15 questions with Jim Parsons
1. Why is 'Big Bang Theory' such a hit?
People enjoy watching these characters relate to each other. And it sounds so cliché, but there's something identifiable about them, and this goes right in line with the question that always comes up, "Why is the geek popular right now?" I don't know if the geek is overly popular right now, but the person that I guess that is describing has a very identifiable social weakness; a chink in the armor. They have empathy for somebody who feels awkward socially, maybe, or [is] sticking their foot in their mouth without even knowing it half the time.
2. Do you identify with Sheldon's social awkwardness and neuroses?
Without a doubt. Sheldon makes me feel more sane because he's so over the top. But at the same time, I completely get it. I'm a creature of habit, certainly — maybe more so than others. But one of my favorite things about Sheldon is that the writers have given him the opportunity to say so many things that other people would never get away with...because they have the social commonsense and the social niceties to keep their mouths shut.
3. What's your neurosis; one weird thing that people might not know about you?
Well, the most disturbingly odd thing people wouldn't know about me is — and what's funny is I've dealt with it before in the show — about the sanitization of hands. I have thoroughness in washing my hands sometimes where I really have to tell myself: "You're not about to perform surgery." That's definitely got a touch of the OCD to it. It's certainly given me something to work with as far as dealing with Sheldon.
4. Sheldon has pretty challenging dialogue. Do you understand everything that you're saying?
No, no, no, no, heavens no. I typically understand how to pronounce it, obviously. But I try and get as much of the basic concept down as I can. The AD on the show asked me yesterday — in this episode, I'm having to finish a theorem on a white board and he's like "Do you know what that means at all?" And I said "Well, no." I can't personally tell you if this theory I'm writing on this white board is completely right. They say it is.
5. Will Sheldon finally get a love interest?
I recently read something somewhere that said Sheldon will have a groupie that follows him around, that thinks he walks on water, but he's the only one who can't see it. So I don't know if this leads to love for Sheldon. I find that doubtful. I don't know how he's gonna deal with that.
6. Will Penny and Leonard really make a go of their relationship this season?
Penny and Leonard I don't think will ever find success, no. I know Sheldon thinks it's a doomed situation. Chuck [Lorre] is also my clue for this, who said it's a comedy, this can't work out well. And I think that's how it's panned out so far.
7. The whole cast has great chemistry. Was that instant?
It was a little bit instant. You know, I can take no credit at all for any good chemistry that comes between Johnny and me. While I'm sure it's grown and enhanced as we've worked more together, that was from the very first time we read together. But as far as the whole cast goes, it really has been just such a positive melding of personalities from the very beginning. There's a wonderful professionalism about the cast in general.
8. So, no Shannen Doherty/Jennie Garth behind-the-scenes tension?
There's no drama, no. And God willing — I'm knocking on wood as we speak — hopefully we can make it through this season and more to come without any of that. I would be very surprised to hear of any sort of trouble in that area.
9. Do you guys hang out off set?
We do a good deal, actually. You know, I would say that, and I love my whole cast, but the person I hang out with the very, very most is Simon [Helberg]. He's a very, very sweet, very funny man, and he's really nice to be around.
10. Have you ever had this experience in real life, like the premise of the show, where you become close friends with a neighbor?
No, I haven't, you know, and I've lived in several different places in New York. I do have some nice neighbors now. We've had a sudden crime/mugging spree on our street, which has brought the street closer together in the way that those things do, but no. It's almost more of a dorm situation as far as them all finding each other and being of a similar age group.
11. How does it feel to be a geek sex symbol?
Shocked. That's my first reaction. I'm very surprised to hear this. I can't speak for anything I'm bringing to it. Sheldon needs taking care of in some ways, and I think that maybe it brings out a maternal instinct in somebody to go "Oh, you poor thing!" You know, "If you just had somebody to help you to not say that, or just to whisper in your ear, you know, before you make your next move. We could avoid some of these problems." I don't know. I'm shocked, and I'm also very flattered. That's very sweet.
12. Someone on a message board said you'd be great as the Riddler in the next 'Batman' movie. Have you been made any offers?
Oh! No, I haven't been made any offers. I really like that idea, though. It's never crossed my mind. The Riddler's the one ... he was in the green, right? With the question marks all over him? See, I have no credibility to be playing this part at certain times, do I? Not only do I not know the science, I don't know the comics. Oh, this is the most exciting thing somebody has said in weeks to me. I can't believe it.
13. Will Laurie Metcalf return this season as Sheldon's mom?
I hope so. I loved her being there. I mean, obviously I think she did a wonderful job on the show. She was such a wonderful person to have around the set for that episode. They showed a little gag reel at the end of last season at the wrap party, and she was there during a couple of bloopers and I didn't realize how much I missed just having her around. Even though it was just one episode, she's just such a wonderful presence.
14. And Sara Gilbert is joining the cast full-time, right?
Sara Gilbert has been around for a few episodes already this season, and that's great. Oh, she and Sheldon don't get along. Oof. The Sheldon/Leslie relationship makes Penny and Sheldon look like best friends. It's quite a contrast, I should say.
15. Show creator/writer/producer Chuck Lorre also oversees 'Two and a Half Men.' Do you get enough love from him?
I definitely feel that we get the right amount of love from everybody who is doing both shows. I have never ever felt any sort of like "Oh, they like that show more" or whatever. It's funny when you put it like this. It could, I guess, turn into a sibling rivalry type thing of going...we've only got two parents or whatever, and who loves who more? But I haven't felt that. I hope Chuck makes it for a few more seasons, if you will. That's a lot of back and forth, running two shows. That does not sound easy to me.
