The Big Bang Theory: Penny’s Cheesecake Factory Job Review
When we first meet Penny, the bubbly blonde on “The Big Bang Theory” played by Kaley Cuoco who lives across the hall from bonafide nerds Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki), she’s an aspiring actress working at The Cheesecake Factory in Pasadena, where the show is set. As a result, Sheldon, Leonard, and their buddies Raj Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar) and Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg) actually end up eating at The Cheesecake Factory a lot (even though the on-screen version definitely doesn’t resemble a real Cheesecake Factory, to be honest). So did the people making the show ask permission to use the famous American chain on the series? No, they did not!
A 2012 article in the Minnesota Star Tribune clarified the whole thing, saying that a spokeswoman for the chain confirmed the show did not participate in any conversations with the series. “The Cheesecake Factory does not have any sort of arrangements with the show,” the spokeswoman said at the time before praising the show. “The Cheesecake Factory is really pleased to be featured in such a funny and wildly popular show.” The CEO of the entire Cheesecake Factory Chain, David Overton, also said nobody checked with them first — but they’re fine with it. Speaking to The Los Angeles Times in 2013, Overton said, “They did it and they didn’t ask us. But although there’s no real connection to us in any way, shape or form, we’re happy that there’s a character who works at the restaurant.”
The creator of The Big Bang Theory said he chose The Cheesecake Factory because he thought it was funny
So why did creator Chuck Lorre pick The Cheesecake Factory instead of a different chain? As Lorre told Jessica Radloff in her 2022 book “The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series,” they felt like it was a perfect contrast to Sheldon and Leonard’s highly intellectual jobs at the California Institute of Technology (which is pretty insulting to The Cheesecake Factory, but I digress).
“We wanted Penny to work somewhere that was pedestrian and wonderfully quotidian,” Lorre told Radloff. “Here are these guys who are trying to unravel the secrets of the universe, and Penny introduces herself by saying, ‘I work at The Cheesecake Factory.’ The juxtaposition of scientists working in the quantum field, perhaps changing the world with their work, and ‘I work at The Cheesecake Factory’ seemed to be a funny dichotomy. And the cheesecake is great! I personally really love their chocolate chip cheesecake. And the menu went on for days—it was like a book! There was a lot going for it, and the company was very gracious about letting us use their name.”
A lot of work went into recreating The Cheesecake Factory on The Big Bang Theory
Unsurprisingly, a ton of work went into making The Cheesecake Factory sing on-screen in “The Big Bang Theory.” As co-producer and costume designer Mary T. Quigley told Jessica Radloff in the book, she personally visited the chain to study the uniforms. “I went to The Cheesecake Factory to look at the actual outfits that the servers wore. I wanted the outfit to be fitted but not look unrealistic.” (As Melissa Rauch says in the book, Quigley was perhaps too faithful to the real uniforms: “That’s why I think The Cheesecake Factory outfits were the only dislike I had, and there was nothing I could do about it because those outfits were already established.”)
So what about the food? As fans of “The Big Bang Theory” know, the characters eat a lot — with varying degrees of success where the fake eating is concerned — and prop master Scott London revealed to Radloff that he took a different approach depending on where the scene was set. “We had episodes where every scene in the show had food,” London recalled before getting specific. “In the cafeteria scenes, I’d line up ten to fifteen paper plates and make ten salads, ten desserts, ten entrees, then cover everything in plastic, and cart them out to set. And a lot of times the burgers in The Cheesecake Factory were Morningstar burgers or Beyond Meat. It just depends. Or when they’d eat pizza in scenes, sometimes I made them, other times they were frozen pizzas that I touched up a bit with extra sauce and cheese.”
“The Big Bang Theory,” including scenes set in a very fake Cheesecake Factory, is streaming on Max now.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the story behind Penny’s job at The Cheesecake Factory on “The Big Bang Theory” sheds light on the creative decisions made by the show’s creators and the efforts put into recreating the iconic restaurant on screen. Despite the lack of permission, the chain’s portrayal added a unique dynamic to the show, creating a humorous contrast with the characters’ intellectual pursuits.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Why didn’t “The Big Bang Theory” ask for permission to use The Cheesecake Factory?
The Big Bang Theory did not seek permission to feature The Cheesecake Factory on the show, as confirmed by the chain’s spokesperson and CEO.
2. How did The Cheesecake Factory react to being featured on the show?
Although the chain was not consulted beforehand, they expressed delight in being part of such a popular and humorous series.
3. Why did the creator choose The Cheesecake Factory for Penny’s job?
Chuck Lorre selected The Cheesecake Factory to create a humorous dichotomy between the characters’ intellectual pursuits and Penny’s pedestrian job.
4. How was The Cheesecake Factory recreated on the show?
A significant amount of effort went into replicating The Cheesecake Factory on screen, from studying the uniforms to meticulously preparing food props for various scenes.
5. What impact did Penny’s job at The Cheesecake Factory have on the show?
Penny’s job at The Cheesecake Factory added a comedic element to the series, highlighting the contrast between her job and the scientific endeavors of the main characters.
6. Where can viewers watch “The Big Bang Theory”?
“The Big Bang Theory” is currently available for streaming on Max.
7. How did the show handle food scenes set in The Cheesecake Factory?
The prop master revealed the intricate process of preparing food props for scenes set in The Cheesecake Factory, using a mix of real and faux food items.
8. What role did The Cheesecake Factory play in Penny and Bernadette’s character development?
Both Penny and Bernadette worked at The Cheesecake Factory before pursuing different career paths, showcasing their growth and development throughout the series.
9. What was the audience’s reaction to The Cheesecake Factory’s portrayal on “The Big Bang Theory”?
Fans of the show appreciated the comedic element added by The Cheesecake Factory setting and enjoyed the interactions that occurred at the restaurant.
10. Are there any real-life connections between The Cheesecake Factory and “The Big Bang Theory”?
While the chain did not have any official involvement with the show, its inclusion provided a relatable and humorous backdrop for the characters’ interactions.
Tags: The Big Bang Theory, Penny, The Cheesecake Factory, Chuck Lorre, TV series, Comedy, Friendship, Nerds, Sitcom, Streaming.