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Sheldon Cooper is getting a love interest.
Sort of.
This Monday (May 24), during the third season finale of "The Big Bang Theory," Raj and Wolowitz will apparently set Sheldon up with an online dating profile.
His match? The female version of himself, played by former "Blossom" star Mayim Bialik.
Jim Parsons was cool enough to talk to Korbi TV about what we can expect from that.
Other topics covered?
His short-lived Twitter experience, "BBT"'s timeslot move from Mondays to Thursdays as well as CBS's newest star, William Shatner...
You did a bit with Shatner in New York last week?
Jim Parsons: (Laughs) Yes. Upfronts are a special time that make for strange bedfellows, aren't they? That being said, it really wasn't that strange at all, both topic-wise — 'cause I'm on a show that's obsessed with "Star Trek" and I'm playing a character who is especially [enthralled] — and person-to-person-wise, he's so delightful. It sounds stupid — everyone knows this — but there's something so charming about him. You know, I had to do this thing where I ran up and hugged him. As Sheldon. And I met him and he goes, "You're Jim." And I was like, uh, yes, hello, I'm about to have to hug you. And he said, "Um, okay, just not too hard." And I went, okay!
Yeah, he's funny on Twitter.
He really does Twitter?
Oh, yes... unless it's someone doing it for him.
No, no. I have no doubt that it's him. I just — I'm so bad at it. See, this is why I enjoyed working with him ever so briefly. We're a yin and a yang, you know what I mean?
You don't want to start tweeting?
No! No, no, no. I tried. I tried for two days and it did not work out.
[Your "BBT" costar] Kunal [Nayyar] can help you, he's all about it.
If I did tweet, it would not be in the vein of a Kunal tweet, let me get that straight right now... Do you Tweet?
I do, but it's a work thing. I doubt I'd be on Twitter were it not a part of my job.
Well, that's what I mean, we tried to make mine about work. It wasn't like I was trying to connect with old high school friends. It was my publicist's [idea]. She was like, you might want to think about opening a Twitter account and so I did and then I closed it within 48 hours.
But I'm sure you got thousands of followers in that 48 hours.
I didn't, which is only [proof] of how bad I was at it. I didn't even know how to access people to say, I'm here!
I wonder if Twitter is something Sheldon would do.
I don't know, it's very social, you know?
Yeah. But somewhat removed at the same time.
That's true. And you can do Sheldon-speak, if you will, in any form. Sheldon's Tweets would just be more obscure and out of the norm. So, yes, he could Tweet. And he would think he was an excellent Tweeter probably. Most people wouldn't understand them and those that did would be like, why are you utilizing this thing for that?
I can see him coming up with a lot of material that makes himself laugh.
A big Bazinga ring, yes.
And if you were on Twitter, you could tweet the news. Like the fact that 'Big Bang' is moving to Thursdays, which is kind of crazy.
It's very crazy. I feel very optimistic about it. Especially now. When I first heard, [I wasn't so sure]. I'm just like anybody else, change of any sort is simply uncomfortable when it first occurs. I saw our new schedule on Nikki Finke's website — I'm not too proud to admit it — and I tell you, I really kept staring at it going, What?! I guess it had just never crossed my mind [as a possibility]. But the more I've thought about it and talked with everyone else about it, the more [I've gotten used to it]. I feel partially excited. I hope that it's a great thing, because if it is a great thing, we'd be opening up that hour of comedy for [the network] and it would be so exciting to be a part of that new night. We've always been treated very well by CBS and this [move] shows a lot of confidence in us, so it'll be good, whatever happens. And I also think that there couldn't be a better pairing [for "Big Bang Theory"] than the new William Shatner show. Not only because it's Shatner, but because it's an idea that came from the world of Twitter, there's something to it.
We have to talk about the season finale. So many of your fans have been obsessed with the idea of Sheldon getting a love interest for some time. I don't know if you would describe Mayim's character as a love interest exactly, but she's certainly the closest thing to it so far, no?
Oh, without a doubt. But emotionally — if you will — where it will lead in future episodes, I have no clue. Two reasons: Number one, the meeting is so brief. It's like, that's really what happens, they just meet. And I don't even want to say that there's a spark, but there is something that [takes Sheldon from thinking], "This is not worth my time" to "Maybe this conversation could continue." But what that [something] is, I don't know. And I don't know if [the writers] know! I don't know if Episode One of next year is already building in their minds and they know where this is headed or what, you know. But the beauty of working like this is I do feel like so much is organically happening. They propose ideas and they execute them and then they are performed and the audience watches them and they go from there. They can say, I like how this is going. This is not what I thought was happening, but we're going to go this track with it. I think that's really how the birth of one of my favorite things about the show happened, which is the one-on-one scenes between Sheldon and Penny. In one way, that was just going to happen, because there's five people on the show. But I really feel like the relationship that's developed between [our characters] was not something that anyone could've guessed would have the depth that I think it does. You know, it was only after throwing out a scene or two here and there that [we discovered] that there was something about [the dynamic] that was really fun to investigate. And the only reason I bring that up is because it's like, will this thing with me and Mayim [go somewhere great as well]? Who knows!
What was the chemistry like during the one scene that you did do?
Well, on a person-to-person basis, I had a great time being with her. You know, I let it sit for the first couple days of rehearsal and then right before taping, I probably still shouldn't have, but I did look at her and say, "Now, do you know exactly what's going on?" And she said no and I said, "Good, I just wanted to make sure, because I don't either." So we were both extremely honest with each other, which is always pretty delightful. As a character thing, so far, what's been briefly shown, she seems to be as obtuse in nailing down what's going through that heart as Sheldon is. So that's part of what led to the confusion of "what is this scene?" because it was basically two characters going, "Wha- Huh?" You know, what are the feelings behind these words that you're saying? So, from what little I know of her character at this point, it's that she certainly seems to have that in common with Sheldon.
Would you like to see Mayim back in the fall and see it go somewhere?
Oh, judging from that one episode with her, I would love to. As a person, I loved having her around on the set and I always feel game for exploring these things that the writers throw out there.
During a panel at the Paley Center in Manhattan earlier this week, Jim Parsons — who plays uber-nerd Dr. Sheldon Cooper on CBS’s popular sitcom “The Big Bang Theory” — shocked the audience when he revealed that (gasp) he hadn’t seen any of the “Star Trek” movies. He also shared that, yes, he meticulously memorizes all of his jargon-heavy dialogue (even what he doesn’t understand) and relies on YouTube to help give him context about some of the famous sci-fi in-jokes his character utters (like Admiral Ackbar’s “It’s a trap!” from “Return of the Jedi”).
Both Judy Greer and Mayim Bialik (of “Blossom” fame) will be guest-starring as female eggheads this month. Are the writers determined to give Sheldon a girlfriend?
Judy plays a scientist that Sheldon’s invited to stay at the apartment, and she’s very similar to him on first blush. However, he quickly realizes she’s much more in touch with using her sexuality than he is, and his opinion of her drops from peer to just ordinary. Mayim’s character is much closer to matching Sheldon’s personality. They’re not mirror images, but they’re certainly talking at each other. I say this – because their meeting in the finale episode is so brief — I literally do not know where that scene is going. It’s the final scene and we only exchange four lines, so I guess it’s our version of a cliffhanger. The intent, I think is to carry over the story to next year, but your guess is as good as mine.
Bill Prady, one of the show’s Executive Producers, is an avid Twitter user, and frequently tweets with fans when each episode airs.
No one has a grip on these actual characters more than Bill does. A lot of that comes from his experience [as a computer programmer]. As such, he just knows as well as anybody why these geniuses are saying what they’re saying. I would be horrible at Twitter. I wouldn’t know the answer to fans’ questions half the time — and the patience involved! I couldn’t imagine. I did have a Twitter account that I tried for a couple days, but found I had nothing to say. There are some interesting facts I could share, but I don’t want to share that part of myself.
For your first major acting role since starting “The Big Bang Theory,” you’ve signed up for “The Big Year,” a comedy about three birdwatchers (played by Steve Martin, Owen Wilson and Jack Black) trying to spot as many species as they can in one year.
I grew up with two different parakeets — one that lived for five years, and one that lived for 13 years — so I always had a bit of an attraction to birds and it’s an oddly good fit to be in a movie about birdwatchers. When my agents first told me there was this movie about birders, I didn’t understand what that meant and thought they were actually saying bowlers. I ended up reading for two parts, neither of which I ended up getting, but they handed me another role: I’m going to play a birdwatcher who runs an aviary blog.
Given the success of the show, are you being offered more parts in films and other projects?
I want to say no, but it’s hard for me to judge because I’m not going in on more auditions. My hiatus timeline is so minimal, there’s only a select number of projects that I can go in for. I feel we did made more of a push this year. I’m a little sick in that regard because I enjoy going in and auditioning. There are also situations where you’re taking meetings, but I never know what to say that’s going to make them want to cast me. Though I could imagine things I could say for them not to want to cast me. Honestly, I’d rather just audition.
Is your current gig what you were expecting when you first moved to L.A.?
When I first started out in Houston, it was theater or bust. And I loved it. I still love it. And then I went to undergraduate and graduate school for acting. My choices in projects have all been character or role-based, and on a financial level, it’s obvious: as an actor on a TV series, I get a wonderful paycheck, and a consistent paycheck, which doesn’t always happen when you’re doing theater or movies. Both are hard in their own ways. Theater doesn’t pay as much and your show will come to an end, and nothing’s for sure in movies, unless you’re a huge star. Any money I’m making now, I’m trying to be frugal with it. Though when I was living in New York, I was fighting for the paycheck and I even enjoyed that to a certain degree. I don’t miss cashing unemployment checks and am not stupid enough to say that, but yes, to a degree, I enjoy the rat race aspect of it.
jim parsons,
new york,
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bill prady,
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the big year,
parakeets and
paycheck2010-05-06 11:44 pm
When CBS debuted "The Big Bang Theory" in fall 2007, Jim Parsons, who plays neurotic genius Sheldon Cooper, emerged as a breakout star.
The show survived its strike-shortened first campaign and returned for a second season that was so strong the network gave the show a pickup for seasons three, which bows Monday, Sept. 21, and four.
Parsons is Emmy-nominated for the first time this year. He chatted with TheWrap about being on a hit sitcom in today's fickle TV day-and-age, the role Comic-Con plays in its success and, yes, budget cuts.
"The Big Bang Theory" had an interesting path to ratings success. You bowed in the strike-shortened fall '07 season and the ratings were good. But you were on the bubble and the pickup for a second season wasn't guaranteed. Yet, when you came back for season two last fall, the show really caught fire.
I think the material we are presenting is truly funny (thank you, writers) and that we portray characters who are not only fallible (and therefore relatable), but they have also developed into characters with depth and traits that an audience can rely on, week after week. We have been treated very well by both the network (CBS) and the studio (WB), and, at the end of the day, we've also been lucky.
You guys have been a huge hit at Comic-Con the last two summers. Strange place for a sitcom to catch fire, but it seems like the right audience.
I don't think any of us were sure that we would be an appropriate fit at the convention when we first heard we'd be attending but the fans of the show have been simply terrific. They ask the smartest questions and seem so genuinely pleased to talk with us, as we are with them.
As an actor, have you noticed the effects of budget cuts that everyone in TV is going through right now?*
No, I have not. That doesn't mean it isn't happening. Maybe I was memorizing unfamiliar science terms while they took away square footage in my dressing room?
What's been the biggest surprise and the biggest disappointment to come with fame?
There have been no disappointments for me, as far as this show and my life with it have been, and I say that in all sincerity. I am getting to work at the job of my dreams (certainly one of many versions of that dream that I've had) and that makes me, at a level, continually happy. As far as surprises go, getting a two season pick up from CBS kind of floored me — I just had not been aware of that ever happening; certainly not lately.
People are in love with your character and transfer that to you, don't they?
I think Sheldon's saving grace, as a character, is that he truly means no harm even when he offends someone or says something that make others feel awkward.
He is a scientist and, in order to get to the truth you must have all the facts and deal with them.
The other actors keep Sheldon grounded in reality: their reactions to him are honest and usually tinged with love and, I think, when the audience has the chance to view Sheldon through those other characters eyes, they have the chance to love him too.
If you weren't on "Big Bang Theory," what current show would you like to be on?
I would love to be on "Friday Night Lights." I don't have a specific pitch for a role that I've had in mind, but that's a damn fine show with some damn fine acting on it. Bravo. I am also from Texas and think they've captured something about it perfectly.
Facebook or Twitter have certainly changed things for everyone. Is your show "into" that?
I believe there is a "fan page" for me on Facebook, but I do not have control over it. As for Twitter, I was a member for about three days. I read other people's Twitter postings and they were so funny and creative and I realized that I was incapable of contributing in that way.
All I had to offer was a listing of what I was up to and I decided that I didn't want everyone to know everything I was doing — especially since ALL of it centered around what meal I was having or would soon have. How boring. And embarrassing.
Do you have any aspirations to write or direct?
I have aspirations to write and direct. I think. Really, though, I am still having so much fun acting and I still feel like I learn something new with such frequency that I have devoted almost no time to any other career choice in the industry. I really think I will at some point.
You announced the Emmy nominations with Chandra Wilson and you both were nominated. Can you describe what it felt like to find out you were nominated while you were there on stage?
It felt like a lie — like it wasn't really happening. It felt like I was doing a play or something with Chandra. It was only after I got home and watched us on DVR that I really felt like it was official.
How does it feel to be a fashion icon? Have you visited sheldonshirts.com?
I would not know how it feels to be a fashion icon as, I swear, I am not one. However, Mary Quigley, who happens to be a producer of our show in addition to the costume designer, would, I imagine, feel flattered. She could make a couple extra bucks on the side...just sayin'.
