The Real Reason The Original 'Penny' From The Big Bang Theory Was Cut

Show creator Chuck Lorre says the original Penny on "The Big Bang Theory" was "hated" by audiences. But the audience's intense dislike for the character had nothing to do with the actor's performance.

#Penny #TheBigBangTheory #Actress

Voiceover By: Dexter Manning

[Looper]

Do you think "Big Bang" made the right choice changing Penny's character?

[rocketfighter]

There were two Penneys??!!! Now it makes cents! 😂

[markjohnson]

It was not only Amanda's character that was wrong but both Sheldon and Leonard were terrible in the pilot episode. None of the characters were really likeable or funny. But with the Penny change, also came a change in how the two leads changed and made it the show we all grew to love.

[elizabetherne]

I think it has to do more with looks. Penny gives off that innocent hot. She’s just a better fit look wise with Sheldon and Leonard.

[NicholasVettese]

The Penny / Sheldon episodes are some of the best. They had amazing chemistry on screen and it came through.

[kzarkage]

It's gotta hurt her a bit to see Kaley's success and think about what could've been

[lucone]

I think Leslie Winkler (Sara Gilbert) should have been a bigger role in series. She was a good match for Leonard and Sheldon, not just another girlfriend, more like a wildcard.

[TimeTheory]

Kaley was just as adorable and funny in the show '8 simple rules'. She has a natural and loveable style that i think is actually part of her attitude.

[nikki]

How was she so identified with the original character when only a small group of people saw the first episode? Not that I would want anyone but Kaley Cuoco to play the character, I still feel bad the other actress got shafted.

[nutmeg]

I'm not sure why Walsh couldn't come back playing her revamped character. Narrator says she had been too "identified as that first character", but he also tells us the original pilot never aired. So who were these throngs of people who had seen the nasty first draft of the character?

[lemmdus]

I love how Penny basically became Sheldon’s sister.

[bobbilly]

Sheldon and Penny were the real best friends in the show. Definitely had a sibling friendship

[thsealord]

I've seen cuts from that pilot. That character came across to me as .... ecchhhh. I'm talking, 'rusty nails in a two-by-four dragged across old iron and concrete" level of annoying. I'm talking, "I'll watch this show, if you promise that something BAD will happen to her".

Absolutely made the right choice in changing Penny's character. As people say, the proof is in the pudding.

[evelynoshae]

They wrote her character wrong. They blamed the actress not their terrible writing. Typical 😂😂😂

[timoolman]

Nothing against the original actress, but I glad they got, and kept Kaley, I think she did a great job with the part!👍

[semibiotic]

It's not only about girl character per se, Sheldon and Leonard also were different.

[dukey]

Love Penny. So glad they changed characters.

[evalramman]

The first actress' character was more interesting and more realistic, but that's audiences for you.

[ramaraksha]

She played the part that was written for her - it's the way the character was written - to say she could not play it like Kaley, we will never know - but to say she was so identified with the first character - by whom? The writers? The director? The initial show was never aired - so the test audience? who cares?
Basically they changed the character and Kaley was much, much better as the perky fun loving character - she beat her out, that's what happened

[dennisfarber]

The original actress who played Penny did too good a job with her character, that the test audience recognized her to be the wrong fit. But that was due mainly to the show's writers, recasting the role was the show runners only option.