NEED TO KNOW
-
Wil Wheaton opened up about why he initially didn't want to star in TV series "The Big Bang Theory".
-
Wheaton feared the show was making fun of nerds, and when he was offered the role, he didn't want to play a fictional version of himself.
-
Wheaton eventually agreed and began appearing on the show in the third season.
Wil Wheaton was going to withdraw from the The Big Bang Theory« , but eventually changed his mind.
Wheaton, 53, discussed his time on the CBS sitcom, which aired from 2007 to 2019, in a podcast episode. The Official Big Bang Theory Podcast from June 1.
Wheaton recalled hearing about the sitcom, created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, a few years before he was approached about it. He told host Jessica Radloff that he wasn't interested in watching it. "All I heard was, 'It's a sitcom about nerds,' and my first thought was, 'Oh, they're making fun of us,'" he said. "Because that's how it's been our whole lives. I didn't realize that one of the reasons Bill created this show was to change that and flip that paradigm.".
He was "very reluctant" to watch because he was bullied as a child for being a "nerd." "I didn't choose to be a weird, sensitive artist," he said. He was shamed for not being more athletic and instead for being interested in "science, history, and art," which most of his peers didn't understand. Wheaton was also a child actor, his best-known works being the film «Stay with me» 1986 and the role of Wesley Crusher, a boy genius, in Star Trek: The Next Generation« , since 1987.
Wil Wilton (left) and Jim Parsons on "The Big Bang Theory." Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty.
But Wheaton eventually watched one episode and realized he was "totally wrong" and that the show was "very funny.".
Then he received a call from 65-year-old Prady asking if he'd like to appear on the show as a fictional version of himself. "Bill approached me about playing Sheldon's nemesis," he said. At that point in his career, he felt he "still had something to prove." He told Prady that while he loved the show, "I wanted to be the character. Then I'd feel like I could be a part of it. This isn't just a role. This isn't a one-time thing." Prady realized he wasn't comfortable playing himself and gave him time to think about it.
Wheaton consulted with his friend John Rogers, another screenwriter who had created such series as «Librarians» и «Impact »" Rogers yelled at Wheaton on the phone. "He says, 'What the hell is wrong with you?... Stop this conversation. Call Bill Prady back and tell him yes.' Repeat."« The Big Bang Theory“ "on cable TV just got higher ratings than the first airing of anything on any network. What are you even thinking?"“
So, Wheaton answered Prady in the affirmative. His first appearance was in the third season. Sheldon (Jim Parsons) harbored a deep dislike for Wheaton because he missed a book signing that Sheldon himself attended. They eventually reconciled, and Wheaton appeared regularly on the show for the remainder of the season.
«"Series "« The Big Bang Theory »"It changed my life," Wheaton admitted. Despite already having a stellar career, he credits the show with helping him gain self-confidence.
From left to right: Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Johnny Galecki and Wil Wheaton in The Big Bang Theory. Photo: Cliff Lipson/CBS via Getty.
«"I was on a set where I felt like I deserved to be there. I was with a crew and creative partners—actors and writers—who made me feel like part of a team. We were doing something together," he said.
He continued, "There are a lot of practical career benefits that come from being a recurring guest on the highest-rated sitcom in the world. Great things happen because of it, and I'm grateful for all of it. But that wasn't it. I made friends. I made friends who made me want to be a better person.".
He also noted that the series helped him focus on storytelling, and the writers were willing to answer any questions he had. He said that in his "46-year" career, "that's only happened twice." He called it "a very rare occurrence.".
The Big Bang Theory already has two spin-offs: «Young Sheldon» и «Georgie and Mandy's first marriage »"The third spin-off, «"Stewart couldn't save the universe."» , will be released on HBO Max this summer. In it, comic book store owner Stuart Bloom (Kevin Sussman) must restore reality after sabotaging a device created by Sheldon and Leonard (Johnny Galecki). Wheaton will also appear in the series.
The new series was created by Lorre, Prady and Zak Penn, and Wheaton said on the official Big Bang podcast , that he "had a front-row seat throughout the entire development process" of the new series. He called it "wonderful" and "brilliant.".
Read the original article on People.