Why didn't Wil Wheaton want to play The Big Bang Theory?

Throughout 12 seasons and 12 years The Big Bang Theory had a lot of guest stars — the list of Star Trek veterans alone is pretty long.. One of the Star Trek favorites is Wil Wheaton, who first appears as “himself” (more on that distinction soon) in Season 3 to emotionally terrorize Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons). This long-running arc of the show, which continued until the final season, almost didn't happen because Wheaton was completely against the show and the idea of ​​being on it.

In Jessica Radloff's 2022 book, “The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series“, Wheaton and series co-creator Bill Prady revealed that it was quite Difficult to get Wheaton on the show, but not only did he appear in almost every season (only missing the first two episodes and season 10), he became a comedy mainstay.

“I was really against the show when I first heard about it,” Wheaton admitted. “I thought it was going to be a mockery of people like me, life-long nerds. Anytime someone in entertainment wants to do something for our culture, maybe the nerds are going to be a joke. So I wasn't really interested in that.” Thankfully, Wheaton eventually gave the show a chance, but said he was “disappointed” in himself for underestimating it and being unfair to the creators. “I became a huge fan and was tweeting about how much I loved it when (executive producer) Steve Molaro saw the tweet and invited me to set,” he explained.

After all, getting Wil Wheaton on The Big Bang Theory in literally any capacity was a challenge, and Bill Prady had to take matters into his own hands. “I got an email from Bill Prady's assistant saying he'd love to talk to me,” Wheaton recalled. “And bless Bill forever, he talked to me like I was someone he cared deeply about who didn't know anything about his show. He was so kind.” After he said that he previously worked with two producers who were horrible people (Wheaton called them “d*cks” to be extra specific) and assuming most producers are just as crazy, Wheaton went on to say that the call made him and Prady lifelong friends. “Bill and I are extraordinarily good friends now,” Wheaton said. “But I contacted Bill and he said he wanted me to come on the show and play my version.”

“He wasn't sure about playing himself on the show … which is not unusual,” Prady explained. “You become an actor so you don't have to act yourself. You become an actor so you can be other people.” However, the team was determined to book Wheaton, who actually lived near Pasadena (where the series is set) and, as Steve Molaro apparently told Bill Prady, might be a regular patron at the comic book store Sheldon and his friends frequented, so it was Prady's job to convince him. Apparently, the key issue was getting Wheaton to “play himself.”

“I felt like playing myself was cheating… that it wasn't something I'd earned,” Wil Wheaton told Jessica Radloff in the book. “Or it was a one-off where someone would say, 'Hey, look, that's a kid from Star Trek,' and then it's over. And I didn't want that.” Wheaton loved the show so much at the time that he practically begged Prady to let him audition for a character. He understood, but was eventually told, “No actor likes to play himself, but you're the only actor who can play Wil Wheaton.”

Prady offered to let Wheaton think about playing himself, as well as let Wheaton know if any non-Wheaton roles came up, but apparently, in the end, Wheaton was cast by someone from a completely different series. That person? Wheaton's friend John Rogers, known for creating shows like Leverage and The Librarians. Speaking about his conversation with Rogers, Wheaton recalled that he was quiet at first before Rogers fell for him because he foolishly passed up an opportunity to be on the most popular television show currently airing. He apparently yelled at him to “call Bill Prady and tell him you're going to do whatever he wants or we're not friends,” so Wheaton did just that.

For his part, Prady was quite grateful… and not only that, but he figured out a way to please Wheaton. “Yeah, he did, and thank God,” Prady said of Rodgers' “advice,” before saying he was nervous to tell Wheaton about the approach he took to his portrayal. “I remember being scared to call him too and say, 'We made your character evil,' but man, he was happy about it! He was like, 'Oh my god, this is the greatest thing ever!'” It gave him an image that to play — 'Evil Will Wheaton.' And then the character evolved over time and eventually became the guy's friend, but I liked that he was okay with that.”

As Bill Prady rightly says in Jessica Radloff's Wil Wheaton does start out basically playing “Evil Wil Wheaton” but in season 5 he and Sheldon finally make peace and become friends with the whole gang. (He still playfully antagonizes Sheldon quite often, though, and it's really funny.) It's hard to imagine the show. without Wheaton appears almost every season to spend time with the characters, and apparently Wheaton feels the same way.

in May 2019, when “The Big Bang Theory” ended with the season 12 finale “Stockholm Syndrome,” Wheaton took to Instagram to commemorate his time on the series (the post has now been deleted, but was recorded Digital spy). After saying he watched the show's final taping live, Whitton said: “I think it's fair to say that if I were to build a stand of my career, the main parts would be 'Stand By Me', 'Star Trek' and 'The Big Bang theory. It shocks me to be able to say that. It's amazing to me that all of these things have happened in my life, honestly (one of them would be more than anyone could hope for on his. or her resume.”

Quiton was not simply was grateful for being on The Big Bang Theory, but went on to say that he believes it saved his career and helped him stay afloat as a performer during a time when he was struggling a bit in the industry. “Hollywood these days doesn't seem to be very interested in me and what I have to offer in a production,” he continued. “I don't know why, and I don't know if I'll ever be able to do anything to change it, but I can safely say that I probably have an acting career today because of 'The Big Bang Theory.'” and all that I will be in front of the camera for the rest of my career, shouldering the work I have had the privilege and honor to do over the last ten years.

“The Big Bang Theory,” including Wheaton's 17 episodes, is now streaming on Max.