Penny and Sheldon

Big Bang Theory's Jim Parsons looks back at his humble, local start by Sarah Rufca

Before Jim Parsons was the eccentric genius Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory, he was a founding member of Houston's Infernal Bridegroom Productions (IBP), performing in 18 plays with the group. Parsons also graduated from Klein Oak High School and the University of Houston.

With the talented IBP crew having reorganized as Catastrophic Theatre, Parsons is taking a trip back to town as the honoree Saturday night for Catastrophic Theatre's gala, "Big! Bang! Catastrophe!" at Houston Studios.

In advance of his glorious one-night return to the Houston theater scene, CultureMap spoke with Parsons about his Houston experiences and his beloved breakout character.

Tell me about your time at Infernal Bridegroom Productions. What did you learn from the experience?

The experience was very life-encompassing ... it really took over, and I threw myself into for a period of time. I went to undergrad at the University of Houston and graduate school at the University of San Diego, and the further I get away from those days the more I feel that my Infernal Bridegroom experience was on par with my traditional education in getting me where I am.

It gave me a chance to do a type of play that I wasn't exposed to at university, like Beckett and Brecht. Both of my university experiences were pretty straight and narrow, with plays in spaces that were very typical, as opposed to Infernal Bridegroom performing all over the map. More often then not we were in a warehouse or parking lot, whatever we could create a show in.

There were a lot of important lessons that I learned, including the ability to perform under any circumstances. You can only learn it by getting the chance to do it, to perform in whatever room, in front of whatever audience that you have. It builds confidence that's born of literal fact that you have done that. It's harder to throw me as an actor than it would be had I not had that experience.

You were nominated for an Emmy for Best Actor in a Comedy Series last year. In an ensemble cast, what makes Sheldon stand out as being so funny?

If Sheldon stands out its because, I think, Sheldon is a combination, an extreme example of some very humanistic traits. His obsession with his spot, that's a very normal thing, but what makes it not normal is his obsession. He's not trying to be rude, he's just stating a fact, but most people would find it to be rude to tell someone to move in their own house. That's what makes him so appealing as a character, he has these normal tendencies but they're so magnified, so extreme, and there's no one else like him on TV.

And these are geniuses, they aren't just nerds, they aren’t just smart, they have some of the brilliant, beuatiful minds that shape our world. And because he has such an exceptional mind, we allow him to go there. And theres a great freedom in that and a great joy in that. You have a very large color palette, which is kind of ironic.

As someone with multiple degrees, do you ever use your personal experience when playing Sheldon on Big Bang Theory?

You know, I'd be lying if I said I did. Maybe subconsciously … I really enjoyed the educational environment, my mother and sister are both schoolteachers — they teach first grade — so I think being in an educational environment is in my DNA. But the only thing that's ever consciously brought in is what (the writers) write. I know I bring something in, but very little is beyond what they put in the pages. They do a good enough job with saying who he is and having him say who he is.

How often do you make it back to Houston? Is there anything in town you always try to visit while you're here?

About twice a year, Christmas and summertime, and its usually very family-centric, with maybe a couple friends that I try and see. We always, end up at two places: Lupe Tortilla and Pappadeaux. When I lived here I don't think we had Lupe Tortilla, or it was new, but my family has started going there and I really like it. Mexican is my favorite kind of food, and I've eaten it wherever I've lived.

It's very different in New York and in California, but I like it all. But Tex-Mex is my favorite. I could take a trip and eat Tex-Mex every day.

Is it weird to be coming back as a special guest and honoree for the same people you started out with?

It's a little odd, but at the same time, if I can help bring attention to not just a theater group, but a group of people who have been important to my life and my growth as an actor, if I can bring attention financially, it is so my pleasure to try.

This has been for so long now such worthy work, both back when we were together and what they still do. It's a crucial part of a cultural theme in Houston. It fills a void, I got to work and people got to see things they wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to see.

Kaley Cuoco on The Big Bang Theory by Fred Topel

For fans of 8 Simple Rules, the upcoming season is vindication. The show got off to a humble start but has become a staple of Monday night sitcoms on CBS. This season threatens to link Penny and Leonard in a relationship. Kaley Cuoco filled us in the third season scoop over the summer at CBS's fall TV preview party.

How much fun are you having on Big Bang Theory?

I'm having so much fun. It's a great show, it's doing well. How can you not have fun on a hit show? I'm very, very lucky.

With the big group scenes and the dialogue you have, is there any special fun on the set?

I actually prefer [it]. I love when all of us are in the same scenes together. It happens a good amount but not all the time and it makes me really happy, because the five of us just have so much fun working off each other.

How gratifying is it that it became a hit after a slow build?

It was a slow build, yeah. No one liked us at the beginning. They didn't and it's okay. We reeled them in. We brought them to the geek side and now they've accepted us with open arms.

What do you think it was that hooked people?

I don't know. I think they realized it wasn't "cute girl next door to two geeks." It was so much more than that. It was real people dealing with real emotions. I think it's actually really touched peoples' hearts, especially actors like Jim Parsons and Johnny Galecki. I mean, those characters have touched people so deeply and they're really sweet.

Any show takes time to build so how do you think it's grown since the first season?

You know, I firmly believe, only because I've been doing this for so long, every show takes three years. 90% of them don't get three years. It just does. It takes a long time to build a community, build a friendship with your characters. It's hard for people to grasp on and make them care about you. We've been lucky enough to get the opportunity but a lot of shows don't get it. I think a lot of good shows don't make it on the air so it's just a process. You have to grow. You have to learn who you are as a character. You're all of a sudden playing a new person with a whole other life.

How has Penny grown since the beginning?

You know, I think they gave her a lot to do second season. She just loves these guys and loves hanging out with them. I think she's kind of becoming one of them which is really sweet and they finally fully accepted her, thank goodness.

And it's not just a cult hit anymore, it's a broad audience.

I still think it is kind of a cult show but it's weird because I have, like, 10-year-olds come up to me and say they love it and then, like, 80-year-olds. I mean, people love the show and every time I think about it, it gives me a chill. It's just really sweet.

What do you think the show did to win everyone over?

It has a lot of heart. People like Jim Parsons and Johnny Galecki and the writing that was in season two I think was the best season. It was so good, it was heartfelt. The love between Penny and the guys I think was really heartfelt. I think at first season, no one believed the cute girl was going to like them and all this silly stuff. I think the characters have really grown and they just love each other. It's really nice to see.

You're going to mess with the setup this season, right?

I hear that, yeah. I guess Leonard and Penny are going to date for a little while and I think that's going to put a little jab between the guys and Leonard. I hope our relationship doesn't last long. I want it to kind of go off and come back, how life really is and I think Chuck wants that to happen too.

Have you picked up any geek interests through the show?

No, just a lot of Guitar Hero and Rock Band and I'm getting really damn good on it to be honest.

Are you Expert?

Uh, yeah. Can I play Expert? Can you play Expert?

I'm up to Hard.

I'm pretty damn good. I like to play the drums. I actually like to sing on Rock Band. I prefer to take the mic.

What songs are you jamming on?

You know what? I don't even know half of them. I just read it off the TV and I am awesome. I'm a good reader.

8 Simple Rules was unfortunately cut short. Do you have a sense that this will go for a while?

I'll never have comfort that it's going to go for a while. I think if I did, I think that's the curse right there. I don't trust anything anymore. I just am riding every day like it is because with what happened with 8 Simple Rules it was so insane, you just never know. So I'm just enjoying this as it goes and I hope that we continue as long as we can.

Are you into gadgets?

My new iPhone, I'm obsessed. My iPod. I love all the Mac crap.

When you're traveling, what's the one thing you have to have with you?

Oh, my iPod and my Bose headset because they sound so frigging good. And it's a sign to people to leave me alone. They are so big, they're bigger than my face and it's basically saying, "Get the hell away from me." I love it.

Do people come up to you anyway?

No, they're very nice. They know and I close my eyes like I can't hear anything. You know what I love? I don't even play music. I just keep them on and I'm kind of going like this and nodding my head like I'm listening. Nothing's going on in my ears.

You must have rhythm if you can sell that.

I've got good rhythm.

What do people want to know about the show when they recognize you?

They keep wanting to know, "What's going to happen with Leonard and Penny? Why can't Sheldon and Penny date?" Which cracks me up. That would have to be a nightmare sequence in season nine because they would kill each other. Penny would kill Sheldon.

There's a lot of anticipation for the relationship, yet we all know how it can ruin shows. How do you feel about how it's going to be done?

I don't know. I have such trust in Chuck. It does make me nervous hearing that we're going to date a little bit, but the way I've seen the show go, I don't think it's going to go well so I'm not worried. I don't think the relationship's going to go well. They've got a lot to learn and we've got a long ways to go.

How did you spend your summer?

I traveled a lot and I have horses on a ranch and that's all I did. I rode and it's kind of a curse knowing you have a show to go back to. You just get a little lazy. I'm like, "Oh, I'm going back to work. I don't have to do anything." And I go back on Wednesday [Aug 5] so I'm really excited.

Do you not look for movies to do during the break?

Not this year I didn't, no. I actually said I didn't want to do anything, didn't want to work.

How long have you been riding?

Long time, since I was like 14.

Why is that a passion?

That's the real love of my life. I think in an other life I was a professional. I love it. I love animals and I feel more of a connection to animals than people. It keeps my mind away from all this and everything that's going on here. If you're not connected to your horse, you're screwed so it takes a lot of focus.

Did you have horses from your family before?

My mom grew up with horses and when I turned 14, 15, she's like, "Do you want to take a riding lesson?" I thought, "Oh, gross, dirty." She was like, "Okay." And then I did and now I'm the one cleaning those damn stalls out. You can't get me away from the barn now. It shocks even me. Trust me. I don't know what happened to me. No heels at that place.

Parsons adjusts to celebrity role by Jeanne Jakle

PASADENA, Calif. — It's a thrilling time for Houston native Jim Parsons, who has gone from relative obscurity to being a toast of the town.

Parsons, who plays network TV's most lovable nerd on CBS' The Big Bang Theory, is up for an Emmy next month for lead actor in a comedy series.

"That's crazy," Parsons said of the nod.

He also seemed flabbergasted when, this past weekend, he won the Television Critics Association award for individual achievement in comedy, beating such well-known actors as Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Steve Carell and Neil Patrick Harris.

You've missed a treat if you haven't seen Parsons' amusing portrayal as socially awkward physicist Sheldon Cooper. But Parsons is anything but socially inept in person; he's warm and accommodating.

He also appreciates his fans. "I'm lucky to be on a show with nice ones...honest, very sweet."

Fame has come only recently, he said, adding that he stayed in Houston — attending the University of Houston and doing theater — until his mid-20s. He remains close to his family and visits every summer. He is particularly excited about becoming an uncle for the second time.

He also loves his Hollywood family — the cast of Big Bang.

"They are so sweet and supportive," he said. "The day the Emmys came out, they all came over."

As for his character, Parsons said he was never cool growing up, either.

"I wasn't smart enough," he added about his years at Klein Oak High. "I'm more doddering and old mannish than a nerd or a geek."

What's next for Sheldon — romance, perhaps? "That's the eternal hope," he said, but added: "Sheldon's got a lot he's working on and is very focused. I bet you if he has a romantic encounter, it is so far away."

Parsons can't wait to return to work. "They don't tell us anything except that we couldn't get haircuts," he said, reminding me where the season's finale left him and his friends: in the Arctic for three months.