Before the beloved prequel, Young Sheldon, and other spin-offs expanded The Big Bang Theory universe, a surprising move from CBS nearly changed the course of the original series. The show began with introducing four socially awkward friends, Sheldon, Leonard, Howard, and Raj. However, after it was picked up, CBS did not find one of the key members of the cast crucial for the series moving forward.
And the network proceeded to terminate his contract without even consulting showrunner Chuck Lorre. The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series discusses CBS’s initial decision to fire Kunal Nayyar after the pilot and how the showrunner ensured his return to the series.
CBS Fired Kunal Nayyar From The Big Bang Theory
Rajesh Koothrappali, aka Raj, has been one of the crucial characters in the Emmy-winning sitcom, The Big Bang Theory. While the initial episodes of the show did not really focus too much on him, the character was expanded significantly throughout the show.
However, his journey on the show was almost cut short after CBS fired Kunal Nayyar, who portrayed Raj, after they picked up the series. In his interview for The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series, the actor revealed,
“CBS had flown all four cast members to New York for the upfronts except for me, and I thought, Huh. I wonder if I’ll just be recast. At that time, CBS had not picked up my option on the show.
He recalled his conversation with Chuck Lorre, who was also surprised with the decision. However, he assured the actor that he would get him back on the show at any cost. “I’m going to talk to everyone because it’s bulls**t you’re not here,” he recalled Lorre’s words.
And the showrunner fought fiercely to get him back, determined to keep him on the show. He confronted the network directly, arguing that they couldn’t fire or recast the actor.
Chuck Lorre Was Determined to Get Kunal Nayyar Back on the Show
In his interview for The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series, the showrunner, Chuck Lorre, also reflected on the situation. He shared that he was surprised when he did not see Kunal Nayyar in New York with the rest of the cast.
“I was like, ‘What do you mean he isn’t here? Why isn’t he here?'” he recalled. Upon inquiring, he was told that a CBS executive had deemed the Spaceman actor unsuitable for the role and intended to recast the part, without consulting anyone, including Lorre.
“Well, I did not respond well. I was furious,” the acclaimed TV producer said. He acknowledged that it was unfair for them to fire the actor based on a single episode, and firmly refused to recast the part. He recalled,
I called the execs at CBS and said, “You can’t fire him — I wasn’t about to recast that part because someone else made a decision. It seemed so unfair to cut the actor from the series based on what—the two lines where he whispered to Wolowitz?”
Lorre’s determination paid off, and Nayyar was brought back just in time for production to begin. The 43-year-old actor recalled being very emotional when he learned he was back on the show after over a month of uncertainty. He went on to continue his journey on the sitcom for all 12 seasons.
The Big Bang Theory is available to stream on Max.
The post “It’s bulls**t you’re not here”: Before Young Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory Humiliatingly Fired a Core Cast Member Without Chuck Lorre’s Permission appeared first on FandomWire.