliant but irritable theoretical physicist Sheldon Cooper.

The Big Bang Theory | Credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment

However, before the show hit the screens, there was a bit of a mix-up in the cast, as Galecki was initially considered for the role of Sheldon rather than Leonard. However, the actor chose Leonard instead after learning about Penny’s dynamic with his character.

Why did Johnny Galecki Opt for Leonard Over Sheldon in The Big Bang Theory?

Jim Parsons embodied the quirky and iconic character of Sheldon Cooper to life for over a decade in The Big Bang Theory. However, before Parsons secured the role, Johnny Galecki was initially considered for the part.

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It's almost hard to imagine anybody besides Jim Parsons playing Sheldon Cooper on "The Big Bang Theory." For 12 years and seasons, Parsons perfectly crafted the lead character of Sheldon — a brilliant yet irascible theoretical physicist who lives with his best friend Leonard Hofstadter (played by Johnny Galecki). As it turns out, Galecki almost played Sheldon ... but then asked showrunner and creator Chuck Lorre if he could be considered for the role of Leonard instead.

As Galecki told Variety in 2015, he felt like he understood Leonard better than he understood the character of Sheldon — and he also wanted to pursue Leonard's storyline, in which the experimental physicist falls for and subsequently woos his gorgeous new neighbor Penny (Kaley Cuoco). As the "Roseanne" alum put it, he'd rarely gotten the opportunity to play a romantic lead yet in his career, and he...

It seems impossible to imagine anyone but Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, and Kaley Cuoco on "The Big Bang Theory," but the truth is that other actors were considered before showrunner Chuck Lorre and his team found the perfect people for the lead roles. Marisa Tomei read for Cuoco's character Penny — who was also played by a different actress in the show's original, unaired pilot — and Kevin Sussman originally auditioned for the lead role of Howard Wolowitz (which went to Helberg in the end) before getting his own supporting character. Apparently, "Home Alone" star Macaulay Culkin was also approached for a role ... but he definitively said no.

During a 2018 interview with Joe Rogan, Culkin said that he hasn't really considered any major sitcom roles throughout his career, though it depends on the overall quality. "I couldn't see myself doing a sitcom or a television show kind of thing.

The Casting Society of America has made the first callbacks for the 37th annual Artios Awards. The group today revealed its nominees for television, theater, short films and shortform series.

Netflix leads with 11 noms, nearly double the haul for runners-up HBO and Hulu, which grabbed six apiece. Disney+ is next with four, followed Amazon Prime Video and Nickelodeon, which scooped three apiece. The winners will be feted during the CSA’s in-person trophy show on March 17 at the Beverly Hilton.

Vying in the Television Series – Drama category are The Boys, The Handmaid’s Tale, The Mandalorian, Pose and This Is Us. Up for the Comedy Series prize are A Black Lady Sketch Show, Call My Agent, Pen15 and three series that wrapped their runs this year: The Kominsky Method, Shrill and Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.

The nominees for Television Pilot or First Season – Drama are Bridgerton, Ginny & Georgia, Lovecraft Country, Perry Mason,...

Do you love to hate the familial chemistry in “Knives Out” or the equally toxic marital misery in “Marriage Story?” Are you awed by the pack of relative unknowns breaking your heart from week to week on “Pose?” Then make sure to thank your friendly, neighborhood casting director, responsible for staffing up all your favorite stories.

Indeed, it was time for the casting directors to shine on Thursday night, with not one, not two, but three ceremonies celebrating the best of the business for their work in casting projects including animation, film, television, and the stage. With a Los Angeles ceremony hosted by Ron Funches, a New York event hosted by Michelle Buteau, and a London soiree overseen by Jason Isaacs, the Casting Society of America went all out for the 35th Annual Artios Awards.

While Rian Johnson’s aforementioned “Knives Out” took home the prize for big budget comedy,...

Hot on the heels of a shocking Primetime Emmy Awards ceremony, the Casting Society of America announced the television and theatre nominations for the 35th Artios Awards, honoring the contributions of casting directors to the arts.

While Netflix’s “When They See Us,” which won casting for a limited series, and HBO’s “Game of Thrones,” which won casting for a drama series at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards earlier this month, have the potential to repeat their accomplishments thanks to the newly announced nominations. The competition for comedy series casting is wide open, with Emmy-winning “Fleabag” not nominated by Csa.

As for networks, Netflix far and away outstripped its competitors, scoring an impressive 19 television Artios Award nominations, compared to just eight for HBO, four for Hulu, three for FX, and two for Amazon Prime Video.

“It has been an exceptional year for the art of casting and this slate...

The Casting Society of America (Csa) has announced the nominations for the 35th Artios Awards for television and theater.

“It has been an exceptional year for the art of casting and this slate of incredible nominees is a testament to how the quality of our work is positively reflected in this most impressive list of projects,” said Russell Boast, President, Csa. “As we approach our 35th Artios Awards we celebrate the great achievements our members have made, past and present, and look towards making even more of an impact throughout our industry.”

The awards — which honor the contributions of casting directors in television, theatre, and film — will be handed out on January 30, 2020 in Los Angeles, New York City and London. Comedian, actor and writer Ron Funches is set to host the awards in L.A.

Below is the full list of nominations.

Television Pilot And First Season – Comedy

Dead To Me – Sherry Thomas,...

New series including “When They See Us,” “Succession” and “Pen15” are among the 35th Artios Award nominees, the Casting Society of America (Csa) announced Tuesday.

“It has been an exceptional year for the art of casting and this slate of incredible nominees is a testament to how the quality of our work is positively reflected in this most impressive list of projects,” said Russell Boast, president, Csa. “As we approach our 35th Artios Awards we celebrate the great achievements our members have made, past and present, and look towards making even more of an impact throughout our industry.”

The Artios Awards celebrate the contribution of casting directors in film, television and theater. The milestone 35th ceremony will take place Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020 in three cities: Los Angeles, New York and London. Comedian, actor and writer Ron Funches will host the Los Angeles event.

“When They See Us” helped Netflix earn the...

Netflix’s “Queer Eye,” HBO’s “Barry,” Amazon’s “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” and CBS’ “Young Sheldon” are among the TV nominees for the 34th annual Artios Awards from the Casting Society of America.

On the legit side, “The Boys in the Band,” “Lobby Hero” and “Angels in America” were among the productions recognized.

The Artios kudos will be handed out on Jan. 31 in simultaneous ceremonies held in Beverly Hills and New York.

The casting team behind shows such as “American Horror Story,” “Glee,” and “Supernatural” will be honored. Robert J. Ulrich, Eric Dawson and Carol Kritzer of Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer Casting will receive the Hoyt Bowers Award for their outstanding contribution to the casting profession.

“It has been an exceptional year on stage and screen,” said Russell Boast, Csa president in announcing the first wave of Artios nominations. Nominees for feature film will be unveiled early next year.

Csa members submitted...

The Deuce, Atlanta, Game of Thrones, The Boys in the Band and Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert are among the Artios Awards nominees in television, theater and short film announced today by the Casting Society of America.

Recognizing outstanding achievement in casting, the 34th Annual Artios Awards will take place January 31, 2019, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles & Stage 48 in New York City.

“It has been an exceptional year on stage and screen,” said Russell Boast, Csa President. “As the profession of casting gains more and more industry recognition we are pleased to announce our first slate of nominees – many of whom have also recently been recognized by our peers at the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and the American Theatre Wing among many others this awards season.”

All nominees, submitted by Csa members, represent projects that were aired, released or performed between June 1, 2017 and May 31, 2018. Nominees for...

While the Oscars have yet to make room for casting directors — a pivotal part of the Best Picture equation — the oversight isn't stopping the Casting Society of America from readying its third decade of picking up the Academy's slack. Csa announced Monday morning that the 30th Annual Artios Awards will honor Academy Award-nominated and Emmy Award-winning director Rob Marshall and Emmy Award-winning casting director Ellen Lewis for their individual work in the world of casting. The news arrives with nominations in categories of television, theater, new media and short film, and on the heels of the ceremony's move from November to Jan. 22, the thick of the awards season. Feature film nominations will be announced closer to the show date. Marshall, whose adaptation of Stephen Sondheim's "Into the Woods" bows Dec. 25, will receive the New York Apple Award, "recognizing individuals who have made special contributions to the New York entertainment...

Casting director attachments are starting to trickle out for the networks' early pilot orders. Backstage has learned that CBS comedy pilot "Mom" will be cast by Nikki Valko and Ken Miller. "Mom" has already cast Anna Faris in its lead role as a single mother, newly sober, who struggles to stay on the straight and narrow. The pilot hails from Warner Bros. Television and Chuck Lorre Productions. Valko/Miller currents casts all three of Chuck Lorre's CBS series — "Mike & Molly," "Two and a Half Men," and "The Big Bang Theory." The series is set in California's Napa Valley, but at this time a shoot location — as well as a production start date — is still to be determined. Lesli Gelles-Raymond and Greg Orson of Go Casting, who cast the CW's hit drama "The Vampire Diaries," will also cast the possible spinoff "The Originals." The backdoor pilot, which is set to...

Crime dramas, conspiracy thrillers, and down-home narratives about youthful angst will be among the new shows entering our homes this fall TV season. All will be seeking actors for a range of roles: guest spots, recurring, perhaps even a principal part. We spoke to CDs of several shows to find out what they might need. "Body of Proof," Drama, ABCAs the title suggests, "Body of Proof" is a crime drama. But it's somewhat different from the usual fare, says casting director Rosalie Joseph. In addition to solving murders, the characters are advocates for the victims, giving peace and closure to their survivors. Set in Philadelphia (but shot in Providence, R.I.), the story centers on Dr. Megan Hunt (Dana Delaney), a top-notch neurosurgeon who is forced to give up her medical practice in the wake of a devastating car crash and resume her career as a medical examiner. But within...

The following is a list of the top 25 Power Casting Directors in film and television (including Casting Director of the Year, Debra Zane; see page 9). We began with more than 100 candidates. In some cases, collaborations were so closely tied that we considered multiple people as one entity. Several drafts later, all 25 spots were cast.Notably omitted from the list are in-house casting executives at studios and networks, the inclusion of whom would have ballooned our list to 50 or more. But read about them online at www.backstage.com/spotlight. Focusing on independent casting directors leveled the playing field and highlighted people whose puissance is not affected by one scale-tipping affiliation. Now, on to the top 25!Kerry BardenCan you imagine Monster's Ball starring Erykah Badu, or American Psycho starring Leonardo DiCaprio? Kerry Barden can, because he saw them read the parts. "There are so many great actors that sometimes it's a...