Ever Wondered Why TBBT's Bazinga Was Suddenly Gone? Here's The Answer

Summary:

• The Big Bang Theory was a CBS television show about the lives of four nerdy friends, Sheldon, Leonard, Howard and Raj, and their new hot neighbor, Penny.
• The show became popular for its clever use of pop culture and scientific references, as well as its relatable character quirks.
• Although the show lasted for 12 seasons, midway through, the writers added an and to the variety of running gags, including Sheldon's ‘Bazinga’.

If you were never a die-hard fan of The Big Bang Theory in 2010-2012, when the fandom was at its peak and growing by the day, you probably missed the part where it was hated online.

Like any other truly dedicated group, the fans of the show were laughed at by other fandoms, and all the running jokes from the show became a weapon against them. The word ‘Bazinga,’ as a signature of one of the main characters, was also used to bully them.

While the fans of the show stood strong and didn't let the hate affect their love for the sitcom, the show's creators didn't seem to appreciate it as much. ‘Bazinga’ slowly faded away with each passing episode, leaving fans with no choice but to wonder why such a decision was made.

The Big Bang Theory Behind The Scenes

Aside from co-creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, there were a number of people on The Big Bang Theory team who were driving a decision-making process. Not just about the general direction of the show, but about the impact it would have on society. As it turns out, the T-shirts and posters screaming a made-up word were not what any of them had dreamed of.

In the book The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series, which takes a deep dive into the history of the sitcom's creation and airing, author Jessica Radloff sat down with co-producer Steve Holland. He was the one who pointed out why ‘Bazinga’ wasn't really wanted as part of the branding anymore.

“It felt like it was becoming a catchphrase in a sort of not-great way, so we retired it almost entirely. After season four or five, we almost never said it, but it was always the thing that was associated with Big Bang. And sometimes in a detrimental way, because people would use it to mock the show sometimes,” he said.

Whether it was good for the show or not, the producers weren't able to completely get rid of the branding associated with 'Bazinga'. While those viewers who didn't enjoy the joke and found it tiresome were happy to see it go, the majority of the fandom was just left a little sad and confused.

What Does ‘Bazinga’ Mean?

Before it became a catchphrase for the entire show, ‘Bazinga’ was one of the words Sheldon Cooper said that confused the show's audience as much as it does everyone else to this day. What no one knew at the time is that a couple of years later they’ll get a complete explanation.

The origins of ‘Bazinga’ in Sheldon's life were explored in the Young Sheldon ’s episode A Stunted Childhood and a Can of Fancy Mixed Nuts (S2E10). It wasn't the first time the prequel was used to fill in some plot holes or explain some background details of the character's life, but this one episode was especially exciting for all the die-hard fans.

As it turns out, when he was a kid trying to learn how to pull off funny pranks, he came across the sign "If it's funny, it's a Bazinga,” and it stuck with him and made its way into his adult life.

Little did the writers know when they first added the word to their scripts that it would become so popular and stick with so many fans. Based on the way the joke was addressed again in Young Sheldon, enough time has passed for the creative teams to find an appreciation for it.

However, just an acknowledgement was more than enough to make fans of the original show happy. Luckily, there is a great way to go back to the golden era of The Big Bang Theory and enjoy all the bazingas you want. You can stream your favorite moments from the show, or rewatch it in its entirety on Netflix or MAX.

Source: The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series by Jessica Radloff