[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]
- This is us. - It is? I think this is us.
No guidelines, no rules?
- So free form. - Good, there are two cameras, okay.
- Jim Parsons... - Mayim.
...how would you describe the feel of the show in its fourth season...
...as compared to how it felt when you were filming the very first pilot episode?
I personally, as an actor, feel it's more fluid, being here than it was then.
Simply because, just the very banal reason, I understand what's going on better.
You know what I mean? I know the day to day's better.
It makes for a smoother experience, that's what feels different to me.
That's a boring answer.
- I'm satisfied. - Okay, you are. Good.
Yeah, but you're easy. Audience. An easy audience.
- Mayim Bialik. - Yes.
What's its been like for you joining the cast in the fourth season?
I liken joining the cast in the fourth season...
-...to starting at a new high school. - Mm-hm.
Not the first day of eleventh grade, but like the third week in...
...when everyone's already got their classes and their teachers...
...and where they wanna sit...
...and then you come in and you're not as hip and cool as everyone.
- It's like that a little bit. - But you were hip and cool.
- No. But it's different. - The language is being spoken already.
Well, and the fluidity that you speak of, that you have in the fourth season...
...is not fluid for me.
As the newest member of your social group, I believe I'll gain more acceptance...
...by arbitrarily siding with your friends from time to time.
Shrewd.
How do you feel about filming in front of a live audience?
Is that something that's gotten easier?
PARSONS: I love filming in front of the audience.
I think it's the best part of this job, to be honest.
I don't find it any easier or harder than I did on day one.
I'd done a lot of theatre anyway, so I was used to being in front of people.
My favorite thing in the world is being part of telling a story.
And there's nothing more boring than telling the same story...
...to the same people, as in rehearsal, over and over again.
So they come and that's what I'm doing it for.
I feel, as an actor, in any medium is the chance to tell that story...
...for the first time to fresh ears.
And you really come alive in front of the audience in a new way.
- You think so? - I definitely notice...
...you're someone who does thrive from that extra energy.
MAN: Jim Parsons.
PARSONS: See, I need the extra push.
I don't know how to give it all until it's D day.
- That's why they're still there. - Oh, maybe I'll save this.
You have a personal connection to science, tell me about that.
I was a scientist before I got here. I have a degree in neuroscience.
- Mm-hm. - And when I first was cast...
-...as a "female" version of your character... - Sheldon. Mm-hm.
...I don't know that I knew she was necessarily a scientist.
- I don't think we knew anything about her. - I think you're right. No, we didn't.
It wasn't until this season that they named her a neurobiologist...
...which is a closely related field to what I do.
Aren't you slicing that man's brain a little too thin?
PARSONS: Was that accidental? BIALIK: I don't think so.
- I don't either. - I would not be the one to ask.
No, I'm the same way when people ask me if Sheldon's from Texas, as am I...
...was that accidental? Probably not--
Well, your accent does come out.
I don't know that my degree seeps out of my voice.
That's rude.
"I'll never understand that boy.
But then again, I'm a religious nut.
And my mind is closed to so many things."
- Okay. Okay, you go. - Okay, what's your process?
This is a good question for Jim Parsons.
What's your process for preparing for each episode?
How do you memorize the special Sheldon monologues...
...or complicated science terminology that you have to have?
During the week I start-- Uh, I probably have them on me. I do.
- I make my flashcards. - The magic note cards.
And, uh, like, this is Act 1, Scene A.
And then there's my first cue line, it's from Leonard, there's the L.
It says, "Okay, see you later." And then on the back is my line.
And I pace around my house and I drill them...
...like some sort of ballet dancer learning moves.
Largely because I don't understand a lot of what I'm talking about.
And so I need the muscle memory to be in my mouth at least...
...to be really ready to go because if I do think about it...
...A, the right words will never occur to me, and B, the ones that do will just be wrong.
I don't want to be joined to another object...
...by an inclined plane wrapped helically around an axis.
In what way are you screwed?
Mayim, what's your process for preparing for each episode?
It's hard to follow up your process because it sounds very elaborate and efficient.
- But not as interesting. - Mine is not like that.
I mean, I've been memorizing scripts since I was...
...you know, regularly, since I was about 14 years old.
Um, I have a-- It's kind of a photographic memory issue.
It's not what I rely on, but it is how I remember things.
I memorize the whole and not the parts.
So that's why when they make changes and the pages change, I lose--
- You know, I lose my picture of the page. PARSONS: I hear that.
You know, I'm not a trained actor. I never was a trained actor.
I came to acting from elementary-school plays.
- You're a feral actor. - I am. I'm a wild beast of an actor.
- Do you run lines with anyone? - No.
You ready for this? "I've had so much fun working with you."
And they had to write it for me because it's not true, but it is true.
I can tell how emotional you felt about that.
The question is, has it been a big shift for you...
...to interact, specifically, with my character?
Do you think the fans are pulling for us to be together?
I was gonna say I'm pulling for us, but I think it's already kind of happening.
Whatever this is, I like this. And it has been--
We can have them turn the cameras off if you want.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
It has been a challenge in its own way, but only in a good way.
It's been a challenge because it's been so different.
It's normally Sheldon at odds with somebody.
I just think it's been wonderful.
He enjoys spending time with Amy so much...
...and that's something else that's been rare, you know.
We see, like, the guys playing games and Sheldon enjoys that...
...or Sheldon at work, and Sheldon enjoys that...
...but as far as relating to another person, it's normally discomforting.
Normally, it makes him uncomfortable to be doing that.
I must say, Amy...
...pretending to have intercourse with you is giving me a great deal of satisfaction.
I don't know what Sheldon feels about it...
...but my first hints are that he's okay with her touching him.
- What are you doing? AMY: An experiment.
He's okay with being her experiment, if you will...
...in a way that I don't think he would be with somebody else.
Oh, this is lovely. What's your favorite part about working with me?
You happen to be someone who I enjoy having the most scenes with...
...because I feel like our brains work similarly.
- I agree. - A part of it is we're both musicians...
...we're both musically minded...
...and I feel like a lot of how you structure things makes sense to me.
It's nice to work with you because you ask the things that I would ask...
...and since I often need to look to you for what I would do in the character...
...it's helpful because I can see also that I need to learn to think like you...
...you know, in how you approach the character, to help me too.
- You. - Yes.
- You won some awards this year. - Oh.
You won both an Emmy and you won a Golden Globe.
- It was very exciting for us as well. - Yes, it was.
Obviously, there was that moment, um, at the Globes...
-...where Kaley got to be the one... - Yes.
- I see that picture hanging downstairs. - Yes.
Sum up something special you would like to...
...about either that experience or what it's like "winning" an award...
...and being acknowledged that way for what you do.
I've been very scared both times I've won, I don't know of what.
Probably that you have to talk in front of people right there live and as yourself.
But I have felt very fearful every time right before it's announced.
Both times. "Every time."
The Kaley thing, immediately I understood...
I told her as soon as I got offstage, I was like:
"No matter how long I work, no matter how wonderful my career is...
...that will never be repeated again."
To have your castmate, who you've worked with, who you love, for four years...
...be the one to be handing it to you in a circumstance like that...
...in front of everybody, um...
...is a, quite possibly, once-in-a-career type of situation.
- And so, yeah. So fear and happiness. - Heh, heh.
And a trophy.
Look at you. Getting me to engage in the social sciences.
You're a vixen, Amy Farrah Fowler.
[KLAXON BLARES]
- Thank you. Sorry we went too long. - Sorry. Chatty Cathys.
[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]
[KLAXON BLARING]
I'll start.
- Of course. - No, I'm sorry, ladies first.
No, go ahead. You're so selfish. Go ahead.
- Kaley Cuoco. - That actually would happen.
I finally get the opportunity to interview you.
- Don't get too excited. - All right.
What's the first word or phrase that comes to your mind when I say "season four"?
Whoo!
RAUGHS]
- That's not a word nor a phrase. - It's a phrase. It's whoo, season four.
- It's been so fun. That's my answer. - That can't be your answer.
It was fun.
Why can't--? I've been here for months and months on end...
-...I can't think of one tiny phrase. - You would think you would have a phrase.
Um, lots of fun.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
What's your process for preparing for each episode?
GALECKI: God, I would rather you answer these for me.
You're very serious. Use, like, highlight.
- I've never used a highlighter. I use pencil. - Okay. No, you-- Yeah, use a blue pen.
I use pencil.
And I don't wanna say, like, vocal exercise because unless you're singing...
...I don't believe in that, but I'll do enunciation exercises.
You see me pacing out there and you point and laugh.
CUOCO: You do a lot of pacing.
GALECKI: Next question. CUOCO: Yeah, okay.
This season brings a bigger female presence on the show.
Bernadette tells me you're planning a girls' night.
Yeah.
I'm a girl.
How does it feel to have a slightly more favorable woman-to-dude ratio?
It's been fun.
[LAUGHING]
Okay, well, I guess we're having a slumber party.
Oh!
Pillow fight.
It has been fun to hang around the girls. The scenes have been a lot of fun.
Yeah, definitely much more girl talk this season than we ever have had.
Okay, this is my favorite question I'm ever gonna ask you.
What is your favorite part about working with me?
You smell pretty good. You do smell nice.
- That's one. - No, you know.
God, it physically pains me to compliment you.
RAUGHS]
You're kind of the rock in many ways. When someone's going up on their line...
...or when Kunal starts laughing at one of his own jokes...
- Ha-ha-ha. -...l know to look at, uh, you.
We can just stay on this question for the rest of it.
What else do you like about working with me?
What did you say? You personify fun.
You said I smell nice, keep going down that path.
- That wasn't necessarily true. - It is true.
Hey, love bug.
Shutup.
GALECKI: What do you think about filming in front of a live audience?
Has it gotten easier over the years?
- What do you like about it? - I thought I had that question.
- And what do you find challenging? - I do like the audience.
- Is it fun'? - It is fun.
MAN: And the beautiful Kaley Cuoco.
CUOCO: I do, I like audience tapings...
...because they can immediately tell you if they like it or not.
It's so hard to look at you when I'm answering these.
Don't look at me. Look at that dude. He seems friendly.
I trust that guy. Ask him.
So, what's your take on Shamy?
- It's been really fun. I think that Penny's-- - Smart.
- I'm gonna try and give a real answer. - I'm gonna buy you a thesaurus.
Unlike what you've given to them.
I think Penny used to not really understand Amy.
But I think that now they've actually found some sort of love for each other.
Qh, hey, Amy. What's up?
Sheldon and I engaged in sexual intercourse.
In other news, I'm thinking of starting an herb garden. Mum's the word. Gotta go.
Who's been your favorite guest star this season?
- Oh, oh, Keith Carradine. Playing your dad. - Oh, that's my favorite.
How great was he? Didn't we have fun with him?
He was so cute. I can't wait to have him back.
It was fun to have a parent. I was the last one to get a parent.
Come on, honey, not in front of my dad.
Relax. I've seen you do a lot worse with a lot stupider.
Did you know that he and I texted after the episode?
- What? Are you serious? - How do you like those apples? Yeah.
I thought Keith and I were closer than that.
I know you did. I just shattered that dream.
Oh, this is a good one.
What? Go ahead.
- It's my turn. - All right.
- Isn't it? - I'm confused.
Keith Carradine's my answer for that last one.
- Great. Uh... - Ha-ha-ha.
What's your favorite part about working with me?
- I'm gonna get comfortable. - Oh, God.
You're, um...
You always offer me a juice when you get one.
Which is nice.
You sometimes pick up burritos for me during the week at the commissary.
And you do make me laugh very hard.
- Tear. - Single tear.
Thanks for stopping by, sweetie. I'll see you later.
Bye.
That was odd.
Oh, this is a good one. Everybody settle in for this.
Johnny's gonna give quite the answer.
When you're not working on Big Bang, what do you like to do?
What is a passion for you other than acting?
Let me get my pillow out.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
Go ahead.
- Uh, I write poems about you. - See? Truth comes out on DVDs.
I do oil paintings of sad clowns.
RAUGHS]
I thought you were doing paintings of Kunal.
- Sad clown. - Yeah.
- What do I do? I travel. - You paint, you travel.
- I do paint, poorly. Mm-hm. - You ride your motorcycle.
I do a little bit of writing.
You watch DVDs.
- Uh, just the supplemental stuff. - Big Bang Theory.
- Oh, I got one more. - It's my turn.
What would you say is your favorite part about working with me?
[CREW LAUGHS]
Ahem, what's your favorite memory from this year?
Decorating my dressing room.
[BOTH LAUGHING]
I have the cutest dressing room ever.
It looks like a stripper convention was bombed.
Yeah, well, yours looks like the jungle, with no warmness and friends.
- What are you talking about? - It's just not warm in there.
Who has friends in the jungle?
[LAUGHING]
- What the hell are you saying? - I seriously think I just peed a little.
[LAUGHING]
[BOTH LAUGHING]
That was the most ridiculous, amazing...
Can you have that sent to my dressing room? Stat. Bye.
[KLAXON BLARING]
[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]
[KLAXON BLARING]
There's no intro, right? We're just going to ask questions?
MAN: Go for it. - Okay, cool.
NAYYAR: Hi. - Oh, hey.
- Hi. - Hey.
Cool. Okay, the first question is--
- This for me? - Yeah.
- Thank you. - Uh, do you like me?
- That's the question? NAYYAR: Yeah.
- That's your question? - Yeah.
- Okay, well, you know the answer to that. - Okay, good.
What's the first word that comes to your mind when I say "season four"?
- In your accent? - Yeah. So season four?
Because your accent really kind of takes other--
What's the first word that comes to mind when I say "season four"?
Syndication.
NAYYAR: Cool. - Isn't that cool?
- It's really good. - That's a good one.
- Okay. Oh, do you want me to--? - Yeah, we'll alternative.
- Melissa... - That's me.
I just said "alternative" instead of "alternate."
- Melissa... - I'll alternative.
...you helped to bring a bigger female presence to the show.
How does it feel to be contributing...
...to a slightly more favorable woman-to-dude ratio?
It's nice to bring the female aspect in. The girls' nights are fun.
What is the circumference of your areolas?
Yeah, it's nice. We're all on the same cycle now. It's good.
- Um... - Ha-ha-ha.
This season has given your character a fiancée.
[LAUGHING]
How has that changed the--? I didn't know it was spelt like--
HELBERG: Finance. - Is that how you really spell "fiancée"?
Hasn't it got that little French ellipsis on it?
- No-- Uh, yes. - Yeah, so this is spelt "fiancee," okay.
- How has that changed--? - It was to help you but--
NAYYAR: I don't...
[ALL LAUGHING]
Uh, how has that changed the show for you?
Well, it's tamed Howard, uh, quite a bit.
There can't be as much womanizing, and he's had to grow a little bit.
He's had to look at his relationship with his mom...
...and realize that maybe that's not the healthiest, most mature thing.
MRS. WOLOWITZ: Howard, I made cookies for you and your little friends!
That's great, Mom! Thanks!
MRS. WOLOWITZ: I'll bring them up with some Hawaiian Punch!
Don't come up here!
MRS. WOLOWITZ: Why not? Are you ashamed of your mother?
Yes, but that's not the point!
I love it because it gives a whole other dimension to this once sort of--
- It cuts through the sleaze a little bit. - I think it's really sweet.
Thank you. I'm a sleaze cutter.
- Yeah. You're cutting the sleaze. - I like that. I'm gonna market that.
- Melissa... RAUCH: Yes.
...what's your favorite memory from just this last year?
I loved the "Ultimatum" episode when you came to my apartment and said:
I choose you.
- Really? - Yep. I moved out of my mother's house.
The chord is cut. I'm all yours.
I was just great in that episode, you're reminding me.
Oh, yeah, you were okay. You were nothing spectacular.
- I can see how I'd be a treat to work with. - On certain days, yeah.
- What's been your favorite outfit this year? - Maybe the wrestling outfit. It was just so--
NAYYAR: You looked wonderful. HELBERG: I just-- I don't know.
RAUCH: You both did. NAYYAR: You exuded wrestlers.
When I slipped that unitard on, I just, I don't know.
- Sometimes there's flattering outfits-- - Is that a leotard or a unitard?
- That's a unitard, right? HELBERG: A unitard.
What's a...? A leotard is the one--
A leotard would be more of a bikini cut, which you would also wear very nicely.
The way he said it really threw me.
I literally thought it was an animal when you said that.
- Leotard? - Yeah, I really did.
- You call it "leopard" for a leopard? - No, a leotard.
When you said "leotard," I was thinking like:
"What is it? Is that a mythical lion or something?"
RAUCH: Some sort of cat? -"Leotard." What do you say?
-"Leotard." RAUCH: "Leotard."
- What? HELBERG: "Leotard."
- Maybe if it has an accent over it. -"Leotard" because it has a U in it.
Kunal and Melissa.
- Together. - Hello.
You have a great "fantasy" sequence in one of the episodes.
- Yes. - Thank you.
What was fun about filming a Bollywood musical number?
It's a Bollywood musical number.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[SINGING] Like the wild elephant I am trumpeting my love for you
I did a lot of musicals when I was a kid in India just for fun, but never at this scale.
[SINGING] Like a hidden flower My sweet fragrance comes into view
This is my first time singing in a recording studio...
...so that was really neat to be in there with Kunal with our headphones on.
And we actually had a woman come in who's a Bollywood singer...
...so she kind of gave us little tips on how to do everything.
My heart burns for you Like the sun at noon
NAYYAR: It was fun. I got to work with Melissa Rauch who's a wonderful actress.
And, you know, we haven't gotten to really play much because I don't talk to women.
This was a really great opportunity for me to have a lovely interaction...
...with another amazing actor on our show that I don't get to work with that much.
You are my heart
My universe
I think it's really perfect. I think Raj is a true romantic...
...and, um, it's just really sweet that this is where his mind goes.
NAYYAR: We got to dance and sing and we never get to do that.
Culturally, it was nice to get back to my roots.
NAYYAR: Yeah. - Yeah.
Hey, Simon, have you gotten used to wearing those pants yet?
HELBERG: No. Um...
Yes. No. Yes, a little bit, I guess.
NAYYAR: Tell the world that you have five people to help tuck you into those pants.
Yes, as I get older and more "fleshed out," as I once saw a fan write about...
...um, I... They-- I guess I get less used to them.
They're tight and they're just getting tighter.
NAYYAR: You should stop reading Internet message boards.
Seriously, you gotta stop reading those Internet message boards.
Uh, Kunal, you dressed up as Aquaman for the holiday episode...
...do you really hate him that much?
You have to admit, that seahorse was pretty amazing.
- I have nothing against Aquaman. - You were just so convincing.
Aquaman sucks.
HELBERG: Didn't you like that costume? - Yeah, except that I couldn't sit down...
...because I had, you know, a horse instead of a butt.
-"A horse." RAUCH: What's "a horse?"
- A horse instead of a buttocks. - Sorry, "a horse."
And I couldn't sit so I had to stand and that was pretty annoying...
...but other than that, yeah, I love wearing pink seahorses and spandex.
- I know. Melissa. - Yes.
You have a very particular voice for Bernadette...
...what is the inspiration behind it and does it get tiring to do?
Is it tiring to hear?
I can't do this anymore. I'm a good girl. I went to Catholic school.
Before I went for my audition I had been talking to my mom on the phone...
...and she has a very high-pitched voice...
...and the scene kind of reminded me a little bit of her...
...so I just decided to go in and try it.
It could have been really bad, you know, they could have been like:
"Why did you suck on helium before you came in the room?"
- But luckily it worked out, so thanks, Mom. - It's really funny.
- It's really, really perfect. - Thank you.
That's how I heard it.
When I talk to people, they think I really talk like that...
...and they're kind of disturbed.
No, yeah, it's very convincing.
People are disturbed when they realize that's how I talk in real life.
Yeah, I still don't buy it.
I've heard you do some crazy impressions of the cast and crew...
[IN INDIAN ACCENT] "No, I don't that."
NAYYAR: ...and various other famous people.
RAUGHS]
Would you do one for us, right now?
[IN NORMAL VOICE] Well, I mean, I do you, impression-wise, uh, obviously.
I would say that, like, every Monday generally consists of...
...Kunal coming in and being like:
[IN INDIAN ACCENT] "Oh, my God, dude, I went to this place and I--
They had these-- Oh, the buffalos...
[GROWLS]
Dude, it was so yum. Oh, my-- The buffalo sauce."
[H ELBERG GROWLS]
"Dude, what? I don't talk like that. What are you talking about?"
[LAUGHING]
HELBERG [IN NORMAL VOICE]: That's Kunal.
- That's really good. Ha, ha. - That's amazing.
[SNORTS]
- That's really good. - I don't know why you eat like:
[GROWLS]
Like a jackal in the wild.
Hold on, wait.
- No, it's okay, go ahead. - What?
Oh, I was working with penicillin-resistant gonorrhea in the lab today...
...and I was just trying to remember if I washed my hands.
[KLAXON BLARING]
Nice.
- Thank you. - Thanks, guys.
HELBERG: Cool. Yeah, thank you, guys. - Thank you.