JamesG
10-13-2010, 04:05 PM
George Takei on "The Big Bang Theory"
by Joel Keller
posted Oct 13th 2010
Did ("Big Bang" producers) Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, come to you and say, "Hey, we've been wanting you on the show for a while?"
No, it happened in an unusual... Well, you know, I'm a theater buff, as is my husband Brad Altman. And we practically live in the theaters when we're in New York.
There I saw Johnny Galecki in 'Little Dog Laughed.' So we were there in the lobby, milling around, and Bill Prady came up to me and started a conversation. And he said, "You know, we've been talking about you in our meetings with "The Big Bang Theory", and how would you feel about doing a guest shot on it?"
It was just an intermission conversation, you know. I said, "Oh, I think it'd be great fun!" Something like that. And sure enough, I guess it was like about 5, 6 months later, the call came through.
I'm surprised they haven't had your name on their board for the last 4 seasons. It seems to be natural that you would be on the show.
Well they're supposed to be "Star Trek" fans and Star Wars fans and all that.
You're playing yourself in this, right?
I am. Well, no, I'm playing a character named George Takei.
You know, I've often done guest shots as George Takei, but, in "Psych", I played a puffed up, egocentric, self-centered George Takei, so I used one of my colleagues as my model for that one.
But the character was named George Takei.
I wouldn't know who that colleague might be...
(laughs) Well, I think, you know, you have to really know "Star Trek" to... it's a very subtle inference I'm making.
What could you say about this version of George on "Big Bang"?
They use, well, you know, what I've revealed on Howard Stern. The audience's knowledge is bad.
In other words, there's some question about Wolowitz's sexuality. And so I'm the personification of his confusion, his quandary there. (chuckles)
Is this one of Wolowitz's dreams, I guess?
Yes. Yes. I shouldn't reveal too much.
I'm sure they would really appreciate my not being as forthcoming as I am on the Howard Stern show.
Right. I think what I've heard is that Katee Sackhoff is also returning in that area as well.
That's right. She's the straight side, and I'm the ambiguous side. (laughing)
Were you a fan of the show before Bill Prady came and talked to you?
Very frankly, not... you know, I'd seen it on occasion while kind of surfing, you know.
But no, I wouldn't call myself having been a regular, dedicated fan.
Knowing your experience going to conventions etc, etc...
how accurate has the show's portrayal of people who might be fans of "Star Trek" or sci fi been?
There is the nugget of truth there. Of course, there's embellishment, some magnification, some embroidery around the side.
But no, there's a lot of truth in those characters. In fact, I've met some that are really much, much more magnified than what you see in those characters, in fact.
In fact they're all slim, if you know what I'm inferring. (laughs)
They would actually be able to fit in the costumes if they went to the convention...
Exactly. (laughing)
Were you able to meet with Jim Parsons and the rest of the cast, or was it just you and Simon Helberg?
Yes. No, I was able to meet the rest of the cast.
Jim's role is one of the more unique roles on TV in a long time.
Do you see a kind of a "geek shift" towards people that are more everyday people on TV?
Exactly. Yes. I think, you know, TV is getting to truly reflect the rich diversity of our society. And it's legitimizing, in many respects, geeks, if you will.
You know, that they are human too, rather than, you know, particularly now with this issue of bullying. I mean, geeks were frequently bullied by the jocks, you know?
And now with that issue coming to the fore, but also the exploring the humanity, if you will, of people who are intensely into certain aspects of our civilization, whether it's science, or fantasy, or astronomy, or whatever.
http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/10/13/george-takei-on-the-big-bang-theory-being-revealing-with-howa/
by Joel Keller
posted Oct 13th 2010
Did ("Big Bang" producers) Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, come to you and say, "Hey, we've been wanting you on the show for a while?"
No, it happened in an unusual... Well, you know, I'm a theater buff, as is my husband Brad Altman. And we practically live in the theaters when we're in New York.
There I saw Johnny Galecki in 'Little Dog Laughed.' So we were there in the lobby, milling around, and Bill Prady came up to me and started a conversation. And he said, "You know, we've been talking about you in our meetings with "The Big Bang Theory", and how would you feel about doing a guest shot on it?"
It was just an intermission conversation, you know. I said, "Oh, I think it'd be great fun!" Something like that. And sure enough, I guess it was like about 5, 6 months later, the call came through.
I'm surprised they haven't had your name on their board for the last 4 seasons. It seems to be natural that you would be on the show.
Well they're supposed to be "Star Trek" fans and Star Wars fans and all that.
You're playing yourself in this, right?
I am. Well, no, I'm playing a character named George Takei.
You know, I've often done guest shots as George Takei, but, in "Psych", I played a puffed up, egocentric, self-centered George Takei, so I used one of my colleagues as my model for that one.
But the character was named George Takei.
I wouldn't know who that colleague might be...
(laughs) Well, I think, you know, you have to really know "Star Trek" to... it's a very subtle inference I'm making.
What could you say about this version of George on "Big Bang"?
They use, well, you know, what I've revealed on Howard Stern. The audience's knowledge is bad.
In other words, there's some question about Wolowitz's sexuality. And so I'm the personification of his confusion, his quandary there. (chuckles)
Is this one of Wolowitz's dreams, I guess?
Yes. Yes. I shouldn't reveal too much.
I'm sure they would really appreciate my not being as forthcoming as I am on the Howard Stern show.
Right. I think what I've heard is that Katee Sackhoff is also returning in that area as well.
That's right. She's the straight side, and I'm the ambiguous side. (laughing)
Were you a fan of the show before Bill Prady came and talked to you?
Very frankly, not... you know, I'd seen it on occasion while kind of surfing, you know.
But no, I wouldn't call myself having been a regular, dedicated fan.
Knowing your experience going to conventions etc, etc...
how accurate has the show's portrayal of people who might be fans of "Star Trek" or sci fi been?
There is the nugget of truth there. Of course, there's embellishment, some magnification, some embroidery around the side.
But no, there's a lot of truth in those characters. In fact, I've met some that are really much, much more magnified than what you see in those characters, in fact.
In fact they're all slim, if you know what I'm inferring. (laughs)
They would actually be able to fit in the costumes if they went to the convention...
Exactly. (laughing)
Were you able to meet with Jim Parsons and the rest of the cast, or was it just you and Simon Helberg?
Yes. No, I was able to meet the rest of the cast.
Jim's role is one of the more unique roles on TV in a long time.
Do you see a kind of a "geek shift" towards people that are more everyday people on TV?
Exactly. Yes. I think, you know, TV is getting to truly reflect the rich diversity of our society. And it's legitimizing, in many respects, geeks, if you will.
You know, that they are human too, rather than, you know, particularly now with this issue of bullying. I mean, geeks were frequently bullied by the jocks, you know?
And now with that issue coming to the fore, but also the exploring the humanity, if you will, of people who are intensely into certain aspects of our civilization, whether it's science, or fantasy, or astronomy, or whatever.
http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/10/13/george-takei-on-the-big-bang-theory-being-revealing-with-howa/