The Big Bang Theory’s Original Title Feels Completely Out Of Place

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“The Big Bang Theory” is the perfect name for a sitcom about a group of nerds whose worldviews are based on scientific truth — well, that, comic books, and “Star Trek.” What’s more, the title inspired one of the best TV theme songs of the 2000s in the form of Barenaked Ladies’ “The History of Everything,” which includes the memorable lyric “it all started with the Big Bang.” Yep, “The Big Bang Theory” is a fitting name for the fan-favorite series — and it makes more sense than Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady’s original title for the show.

In an interview for Jessica Radloff’s book “The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series,” Prady revealed that the series was originally called “Lenny, Penny, and Kenny,” with the latter being a key character’s first-draft name. “‘Lenny, Penny, and Kenny’ was the original placeholder title of the show, so Lenny was the Leonard character, and Kenny was the Sheldon character,” Prady explained. “That title lasted for about five minutes. In fact, my contract says ‘Lenny, Penny, and Kenny’ a/k/a ‘Big Bang Theory.'”

Prady’s words suggest that the creative team never was serious about calling the show “Lenny, Penny, and Kenny,” but can you imagine a universe where it became a reality? “Big Bang Theory” spin-offs like “Young Sheldon” might have been called “Young Kenny,” which doesn’t have the same ring. Fortunately, Prady and Lorre saw sense fairly early on, but what led them to decide on the name that became official?

“The Big Bang Theory” underwent several creative changes en route to the screen. The original concept followed a group of computer programmers, but Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady felt that that industry was too fiscally motivated, and they wanted their characters to be more wholesome geniuses. Ultimately, a book by the real-life physicist Richard Feynman inspired the producers to make a sitcom about a group of socially awkward scientists instead, and Lorre started pitching ideas for the show’s title.

“I emailed Bill and said, ‘Let’s take a look at various scientific phrases and see if there’s anything in any of them,'” Lorre recalled in an interview for Jessica Radloff’s aforementioned book. “One of the titles on the list was ‘The Big Bang Theory…’ something you learn studying sciences.”

In other words: Math, science, history, we’ve now unraveled the mysteries behind why it’s called “The Big Bang (Theory)”.