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Home » Blogs » Karman Kregloe's blog » Sara Gilbert demoted on "The Big Bang Theory"

Sara Gilbert demoted on "The Big Bang Theory"

by
Karman Kregloe

In disappointing news from the television front, EW's Michael Ausiello has reported that out actress Sara Gilbert (Roseanne) has been demoted from regular cast member of the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory to a recurring character.

In case you haven't watched it, The Big Bang Theory about a group of brilliant but socially-inept physicists. Like most shows, it's one that could definitely use more women in the cast.

In his column, Ausiello writes:

An insider tells me that the actress was bumped to recurring because producers weren't able to generate enough story for her character, who had been paired romantically with Leonard (played by Gilbert's former Roseanne co-star, Johnny Galecki). "They couldn't write for her, so they changed her status to recurring," whispers the insider. "It's a little mystifying."

Ausiello reports that Gilbert will occasionally be featured on the show because of her good long-standing relationship with the show's executive producer, Chuck Lorre (Roseanne, Dharma & Greg, Two and a Half Men). Hopefully, her talent has something to do with it too.

If I remember correctly, Gilbert had (and delivered with considerable zing) some of the best lines on the award-winning Roseanne during its long run, so I can't imagine that coming up with enough "story" for her would be such a daunting task, especially for such an accomplished crew.

If you'd like to give CBS some "feedback" on this development, you can write them here.

What do you think about this news?

  • Karman Kregloe's blog
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    • Submitted by
    Karman Kregloe
    on January 26, 2009 - 2:15pm.
    TAGS :: 
    Emuh's picture

    Excuse me for being all

    Submitted by
    Emuh (368 posts)
    on January 26, 2009 - 3:37pm.

    Excuse me for being all teenagery and ick but this SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!

    I love the Big Bang  theory it's a great show but now one of my favorite characters is being but on the naughty step....m'eh why do they always do this with the great female characters?

     

    MAWR!!!

     

    "You have tea with a lesbian...a Dyke will PUNCH YOU IN THE FACE!...and then buy you a beer"-Andrea, 3 Way

    bittybuffy's picture

    Wooo, Big Bang!

    Submitted by
    bittybuffy (91 posts)
    on January 26, 2009 - 3:42pm.
    I was disappointed when I heard the news, especially as they've had that robot guy in the last two episodes. He's nowhere near as good a match for Sheldon as Leslie is. I can understand the point about not having enough story for the character; at the moment the writers barely have anything going for Penny and since the end of Leonard and Leslie she hasn't been around. I would love to see Gilbert more often though, her comic timing is brilliant.
    MsWoo's picture

    I cannot stand wo-bot guy

    Submitted by
    MsWoo (476 posts)
    on January 26, 2009 - 9:27pm.

    He has to go. But Leslie really is more of a peripheral character, so this is no surprise re Gilbert's status.

    I for one would love to see Penny coupled with Sheldon. Opposites do sometimes attract.

    eva-e's picture

    don't know

    Submitted by
    eva-e (87 posts)
    on January 26, 2009 - 3:54pm.

    Yeah, Leslie's fun. But she's really always been just a little side story. Penny is "the" girl on the show, and she's not doing bad, either.

    I'd rather have Leslie for some real action every few episodes than nod a "hi" to the guys in the canteen every time.

    Plus, I do buy the "not being able to write for her". Like, they already have to mute Raj everytime the whole group is together, just so they won't have to worry about him.

    Melissa Hsu's picture

    I watch this show because of

    Submitted by
    Melissa Hsu (not verified)
    on January 26, 2009 - 7:46pm.

    I watch this show because of Kaylee Cuoco, in all of her hotness. It is ridiculous that she, the primary female character, is the only unintelligent one in the series, though.

    Inkblots

    eva-e's picture

    they do say so

    Submitted by
    eva-e (87 posts)
    on January 27, 2009 - 3:06am.

    But really, Penny never really struck me as dumb. She just doesn't use words like "mitosis" all the time, or solve the physical equations for superman's flight.

    Most of the time, Penny actually seems like the only one capable of surviving on her own. The boys' big brains just get in their way. Penny must have a much higher than average social intelligence to be able to cope with them.

    @MsWoo: I don't think Sheldon's interested in Penny. But she may still be helping him grow up, so he can get over Leonard and get his own life. ;-)

    AMN's picture

    I've never really watched

    Submitted by
    AMN (239 posts)
    on January 26, 2009 - 9:27pm.

    I've never really watched the show.  I have tuned in a few times when I knew Sara Gilbert was going to be on.  She is an excellent comedic actress.  Darlene was my favourite Roseanne character.

    I think it's ridiculous that CBS can't come up with a decent storyline for her character.  Seems like maybe they need to hire smarter writers.

    "That which you believe becomes your world."

    BAS's picture

    I didn't know she was a regular ever

    Submitted by
    BAS (553 posts)
    on January 26, 2009 - 11:09pm.
    Was she in the credits?  I thought it was just the core 4 guys and Penny.  And she's really only been around to briefly date Leonard, and to be mean to Sheldon, which was pretty funny a couple times but would have gotten old.  It would have looked weird if she suddenly started hanging out with them all the time.
    miriam's picture

    sigh

    Submitted by
    miriam (62 posts)
    on January 27, 2009 - 2:20am.
    It's a shame they haven't been giving her more screen time.  I love the show anyway, though - Sara Gilbert was just a bonus for me.  I like science geeks and science geekiness :)

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