The Big Bang Theory: Penny's Last Name Was Never Meant To Be A Big Deal
When a film or TV show becomes big enough, fan theories are always going to emerge. Meticulous fans pore over every last detail in order to make the franchise they love so much just a little bit deeper. And after 12 seasons, it's easy to see why some people continue to obsess over "The Big Bang Theory."
It may not be a mystery or a cinematic universe, but fans clearly hold deep respect for the legendary sitcom, especially when it comes to figuring out the last name of Penny (Kaley Cuoco). She never officially received a maiden name throughout the series despite eventually taking on the moniker of Hofstadter after marrying Leonard (Johnny Galecki). Some fans believed it was "Teller" after a rogue package seemingly revealed as much. However, that's not the case, and it appears those behind the series never intended Penny's last name to become such a big deal.
Jessica Radloff, the author of "The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series," spoke with Screen Rant about what all she learned researching the book. Despite the show being a straightforward sitcom, she was intrigued by how fans tried to create a larger mythology, stating, "I was fascinated by how these writers came up with certain story points that fans latched onto. Why was it such a mystery, and what made us really want to know?" She then specifically addressed Penny's last name and how its absence began.
The Big Bang Theory writers just didn't give Penny a last name at first
It's certainly not unheard of for sitcom writers (especially for shows that began in the 2000s) to underdevelop female characters. It's a sad reality that the male characters often get plenty to do while the female characters tend to function more as mothers and wet blankets. While Penny definitely had time to come into her own over 12 seasons, it would seem the writers just didn't think it was that important to give her a last name initially. As Jessica Radloff told Screen Rant, "Penny's last name was never supposed to become the story that it did. They just didn't give her a last name at first; they hadn't developed her character enough."
However, with such a massive oversight, it makes sense viewers would look for clues to fill out Penny's character more. And part of that desire to round her out intrigued Radloff: "I was so fascinated by how they never intended certain things to become stories, but then they had to dispel the rumors of what her last name was. You'll see [more about] that in the book." While keeping her last name a secret became a running gag eventually, those behind the scenes seem adamant about keeping it a surprise. For instance, with the "Penny Teller" theory, where fans spotted the last name on a package she received, an executive producer and prop master had to come forward to shoot the idea down.
In this case, Penny's last name seems forever destined to remain out of reach no matter how many "Big Bang Theory" rewatches fans go through for answers.