Big Bang Theory: Mayim Bialik Was Unaware Of Sheldon's Spot When Joining The Cast
"The Big Bang Theory" introduced the world to four geeky geniuses in Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki), Raj Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar), Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg), and Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons). Though all four were awkward in their own way, Sheldon was by far the most unapologetically eccentric. The character had a host of various foibles that were indicative of such a large menu of psychological disorders that your average mental health professional could have a succulent feast.
Among his many idiosyncrasies, one of the more bizarre ones is his steadfast attachment to a particular placement on the couch of his apartment. Located on the far end of the couch on the left side, it is known in his circle of friends as "Sheldon's spot." For nearly every episode up until Season 10, when he moves out, Sheldon can be seen sitting in that exact location for playing video games, eating dinner, or conversing with friends. It's perhaps one of the show's most memorable gags. However, there's at least one cast member that didn't know anything about it upon joining the cast.
On an episode of "Mayim Bialik's Breakdown" from May 2022, Bialik, who played Amy Farrah Fowler from Season 3 onward, discussed her casting and discomfort with her former "Big Bang Theory" castmate Simon Helberg. She then admitted, for the first time, that she didn't know anything about the series when she joined. "I knew nothing about the show," Bialik confessed. "I didn't know Sheldon had a spot. I didn't know that Raj — Kunal's character — couldn't speak to women. I had no idea. So I would read scripts and I would be like, 'What is happening?'"
Mayim Bialik confesses that she didn't know anything about the Big Bang Theory when she was cast
Apparently, at the time the show was airing, Mayim Bialik was caring for both a newborn and a toddler and therefore, was unable to watch any television. She explained that she felt a level of discomfort because the cast and crew had assumed that she'd seen the show, recalling an anecdote on set, "One time we were blocking in the living room scene and I said to Mark Cendrowski, our director, 'Should I sit here?' He's like, 'That's Sheldon's spot. Why would you sit-?' And I was like, 'Right! Of course.'"
A long-running gag of the show, Sheldon is particular about his spot and rarely allows anyone to sit in it. At first, it's simply one of Sheldon's many peculiarities, explaining that his attachment is because it's conveniently located for ideal temperatures, viewing angles of the TV, and social interactions, however, viewers will eventually learn that it means more to him. As the series progresses, the audience starts to discover several of Sheldon's idiosyncrasies are mostly coping mechanisms for a world that can be sometimes too overwhelming for him. And his spot is no exception.
In a Season 2 episode, titled "The Cushion Saturation," while arguing with Penny, he expresses the importance of his spot saying, "In an ever-changing world, it is a single point of consistency." Later in Season 4, when offering his spot to Howard as an act of contrition, he further explains the significance of his spot intimating, "It is the singular location in space around which revolves my entire universe."
Though Bialik isn't to blame for not knowing about Sheldon's spot, considering its importance to him, surely it should have been included in a handbook distributed during orientation.