It’s hard to believe another Big Bang Theory spinoff will be coming down the pipeline soon. Stuart Fails To Save The Universe has already nabbed headlines for bringing back some notable Big Bang Theory characters, but also for being the first spinoff to take place on HBO Max, a network that’s far less joke, joke, joke than CBS. But how does the OG cast feel about The Big Bang Theory characters going in new directions? Well, someone asked Kaley Cuoco.

In a recent interview, Kaley Cuoco was asked about her experiences post-show, and not from a career standpoint. Of course, she’s had successful runs in follow-ups like The Flight Attendant and Based on A True Story. Instead, though, Screenrant asked her what her experience has been watching the franchise go beyond her, and she gave an intriguing answer.

Listen, it’s not like I expected Kaley Cuoco to be a huge hater here. It would have been completely out of character if the actress hadn’t been happy for the Big Bang universe follow-ups. Even if she has been candid there was drama here or there on Bang.

Outside of being honest about life on set, she's generally pretty happy to talk about her time on Big Bang and to give the franchise its flowers. She spent 12 years developing Penny alongside her co-stars and the crew, and it’s clear those years were fondly spent. Even though Jim Parsons was the person to ultimately decide to leave the show first, he didn’t exit without the show being able to wrap in a way that was sensitive to his castmates and the fans, and it’s no wonder The Big Bang Theory is still a sitcom people love to talk about, despite it wrapping well over five years ago at this point. To the actress that TV legacy is really important.

To note, Cuoco has previously been asked if she'd want to reprise Penny in her own spinoff, and she hasn't been opposed to that idea, either.

So far, Young Sheldon was already a successful follow-up for CBS, and Georgie And Mandy’s First Marriage is still doing well on network TV. Stuart Fails To Save The Universe should be a whole new ballgame for the franchise, and I'm interested to see what those with an HBO Max subscription think. Stuart Fails To Save the Universe will hit the 2026 TV schedule on July 23rd at 9 pm.

A director on The Big Bang Theory is opening up about the time the series intersected with real life. Fans of the beloved sitcom may remember that there came a time when series stars Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco had to film Leonard and Penny's breakup scenes -- after the actors' real-life breakup. Anthony Rich talked about Cuoco sobbing ahead of filming the scene, as the script hit a little too close to home.

Years after Kaley Cuoco spoke about the awkward timing of her and Johnny Galecki's split, Rich added to the story during a recent episode of The Big Bang Theory Podcast. The first episode of The Big Bang Theory that he directed was "The Spaghetti Catalyst," and it deals with the immediate aftermath of Penny and Leonard's split. Keeping the sensitive timing of that shoot in mind, Rich got candid about how the moment on set became a bit too real for Cuoco:

While the series never showed the fight or the actual breakup, it was still hard for Kaley Cuoco to get through, which is understandable. Apparently, she and her co-star/ex-boyfriend had only broken up around four to six weeks earlier. Over the years, fans have heard about how other actors struggled with anxiety and more on Big Bang, but this sounds like one of the hardest things a star went through.

The good news is, both are professionals, and they managed to maintain a great working relationship and friendship after the split. Those with an HBO Max subscription can see the evidence for themselves, as the series went on for several more seasons. Of course, those subsequent episodes also throw other curveballs at Leonard and Penny, who eventually end up married and are expecting a child by the end of the series . To this day, Rich is in awe of how the two over the two stars' working dynamic:

It's true. Kaley Cuoco has gone on the record saying she's still very close with Johnny Galecki, and he's said the same. That gives me hope we'll see them together on the 2026 TV schedule once again, when the latest spinoff series, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, premieres. The show has promised familiar faces will show up but, given the stars of The Big Bang Theory commanded a high price tag at the series' end, I'm assuming any appearance Cuoco and/or Galecki would have would be a one-off.

It's wild to think of a reality in which Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki couldn't continue working together on The Big Bang Theory, and how real-life couples breaking up have forced shows to alter storylines as a result. One Tree Hill is one popular example, in which actors suffered behind-the-scenes as writers played off the drama of their real-life breakups. It's good to see that wasn't what happened with Big Bang and that both stars were able to move past it and remain friends.

All 12 seasons of The Big Bang Theory are available to stream over on HBO Max. Picking up a subscription would be a good idea in general, especially with Stuart Fails To Save The Universe premiering on the platform on July 23rd.

It’s been a big summer for Kaley Cuoco, as the Big Bang Theory alum announced earlier this month that she and Tom Pelphrey are expecting their second baby. Not surprisingly, Hollywood was as supportive as ever for the happy couple following their news, which comes three years after they welcomed their firstborn. That alone constitutes a big summer; however, Cuoco is staying busy and having fun too, as she brought the bump out to an event.

The actress stepped out for the premiere of HBO’s new limited sketch comedy series, Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness. Her growing bump was on full display as she posed for photos and hugged Larry David. Cuoco took to Instagram to reflect on the premiere last night, also praising David and his new series on the 2026 TV schedule that was co-created by him and Jeff Schaffer:

Since Cuoco didn’t spill the beans about baby number two until this month, it’s so nice to see her all glammed up and taking the bump out and about. It sounds like she may have to be careful, though, because she is pretty far along, and even just laughing hard might be what the baby needs to come out. That would certainly be a unique way to induce labor.

Now, overall, Cuoco and Pelphrey’s relationship has been through a lot over the four years since Ozark brought them together. They had a sweet meet-cute at the show’s Season 4 premiere in 2022, and the following year, they welcomed their first daughter, Matilda Carmine Richie Pelphrey. People were soon anxious to know when baby number two would be coming, so they are probably happy to know that she will finally be making her way into the world in the near future.

Even though the happy couple didn’t wait long to have their first baby, they have been taking things a bit slow since their lives changed. Cuoco and Pelphrey announced their engagement in August 2024 and have yet to tie the knot. But now that they’re planning for their second child, it wouldn’t be surprising if wedding planning was put on hold until things in their household quieted down. However, keeping things in the present, Cuoco is glowing, and I’m excited to see her and her partner start another new chapter in their lives.

It’s unknown when Baby Pelphrey will be making her way into the world. However, she already seems to be causing good trouble for Cuoco. Now, as we wait for more updates about this little bundle of joy, you can stream Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness, the show that made the actress laugh so hard her baby almost popped out, with an HBO Max subscription on June 26.

The Big Bang Theory still has a slew of fans interested years after it ended, and not just because it’s continually streaming with an HBO Max subscription. The CBS sitcom ran for 12 seasons, and it was followed by multiple successful spinoffs, so interest in the franchise has remained high, and recently I found out one intriguing fact about the show as it was originally envisioned I'd never, ever heard before.

Most of us know that Kaley Cuoco wasn't the original actress who was cast as the main lead. An original pilot was written before the final version of the cast was cemented, with Amanda Walsh playing a character named Katie. That and the fact the original pilot was a big old mess, has been pretty common knowledge for years.

The Sheldon everyone knows and loves now wasn't exactly how the character started out. Simon Helberg, who played Howard, told Jesse Tyler Ferguson on his Dinner’s On Me podcast that Sheldon’s original personality was pretty unrecognizable in that original version of the pilot that now lives on in BTS stories.

Sheldon? Jim Parsons' Sheldon? I cannot imagine Sheldon being a womanizer and always drinking beer. That also would have changed the entire show because the way Sheldon acts as well as his unique relationships with his friends, are integral to The Big Bang Theory.

Sheldon Cooper was played by Jim Parsons in this pilot. They apparently retooled the character in the way we know and love Sheldon, and he'd play it that way for the entirety of the show's run. He would go on to reprise the role in prequel Young Sheldon, narrating as present Sheldon while Iain Armitage took over as the younger version. Parsons was positively perfect as the character, who was a child prodigy with an eidetic memory and one to brag about his intelligence.

This is why pilots are so important for TV shows. It's honestly always wild to hear about the changes that came to successful sitcoms, and this sounds like one that was for the better.

Think about it. In an alternate world, Sheldon would be a womanizer, like he basically sounds like Barney from How I Met Your Mother, and it's hard for my mind to compute this fact. However, it's been interesting getting these behind-the-scenes secrets about The Big Bang Theory, and it makes me wonder just what else changed we still haven't learned about

It's been a good year for Big Bang throwback stories. We also recently learned Helberg almost lost the Howard role to a different actor on the sitcom. Before landing the part of comic book store owner Stuart Bloom, Kevin Sussman auditioned for Howard before the role ultimately went to Helberg. Sussman went on to recur as Stuart throughout the show’s run, and now he’s getting his own spinoff with Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, so it all worked out.

Since Stuart Fails to Save the Universe takes place in an alternate world, perhaps this could be a good time to see what a womanizer Sheldon would really be like. For now, though, fans can watch the Sheldon they’re used to with all 12 seasons of The Big Bang Theory on HBO Max.

Ever since The Big Bang Theory ended, Kaley Cuoco has been keeping busy with a number of new movies and TV shows (especially thrillers as of late), but she’s also been settling down and starting a family with fiancé Tom Pelphrey. After welcoming their firstborn back in 2023, the couple has just announced they are expecting another child together, and their Hollywood community is sending all the good vibes.

Cuoco took to Instagram on Wednesday afternoon to share that she and Pelphrey are “completing our little family” with a new member soon! Check out her post below:

The couple recently celebrated the third birthday of their daughter Matilda, and soon she’ll have a little sister to share milestones with. As Cuoco revealed to the world, lately she’s had a bun in the oven, and it has been a “dream come true!” Check out how some of her famous Instagram mutuals reached out in the comments:

• Alyssa Milano: "I love you."
• Beth Behrs: "Sooo happy for you guys ❤️❤️❤️❤️"
• Briana Cuoco Dales: "😍💘💖"
• Lauren Lapkus: "OMG I’m so happy for you, Kaley!!!!"
• Haylie Duff: "The best!! So happy for yall ❤️"
• Riki Lindhome: "Congratulations!!!"
• Ashley Benson: "🥹💕🥹"

So many of Kaley Cuoco’s Hollywood family have some sweet words for the momma who’s about to have two daughters! Alyssa Milano and Cuoco go way back, as they were co-stars on Charmed back in 2005. Milano has two kids herself, but they are much older (11 and 14).

Cuoco and Behrs both had CBS shows on for six seasons. Behr has one daughter who’s around the same age as Matilda! Previously, Behrs shared an interest in their daughters being friends, per Us Weekly.

The actress's sister Briana must be particularly excited because she’s about to be an aunt again!

Then there’s Lauren Lapkus, who was one of Cuoco’s co-stars on The Big Bang Theory.

The other three notable comments come from fellow actresses who are in Cuoco’s Hollywood social circle.

Having support when you’re about to parent a whole new human being is so vital, and it looks like Cuoco is getting the love over on social media. In the post, she got honest about her second pregnancy being “a little windier in many ways” without expanding too much on why.

Last time around, Cuoco was on set while pregnant, and she posted instances of falling asleep at work and needing help out of chairs. She became pregnant shortly before production was set to begin and was able to work her real-life pregnancy into the storyline of the Peacock series, Based on a True Story, with the creators.

Cuoco's mom era hasn't stopped her from staying booked and busy. She recently had a miniseries on the 2026 TV schedule with the MGM+ series Vanished coming out, and she has recently been filming the upcoming HBO Max series How To Survive Without Me.

We’re sending big congrats to Kaley Cuoco and Tom Pelphrey on their second child, and we can't wait to hear more updates from the soon-to-be family of four!

Ozark – the acclaimed drama series that’s available to stream with a Netflix subscription – is responsible for more than a few major developments. It reportedly earned great viewership on the aforementioned streaming service and made Emmy winners out of some of its stars. Aside from that, though, the series is also the reason why actors Kaley Cuoco and Tom Pelphrey hooked up. Those two lovebirds are still together, and it’s wild to think that it’s now been four years now since Pelphrey and Cuoco first coupled up.

Some may not remember – or may not even be aware – that Cuoco and Pelphrey actually met at the Ozark Season 4 premiere back in 2022. And, from there, the two stars have been cultivating a relationship that still seems to be going strong. With this week marking their four-year anniversary, both actors took to social media to pay tribute to each other. Cuoco shared two photos on Instagram, one including a framed snapshot of her and Pelphrey and another featuring a lovely bouquet of flowers:

Cue the “Awws,” because that really truly is an adorable post. I also love that it’s attracted some sweet responses from fellow actresses like Margarita Levieva and Alyssa Milano. Pelprey’s post also received some considerable love on Instagram, as the Task star shared a sweet photo of he and his fiancé posing while wearing some truly comfy-looking loungewear. Pelphrey also dropped in a lovely caption, with which he directly referenced meeting his soon-to-be-wife at the Ozark premiere. Check it out:

Interestingly enough, there was a time when it almost seemed that these two lovebirds wouldn’t cross paths. Cuoco – who shouted out Pelphrey during their third anniversary last year – recently explained how her manager initially tried to set her up with the Iron Fist star shortly after her divorce from Karl Cook. Initially, Cuoco thought it was too soon to jump back into the dating game but, of course, the two would eventually meet regardless. The pair welcomed a child, now-2-year-old daughter Matilda in 2023 and got engaged in 2024.

Of course, a key piece of info that should be mentioned here is the fact that Tom Pelphrey was at that premiere four years ago, because he was a member of the Ozark cast. Pelphrey notably played the role of Ben Davis during the third and fourth seasons of the acclaimed crime drama and received praise for his portrayal. For his work as a series regular, Pelphrey received nominations for a Critics’ Choice Award, SAG Award and more. He also earned a Primetime Emmy nod for his guest appearance in the fourth and final season.

Many still view Chris Mundy’s Ozark as one of Netflix’s signature titles, and for good reason. It’s been lauded for its writing, directing and performances from its cast, including Jason Bateman (also serving in director and EP roles) Laura Linney and Julia Garner. The show’s legacy is certainly impressive, and those who watch it may understand the hype after doing so. All that aside, though, I just love that the coupling of Tom Pelphrey and Kaley Cuoco has a sweet little link to the show.

Those who haven’t checked out Ozark for themselves should stream all four seasons on Netflix now. Also, anyone looking for newer drama series can find them on the 2026 TV schedule.

It’s hard to believe it’s been seven years since The Big Bang Theory said its final goodbyes to the live studio audience, and those watching on CBS. So much time has passed, in fact, that two spinoffs have come to fruition, with a third on the way. Kaley Cuoco’s personal life has changed, too, and given the context we have about her relationship with Tommy Pelphrey, I was really interested in what she had to say about Penny, Leonard, and the ending to her iconic sitcom.

I was perusing through Jessica Radloff’s Big Bang Theory book The Definitive, Inside Story Of The Epic Hit Series when I came across Cuoco’s personal wishes about her character’s ending on the series. While she liked a lot of what Leonard and Penny’s relationship was about, it actually seems as if she wished the finale would have gone in a completely separate direction, with Cuoco telling the author:

Cuoco previously had some strong feelings at the time about Big Bang ending, but they more had to do with the show itself ending than how it ended. In fact, she famously even cried during the final table read. She’s not fully mad about the finale or anything, but it’s clear from her comments that she didn’t know if the direction of that final episode was really the right fit for Penny the way she’d played her over the course of the last few seasons.

If it’s been a while since you’ve seen the finale, Penny was pregnant and had kept the news from Bernadette, Amy and the girls. Sheldon found out first and, of course, spilled the beans, and the girls were kind of upset with her for keeping the secret. All was well by the show's final scene where they got together to eat takeout on the couch, but Cuoco at the time of the writing of the book felt that Penny’s life was mirroring her own career trajectory, and should have gone a similar way.

Now we know, a lot can change really fast, however. In April of 2022, after her divorce from Karl Cook, Kaley Cuoco met Tommy Pelphrey. The two would soon start dating, and by November of that same year, she’d announced she was pregnant. She told Dax Shepard later on Armchair expert she hadn't though kids were in the cards for her, and her own real-life trajectory honestly ended up mirroring how things changed quickly for Leonard and Penny on the show.

It all worked out exactly as intended, and Cuoco didn't wholly hate the ending of The Big Bang Theory, but if her vote had counted, it's very clear she would have gone in a different direction, just like the show had when they'd fired the original Penny and cast her as "the secret sauce" early on.

Many child actors seem to have an understandably difficult time when it comes to growing up on screen and continuing their careers as they become adults, but that was not the case for Kaley Cuoco. She was able to turn her teen years on 8 Simple Rules into a 12-season stint on one of the most popular sitcoms in recent memory with her role as Penny on The Big Bang Theory. She’s long since moved on, but recently spoke about why she still sees the gig as “a gift from above.”

What Kaley Cuoco Said About The Big Bang Theory Being A Gift

Though Kaley Cuoco will always be known as Penny from The Big Bang Theory to lots of folks, the years since that comedy ended have seen her take on numerous parts (many in thrillers) that have shown she also has a talent for darker, twistier material. This has included her Golden Globe-nominated leading role in the acclaimed The Flight Attendant, and her 2026 TV schedule drama, Vanished.

For all of her success in the years following TBBT, though, it seems that no other job has been able to take the place that that one has in Cuoco’s heart. During a recent interview with The Rake, the star spoke about her experience working on the long-running hit, and said:

Not only did she enjoy becoming one of the highest paid celebrities in the world for a time because of her “dream job,” she also loved having sort of a home away from home where she could count on seeing and working with mostly the same people for such a long time that many of them were able to really be close.

She also said not long ago that while the cast, especially, “really did love each other,” because they saw such an “explosion of many and fame” once the series became a hit, it did lead to some “drama” among them. Luckily, that appears to not have dulled the experience for any of them or completely soured their relationships with one another, particularly because only that group of actors shared that wild time. The Meet Cute star continued:

Cuoco is quick to admit just how much she gained from starring on The Big Bang Theory, as you don’t manage to help lead a successful comedy for over a decade without learning a strong work ethic and seriously upping your game when it comes to making people laugh. While she got a lot out of her time there, it’s also true that the audience did as well, and that’s going to continue for many years to come as she keeps delivering great performances.

Kaley Cuoco has the honor of saying that she starred on what’s become one of the most iconic TV shows of all time. For 12 years, Cuoco played the role of Penny on the hit CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, which provided her and her co-stars with heightened notoriety. It would seem that with that buzz, though, came some growing pains amongst the ensemble of actors. Cuoco recently reflected on how dynamics shifted as the Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady-created show became both popular and profitable.

While Cuoco has worked steadily since The Big Bang Theory’s series finale dropped in 2019, the actress still fields questions about the show. That makes sense, of course, given the beloved comedy (which is streamable with an HBO Max subscription) essentially made her a household name. Cuoco recently spoke to The Independent about the series and described the vibe on set. While the actress emphasized that “all really did love each other,” their interpersonal relationships weren’t always smooth:

Kaley Cuoco and co. were indeed in an interesting situation, as they went from simply being working actors to high-paid megastars in just a matter of a few years. The 8 Simple Rules star didn’t go into specific details, but it’s hard not to think that she’s referencing that egos caused some of that “drama.” Being on the outside looking in, we can only speculate as to what specific situations went down. However, something the general public knows for sure is that there was a lot of money in the mix.

Fans took notice in 2014 when it was reported that Cuoco as well as co-stars Johnny Galecki and Jim Parsons inked new deals that would see them paid $1 million per episode. Fellow cast members Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayaar also negotiated pricey new agreements. By 2017, the five stars were reportedly asked to pay cuts for the sake of reaching some sort of income equality with co-stars Melissa Rauch and Mayim Bialik. On the subject of the world knowing about the cast’s salaries, Cuoco has two perspectives:

Through it all, though, the Big Bang cast still seems to be close and, on occasion, certain members of the ensemble reunite. At the same time, there are still those who’d love to see a formal reunion or reboot at some point. Cuoco expressed a willingness to return, and a recent interview has some convinced she’s reprising Penny for the upcoming spinoff series, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.

Kaley Cuoco has taken to joining thrillers as of late and has moved beyond her work on The Big Bang Theory as a result. Nevertheless, I appreciate that she still has no problem talking about her time on the sitcom and getting honest about the aspects of the experience that were a bit trickier to navigate.

Check out Cuoco’s latest show, Vanished, which is available to check out on MGM+, and take a look at the 2026 TV schedule for other fresh titles.

Kaley Cuoco broke her teeth on comedy starting on 8 Simple Rules before shifting into the ever popular The Big Bang Theory. That gave her more than a decade of experience with laugh tracks, but in the time since, there’s been less to laugh about. In fact, she’s strung together a slew of thrillers since her Chuck Lorre series ended, and only one of them, Based on a True Story, really had a comedic bent.

I thought it was a really cool move when Cuoco shifted to HBO’s The Flight Attendant as her follow-up to The Big Bang Theory. The show proved she had the chops to take on more dramatic roles, and it was a great, critically-acclaimed role for the actress where she was No. 1 on the call sheet. However, it’s been well over five years since TFA originally hit the schedule, and she’s really done no half-hour sitcom work since then.

Was this by chance or something else? Dax Shepard finally flat out asked the actress during her recent appearance on Armchair Expert. She said it’s more by industry design than her own cognizant choice.

Lots of changes have been coming down the pipeline in Hollywood in recent years, accelerated by the pandemic, but certainly not slowing down in the time since. Linear TV is shifting to streaming, even when it comes to live TV events. On the big screen, more and more space continues to be dedicated to tentpole movies instead of indies. In short, there’s been a lot of change, and Kaley Cuoco has been an actress with major name recognition during that period of change.

The good news? This means she’s still landing plenty of roles. The Big Bang Theory also gave her an insane salary to allow her more creative freedom, and she's still making money in reruns. The bad news? She hasn’t had another successful network tentpole to latch onto, and she recently opened up about not having that Big Bang salary to boot.

Lately, she's been doing a lot of stuff you can catch with a Peacock subscription, though her latest series Vanished will be available for those with an Amazon Prime subscription when it hits the 2026 TV schedule at the end of the month. (It's currently available with MGM+.) So far, there's been a lot of streaming content, but I can't wait to see where she goes next, and whether she'll dust off her comedic skills in the near future.

Kaley Cuoco has been on television for a long time, which means fans were with her as a teenager and when she was just starting out on The Big Bang Theory in her early twenties. We spent 12 seasons with her and her ever-changing jean fashions on the show, and we stayed with her as she transitioned into dramatic roles and met her now-partner Tommy Pelphrey. Which means most of us were there when she was going through her thirst trap phase, and now that she’s over 40, she says there’s only one problem with y’all still Googling her bikini pics.

Kaley Cuoco is definitely interested in the internet and how it impacts her career, and she revealed in a recent interview that she knows “bikini pics” is something that comes up in the autofill category when you Google her on the Internet. She does have a three-word message that she will repeat to hit home for those of you still looking on the interwebs for her Big Bang era bod.

Speaking with Not Skinny But Not Fat, Kaley Cuoco got real about how her prime days of fame came about when she was just 21 on CBS’ now-infamous Chuck Lorre series. She didn’t hold back about her looks at the time, telling host Amanda Hirsch “I was hot” and agreeing she was a heartthrob in the early to mid Noughties, though she still likes who she is now that she’s hit the big 4-0.

She went on in the podcast to talk about how quickly time passes, and how she could recall her mom speaking out being friends with women for 20 years when she herself was younger. At the time, that number seemed insurmountable, but here she is 20 years after landing the CBS gig that changed her life, still friends with a lot of people she met during that era.

For example, she and Simon Helberg were loosely connected during her 8 Simple Rules days, and she’s maintained friendships with some of her other Bang co-stars, including Jim Parsons, in the years since the show ended in 2019.

They’ve seen her through thirst traps and genre changes on TV, from being young and single in Hollywood, through several divorces, and eventually becoming a mom to little Matilda. It’s not something Kaley Cuoco saw for herself when she was making her way through Hollywood, but it sounds like she’s on the path she wants to be on now.

Just remember, when you are Googling her bikini pics, it was a lifetime ago.

When The Big Bang Theory was still airing on CBS, the cast continued to land higher salaries over time. We know this because negotiations about what they were making were pretty public news at the time, particularly later on in the series when they all negotiated for the same $1 million per episode. With 20+ episodes a season being made, that added up to a hefty amount of cash. So, it’s no huge surprised that people are curious about the money Kaley Cuoco is now making years later.

Recently, the comedy and drama actress was asked what it’s like to go from making “an insane amount of money” on The Big Bang Theory to a “good amount” of cash for her more recent TV roles. Honestly, I think only another celebrity could get away with this question, so I’m really glad Dax Shepard asked it on his Armchair Expert podcast. Cuoco’s answer was both more candid and surprising than I expected, however, as she says she’s stayed down-to-earth as things have changed.

That's a bit surprising, honestly, given she is still super famous, but not making the same amount of money as in her heyday. In 2018, she was the second-highest paid actress on television, allegedly bringing in $24.5 million. That's not just eye-popping money, it ties in with her incredible amount of fame.

However, Cuoco went on to tell a story about how her husband Tommy Pelphrey is always having to look out for her and remind her she’s a distraction in public, even if she's making less per project these days. She says she’s gotten so used to people filming her, she forgets that there’s attention on her and it can get unsafe.

After The Big Bang Theory, it sounds like the actress has just been trying to get out there and live more of a regular life. Of course, her career isn't DOA. She starred in the successful and well-reviewed The Flight Attendant series shortly after TBBT ended, and she's had nice runs with the rom-com Meet Cute and the series Based on a True Story, which you can watch with a Peacock subscription. (And which Cuoco famously worked her real-life pregnancy into.)

So, it sounds like earning millions on The Big Bang Theory didn’t really change her habits much. She’s still out there doing normal people things and going to Chuckie Cheese with Matilda – whether or not her husband is enthusiastic about it. She says it’s a difference between how they’ve both cultivated their careers and their expectations of the fans, which Kaley Cuoco admits can get “weird.” But she remains the same person, even when her salary zigs and zags in Hollywood.

The world of dating and relationships can be quite unpredictable in a number of cases, but there are times when it does just seem like some people know just who will click if they get together. It turns out Kaley Cuoco’s manager may be one of those people as has just been revealed. Apparently, the manager tried to set up the Big Bang Theory actress with the man who is now her fiancee, Tom Pelphrey months before they actually got together. (And talk about everything working out in due time.)

Kaley Cuoco and Tom Pelphrey have been together since 2022. Since then, they've had a kid, and they're currently engaged. Needless to say, the relationship appears to be going as well as could be expected. Still, it's now interesting to hear that the actors' romance could have started several months sooner than it did. Cuoco recently appeared on the Armchair Expert podcast and recalled how her manager initially tried to set her up with him following her second divorce. She explained…

The Based on a True Story star married tennis player Ryan Sweeting in 2013, and the two eventually split in 2016. Kaley Cuoco married equestrian Karl Cook in 2018, and the pair announced they were splitting up in 2021. While Cuoco was the one who filed for divorce, she explains that the split was hard for her, so she just wasn’t ready to start dating at that point. So, with that, she turned down the opportunity to meet Pelphrey at the time.

A few months later, however, Pelphrey and Cuoco's paths would cross again. It was during the press trips for the second season of The Flight Attendant that Cuoco would be in New York with her agent and have the opportunity to meet up with Tom Pelphrey again. She continued…

It seems that at this point, Cuoco was more prepared for the potential relationship, as she began to “stalk” Pelphrey on Instagram. She claimed that she told a friend she had already realized she would spend the rest of her life with the soap actor from his social media. Cuoco later accompanied her manager to the premiere of Ozark while they were in New York, which is where the two met for the first time. The rest is history.

Cuoco and Pelphrey welcomed their daughter, Matilda, in 2023 and got engaged in 2024. The family goes on trips to Disneyland and does everything else happy families do. Clearly, the actress’ manager knew something all those years ago, and good on her for helping to make it happen. It's expected that at some point, Pelphrey and Cuoco will get married, but it seems they don't need that to be happy right now.

In the world of animation, seasonal renewals tend to be weighed and hashed out at broadcast networks well ahead of time, which is why it wasn’t so baffling when Fox gave four-season renewals to its most-watched toon lineup. Things aren’t always quite so uniformly planned on the streaming side, however, which leads to situations like fans of Kaley Cuoco’s Harley Quinn wondering for more than a year whether or not we’ll get to see her and Poison Ivy getting hardcore again (in all the ways) for Season 6.

News about the fan-beloved animated series, streaming via HBO Max subscription, has been all but non-existent for a while now, with far more attention going to other upcoming DC TV shows that are more directly connected with James Gunn’s DCU. (Alan Tudyk is the unicorn talent who voices Clayface in both animated worlds.) Thankfully, ScreenRant took the question straight to Cuoco herself. Not so thankfully, her update wasn’t quite the “Everything’s done” response that I’d hoped for.

Promoting her twisty new mystery Vanished (streaming with a Peacock subscription), revealed that the showrunners have yet to receive a Season 6 renewal from the bosses at HBO Max. Which isn’t to stay anyone involved is lacking in interest or loyalty, just that no firm decisions have been made that would allow the cast to get back to recording vocals. According to the Big Bang Theory vet:

If this were just about any other animated series, I’d think that the writing was on the wall, presumably spray-painted in Joker’s handwriting, as far as its fate being sealed. Generally speaking, no news isn’t good news by way of in-limbo TV shows, and more often than not, extended waits for answers result in cancellations and disappointment.

However, as noted earlier, decisions for animated shows are usually handled sooner rather than later, and that includes the decisions to cancel them. So I’d think if HBO Max execs weren’t at all interested in possibly producing more episodes, they would have pulled the plug already on Harley and refocused more on DCU series. It’s possible the long wait in this case is more about putting distance between this series and Todd Phillips’ box office-bombing Joker sequel and other Harley appearances. (Such as the revised version for the Caped Crusader series.)

Kaley Cuoco knows that there are fans out there waiting for news, and points out that she considers herself in that same fandom, so she's just as hopeful as we are. Although I guess getting paid to do it might affect that viewpoint. No matter, she shared this:

For all that some fans are hoping to see Margot Robbie reprise her DCEU Harley Quinn for James Gunn, I'd love a reality where Cuoco gets to wear the pigtails and makeup in live-action, even if just for a weirdo crossover moment in one project or another.

Keep the faith, puddins, and hopefully good news will come! If it doesn't, though, I may not ever forgive whoever would be responsible for putting a stop to James Adomian's A+++ Bane voice. Ever.

The Big Bang Theory still stands as one of Kaley Cuoco's most popular shows. Not only did it make her one of the highest-paid stars in the world, but she greatly endeared herself to viewers through her role as the bubbly Penny. As it’s been over five years since Big Bang's series finale, Cuoco now has some funny quips about playing Penny - and wearing her wardrobe -- across 12 seasons.

If you can believe it, there originally was never going to be a Penny on The Big Bang Theory. The original "mess" of a pilot included a character named Katie, and she wasn’t received well during test screenings. Eventually, Cuoco was hired as Penny, and the rest is TV history. During an interview with Yahoo! Entertainment, Cuoco couldn't help but joke while reflecting on the many different style choices that were made for her character over the years:

It's true that Penny definitely had a fashion evolution throughout the 12 seasons. Cuoco was 20 when she started the CBS show, and her character initially sported the sexy, but cute, “girl-next-door” Juicy Couture-esque fits. However, the character eventually transitioned to more laid-back button-down shirts when she became a pharmaceutical sales rep. Funny enough, the Wedding Ringer actress previously said she's more comfortable watching earlier Big Bang episodes due to being able to laugh at her mid-2000s style choices.

Kaley Cuoco also sported various hairstyles as Penny, from medium-length layers to a sophisticated long length. And let's not forget when she cut off her hair for Season 8 to form a pixie cut in hopes it would take less work to do. However, it proved to be the opposite, and she described it as a major decision she regretted.

Even though Kaley Cuoco said goodbye to Penny in 2019 and has moved on to new projects since, she’ll never forget that that The Big Bang Theory truly bolstered her career to new heights. The California native continued to express her deep gratitude to the Emmy-winning series:

The Big Bang Theory, now considered one of the most-loved TV shows, opened doors for Kaley Cuoco. Her first live-action project post-Big Bang Theory was HBO Max’s The Flight Attendant, a well-received show that ran for two seasons. She then headlined Peacock’s Based on a True Story series. She’s also been voicing Harley Quinn since 2019.

More recently, Cuoco is starring in the 2026 TV release that is MGM+’s Vanished, which is about a woman’s partner going missing after a romantic Paris getaway. Everything may have started with the CBS sitcom, but it certainly didn’t end there.

Today, it's funny for Kaley Cuoco to think about Penny's style evolution of Penny for 12 seasons of The Big Bang Theory. However, Penny’s true evolution over time revolved around her not just becoming the worldly wise neighbor but also proving her own intellect to her brainy friends from time to time. See all of that play out by streaming the Chuck Lorre-created show using an HBO Max subscription.

We never have to worry about Kaley Cuoco being gone from our TV screens for long. In the 2020s alone, she’s starred in HBO Max’s The Flight Attendant and Peacock’s Based on a True Story, as well as voiced Harley Quinn’s titular antihero. Now we’re about to reunite with Cuoco on the 2026 TV schedule for Vanished, her mystery drama that will stream on MGM+ (which can be added onto your Prime Video subscription). While Vanished will obviously be tonally different compared to the work the actress did on The Big Bang Theory, she gave another interesting reason why this show is different from her “indoor cat” years on the popular CBS sitcom.

Kaley Cuoco starred as Penny for the entirety of The Big Bang Theory’s 12-season run, and before that, she cut her teeth in the multi-camera sitcom world with John Ritter on 8 Simple Rules. Now while those kinds of comedy show jobs come with their own perks, as the actress told TVLine, they don’t allow for traveling, like she got to do on Vanished:

This shouldn’t come as much of a shock to anyone who watches multi-camera sitcoms. They’re designed to primarily be performed on sets and in front of a live studio audience. So it has to be a special occasion to warrant traveling to another location, which also means a laugh track will need to be added in later since you can’t exactly drag an audience along for the ride. So Kaley Cuoco joking about being an “indoor cat” during that period of her career is pretty on-point.

Vanished, on the other hand, allowed the actress and her costars to shoot in France, specifically Paris and Marseille. That said, Cuoco also acknowledged that working on this, The Flight Attendant and Based on a True Story also forced her to do a mental reset and account for not getting the kind of instant feedback she would have on The Big Bang Theory:

Kaley Cuoco stars in Vanished as Alice, a woman visiting Paris with her boyfriend, Sam Clafin’s Tom. When Tom suddenly disappears on a train in the south of France’s capital city, Alice finds herself enveloped in a “web of intrigue and danger” and learning dark secrets about this man she thought she knew. Cuoco and Clafin are joined in the four-part series by Karin Viard, Matthias Schweighöfer, Simon Abkarian and Dar Zuzovsky.

Hailing from the minds of David Hilton and Preston Thompson, Vanished premiere this Sunday, February 1. However, if you’re looking to enjoy some lighter programming, you’re always welcome to revisit The Big Bang Theory with your HBO Max subscription.

Lots of big shows are heading to the 2026 TV schedule, but none have quite the same level of anticipation as HBO Max’s Big Bang Theory follow-up Stuart Saves the Universe, which finally started filming in September after a lengthy development process. The spinoff’s core cast has long been set, and sporadic updates have unveiled returning co-stars, with some taking on new characters. But fans have remained in the dark regarding potential returns for TBBT regulars like Kaley Cuoco.

Luckily, Cuoco herself seemed to let the cat out of the bag without ever having to touch the bag or even admit to there being any cats in the area. Speaking with Entertainment Tonight about her latest TV gig, MGM+’s four-ep mystery thriller Vanished, the actress put on the least convincing poker face humanly possible when the topic of reprising Penny was addressed. It’s not what she said so much as the “look at my face instead of listening to my words” way that she delivered the answer. Just look at these eyeballs:

Those eyes are wider and rounder than a tractor's tires. That's not the way an actor reacts when they're about to share disappointing news, or when they're about to throw out a generically hopeful comment about possibly returning if scheduling works out. No, this is the face of someone who 100% either already filmed new scenes, or has signed the dotted line to bring those new scenes to life in the imminent future.

As far as actual words went, the bottom half of Cuoco's face wasn't nearly as telling as the top half, and she even repeated the way Cassie DiLaura called out her reaction.

Ever since the spinoff news surfaced, fans have voiced hopes for the core Big Bang Theory apartment mates to show up. When Vanished was first announced and suggested Cuoco's schedule might be too busy to fit a sitcom reprisal in, fans were still hopeful about Penny's return. That hype was strengthened further when Cuoco reunited with Johnny Galecki in 2025, though that was for a Royal Kingdom ad and not anything TBBT-related.

I think Cuoco's unconvincing reaction may be enough to sate audiences for a while, as it seems like a certainty that Penny will pop up the first season of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. Or some version of Penny, anyway. I don't put it past Stuart to have an AI version of Penny as a personal assistant or something along those lines.

As far as how she currently feels about the character that turned her into a household name, Cuoco said:

Can we possibly expect to see Johnny Galecki making a TV return to reprise Leonard for the Big Bang spinoff? I wouldn't expect Cuoco's eyes to get quite so wide when answering that one.

Watching classic TV sitcoms can often make one feel comforted and at home, with the black-and-white foibles on shows like Mr. Ed and I Love Lucy feeling quaint and from ancient times. But then at other points, such feel-good comedies can have the adverse effect, and I have a feeling the next time watchThe Big Bang Theory will be quite the reflective 22 minutes now that co-star Kaley Cuoco is celebrating her 40th birthday.

That's right, our own Penny Hofstadter (neé [indecipherable grumble]) has turned 40 years old, which puts so many things into perspective. First and foremost, that I'm also aging at the same rate as she is, but without all the Big Bang Theory success and memories to show for it. But hey, this is supposed to be a celebration, not a Stuart-sanctioned pity party.

Kaley Cuoco's hubby and fellow doting parent, Task co-star Tom Pelphrey, took to Instagram to share the love for his wifey, who quite possibly looks better at 40 than me or anyone I've ever been related to. Here's how he put it:

Awww, isn't he just the sweetest l'il thang? The couple has truly been as adorable as a celebrity pairing could be in the years since they first got together. And her response to his birthday post exudes that same kind of shared affection. In her words:

Naturally, Pelphrey was far from the only person in Cuoco's orbit that reached out on her big day, which went down over 18 years after The Big Bang Theory made its September 2007 debut on CBS, with the 21-year-old actress bringing Penny to life, despite not being the first choice for the role. Guys, in three years, the sitcom will be officially old enough to drink.

One of her TBBT brethren who shared the birthday love was John Ross Bowie, who honored Cuoco with this amusingly specific pic.

The Based on a True Story co-star also received sweet B-day wishes from Hallmark mainstay Lacey Chabert and Brooklyn Nine-Nine vet Melissa Fumero, among many others.

I don't believe turning 40 will make Cuoco all that eager to jump back into playing Penny again if any kind of Big Bang revival conversations come up. But to that, I'd say, "If not now, when?" And then Cuoco would probably say, "When I don't already have other projects in the works. Now get off of my lawn."

Speaking of, the actress is currently hard at work on the upcoming mystery drama Vanished, which will be hitting the 2026 TV schedule on MGM+ starting in February. Co-starring Sam Claflin and Matthias Schweighõfer, the story kicks off during a romantic rendezvous in Paris when a woman's romantic partner goes missing.

With no current sign of when we might see new footage from her upcoming show, Kaley Cuoco's years of work on The Big Bang Theory can be streamed in full via HBO Max subscription, which also happens to be what fans need to catch her in two seasons of The Flight Attendant and four seasons (so far) of her delightfully twisted vocal work on Harley Quinn.

Most importantly, though: Happy happy birthday, Kaley Cuoco!

It’s hard to believe it's been more than 20 years since John Ritter passed. The late comedy star’s legacy has left an indelible mark in Hollywood, but left an even bigger one on those who loved him. One of the most vocal in the latter category is former 8 Simple Rules co-star Kaley Cuoco, who has regularly honored Ritter since 2003. She shared more insight into why working with him was so life changing.

As mentioned, the Big Bang Theory star’s love for Ritter is no secret. Her time playing his TV daughter was largely influential for Cuoco and she regularly reminisces about what a positive relationship they had. During an annual gala thrown by the John Ritter Foundation, she opened up more about how impactful her late co-star was to People. She notably cited that she was largely still a newcomer when the two met but he quickly became a role model:

Honestly, I believe it. There’s no way someone can work with a star as talented as John Ritter and not be affected. And she may be right in his lasting impact since Cuoco cites her connection with Billy Bob Thornton on BBT as ‘John has a way of bringing people together even from above.’

Though, it may be important to note, I’m a lot easier sell on loving the late Three’s Company star than your average younger millennial bear. Who knows, though, hopefully people my age, and younger discover the comedy legend through something. Regardless of my fandom, Cuoco went on to say no matter the time that’s passed, she feels that he’s been with her all along. With it she revealed some John Ritter keystone comedy lessons, by saying:

What a unique, special mentorship and friendship for the Flight Attendant actress to have. I can only imagine how much funnier the two would’ve become, if they’d had more than 18 months together. But the comedy bond seemed like it was from the jump, after the Paul Hennessy actor shared that he messed up on purpose to get a laugh.

Regardless of how many years it's been since saying goodbye to Ritter, I’m so pleased that she continues to feel his presence. Along with it, it’s also great viewers like me can easily spot those professional pillars he imparted to Cuoco in her work. If you’d like to watch the fun they had together, you can stream 8 Simple Rules with a Disney+ subscription.

Or, if you’d like to catch her in one of her most recent projects, Harley Quinn’s 5th Season released earlier this year on the 2025 TV schedule. The entire series is available to stream with an active HBO Max subscription.

When John Ritter passed away unexpectedly in 2003, fans and celebrities alike were heartbroken. That sorrow also extended to Ritter's castmates from 8 Simple Rules, which the beloved actor was starring on at the time of his passing. But, even in the wake of his parting, many of his colleagues, including Kaley Cuoco, continue to keep Ritter's memory alive decades later. Cuoco, who played eldest daughter Bridget Hennessy on the ABC sitcom, is now sharing the biggest lesson she learned from her on-screen dad.

After losing the sitcom star, Ritter’s wife, Amy Yasbeck, created the John Ritter Foundation. Ahead of the organization's annual "Evening From the Heart" event, TV Insider caught up with Cuoco and some of her co-stars who were also in attendance. When asked about working with Ritter, Cuoco reminisced about how integral he was during the early portion of her career. The fan-favorite actress also revealed one way key way Ritter influenced her approach to comedy:

That's a simple rule (no pun intended), but it seems to have served Kaley Cuoco well. As a fan of the show when it was on air, it was clear to me that all three of the younger stars had comedic chops. I'd say, however, that Cuoco truly blossomed in that regard, and that's evidenced through the work she went on to do. As many know, in 2007, she landedThe Big Bang Theory and was considered the "secret sauce" and a key to the long-running show's success.

Cuoco's reveal of the straightforward lesson makes me miss the Sling Blade actor and appreciate his body of work even more. He really was a Hollywood staple that always nailed a joke. (For me, Ritter being able to keep up with Carol Burnett’s humor in Noises Off says it all.) Cuoco has talked about watching Ritter first hand, even seeing the moments in which he’d mess up on set on purpose to get a laugh from the audience.

Now, if anything, I just want to see Cuoco to get back into straight-up comedy after joining a string of thrillers and dramas. Thankfully, she’s headed that way, as she's teaming up with Hacks co-creators ​​Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs and Jen Statsky for Kansas City Star. As of now, the show is still in pre-production, and the premise revolves around a B-list celeb who returns home and connects with the local theater.

I love that even today, Kaley Cuoco holds onto the wisdom that was imparted to her by John Ritter. The beloved actor may not be around anymore, but I'd hope that those who were privileged enough to get to know and work alongside him will continue to share their memories of him.

If you’d like to have a good laugh, stream all three seasons of 8 Simple Rules now with a Disney+ subscription. Those looking for more recent comedies can check out the 2025 TV schedule.

When The Big Bang Theory ended on May 16, 2019, it marked the end of one of the best sitcoms network TV had ever put together. Fans had fallen in love with Penny, Sheldon, Raj, Amy, Leonard, Howard and Bernadette. They’d captured our attention for 12 seasons, following the characters through jobs and relationships and lots of nerdy things in between. Then, in 2018, Jim Parsons decided he was ready to leave in what would become a memorable piece of TV history.

The TBBT cast all posted after the final episode taping in early May of that year, but before the final line had been spoken and the final clap had been heard in the studio, they'd undergone a table read. Footage of that read went viral recently, and it eventually made its way to Kaley Cuoco's own Instagram, where she responded.

It’s unclear if the cast was in shock when Parsons reached out to the studio and told them Season 12 would be his last, though he indicated later he'd felt an inkling in advance. Cuoco didn’t address this in her recent post, though reports at the time indicated “Warner Brothers and CBS wanted to sign for about two more years.” So, while Parsons was ready, It doesn't seem like the majority of people who were involved in the sitcom went into the series expecting Season 12 to be its last, which is one of the reasons that last table read was likely so hard.

People had a little time to process, but I wonder if anyone outside of Parsons really had time to get used to the idea of the show ending before they had to say goodbye. I remember at the time how abrupt the whole thing felt, even though there was a bit of a gap between the announcement and the actual wrap-up. Still, there doesn't seem to be any long-term hard feelings, as Cuoco reunited with Jim Parsons as recently as 2024.

What is clear from the video is how emotional the main cast was about the series ending. Melissa Rauch, Kaley Cuoco and Kunal Nayyar are openly bawling as the final Big Bang Theory scene – a moment where the gang eats Chinese takeout together, mirroring the premiere episode – gets read at the table. This video really tugs at the heartstrings and it’s easy to see why Kaley Cuoco drew attention to it when it came up on her own newsfeed.

My other big takeaway is that I think it's so cute how Ms. Cuoco's algorithm still feeds her Big Bang content, at least from time to time. It’s clear she’s still connected to the series and the fans that made her a household name, and I, for one, can’t wait to see what she does next. (Spoiler: she's sticking with drama for now.)

Kaley Cuoco has had one hell of a career. From 8 Simple Rules really launching her work in the early 2000s to her true star-making turn as Penny through The Big Bang Theory finale, she spent most of her early time as an actress making a name for herself in the sitcom world. After her time on the Chuck Lorre comedy ended, however, she began taking bigger swings and showing what she could do away from making folks giggle, with shows like The Flight Attendant. While I’d really like to see Cuoco get back into comedy, she did just open up about why she took her next dramatic gig.

What Did Kaley Cuoco Say About Making Her New Drama Series?

While a lot of people would love to see Kaley Cuoco return to The Big Bang Theory world (another spinoff, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, is in development) as her seriously beloved and revamped Penny, the star has more than proven that she can handle much darker material. Her two seasons on The Flight Attendant seriously woke people up to the depth of her talent, and led to Cuoco’s first Emmy nomination and other nods.

The mother to Matilda (with partner and Ozark star Tom Pelphrey) recently finished working on her newest dramatic series, Vanished, and took to Instagram to reflect on why she took on a role in another thriller. After noting that it was “one of the coolest work experiences to date” for her, she added, in part:

The Based on a True Story star went public with her Pelphrey romance in early 2022, and it’s certainly good to hear that he was more than willing to hold down the bulk of the parenting fort as she went off to take a “risk” by starring in the upcoming show.

In Vanished, the talent will portray Alice, who sets out on a romantic trip to France with her boyfriend, Tom (played by Hunger Games star Sam Claflin). But, while on a train between Paris and the southern region of the country, Tom mysteriously disappears, which leads Alice “into a web of intrigue and danger” as she’s forced to find out how little she actually knew about him. Take a look at Cuoco’s full post, to see what else she had to say about the experience of filming in France:

You know, as much as I’d like to see the Meet Cute lead deliver another full-on comedy, when I consider how much I loved her in The Flight Attendant and how excited she seems to be about Vanished, I actually can’t wait to get my eyes on this series. There’s plenty of time for her to head back into the sitcom world, and as long as she continues to choose intriguing projects, I’m on board.

As a somewhat middle-of-the-pack millennial, I can’t help but love a good throwback to the ‘90s and ‘00s. Something that really puts a smile on my face is vintage red carpet footage of any then-young stars who are still acting today. So I was absolutely delighted when seeing Adam Brody watch footage of himself and Kaley Cuoco from the early aughts. The video may be short, but I just can't stop watching it.

Brody recently attended the inaugural Newport Beach TV Festival, where he received the TV Performance of the Year Award for Nobody Wants This (available to stream with a Netflix subscription). That's where the actor was when ET revealed the 2000 interview to him. Via the outlet’s Instagram, you can watch Brody relive his first interview in which his Growing Up Brady co-star Kaley Cuoco joins him. Check out the video below to see the vintage clip as well as Brody's reaction to it:

Needless to say, Adam Brody and Kaley Cuoco has come a long way from starring in a Brady Bunch-centric TV movie. In fact, Brody is filming Nobody Wants This Season 2, which set to be released amid the 2025 Netflix schedule. Meanwhile, Cuoco is set to star in an HBO sitcom tentatively titledKansas City Star. With that said, I'm smiling hard over the sight of the fresh-faced actors in the video. I'm fully on board with the post’s vibe check too: "If you can't handle Adam Brody with his thumb ring, then you don’t deserve him as the Hot Rabbi!"

Unsurprisingly, many are in the comment section, expressing their love for the throwback interview. Cuoco even spotted the post and provided a take:

• Oh my goodness!😂❤️- kaleycuoco
• ❤️🙌🔥👏- kajol_raj422
• Him and Kaley havent aged a bit - stj.1990
• Oh baby Kaley too ❤️ gorgeous people all around - grace_lionpuppy
• 😍😍- cici.loves.you

Cuoco and Brody’s back-and-forth, gum-chewing and overall fun vibes have me feeling very nostalgic. As a few fans pointed out, neither has aged, and I'd have to agree. Looking back on my own experiences, I truly became familiar with these two by way of Cuoco's 8 Simple Rules and, of course, Brody's The O.C. (I did also clock him on Gilmore Girls as dream boyfriend Dave Rygalski, though).

As is also the case for Kaley Cuoco, Adam Brody's professional trajectory has been quite impressive. He's starred in films like Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Jennifer's Body (of which Amanda Seyfried wants him to join a sequel), Shazam! and Ready or Not. The aforementioned Netflix show is arguably the biggest feather in his professional cap right now, and I can't wait to see more of him during the new episodes.

When it comes to where Brody and Cuoco will be in another 25 years, I'd hope that both are still thriving as actors. A lot can happen over the course of the next few decades, and I wouldn't mind seeing the two stars team up on something at some point. As I wait for that to happen though, I'll just be sitting here rewatching this Brody video on repeat.

Kaley Cuoco has been happily sharing moments from her family life ever since she started dating her new beau Tom Pelphrey in 2022. The Harley Quinn voice actress has not been shy about celebrating milestones from their meet-cute at the Ozark premiere to becoming first-time parents. Now they're hitting the big Year 3 mark, and the Big Bang Theory fan in me can only connect that to the fact it means it's been six years since we last got an episode of the milestone comedy.

Time flies, and three years into their romance, the two are still going strong, with the Charmed actress celebrating this romantic milestone with a lovely post on social media.

The way the engaged couple looks into each other’s eyes gives me all of these heartwarming feels. You can tell the love is there as Kaley Cuoco continues to take the time to celebrate her new relationship. Back in 2023, she shared a sweet birthday post of all of her favorite things about Pelphrey, such as being the “best tuna sandwich maker” and being the “best daddy" and it's clear she's not afraid to get sweet and sentimental where love is concerned.

The Mank actor made sure to spread the love in a swoonworthy-message to the then-pregnant Cuoco during their red carpet adventures about how she “always” looked “beautiful.” That’s too cute for words! The Flight Attendant actress spoke more about their third anniversary in her Instagram stories with another cute message:

Based on Kaley Cuoco’s third anniversary posts, she's thankful for the “journey” she and Tom Pelphrey have taken as partners in love and in parenting their two-year-old daughter, Matilda. As the two announced their engagement last summer, I’m betting Cuoco can’t wait for the two to start their next chapter together as husband and wife.

However, if Kaley Cuoco and Tom Pelphrey have been together for three years, that means The Big Bang Theory’s series finale (which can be streamed on your Max subscription) was six years ago. Like her anniversary, it too happened in the springtime (in 2019), but it still feels so recent. Honestly, where has the time gone? I feel like it was just yesterday that we saw Sheldon and Amy win the Nobel Prize, and Penny and Leonard announcing they’ll be parents.

The sitcom actress sure was sad about the CBS series ending after playing Penny for twelve years. But as Kaley Cuoco previously revealed that she hasn’t taken a break since the early days of starring in the Emmy-winning series, she said that she wants to learn to “take a breath between jobs” and invest in her relationship going forward.

That should mean spending more time focusing on her family and relationships. While Cuoco will continue to have projects lined up, it’s nice to know she’s willing to juggle her professional and private life.

Three years of Kaley Cuoco and Tom Pelphrey’s relationship may mean time is passing swiftly for her fans. But six years after The Big Bang Theory ended, it's very clear every ending has a new beginning, and she certainly marked this one with a bang... pun intended.

As The Big Bang Theory’s streaming spinoff continues coming together, the sitcom’s superstar cast members thankfully continue crossing paths in other universes. It was just yesterday that we learned Melissa Rauch and Simon Helberg are teaming up again on NBC’s Night Court, and on the very same day, a new ad hit the web with real-life friends Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki, who moved from Hollywood to Tennessee years ago.

Unfortunately, that excellent and unexpected reunion between the Penny and Leonard portrayers was buoyed by the unfortunate news that Cuoco’s latest streaming effort has been canceled. Let’s address this more negative news first before diving into happier times.

Based On A True Story Canceled After Two Seasons

Well ahead of Kaley Cuoco’s twisty mystery The Flight Attendant getting the ax at Max, she branched her talents out to Peacock for the podcast-centric comedy thriller Based on a True Story, opposite The Mindy Project vet Chris Messina. The first season debuted in 2023 to enough widespread acclaim to spark a second-season renewal a few months later.

By and large, Season 2 was received in a similarly positive light by both critics and audiences, as Cuoco and Messina’s Ava and Nathan continued investigating whether or not a serial killer is in their immediate midst. And it had a particularly memorable ending that set up a potentially deadlier third season. But since Peacock hasn’t ever been up front with its viewership totals, it’s unclear how either season has performed in terms of total audience stats.

So only assumptions can be made about whether those numbers factored into the streaming service execs’ decision to cancel the show, as reported by Variety. The site also reported that Peacock also canceled Adam Pally and Steph Curry’s comedy Mr. Throwback.

Thankfully, this was far from the only career fire that Kaley Cuoco has been stoking. In March 2025, the actress and producer was reported to have signed on for another thriller series titled Vanished, where she’ll play a woman whose boyfriend goes missing during a train trip to Paris. And you can bet that situation doesn’t get any easier the more she realizes how little she actually knew about him.

From that bit of good news to the next we go, even if a mobile gaming commercial isn't the most obvious spot for a Big Bang Theory reunion.

Check Out Kaley Cuoco And Johnny Galecki's New Ad

What a fun ad! To the point where it's all the more surprising that Johnny Galecki stepped away from on-screen acting after The Big Bang Theory wrapped. Granted, he did it to shift his focus to family life, and seemingly not for any all-around disinterest in the work itself. I can imagine that it might be easier for him to agree to take on projects like this when filming on a severely limited time-frame and involves one of his closest former co-stars.

I gotta give it to publisher Dream Games and anyone else involved for this kind of marketing prowess with Royal Kingdom, at least when it comes to attracting players from older demographics who might have more disposable income to throw at mobile gaming. I dunno how many youngins will being going nutso over seeing Cuoco and Galecki sharing the screen again, but the more the merrier.

The company is on a bit of a tear with its advertising campaign this week. Beyond Big Bang, Royal Kingdom also gave Friends fans something to cheer for with an ad featuring Lisa Kudrow and Courteney Cox. As well as spots starring LeBron James, Jimmy Fallon, Kevin Hart, Shakira, Sofia Vergara and Amy Poehler.

As a dad who goes to theme parks often and even brings his kids sometimes, I know just how great a trip to a place like Disneyland can be with your family. Just recently, first family vacation to Disneyland in years was a very special trip for me. So I love hearing actress Kaley Cuoco talk about her own love for the park and the way she’s trying to give her own daughter the same experience she had.

Like so many people, Kaley Cuoco’s love for Disneyland was sparked when she was a child herself. The Big Bang Theory actress told Travel + Leisure that her parents would take her and her sister every year. The trips created so many memories, that she now hopes that her recent trip to Disneyland with her own daughter does the same. Cuoco said…

While I am an unapologetic “Disney Adult” and would be spending as much time as possible inside Disneyland even without children, part of the reason for that is because of the experiences I had there as a kid with my own parents. As a parent, you want to give your kids great experiences, and the things that you remember from your own childhood are always going to top that list.

As somebody who also took a two-year-old to Disneyland last year, I certainly understand the sentiment. Of course, I’m not sure my two-year-old, or Kaley Cuoco’s will actually remember the trip. Bringing a kid that young to Disneyland does create unforgettable memories. They’re just carried by the parents, not the kids.

Having said that, while it may take time to know if the memories stick, that doesn’t mean that two-year-olds don’t have a blast at Disneyland. Based on the pictures Cuoco posted after their trip, her daughter loved her time in the park.

Kaley Cuoco says she’s been able to travel to some pretty incredible places around the world. But, when it comes to dream trips, what she wants to do is up the scale of the Disneyland trip and spend a week at Walt Disney World with her family. She explained…

For many, Walt Disney World is a trip of a lifetime. People save up for years because Disney World is quite expensive, especially if you want to do it all. And, with four theme parks, two water parks, which will both be open for the first time in years, and a great deal more to do, any attempt to do it all in one trip basically requires a week these days. And, as somebody who has done a big Disney World trip with a large group of chosen family, all I can say is that it will also create some incredible memories.

The cast of the Big Bang Theory has remained booked and busy since the popular CBS sitcom’s 12-season run ended in 2019. Kaley Cuoco, in particular, has taken on a number of high-profile gigs that have been both movie and TV-related. As of right now, Cuoco doesn’t have any projects set for the 2025 TV schedule. She did, however, just land her next show, and it sounds intriguing. This major development also arrives as fans continue to hope that she’ll star in the upcoming Big Bang spinoff.

What’s Going On With Kaley Cuoco’s Latest Show?

Kaley Cuoco’s next TV venture will be the drama series Vanished, which is being produced by AGC Television. Created by David Hilton and Preston Thompson, the show is set to film in Paris, starting on April 28th, and it’s poised to become a hot commodity at Series Mania, a French festival centered around the TV medium. Along with the announcement came a brief description of the show, and it sounds like Cuoco will be sticking to the thrill genre following The Flight Attendant and Based on a True Story. The synopsis reads as follows:

Deadline also reports that the leading lady will be joined by some seasoned co-stars, as she takes on the role of Alice. Joining her are Hunger Games alum Sam Claflin (who’s playing Tom), French actress Karin Viard and Matthias Schweighöfer (of Army of the Dead and Oppenheimer fame). Based on the premise alone, this could be a dark and twisty piece of work, and it feels like the perfect gig for the Harley Quinn actress. Nevertheless, it’s hard not to ponder the notion of her playing Penny again.

How Is The Newest Big Bang Theory Spinoff Coming Along?

Following Young Sheldon and its own offshoot, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, the Big Bang universe is further expanding with a contemporary spinoff at Max. The show, which has since been titled Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, will see the return of several franchise veterans. Leading the way is Kevin Sussman, who’ll reprise his role as meek comic book store owner Stuart Bloom. Also back in the fold are Lauren Lapkus, Brian Posehn and John Ross Bowie, who reprise their roles as Denise, Bert Kibbler and Barry Kripke, respectively.

Specific plot details have yet to be divulged, though, EPs Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, are returning to steer the ship alongside fellow producer Zak Penn. Of course, what many want to know is whether any of the core seven characters from The Big Bang Theory will appear. Jim Parsons’ latest thoughts on reprising Sheldon for a revival may not bode well for the chances of seeing him on the spinoff. Yet Kaley Cuoco expressed interest in playing Penny again in some way or another. So, if asked, she might consider popping up on SFTSTU.

And, even if the Meet Cute star doesn’t appear on the spinoff series, fans who’ve been hoping to see her jump back into the comedy space are in luck. She’s returning to her sitcom roots for a half-hour series called Kansas City Star, which is likely to land on a premium network.

It’s honestly hard to say whether Kaley Cuoco might actually find her way back to the Big Bang Theory universe. Nevertheless, I’m just glad that she’s continuing to book interesting gigs and deliver cool shows. Here’s hoping Vanished ends up being yet another entertaining TV show on her resume.

It’s been over 17 years since The Big Bang Theory premiered, and almost six years since it ended, but the CBS sitcom remains one of the best shows streaming on Max, and its universe continues to expand with a new spinoff. Part of the reason is certainly the fans who continue watching, but it’s also the fact that Big Bang's cast and characters were positively perfect, at least over time. Creator Chuck Lorre previously opened up about the mistakes he made with Kaley Cuoco’s Penny before realizing her brilliance.

While initially serving as just Leonard and Sheldon’s neighbor from across the hall, Penny certainly grew into something bigger than that. And not just because she wound up marrying Leonard later in the series. Lorre spoke about the unaired pilot while on The Official Big Bang Theory Podcast and how they really tried to figure out the characters before officially moving ahead, but it took some time for a lightbulb to go off when it came to Penny’s “dumb blonde” personality:

Even though Penny wasn’t intelligent by her friends’ means, she was definitely intelligent in other fields, and she proved to be quite an asset at some points. It also gave Lorre and the writers to really dig deeper into her character and move beyond the “dumb blonde” cliché, proving that she wasn’t inherently dumb at all, just maybe not as smart as others in most areas of educated life.

Which made it all the more fun to see her excel where everyone else couldn’t when it came to pop culture, relationships, or fashion. Plus, she introduced Sheldon, Leonard, and everyone else to a whole new ballgame, even if sports wasn't part of it:

It might have taken a bit for the writers to fully realize what they could do with Penny in the early days — which fans can stream with a Max subscription — but when they started playing to her strengths, it really worked out. As proven by one scene in an episode in which Penny quizzes Sheldon on celebrities and Sheldon quizzes Penny on math and science. Yet another reason why their friendship was certainly underrated, and why Jm Parsons and Cuoco still remain close. But once it was clear that she wasn’t all dumb and not just an aspiring actress, it worked in her favor.

Penny grew into a beloved character and brought the charm and sass when needed, along with the street smarts, and it was all because of Kaley Cuoco. CBS initially hated the original Penny actress, but they knew that there was something special about Penny, all it took was the right actress. Cuoco ended up becoming the show’s secret sauce and it landed her a career-making role, and it’s hard to imagine how different things would be if not only Cuoco didn’t play the part but if Penny continued to be just another dumb blonde.

Whether or not Penny will be making a comeback for the upcoming Big Bang Theory spinoff is unknown, as it would be fun to see her again and see how she’s doing now. At the very least, it’s possible fans will be getting some updates on other characters. For now, though, all seasons of Big Bang are streaming on Max.

Walt Disney was adamant when he built Disneyland that it was going to be a theme park where anyone, no matter how young or old, could go and have fun. It’s a statement that still rings true today, and Kaley Cuoco reaffirmed it by taking her 21-month-old daughter, Matilda, to the California theme park for the first time.

It’s a right of passage for millions of California children to visit Disneyland at least once in their lives, and since Cuoco and her family live not too far from the Anaheim theme park (despite some stars who have ditched California), it made sense that she’d want to take her daughter there as soon as possible. After all, the Big Bang Theory star has made it clear that her daughter loves everything Disney. She even had a Minnie Mouse-themed first birthday party. Not to mention, Matilida already conquered the "big girl" activity of visiting her mom on set, so Disneyland should be a walk in the park for the not-yet two-year-old.

Despite Matilda’s love for all things Minnie and Princess related, Cuoco was still worried that her daughter was still a bit too young to visit. Still, she took the chance anyway, and judging by the photos The Flight Attendant star shared; it was the right choice. Take a look:

The carousel of photos begins with Matilda trying on a stunning pair of gold Minnie Mouse ears. It seems like she inherited her mom’s rocking sense of style! Other photos show her all smiles as she enjoys some of Disneyland’s best attractions, like Dumbo the Flying Elephant and ToonTown’s newest attraction, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway.

Cuoco’s daughter even crossed off a major Disneyland bucket list item by taking a spin on King Arthur’s Carrousel on the famed Jingles the Horse. For those who don’t know the lore, Jingles was Walt’s favorite horse in the attraction and, in 2008, was dedicated to Julie Andrews by receiving a Mary Poppins retheme in her honor. On occasion, one can even spot the in-park Mary Poppins riding aboard the beloved horse with Bert on the one directly behind her.

Judging by Matilda’s glowing smiles and captivating attention during the Disneyland parade, it seems like the 21-month-old isn’t too young to visit the theme park. In fact, it might just be the perfect age. Sure, naysayers will say it’s a waste of money because the likelihood of a child of that age remembering the trip is slim to none, but the parent will always have those memories. And hey, that’s what pictures and videos are for, anyway.

Of course, there are a few things to keep in mind when visiting the parks with a small child, like height requirements for certain attractions. It also helps to bring along a family member or friend as a helper, just in case the parents do want to check out one of Disneyland’s faster attractions. It's also important not to overdo it and send your baby into a meltdown. Timing also matters, and with Disneyland gearing up to celebrate its 70th anniversary, now is the perfect chance to visit the park in all her glory.

If you keep all this in mind, it’ll be easy to replicate the magic Cuoco made for her daughter during her first trip to the Happiest Place on Earth.

It’s been over five years since The Big Bang Theory wrapped up its 12-season run on CBS, though the show is still beloved by many. That sheer affection also extends to the Big Bang cast, who’ve since moved on to other gigs. Despite the fact that they no longer work together, the stars do cross paths now and then. On that note, series alums Jim Parsons and Kaley Cuoco had a sweet reunion just this weekend, and the post chronicling the moment has me feeling nostalgic.

As of late, Jim Parsons has been performing a production of the acclaimed play Our Town, in which he plays the role of the Stage Manager. Kaley Cuoco was certainly aware of her friend and former co-star’s gig, as she attended one of the performances this weekend. What was even sweeter about the run-in is that the actress totally surprised Parsons. She subsequently posted a photo of herself and the former Sheldon Cooper actor embracing. You can check it out for yourself down below:

Years ago, I started watching The Big Bang Theory when reruns began airing on TBS during my senior year of high school. Admittedly, I don’t really revisit the show that much anymore, but Kaley Cuoco’s photo is still enough to make me nostalgic. It’s a rare treat whenever the stars reunite on or off camera and, anytime it happens, my mind goes to their exploits on the Chuck Lorre-produced comedy series. Some may laugh when I say this but, in a way, it was a somewhat simpler time.

Some of the stars of the brainy sitcom have worked together and supported each other since the show ended. Earlier this year, Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik reprised their roles as Sheldon Cooper and Amy Farrah Fowler and reunited on Young Sheldon’s series finale. Bialik is also joining forces with Melissa Rauch (who played Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz on Big Bang) during Night Court Season 3. And, ahead of that, Rauch worked with Kunal Nayyar (known for playing Raj Koothrappali) again during NC Season 2. And, away from the stage, Nayyar and others celebrated after Stuart actor Kevin Sussman got married.

During a recent interview, Jim Parsons discussed his time working on Big Bang and was asked how he’d feel about joining a sequel series of sorts. Parsons said he’d decline a revival right now, but said that could change at some point in the future. Shortly after, someone asked Kaley Cuoco how she’d feel about reprising her role as Penny and, ultimately, Cuoco would be game to return.

The chances of the OG cast returning for a revival seem to be slim right now. But, if you ask me, the continued cast reunions are enough to satiate me. Sure, their characters are missed, but it’s comforting to know that the actors who portrayed the likes of Penny, Sheldon, Amy and co. still have love for each other.

In the event that you would like to see the stars bouncing off each other again, though, grab a Max subscription and stream all 12 seasons of The Big Bang Theory now.

Having starred for twelve years in one of the biggest sitcoms of all time, The Big Bang Theory, Kaley Cuoco showed off a lot more of her dramatic acting range in the two seasons of Max’s The Flight Attendant (which was canceled this year) and in Peacock’s Based on a True Story. The second season of the latter is set to hit the 2024 TV schedule, but not before reports about Cuoco’s next project surfaced, and it sounds like she’s embracing her genre roots once more.

Cuoco is now set to star in and executive produce the upcoming half-hour comedy currently titled Kansas City Star, which Deadline reports is now destined for the premium cable waters of HBO, which secured the new project after what sounds like a bidding battle. And it’s understandable why multiple platforms would be vying for the show even beyond Cuoco, which also speaks to HBO being a fitting home.

Kansas City Star hails from Lucia Aniello, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky, the creators of Hacks, the Jean Smart-fronted comedy that came out as the arguably surprising big Comedy winner at the 76th Emmy Awards back in September. How awesome would it be to have Smart’s Deborah Vance as a lead-in for Cuoco’s new show? (Might as well also throw in a wish and a prayer for Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ Veep to get a revival.)

While not a lot of fine-tuned details are available just yet, Kansas City Star’s basic synopsis reportedly revolves around Cuoco playing a famous-but-not-too-famous actress who goes back to her hometown in order to share her talents and wisdom with a regional theater’s acting troupe. Sounds like an easy way to poke fun at the entertainment industry while embracing smaller-town life.

The genre tone is categorized as “comedy with a heart,” which is an interesting push for HBO, where pushing the envelope is usually the bigger play than genuinely positive vibes. Of course, considering just how filthy Kaley Cuoco’s language gets on Max’s Harley Quinn (whose titular queen was inspired by another classic sitcom), one can probably expect her new series to feature F-bombs and more flowery language as well. I guess unless this regional troupe is filled with 11-year-olds.

At the time of writing, no finalized deals had been put into place, but the going idea is that HBO will indeed go forward with a series order for Kansas City Star, and it will be produced under the overall deal that Cuoco's Yes Norman Productions has with Warner Bros. Television. (A similar deal to the one that Aniello, Downs and Statsky have with the studio.)

Streaming service Max has been a reliable source of new comedy projects over the years, but HBO is really going hard on setting audiences up for laughter in its post-Curb Your Enthusiasum climate. Fans can look forward to new shows on the way from longtime comedy vets Steve Carell and Bill Lawrence, as well as I Think You Should Leave's Tim Robinson. Cuoco should feel right at home.

Season 1 of Based on a True Story is currently available to stream with a Peacock subscription, and Season 2 will be arriving on November 21.

It’s been over five years since The Big Bang Theory wrapped up its 12-season run on CBS, but the show remains popular amongst viewers. The show, of course, spawned the spinoff Young Sheldon, which, in turn, birthed the 2024 TV schedule entry Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. Still, there are those pining for the original characters, which is why Jim Parsons was recently asked about reprising Sheldon Cooper for a revival. Parsons shared mixed feelings and, now, his former co-star, Kaley Cuoco, is opening up about returning as Penny.

What Did Kaley Cuoco Say When Asked About Playing Penny Again?

The Role Play actress played the role of the free-spirited Penny throughout all 12 seasons of The Big Bang Theory. In that time, the character became a fan favorite, and the actress who portrayed her saw immense recognition from the general public. People recently asked the 8 Simple Rules alum how she would feel about possibly playing the waitress-turned-pharmaceutical sales rep again. And the actress shared a response that’s sure to make fans happy:

It probably shouldn’t be too surprising that Kaley Cuoco is open to it. After all, she was down to return for a 13th season of Big Bang, before Jim Parsons decided to leave and it was ultimately decided that the show would end. Cuoco revealed her reaction to that turn of events, admitting that she was shocked but understood that the cast agreed, from the beginning, to leave the show together when the time came. The other comments Cuoco shared with the news outlet may indicate why she wouldn’t mind returning to the fold:

Given all of this, I wonder if these comments will make their way to Chuck Lorre and co., as they plot out the future of the franchise. Still, it would take more than the Harley Quinn star agreeing to return as Penny for a revival. Other actors would need to be convinced as well.

How Did Jim Parsons React To The Notion Of Reprising Sheldon?

Jim Parsons recently appeared on Who's Talking to Chris Wallace?, during which he was asked if he’d consider playing Sheldon Cooper again for a revival of sorts. When responding, Parsons said that this time, it’d be a “no” but that he will “never say never to anything.” The Our Town star also said that playing the eccentric scientist when he’s in his 70s could be a “catastrophe.” When punctuating his point, Parsons noted that given the show was like catching “lightning in a bottle,” whatever he and the cast and crew would do wouldn’t compare to the OG show, which is definitely a fair point.

Of course, if anything does actually come to fruition, it would probably be a while, as the cast has moved onto other projects. There have also been changes in their personal lives. For instance, Kaley Cuoco is balancing her relationship with Tom Pelphrey (to whom she’s engaged) and her responsibilities as a mother following the birth of their daughter, Matilda.

As mentioned, there’s also the fact that the franchise is expanding in other ways and not just with Georgie & Mandy. It was reported in late 2023 that Chuck Lorre was developing another Big Bang spinoff and, this month, it was revealed that franchise alums Kevin Sussman, Lauren Lapkus and Brian Posehn had been tapped for the show. So fans should be well taken care of, though it’s still likely now comforting for them to know that Kaley Cuoco is at least up for more.

The Big Bang Theory is available to stream in its entirety with a Max subscription. With that membership, you’ll also have access to all seven seasons of the Jim Parsons-produced Young Sheldon.

If you haven't seen much of Kaley Cuoco amid the 2024 TV schedule, it may be because she's had other priorities. She and Tom Pelphrey, who she met following her divorce from equestrian Karl Cook, welcomed a beautiful baby girl last year. Since then, Cuoco and her partner, to whom she's now engaged, have seemed very happy. Now, the Meet Cute actress is getting real about going “way out of order” when it comes to her relationship with Pelphrey as well as addressing the possibility of having a second child.

You may have heard the expression “First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes so-and-so in a baby carriage.” Well, Kaley Cuoco had her own way of handling that. She confirmed her relationship with Tom Pelphrey in March 2022. Five months into the relationship, the 8 Simple Rules alum announced she was pregnant with their first child. Now that Cuoco has a loving partner and her daughter, Matilda, she revealed to People what’s next in her personal life, humorously speculating that “maybe another kid will have to come first” before marriage:

One gets the feeling that love is overflowing in the Pelphrey-Cuoco household. A loving fiancé, dogs, and a daughter? If you ask me, the Hop actress is currently living her best life as of late. And, quite frankly, I love to see it.

Aside from all of that, though, the former Big Bang Theory cast member has remained booked and busy since the hit CBS sitcom ended after 12 seasons in 2019. With no worries about what her next role would be after that, Kaley Cuoco landed the hit like the HBO Max/Max comedy thriller The Flight Attendant, which earned the star her first Emmy nomination ever. Aside from starring in movies like The Man from Toronto and Role Play, Cuoco also voices the lead character on Harley Quinn and co-headlines Based on a True Story.

The 38-year-old actress and producer still relishes her personal life amid all of the work. She opened up about her new baby’s constant laughing and becoming “that mom” who posts every little thing her daughter does. Cuoco also told People that Matilda loves looking at the sky and seeing planes and helicopters. Of course, she and her partner are already being asked about a theoretical Baby #2, and the Wedding Ringer actress dropped candid thoughts on that:

I can’t say I blame her, as Kaley Cuoco isn't too far removed from her first pregnancy journey at this point. So it's understandable that she would just want to take a moment to catch her breath and enjoy the dynamic she currently has with her partner and child.

All in all, I can't help but appreciate that Kaley Cuoco is furthering the notion that a person doesn't need to follow a specific order to accomplish their personal or professional goals. Hopefully, she, Tom Pelphrey and little Matilda continue to thrive as a family unit. And, for the couple's sake, let's also hope they're able to proceed with their wedding and baby aspirations as they see fit.

Based on a True Story brought Big Bang Theory and The Flight Attendant actress Kaley Cuoco to Peacock back in 2023, and the wait has been on to see the next chapter of the deadly comedy thriller. Also starring Chris Messina, the show was renewed for a second season last year, without a date for when it would arrive... until now, at least! Peacock has revealed when to expect Based on a True Story Season 2, complete with a first look that confirms a big change from Season 1.

Season 2 of Based on a True Story will premiere for Peacock Premium subscribers on Thursday, November 21. The first look doesn't give away much in the way of details for the upcoming episodes, but it does reveal a big change for Kaley Cuoco's Ava this time around. Take a look:

Unsurprisingly, Ava will no longer be pregnant when Based on a True Story comes back for Season 2. She and Nathan were expecting the imminent arrival of their child at the end of the first season, so it always seemed likely that one big change would be the parental status of the two lead characters. Plus, Kaley Cuoco has given birth to her real-life child after dealing with cravings on set.

And the Season 2 description from Peacock establishes that the action picks up when Ava and Nathan have been parents for three months, which means that there will be a time jump from the end of Season 1, but presumably not a huge one.

This time, Ava wants to focus on caring for her family and returning to work in real estate rather than indulge her obsession with true crime, while Nathan focuses on tennis. With the returns of Matt (Tom Bateman) and Tory (Liana Liberato) on top of how Season 1 ended, it's a safe bet that the Bartlett's lives will be upended not too long into the new season with a new string of murders.

Whether Matt is behind the killings (which could also put Tory in danger) remains to be seen, but Ava and Nathan may have their suspicions after the events of Season 1. Melissa Fumero of Brooklyn Nine-Nine fame also joins the cast as Ava's new friend Drew.

So, with the change of Ava no longer being pregnant and the Bartletts' status as new parents, a lot about the show could be quite different in Season 2. I'm pretty relieved that one thing remains the same, however: all eight episodes of the second season will release together on November 21 of the 2024 TV schedule.

The show's genres really makes it an appealing binge-watch, and that release format clearly worked well enough in Season 1 to be brought back for Season 2. The streamer hasn't changed the show into a weekly release, which I'd say bodes well. Add in an evidently short time jump, and I think there's plenty to look forward to in the coming months.

For now, if you missed the first season of Based on a True Story, you can find it streaming in full on Peacock now. Kaley Cuoco had her real-life baby on set while filming Season 2, and the pics she shared were pretty dang adorable.

If you know me, you know I love animation. I’ve always been a fan, from the latest animated movies coming out as part of the 2024 movie schedule to classics that I could rewatch again and again. I also love animation on television, something that I grew up on and have come to appreciate even more. But there are just some characters voiced by actors that I genuinely could not imagine another actor voicing them – and today, we’ll be going over them. 

Robin Williams As Genie (Aladdin)

This is the obvious answer. Robin Williams as the Genie in Aladdin was honestly one of Robin Williams' best roles, and he wasn’t even on screen. He was able to give so much energy, wit, and fun to a character that was drawn, and it almost made you feel like Genie was a friend rather than some random side character.

Tim Allen As Buzz (Toy Story Franchise)

Toy Story is hands down one of the best Pixar films, and a big reason for this is the natural partnership between Buzz and Woody. Of course, I had to put Tim Allen as Buzz here. I’m pretty sure we can barely think of Buzz in any other way aside from Allen doing it, even if Chris Evans did give it his all in the Lightyear cast. 

Dante Basco As Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender)

“Hello, Zuko here,” is a line that has lived in my brain since I was literally a child and will forever be there. Dante Basco as Zuko is iconic. Not only is Basco basically the biggest Avatar: The Last Airbender fan out there, but he’s also voiced not one but two characters in the ATLA universe. However, he, like Zuko, can’t be beaten, and we will always love him voicing one of the best redemption arcs on television. 

Bryce Papenbrook As Eren Yeager (Attack On Titan)

Let me preface this by saying that yes, I know the primary voice roles for anime are the Japanese voice actors but have you ever heard an English dub actor who is just so good that it makes it almost impossible to watch it in Japanese? That’s Bryce Papenbrook with Eren Yeager in Attack on Titan. As one of my favorite anime, I started this series listening to Papenbrook, and I ended it with him, too, when I watched the finale again with the dub. He does Eren so well, and it’s hard to picture anyone else but him. 

Eddie Murphy As Mushu (Mulan)

Eddie Murphy is one of those actors where it feels like he plays himself in his voice roles, and he, as Mushu, is certainly one of them. I cannot tell you how often I quote this character. “Dishonor on you! Dishonor on your cow!” I mean, only Murphy could have that kind of delivery. 

Tara Strong As Timmy Turner (The Fairly Oddparents)

There are some voice actors out there who ultimately defined my childhood, and Tara Strong is one of them. I could put so many of her characters on here from multiple different TV shows, but I think the best one has to be Timmy Turner from The Fairly Oddparents. I couldn’t imagine Timmy having a distinct voice, and Strong brought so much character to his iconic kid. 

Seth MacFarlane As Stewie Griffin (Family Guy)

Family Guy has cemented itself as a show that just won’t stop, and the voice actors have pretty much stayed the same since the beginning. One that hasn’t changed is Stewie Griffin, who is voiced by the creator of the show, Seth MacFarlane, and obviously, he has to be here. I’m pretty sure Stewie is probably the most iconic character from the show, and it’s because of MacFarlane’s delivery and his hilarious lines. 

Tom Hanks As Woody (Toy Story Franchise)

Come on. You knew Tom Hanks would be here. Hanks is like the grandfather of our generation when it comes to voice roles, and his role as Woody will live on in our memories long after we’re all gone and Toy Story becomes a certified classic (if it isn’t already). Hanks is just that good, and I will listen to him voice Woody over and over again. 

Ellen DeGeneres As Dory (Finding Nemo)

Ellen DeGeneres isn’t exactly known for her movies, as she was mainly a daytime talk show host for many, many years, but her voice acting as Dory in Finding Nemo is top-notch. Dory wound up becoming just as big as the clown fishes that we followed in the movie and became a loveable character that children all around the world flocked to, and that’s because of DeGeneres and her voice skills. 

Jay Baruchel As Hiccup (How To Train Your Dragon)

Even though there’s a live-action How To Train Your Dragon set to release, you can’t beat the animated movies, and of course, Jay Baruchel is voicing Hiccup, the main character. Honestly, I think Hiccup would have been really tough to nail if the voice actor wasn’t right. Baruchel had to find the delicate balance between a surprisingly brave warrior and a kind of wimpy teenager and build on that for three movies straight – and he rocks it. 

Eddie Murphy As Donkey (Shrek)

Eddie Murphy as Donkey is everything. Look at me. Look at me and tell me you can picture someone else as Donkey because I surely can’t. This talking animal has cemented itself into pop culture with hilarious lines, memes, and so much more, and it’s because of Murphy’s delivery. Now I’m gonna go and make some waffles. 

Kaiji Tang As Gojo (Jujutsu Kaisen)

Kaiji Tang is an example of an English dub actor in anime who knocks it out of the park. I honestly love any version of Jujutsu Kaisen, and Season 2 was one of my favorite anime of 2023, but let me tell you, Tang, as Gojo, made it so much better. His line delivery is just phenomenal – it’s no wonder the character is, like, the anime community’s crush. With that smooth voice, it’d be hard not to crush on him.

Trey Parker As Eric Cartman (South Park)

There are so many outrageous episodes in South Park that make you squirm, and you want to know who’s behind most of them. Eric Cartman, because he’s a menace to society – so, of course, one of the creators is the voice behind him. Trey Parker is a naturally funny person, so he as Eric Cartman makes sense – only he could think of the most ridiculous and awful lines to say for a literal fourth-grader. 

Billy Crystal As Mike Wazowski (Monsters Inc.)

When making this list, I thought about putting maybe John Goodman as Sully, but then I really thought about it and realized that Mike is actually low-key more iconic. Mike, in general, is a great character with a good backstory and a hilarious sense of humor, but you want to know why he’s so funny? It’s because of Billy Crystal—I can almost feel him through Mike. Mike is Billy, Billy is Mike. 

Shameik Moore As Miles Morales (Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse)

Miles Morales proved anyone can wear the mask in Spider-Man Into the Spider-Verse, a film that became a huge hit and spawned a sequel and another movie coming out soon enough. However, a big reason why Miles is such a great character is because of the voice behind him, Shameik Moore. Since the first film, Moore has brought humility to Miles, but also that kind of smooth swagger that we know only he could have. He’s excellent, and I can’t wait to hear more from him. 

Tom Kenny As Spongebob (SpongeBob SquarePants)

How could I not include Tom Kenny as SpongeBob SquarePants from the SpongeBob SquarePants series here? This man is my childhood. Sure, there are impressionists out there who believe they can impersonate SpongeBob, but no one can do it like Tom Kenny, and I stand by that. 

Kaley Cuoco As Harley Quinn (Harley Quinn)

There have been multiple people who have voiced Harley Quinn in Batman TV shows and animated movies, but I’m sorry. Kaley Cuoco takes the cake, and I want her to be the animated version of Harley Quinn from now on. Her take on Harley in the TV show Harley Quinn is hilarious, on-brand, and unforgettable, and if you haven’t had the chance to watch her voice the heck out of his classic DC villain/antihero, then you have to. 

Mike Myers As Shrek (Shrek)

Obviously, I had to put Mike Myers on this list. While I do think Donkey is a little more iconic, Mike Myers as Shrek is pretty much the same as butter and toast, or Oreos and milk, or popcorn and movies—you get my gist. Myers as Shrek is pretty much the standard for celebrities voicing animated characters, and he’s quite hard to beat. 

Dakota Fanning As Coraline (Coraline)

Coraline is one of the best stop-motion films out there, and surprisingly, no matter how creepy it might be to others, it’s a comfort film for me. And, of course, I can’t imagine anyone else voicing Coraline other than Dakota Fanning. She was so young at the time but still brought so much sass and wonder to the character, and it made me love Coraline for the explorer she was. 

Dan Castellaneta As Homer Simpson (The Simpsons)

Oh, you know he would be here. The Simpsons is hands down the most iconic TV series of all time and has been around since the 1980s. Dan Castellaneta has voiced the patriarch of the Simpsons family since the very beginning and has cemented himself in television just as much as the rest of the cast. But you can’t get more iconic than Homer freaking Simpson. 

Christy Carlson Romano As Kim Possible (Kim Possible)

Kim Possible was a show from my childhood on The Disney Channel that made me want to be a spy. It likely led to a few injuries when I jumped from trees to show how cool I was. Either way, it was mainly because of Kim and how kick-butt she was while also being a remarkable teenager, and thanks to Christy Carlson Romano’s voice acting, she was made all the better. 

Christian Bale As Howl (Howl’s Moving Castle)

Howl’s Moving Castle is one of my favourite Studio Ghibli movies, and I have to admit that for this, I do like the English dub better because, come on, you can’t beat Christian Bale as Howl! That man has a voice as smooth as butter, and you will find yourself falling for Howl so quickly because of how he voices the character. Ugh, I’m getting butterflies just thinking about it. 

Antonio Banderas As Puss (Shrek 2)

Shrek has plenty of iconic voices, but you want to know who has one of the best ones? Antonio Banderas didn’t even show up in the Shrek franchise until the second movie. But Banderas’ voice was so popular that he spawned not one but two spin-off films – the second of which featured one of the best DreamWorks Animation villains of all time, so you know he’s iconic. 

Jeff Bennett As Johnny Bravo (Johnny Bravo)

Okay, so, if we’re being honest, Johnny Bravo is actually a pretty lousy person and very misogynistic, but man, is it funny to get his butt handed to him in so many situations? It’s because of Jeff Bennett and the way he voices him. He’s just so funny in a messed-up way. I love it. 

Matthew Mercer As Levi Ackerman (Attack On Titan)

Attack on Titan is a case where I tend to lean more towards the English dub than the Japanese because of some of the voice-acting choices, and Matthew Mercer as Levi Ackerman is just *chef’s kiss.* Don’t get me wrong, the Japanese voice actor Hiroshi Kamiya does a great job, too, but when I think of Levi, I think of Matthew Mercer’s voice, and that just means I literally cannot imagine anything else.

Jack Black As Po (Kung Fu Panda)

Po the Panda is one of those characters that has become a pretty big name for DreamWorks Animation. In reality, it’s really just Jack Black behind a microphone in the sound booth voicing some of the most hilarious moments ever. Sometimes, it feels like I’m almost just watching Jack Black on screen because Po is as funny as him.

Helena Bonham Carter As Emily (The Corpse Bride)

The Corpse Bride is an excellent stop-motion animated film that certainly has a specific group of people who watch it every year (me included during Halloween). I could talk about Johnny Depp as Victor, but I have to point out Helene Bonham Carter as Emily. She voices the character so well and gives so much life to a literal corpse. It’s one of Carter’s best movies. 

Chris Rock As Marty (Madagascar)

Chris Rock as Marty makes sense. While there were only three Madagascar movies, Rock voiced the zebra in each of them and killed it every time. I could literally watch an entire spinoff film on just Marty. I want more, Marty. Please give me more hilarious lines like “Oh, sugar honey iced tea!”

Bill Fagerbakke As Patrick Star (SpongeBob SquarePants)

You can’t have SpongeBob without his best friend, and Bill Fagerbakke as Patrick Star is a match made in heaven. Since the show’s beginning, Fagerbakke has voiced the sea star, and he’s perfect for the role. Honestly, I almost want to watch him and Kenny voiceover the Super Bowl again next year because he as Patrick and them together is just perfect. 

Matthew Lillard As Shaggy (Scooby Doo)

There have been many voice actors who have come and gone to voice Shaggy, but let’s be honest here – Matthew Lillard has become Shaggy. Ever since he did the live-action version of Shaggy in the Scooby-Doo films, we’ve loved seeing him as Shaggy, and then he began doing the animated version. He’s been voicing the character (except for Velma, but we don’t talk about that), and he’s fantastic. 

Oscar Isaac As Miguel O’Hara (Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse)

Oh, Miguel. TikTok’s boyfriend of Summer 2023. The man, the myth, the legend that somehow captured my heart and reminded me that I have a thing for fictional brooding men. Either way, Oscar Isaac voices Miguel, and yes, this man is Miguel, and I will not accept any other person voicing him. 

Idina Menzel As Elsa (Frozen)

I had to put Elsa here somehow. Frozen is one of the biggest animated franchises of all time, and it’s mainly because of Elsa, her ice powers, and the incredible force of Idina Menzel’s voice. There isn’t another singer/actress on the planet that could belt like that.

While there are plenty of other animated characters we could discuss, these were just some of the first ones that came to mind—and now I feel like having an animated movie marathon. 

Kaley Cuoco has been hard at work on the second season of Peacock’s beloved Based on a True Story. The thriller, which premiered last summer, was renewed for Season 2 in October 2023. While it doesn’t seem like much has changed between then and now, as those with a Peacock subscription will soon find out, there is one major difference for Cuoco, and that’s the fact that her little girl was finally able to visit her at work.

The Big Bang Theory alum and Tom Pelphrey welcomed their baby, Matilda Carmine Richie Pelphrey in March 2023. Fast forward over a year, and little Matilda was able to visit her mom at work. Cuoco documented the sweet moments on her Instagram, revealing she had “dreamed of the classic ‘baby on camera’ pic since the day she was born.” She also suggested that Matilda could even share the photo 20 years from now while she’s on The Late Show:

The photos are absolutely adorable, and it already seems like Matilda might be taking after her mom and dad. It’s always sweet seeing kids visiting their parents at work, especially when it’s the first time. Plus, if Matilda were to follow in Mom and Dad’s footsteps and wind up on The Late Show years from now, it would be a sweet story even though she wouldn’t even remember it. However, a picture is worth a thousand words, and I'm sure this will be a story shared throughout the little one's life.

Considering both Kaley Cuoco and Tom Pelphrey are actors, performing certainly runs in Matilda’s blood, but of course, it’s far too early to think about that. It just seems like the Flight Attendant star is enjoying the sweet time she’s able to spend with her daughter. It wouldn’t be surprising if she was a hit with the rest of the cast and crew too, and it probably helped that Cuoco had multiple babysitters she could count on when she was filming.

Luckily, Cuoco still has some buffer from Hollywood when she and the family need to get away, so Matilda won’t always be growing up on the set of one of her parents’ projects. The actress has a ranch in Thousand Oaks with a growing farm and plenty of animals. Even though it’s still somewhat in the vicinity of Los Angeles, it’s definitely quieter and away from the hustle and bustle.

It's going to be exciting seeing Matilda visiting her parents on the sets of their projects over the years, as Cuoco and Pelphrey will likely be documenting a lot of it. For her, though, she’s merely just seeing her mommy and daddy along with their friends, but she is just as happy as ever, and pretty adorable.

Over the more than half century of Bob Newhart's career in showbiz, he became a sitcom legend and movie scene-stealer. It's therefore not surprising that many stars of the small and large screen wasted no time in paying tribute to the actor following his death at the age of 94. Nothing could be more appropriate for the man who was the lead of more than one of the best sitcoms of all time!

Mark Hamill may be best known for his work on the big screen as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise, but like Newhart, the majority of his credits are actually television, mostly for voice work on projects like Batman: The Animated Series. With the hashtag #RIP, the actor nodded to Newhart and The Bob Newhart Show when he posted this on X (formerly known as Twitter):

Mayim Bialik certainly knows her way around a sitcom after Blossom and The Big Bang Theory, with Bob Newhart guest-starring on the latter across six episodes. There's a reason why he ranks among that show's greatest guest stars and earned a spot in the final season! In a statement to People about the late actor, Bialik said:

Mayim Bialik wasn't the only Big Bang Theory alum to open up in the wake of Bob Newhart's death. Kaley Cuoco, who played Penny on all twelve seasons of the sitcom, wrote in an Instagram Story:

While Bob Newhart earned legend status largely due to all of his success on television, one of his most beloved projects has to be as part of Elf cast. Christmas movie co-star Zooey Deschanel said in a statement:

Filmmaker Judd Apatow also had a lot to say in tribute of Newhart. On X, he posted "Bob Newhart made the world a better place for a really long time," and went further in a statement to People:

Comedian and politician Al Franken shared his own perspective on working with Newhart, citing when the actor hosted Saturday Night Live during his tenure on the NBC sketch comedy show. Franken wrote on X:

Jamie Lee Curtis, who has been working on Freaky Friday 2 this summer, perhaps summed up what so many people seem to be feeling when she shared this sentiment on Instagram:

While the loss of Bob Newhart is certainly sad, it's also heartwarming to see so many stars come out to share stories of what he meant to them, whether they worked with him or not. His death at the age of 94 was first reported on July 18.

These days, more and more stars are leaving Hollywood for a more quiet life, regardless of whether they're still working within the industry or not. Many child stars exited Hollywood as they got older and, more recently, there are plenty of celebrities that don’t even live in California. The Big Bang Theory alum Kaley Cuoco hasn't left the City of Angels, though, she has revealed exactly what she does whenever she needs a buffer from the glitzy and fast-paced location.

Having grown up in SoCal and started acting before she was 10, Kaley Cuoco has spent a lot of time in Hollywood in her lifetime. Today, she appears as busy as ever,  even following the cancellation of The Flight Attendant (which Max subscribers can still watch). Considering how much she does in Tinseltown, it's understandable that Cuoco would need to take some time away from the bustling town here and there. She actually just bought a ranch in Thousand Oaks just outside of LA, and she tells People that it’s just what she needs when she wants to get away for a bit:

The ranch that she and partner Tom Pelphery have owned for six years now even has a petting zoo, complete with horses, donkeys, and goats (oh my) among a few other farm animals. It sounds like it’s just the perfect little scenic getaway, especially since the couple have a one-year-old. Since both of them are actors, the ranch outside of Los Angeles also gives them a little bit of peace away from paparazzi and fans when they aren’t working, which one would think is nice.

Despite not directly living in Hollywood for the most part, Kaley Cuoco still makes frequent trips out to the city. The actress just recently took to Instagram to share a series of photos in a post, which featured the caption “A perfect little LA moment.” Even though she occasionally needs that buffer, it seems that she still enjoys the Entertainment Capital of the World:

While Kaley Cuoco still lives somewhat close to LA, there are many celebrities who don’t. Candace Cameron Bure moved her family away due to security reasons, while Mark Wahlberg moved to Las Vegas to give his children the chance to live outside of the spotlight Also, Katherine Heigl transitioned to Utah for a change. Jessica Simpson, on the other hand, likes to leave Hollywood for Nashville from time to time as “a retreat,” but I wouldn't be surprised if she made the move more permanent and followed in the footsteps of many others leaving Hollywood. 

The good news is that even despite moving away from the famous town, most actors and musicians who no longer live in the area are still very much continuing to do work there, like Kaley Cuoco. I personally love to see so many being booked despite either moving away from the city completely or taking breaks from it when needed.

It’s been two decades since the TV world lost sitcom legend John Ritter. His lack of physical presence hasn’t lessened his impact as his TV co-stars have kept his memory alive, including his 8 Simple Rules daughter Kaley Cuoco. She did just that recently by sharing a sweet 8 Simple Rules memory with Ritter before his death.

The Big Bang Theory alum spoke highly of her late TV dad to People while attending The John Ritter Foundation for Aortic Health’s An Evening from the Heart gala. She recalled the TV dad being “so funny” and loving his fans until the end. Opening up about her time with the sitcom legend led Cuoco to reveal the mutual adoration between Ritter and the audience. The TV star remembered how “good” the comedic actor was even at his expense, saying:

Cuoco’s story didn’t sound too farfetched given Ritter’s penchant for laughs – jokes, physical comedy, bloopers, etc. The 8 Simple Rules set sounded joyous and exciting as the sitcom veteran entertained the audience. Watching the Three’s Company alum mess up on purpose affected her. She recalled the lesson she took away from those moments, saying:   

Kaley Cuoco made a good point with her takeaway, especially when you consider the scrutiny actors face. She mentioned John Ritter “touched a lot of lives” before and after his untimely passing. 

Besides her set story, Cuoco reminisced about the late Hearts Afire star with other former co-stars. Oscar-winner Billy Bob Thornton, who starred with Ritter on Hearts Afire, connected with the Flight Attendant star on The Big Bang Theory set over the late sitcom star.

Thornton and Cuoco weren’t the only ones thinking of Ritter as former America’s Funniest Home Video host Tom Bergeron recalled Bob Saget’s death reminding him of Ritter’s. So, the comedic actor’s legacy still lives in memories despite passing on two decades ago.

Kaley Cuoco’s connection with John Ritter continues to live on despite only playing TV daughter and father for one and a half seasons on 8 Simple Rules. 

You can watch their close relationship by streaming the ABC comedy with a Disney+ subscription. Follow up the sitcom rewind by checking out our 2024 TV schedule to see what comedies are premiering this year.

These days, when I think of The Big Bang Theory cast I think of a family of people who spent nearly a decade together on set filming and off set doing interviews and other promotions before the show hit the TV schedule each fall. You’d doubtless have to get to know one another pretty well over that long of a period of time, but early on the cast were strangers to one another. Or nearly strangers, as Simon Helberg and Kaley Cuoco were loosely connected before the sitcom kicked off, and they can thank John Ritter for the honor.

In fact, there's a lot of backstory to how much John Ritter impacted the CBS show, even though the first episode aired in 2007, just over four years after his death. 

Simon Helberg And Kaley Cuoco Both Have A Connection To John Ritter

Kaley Cuoco was a pretty notable star before she landed the role of Penny on the Chuck Lorre sitcom, though it is worth pointing out she wasn’t the actress to originally book the gig in The Big Bang Theory pilot. Previously, she’d worked with John Ritter on 8 Simple Rules, originally titled 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenaged Daughter. The show had been a hit for ABC in Season 1 when Ritter suddenly died in real life after an aortic dissection; it lasted two more seasons without its patriarch. 

Meanwhile, in The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series, we learned that Helberg had a personal connection to Ritter as well. He was friends with Jason Ritter –whom you might also know from roles in Parenthood, A Million Little Things, Another Period, and Netflix’s Raising Dion, as well as voice work in Gravity Falls. 

The two were pals from early on and even went to college together; as such Ritter had been a part of Helberg’s life before his untimely passing. It was a connection that meant he had met Cuoco previously as well. He said in the book:  

Intriguingly, Simon Helberg would later direct his buddy in We’ll Never Have Paris, and the two worked together in I Am I, as well. 

As for Helberg and Cuoco? The actress admitted it was the Howard actor who kept her in stitches while filming the sitcom together, mentioning, “Simon is, I think, one of the funniest people I have ever met.” It does make you realize that Hollywood is a very small place. Speaking of this concept...

Why It Was So Great When Billy Bob Thornton Appeared On Big Bang

The Big Bang Theory’s cameos were myriad, and include major figures from many different arenas. Stephen Hawking guest starred. Carrie Fisher and James Earl Jones guest starred. If you haven't visited all of these episodes with a Max subscription yet, the cameo that really spoke to Kaley Cuoco was the time Billy Bob Thornton showed up. 

In 2014, Billy Bob Thornton appeared on the series as Oliver Lorvis, who mistakenly thought Penny was interested in him after she winked at him and then touched his arm “for two Mississippis” during a sales call. (Penny and Leonard were already a thing at that point.) He also happened to be a big fan of celebrities, and eventually invited the gang to his place to show off his memorabilia collection. Shenanigans ensued, and the Penny actress recalled how great it was to have Thornton on set.

But it wasn’t just because Oliver Lorvis was such a unique character. In real life, Billy Bob Thornton had a connection to John, as well. The two had famously worked early on in Hearts Afire and later met again on the big screen with the underrated Bad Santa; in fact Bad Santa 2 was dedicated to Bernie Mac and Ritter. Cuoco also spoke about the guest stint, noting: 

Other TV personalities like Tom Bergeron have spoken about their connection to Ritter before. But not everyone who was impacted by Ritter also got to have a moment with The Big Bang star on her show.

A few months ago, Cuoco herself shared a post revealing how she was keeping her 8 Simple Rules dad’s memory alive. From these additional memories on set, it sounds as if Mr. Ritter is still managing to connect people many years after his passing. Not a bad mark to have left on the world. 

The Flight Attendant debuted back in 2020 as Kaley Cuoco's first regular gig after the end of The Big Bang Theory, with the actress stepping out of the sitcom sphere for a dramedy thriller that she also executive produced. The role resulted in her first-ever Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, so it's no surprise to learn that she thinks of playing Cassie Bowden as a "dream come true." Unfortunately, she shared that sentiment as part of the news that Max had cancelled the streaming series after two seasons. 

Max cancelled the series nearly two years after the second season finished airing back in 2022, according to Variety. The long gap of time combined with the fact that only the first season was based on the book by Chris Bohjalian makes it not entirely shocking that the show has officially gotten the axe, but it's still sad news for fans. For Kaley Cuoco, however, the news just motivated her to share how great her experience was in making the show. In a statement, the Flight Attendant leading lady said:

As Cuoco noted, it was an achievement for the show to reach two seasons at all, given that it was originally planned as a one-off limited series. The Season 2 ending of The Flight Attendant didn't definitively end Cassie's story, but the star's comments about a potential third season back in 2022 suggested that she'd be perfectly happy with the show finishing with just two seasons. Both seasons are currently available streaming with a Max subscription.

The show enabled Kaley Cuoco to reach some personal milestones. After twelve seasons as leading lady of The Big Bang Theory, she was finally able to celebrate her first Golden Globe nomination back in early 2021 for her work on The Flight Attendant. Just months later, she could celebrate her very first Emmy nomination as well. The end of The Flight Attendant also isn't the end of Cuoco's time working with Max, as her Harley Quinn animated series was renewed for a fifth season to debut at some point in the 2024 TV schedule, although a date hasn't been revealed yet at the time of writing. 

Cuoco has also been quite busy in the time since Season 2 of The Flight Attendant finished airing in early 2022, including a starring role in another TV series: Based on a True Story for Peacock Premium subscribers, which she filmed while pregnant. In addition to her TV shows, she landed film roles in projects including Meet Cute and Role Play, the latter of which premiered earlier this year to mixed reactions from critics.

So, while Cassie's journey has finished on The Flight Attendant, Kaley Cuoco's career is still going strong, and she reflects on her time starring in the Max series as a "dream come true." As for fans who have been holding out hope for a third season, there's always a Max subscription for rewatching the first two!

There has been a lot written over the years about casting for The Big Bang Theory. We know the original roomie across the hall was replaced by Kaley Cuoco’s Penny after the pilot was made. In fact, Chuck Lorre’s called the pilot “a mess” in the past and admitted they didn’t know what they were doing, but there was one now a-lister the show definitely didn’t think would be a good fit due to her age at the time the pilot was coming together.

Who was that a-lister? Brie Larson. And she wasn't the only major name to try out for the role either.

What Brie Larson Said About Auditioning For The Big Bang Theory

In an interview about auditioning, Brie Larson once admitted she’d tried out to star in The Big Bang Theory. Unfortunately, those involved in the casting process thought she was “too young.” Given The Big Bang Theory pilot was filmed ahead of the fall TV season in 2006 and Cuoco was introduced to the cast before the show as we know it hit the TV schedule a year later in 2007, Larson would have only been 17 or 18 years old when the show was coming together. She noted on her YouTube page:

While she admitted the role wasn’t right for her, the sting of “rejection” was clearly still there, as the actress went on in the video to explain why exactly the auditioning process can be so brutal. She also shouted out people everywhere who have undergone the process. 

The Big Bang Theory isn’t the only high-profile role Brie Larson has lost during her career. She’s been open about losing major gigs in the Star Wars franchise and in Terminator Genisys in the past. At this point in her career, she’s also beat out some major contenders for roles, including landing the gig as Captain Marvel in the MCU. While those who auditioned were never confirmed, names like Emily Blunt and Charlize Theron were bandied about, with Blunt later theorizing there are a limited number of female actresses fans can seemingly imagine as these sorts of characters. Given Larson’s acting roots are in comedy, she was a bit of a surprising fit for the MCU role.

The Long Story Behind Kaley Cuoco Landing The Big Bang Theory Role

It’s unclear if Brie Larson auditioned when the original character Katie was being cast or around the time when Kaley Cuoco landed the role. She’s not the only major name to try out for The Big Bang Theory either, as Elizabeth Berkley and others were revealed to have tried out. In fact that entire list is wild and includes other hopefuls like Jodi Lynn O'Keefe.

We do know that Cuoco had also seen both versions of the script that had been written: The original with the “Katie” character (which ultimately went to Amanda Walsh) and the second script with the “Penny” character. 

The only problem? Ken Miller said Kaley Cuoco wasn’t particularly interested in the Penny character when she was pitched it the second time around, having like the "darker" Katie character better. He said in the book The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive Inside Story Of The Epic Hit Series that she actually passed when offered, unlike Larson, who wasn't seen to be the right fit. 

The staff “begged.” In fact, Peter Roth even admitted everything in the second pilot had been “timed to get Kaley to play Penny.” It eventually worked, because the sitcom –with Kaley in the role – went to series and became a ratings juggernaut, lasting on CBS for 10 years and still being revisited by those with a Max subscription today. Cuoco would thank Ken Miller and Nikki Valko at subsequent table reads over the years for “hiring” her. 

Ultimately, while Larson likely would have had the comedic chops to play Penny, it’s hard to imagine a world where anyone but Cuoco portrayed the character. (And it's even wilder to think of Elizabeth Berkley in the role, as she cut back heavily on acting for a time before she recently cropped back up in the Saved By The Bell remake.)

While the Big Bang actress was a known name before Chuck Lorre’s sitcom, without playing Penny, who knows if her career would have led to projects like The Flight Attendant and Based on a True Story? Perhaps it would have gone in a different direction entirely. Plus, Larson probably wouldn’t have even had the bandwidth to sign on for Captain Marvel if she’d landed the gig, either. It would have been a different world. 

There’s arguably been no unaired series pilot more legendary in recent years than the original one for CBS' The Big Bang Theory pilot. That early episode has been referred to as “just a mess” by series creator Chuck Lorre due to the original script and some of the cast, particularly the original Penny actress. The network has made it no secret just how much it disliked the original star that served as the precursor to Kaley Cuoco, who has since been referred to as the show’s "secret sauce."

The network’s not-so-secret hate for the original Penny (who was actually named Katie) is just one of several interesting behind-the-scenes secrets about Big Bang. Former CBS Entertainment chairwoman Nina Tassler opened up to Emmy Magazine (via The Direct) about watching the original pilot. The veteran executive mentioned that the script had elements that worked and some that didn't. Tassler alluded to original Penny actress Amanda Walsh being the weak link in the original episode, commenting:

At least, the Eye Network knew it had something special in the classic sitcom and gave the producers and his collaborators another crack at it. The original TBBT pilot went unreleased for a while but leaked online years ago. If you've seen it, you might agree that Nina Tassler’s notes were right! Some elements worked, while other elements needed to be tossed or redeveloped. The original characterizations of Leonard, Sheldon, and Penny’s predecessor Katie were off-putting, to say the least. So, because CBS executives realized the show was an unpolished gem, fans received the pop culture-dominating sitcom we know today.

It seems evident that while Nina Tassler loved John Galecki and Jim Parsons' chemistry and performances, not much could be said about Amanda Walsh. Tassler mentioned that Chuck Lorre agreed with her assessment and went ahead to rewrite and recast Katie's role as Penny. The TV exec saw the series going far after seeing the newly-cast Kaley Cuoco in the revamped pilot, per Tassler:

Boy did the revamped TBBT pilot make history. The Big Bang Theory went on to become the highest-rated sitcom on TV for years, staying in the Top 10 for its final eight seasons. The show and the cast were nominated and collected many awards, including a few Primetime Emmys for Jim Parsons. Ultimately, the CBS sitcom ended its 12-season run in 2019 after Parsons chose to move on to other projects. It seems like Kaley Cuoco was the missing puzzle piece and helped Penny gradually evolve. One would think that fans are happy that things turned out as they did.

While fans hold out hope for a Big Bang Theory reunion or revival someday, the universe is still alive through the spinoff series Young Sheldon, which itself will end after seven seasons. They can revisit the original series by streaming it using a Max subscription. After reminiscing over the classic sitcom, you can look over our 2024 TV schedule to see when your favorite comedies will premiere this year.

In recent years Kaley Cuoco has taken on some pretty complicated characters on series like The Flight Attendant and Harley Quinn, and even 2022’s Meet Cute took a deceptively dark turn. She’s continuing along those lines in Role Play on Amazon’s Prime Video, playing an assassin for hire opposite David Oyelowo. Critics were able to screen the new action comedy before its streaming release on January 12, and opinions seem to be less than favorable.

Kaley Cuoco — in her first movie playing a mom — stars with David Oyelowo as married parents of two Dave and Emma. The couple decide to spice up their marriage with some role play, leading Dave to discover that his wife is leading a double life. Peyton Robinson of RogerEbert.com rates it just 1 star out of 4, saying Role Play provides feeble fight scenes and too few laughs. The result is a movie that feels more like a screen test than completed product, Robinson says, writing: 

Matt Hambridge of FandomWire also calls out the movie for not providing many laughs, adding to that minimal action and few thrills. Only partially saved by its lead actors, Role Play is another forgettable January release, and Hambridge rates it 4 out of 10, saying: 

Coleman Spilde of The Daily Beast advises people to “Skip This,” as not even Kaley Cuoco can save it from its lack of verve. Role Play doesn’t allow time for her character to work through her moral dilemmas, and it doesn’t provide enough action. Spilde continues: 

Matt Donato of Paste gives it a 5.5 out of 10, saying the movie achieves the basic blueprint for “secret identity lover” films but lacks anything beyond the bare minimum, despite Kaley Cuoco’s efforts. Donato writes: 

Ian Sandwell of Digital Spy seems to agree, calling Role Play “bland and inoffensive.” The critic rates the movie 2 out of 5 stars, writing: 

Critics don’t seem over-excited about Kaley Cuoco’s latest offering, though she and David Oyelowo do seem to be the best parts, according to many of the reviews. While Role Play holds a paltry 19% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes (from 19 reviews), the audience score is much higher at 75% Fresh. That’s from the less than 50 opinions submitted as of this writing, so both of those percentages are going to change as more people weigh in, but this could be an indication that viewers will embrace the movie despite critics' opinions. 

Only time will tell, and if you want to form your own opinion, Role Play is available to stream now with an Amazon Prime Video subscription. Be sure to see what other films are headed our way soon by checking out our 2024 movie calendar. 

Kaley Cuoco has long been known for her talents as an actor but, in recent years, she’s also been carving out a space for herself as a producer. The Flight Attendant, Harley Quinn and Meet Cute are just a few of the productions on which she’s had such duties. Her latest producing venture is Role Play – an action-comedy that’s available for Prime Video subscribers. CinemaBlend was fortunate enough to speak with Cuoco, who spoke about the development process for the 2024 movie schedule entry. While doing so, she also revealed the most “important” element she and co-star David Oyelowo wanted for the film. 

In Role Play, Kaley Cuoco and David Oyelowo play a married couple Emma and Dave, whose family is put in jeopardy after Emma’s secret life as an assassin-for-hire comes to light. It goes without saying that feature films can go through a considerable amount of changes amid development. With that in mind, I couldn’t help but ask Cuoco about the biggest alterations that were made. The actress explained that there were several permutations of her latest flick yet, once she and Oyelowo gave it “new life,” one specific theme began to shine through: 

When it comes to an action movie like this, a level of spectacle is definitely needed, though there does need to be a grounding element. So one can see why the two lead stars wanted there to be a strong emphasis on family. That’s not to say that that element of the story overwhelms the film, though. The Based on a True Story star did get more than a few opportunities to engage in some stunt work. During our interview, she spoke about working on those scenes and how the number of those changed over time:

Like her co-stars, Kaley Cuoco really committed to the work for Role Play, which shouldn’t be surprising. She’s put in a lot of great work over the years, dedicating herself to the roles presented to her. That even became overwhelming for her when she was filming The Flight Attendant Season 2. Cuoco also revealed during our interview that the mixture of the character’s messy journey and her own personal life made for “24/7 depression.” She found her footing, though, and powered through to give a strong performance, which is a testament to Cuoco’s work ethic. 

That same strength seems present within her work as a producer as well as indicated by her desire to maintain the familial element in her new movie. One could argue that it was wise of her to strive to have such a theme present throughout the story. And that may be something that viewers will appreciate as they watch it play out.

You can stream Role Play now on Prime Video. Also, there are plenty of other movies and TV shows to watch if you like Kaley Cuoco.

We’re not too far into the new year at this point, film fans, but there are already a number of entries on the 2024 movie schedule that either have dropped already or will soon. In the latter release bucket is Prime Video’s Role Play, an action comedy starring Kaley Cuoco and David Oyelowo. The two play a married couple who find themselves in a very precarious situation, due to some professional entanglements on the part of Cuoco’s character. While the production demanded quite a bit of the two stars, they’ve definitely played challenging roles before. So when I spoke to them ahead of the film’s release, I couldn’t help but ask about the gigs that have had the biggest impacts on them. 

It goes without saying that both of the stars are tried and tested performers at this point in their careers and have produced excellent work. That’s one of the reasons I was so excited to speak to them on behalf of CinemaBlend. The two didn’t seem to have too much trouble choosing the roles that tested them the most. David Oyelowo pointed to his acclaimed turn as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Ava DuVernay’s historical drama, Selma. The British performer explained to me just why he found the process of playing the civil rights leader so “intense”: 

One can definitely understand why that would be such a tough role to put down after months of filming. I’d also agree with the notion of someone’s family not being too keen on having the reverend stick around for so long. The Cloverfield Paradox star’s efforts paid off, though, as his portrayal was spot-on – so much so that Steven Spielberg wanted him to reprise King in another movie.

Kaley Cuoco is arguably best known for her comedic work on shows like 8 Simple Rules and The Big Bang Theory. After she finished the latter though, she made the “humbling” transition to HBO Max/Max’s The Flight Attendant. The show saw her play an airline stewardess, who found herself wrapped up in a murder mystery. Not only did the subject matter weigh heavily on Cuoco, but there are other reasons why her time working on Season 2 was “just 24/7 depression”:

Around that time in 2021, Kaley Cuoco had split from her second husband, Karl Cook, and it sounds like life wasn’t easy at that point. It’s good to hear the actress – who welcomed her first child with Tom Pelphrey earlier this year – was able to find the light.

The concept of not being able to let a role go is pertinent, in regard to Role Play. The movie centers on happily married couple Emma and Dave Brackett, who seem to be a normal pair. While Dave is mild-mannered, Emma is actually an assassin, who’s keeping that information from her partner and kids and having a tough time discarding her longtime gig. That leads to a number of thrills throughout the film.

It certainly seems like some roles can cut deeper than others and ultimately have lasting effects on actors. Yet it would appear that both Kaley Cuoco and David Oyelowo were able to overcome any obstacles in that regard and re-center themselves after the jobs were done. Surely, they’ll continue to play complex roles and, because of their past experiences, I’d wager that they’ll be strong enough to handle whatever baggage might come with them.

Prime Video subscription holders can check out Role Play when it hits the platform on January 11.

January is often a slow time for the box office, and that may lead more people to go searching for what there is to find on streaming platforms when looking for something new to watch. Luckily, this week offers a lot of options as almost every streaming platform has at least one thing worth checking out. There are new movies, new reality series, new episodes of weekly series, and even the first fully bingable Marvel series.

Echo is just one of the highlights of the strreaming week, as the Marvel series will drop all episodes at once, a first for an MCU series. It will be interesting to see how that impacts the streaming service or viewership of the series. But that's far from the only thing of note to watch this week. Here's a look at some of the highlights on the major streaming services this week. 

What's On Netflix

Lift - January 12

F. Gary Gray has been behind some solid action movies including The Italian Job and a Fast & Furious movie, but in Lift Gray will team with Kevin Hart and he’ll leave the stylish cars behind and take to the skies. The new Netflix movie stars Hart as the leader of a team of thieves who get blackmailed by the U.S. government to steal $500 million in gold from a plane mid-flight. The movie so-stars Vincent D’Onofria as a member of Hart’s team and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as the government agent running the heist. The Lift trailer makes the movie look like it could be a lot of fun.  

The Trust: A Game Of Greed - January 10

If reality TV full of interpersonal drama is your thing, then The Trust: A Game of Greed may be your new favorite series. The premise sees 11 strangers given a share of a quarter million dollars, but that’s just the beginning. While all the players could simply do nothing and go home with their share, we can guess that won’t actually happen, as everybody is tested and tempted to vote people off in order to increase what they take home.  

What's On Disney+

Echo - January 9

Echo is a first-of-its-kind series from Marvel Studios in a lot of ways. It’s the first Marvel Studios Spotlight production, a designation that means that, while the show takes place within the MCU, don’t expect its story or characters to have a significant impact on the larger story of Phase 5. This standalone nature is probably a side effect of some of the other ways this one will be different.

It will also be the first new Marvel series to drop all its episodes at once, which will change the way Disney+ subscribers consume this one. More importantly, however, it’s the first Marvel Studios series that will be rated TV-MA. The Echo trailer showed a series that will be a lot more violent than we’re used to seeing. That alone will be worth checking out. 

Bluey - January 12

By this week kids are back in school. But for those kids that are a bit too young for school, or just for anybody who loves incredible television, the final 10 episodes of Bluey Season 3 are set to hit Disney+. You don’t need to be a kid, or a parent of one, to appreciate the incredible humor of Bluey. The fact the show is able to put together hilarious, and often touching, stories that resonate with just about anybody is the magic of Bluey. Also, that theme song is incredibly catchy. And worry not, Season 4 of Bluey is on the way.

What's On Hulu

Self Reliance - January 12

The last time that The Lonely Island teamed up with Hulu, we got the excellent, and perfectly timed, time loop comedy Palm Springs. Now the team is behind Self-Reliance. The movie marks the feature film directorial debut of Jake Johson, who also wrote and stars in the movie. It follows Johnson's character, who is recruited to take part in a reality show where people actively try to kill him, but he wins $1 million if he survives for 30 days. Since he can only be killed if alone, it drives our hero to find some unusual friends. Anna Kendrick and Andy Samberg co-star, the latter playing himself.  

What's On Max

It’s been four years since the last season of HBO’s hit True Detective, and while the series hasn’t always received stellar reviews, each season has been an event in itself. The new season, subtitled Night Country, is set during the endless night of the Alaskan winter and stars Jodie Foster and Kali Reis as the detectives tracking down a missing person. The series will debut on HBO but will also be available with a Max subscription the same day so there will be no wait for those who want to keep up with this one every week.  

What's On Apple TV+

Criminal Record - January 10

Apple TV+ doesn’t have the quantity of new content that other streaming platforms have, so when it does have something original debuting, it’s worth taking note. Criminal Record stars Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo as a pair of London police detectives. Jumbo plays Detective Sergeant June Lenker, who is investigating the possibility that a man who has been in prison for years may not have committed the crime. Capaldi plays the detective of the original case, who is not in favor of his work being reviewed.  The first two episodes of the show hit this week, with future episodes arriving weekly.

What's On Prime Video

Role Play - January 12

If action comedies are your thing there’s going to be something of a battle of them on January 12 the same day that Lift arrives on Netflix, Role Play arrives on Prime Video. Kaley Cuoco plays a wife and mother who happens to be a professional assassin. When her husband, played by David Oyelowo realizes who his wife really is, he tries to help her escape the life, even though that means now everybody is trying to kill her. It looks like a version of Mr. and Mrs. Smith if Mr. Smith had no idea what was going on.

If these new series For a complete look at what’s hitting streaming in January, be sure to check out what’s new on Netflix, as well as everything coming to Disney+ in January 2024. 

Dancing With the Stars kicked off Season 32 just a few weeks ago, and already, the competition is looking pretty stiff. With a new crop of celebrities vying for the newly-renamed Len Goodman Mirrorball Trophy, it’s going to be as intense as ever. Some stars, such as former contestant Candace Cameron Bure, are showing support for the celebrities competing. In Kaley Cuoco’s case, her baby might be the one calling the shots on who should win.

The Big Bang Theory alum shared a sweet video to her Instagram Story of her and her daughter Matilda dancing along to one of Jason Mraz’s songs. The Grammy-winning artist is competing on the current season of DWTS with pro partner Daniella Karagach. The duo have been scoring pretty high and even took home the first 9s of the season for Motown Night. It seems like they have another fan, because Cuoco pointed out that her daughter had a fun reaction:

It seems like you are never too young to be ready to cast your vote. It’s pretty cute knowing that little Matilda was just kicking her feet while listening to Jason Mraz. She definitely is not the only one rooting for the musician, and I'd be surprised if he doesn't make it all the way to the end of Season 32 at this point, and maybe even take home the trophy. That’s not the only thing that needs to happen, though, if you ask me!

From the looks of Kaley Cuoco’s video, maybe there needs to be a new DWTS series that sees the stars dancing with their kids along with a pro. Cuoco and her daughter look like they are quite the duo. This could even be Cuoco’s official audition for the next season of DWTS. I think she would do a great job, even if her daughter is still a few years off from being able to vote. Maybe they could go to a taping of the current season to meet Jason Mraz?

Meanwhile, DWTS’ 32nd season is proving to be intense and tough. The judges are constantly getting booed for their low scores, and the stars are feeling the pressure. There are still several weeks left of the dancing competition, which means things are only going to get more heated. That’s just the way of the game, however. It’s what keeps the show interesting, and boy, has it been interesting, especially following the controversy with Jamie Lynn Spears.

New episodes of Dancing With the Stars air on Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and with a Disney+ subscription as part of the 2023 TV schedule. Make sure to root for Jason Mraz, just like Kaley Cuoco’s daughter, or a different celebrity couple if you already have your favorite chosen. At this point, anyone can take home the trophy.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of sitcom legend John Ritter’s untimely passing. It’s hard to believe the Three’s Company funnyman was taken from us while rehearsing for his sitcom 8 Simple Rules…for Dating My Teenage Daughter nearly two decades ago. He ultimately left behind a legacy of kindness and laughter. To honor this recent milestone, and to keep Ritter’s memory alive, his 8 Simple Rules co-star, Kaley Cuoco, has aligned herself with a cause near and dear to those he left behind. 

The actress took to her Instagram story to support the efforts of The John Ritter Foundation, which has been working towards improving the field of thoracic aortic health. Sharing a photo of herself and Ritter, as well as a more recent image of herself with his widow Amy Yasbeck, the Harley Quinn star also provided the following message stumping for the cause: 

Throughout the three-season run of what eventually was retitled 8 Simple Rules, Kaley Cuoco played the role of Bridget Hennessy, the eldest daughter in John Ritter and Katey Segal’s sitcom family. While working alongside the man who also made his name through roles in the Problem Child films and as a cast member of the '90s adaptation of Stephen King’s IT, Cuoco learned lessons that would eventually serve her well during her tenure on The Big Bang Theory.

Acting like the mindful father figure you’d expect, one such encounter saw John Ritter covering up his young co-star with his own jacket, teaching Cuoco that she didn’t have to dress “sexy” for a role. In a karmic sort of repayment for his guidance, Kaley Cuoco’s seems to be showing kindness by promoting foundation that bares her old mentor's name. Later in her social media message, she included the following appeal: 

As she continues to make her way through her career, while opening up about raising her daughter with partner Tom Pelphrey, Kaley Cuoco will undoubtedly remember her time with John Ritter in a fond and friendly light. Her efforts in supporting Aortic Dissection Awareness Week are another sign of such an assumption. She's bolstering a good cause while keeping a departed friend in her thoughts, and that's something I'd think even Ritter himself would have been proud of. 

For fans of the two actors who’d like to revisit 8 Simple Rules…for Dating My Teenage Daughter, know that the show is accessible. All three seasons are currently available to stream, at the time of this writing, with the use of a Disney+ subscription or ABC’s own streaming website. And for those of you looking to donate to The John Ritter Foundation, the link provided will take you directly to its Aortic Dissection Awareness Week fundraiser.

Generally speaking, multicam TV sitcoms like The Big Bang Theory tend to rely far more heavily on actors sticking to scripts while filming, as opposed to endless takes of ad-libbed jokes and improvised silliness. After all, time is of the essence when series are produced on such tight turnarounds. But exceptions do occur, as it goes, and star Kevin Sussman’s quick thinking during one of his early scenes as Stuart helped give his quirky character a far more pronounced presence as time went by. And I’m pretty sure fans everywhere are all the more appreciative for it.

Sussman, who got married in April 2023 to now-wife Addie Hall, previously discussed the way he managed to secure a bigger role in the Big Bang Theory universe, speaking at a Q&A for Roster Con. It all goes back to the moment when the comic book shop owner quietly expressed his still-burning desire for Kaley Cuoco’s Penny in the Season 3 episode “The Guitarist Amplification.” Here’s how he put it: 

When Kevin Sussman first joined The Big Bang Theory in Season 2, he enjoyed a two-episode arc involving Stuart going on a couple of dates with Penny, and at least at the time, he was a fairly straightforward and normal dude, at least through the prism of sitcoms. But with that relationship destined to go nowhere, Stuart could have turned into far more of a background character for Sheldon, Howard, Leonard and Raj to say hi to when seeking out back issues.

Thankfully for fans who love when Stuart gets sucked into the plot, it was in Sussman’s fourth episode when he brought his under-the-breath adoration into the aforementioned scene with Cuoco, and that pretty much cemented his regular presence within the CBS hit. It just goes to show you: even when your instincts don't seem like they'll be welcomed, it might just land you a bigger role on The Big Bang Theory. That lesson may not be so universally relatable, I guess. 

The Big Bang Theory cast and crew have talked in the past about how quickly the writers will converge and correct whenever jokes weren't necessarily landing while filming episodes. As Sussman himself noted in 2019, rather than relying on the actors' off-the-cuff skills, the writers were known to handle joke substitutions on the spot.

Stuart certainly delivered some awkward moments from one season to the next, but by the end of TBBT's run, the creative team finally cut him some slack by way of giving him career success and a promising love life. With the flagship series having come to a Nobel-honoring conclusion with its series finale in 2019 I feel like more than enough fans out there would love to see a spinoff focusing on Stuart — and not a Young Sheldon prequel — hopefully with other co-stars returning in some capacity.

Kevin Sussman continued to show off his sitcom chops after Big Bang ended by way of reuniting with Mayim Bialik for Call Me Kat. He showed up for two episodes in the Fox sitcom as Zac, but it sadly didn't survive long enough for him to secure a larger role through genius ad-libbing. 

All seasons of The Big Bang Theory can be streamed with a Max subscription, while those with Apple TV+ subscriptions will be able to see Kevin Sussman in his next role, which will be in the Brie Larson-starring '60s-set dramedy Lessons in Chemistry. The novel-to-screen adaptation will debut on Friday, October 13.