The Story Behind Why 'The Big Bang Theory’s' Elevator Remained Broken Through Most Of The Series
If you’ve ever seen an image from "The Big Bang Theory," much less watched an entire episode, you probably noticed the caution tape blocking off the elevator through most of the CBS series’ run on the network TV schedule. The Chuck Lorre sitcom did go out of its way to explain what happened with the elevator on the series, which fans may or may be familiar with, but what you may not know is why the writers created the elevator storyline and kept it going for years and years.
It’s a story about dialogue in motion, lack of soundstage space, and even stairs. Buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy read.
It’s a story about dialogue in motion, lack of soundstage space, and even stairs. Buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy read.
Transcript
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00:37 - So, one of the things you need
00:41 is a place for characters to walk and talk.
00:44 And when Chuck Lorre and I had worked on Dharma and Greg,
00:48 we had this outside street set
00:51 where characters could have a conversation.
00:53 And we had it because there was an unused stage
00:56 at 20th Century Fox where we shot Dharma.
00:59 We tried to do that at Big Bang
01:01 and it was too much real estate.
01:03 And we started talking about
01:05 what if they always had to walk up the stairs
01:09 and it would give us,
01:10 either they're talking in a car
01:13 or talking while they're walking
01:14 if you need characters to have a conversation in motion.
01:17 So we created the stairway.
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