Simon Helberg’s intense scene in The Big Bang Theory earned Jim Parsons’ praise, highlighting the challenges behind the comedy.
In the realm of geeky humor and quirky characters, The Big Bang Theory served up its fair share of memorable moments, but one scene had Jim Parsons tipping his hat to Simon Helberg. That particular moment wasn’t just another laugh; it left Parsons in awe of Helberg’s talent. As Sheldon Cooper, Parsons is no stranger to heavy lifting, but when it came to this scene, Helberg’s performance was simply absolutely astounding.
It’s not every day you see the king of quirky himself bowing down to a fellow cast member! This moment reminds us that behind the comedic genius, there’s a profound respect for the craft, making the sitcom not just a source of laughter, but also a stage for some serious talent.
Simon Helberg Endured Real Pain for The Big Bang Theory’s Intense Space Scenes
Not all Big Bang Theory scenes are just fun and laughs—some come with a side of serious pain. Simon Helberg, who played Howard Wolowitz, knows that better than anyone after one intense space scene in The Big Bang Theory Season 6. His character heads to space, but the zero-gravity scenes weren’t a walk in the park. They had Helberg sitting on a bicycle seat attached to a makeshift seesaw. Yep, as uncomfortable as it sounds.
Helberg shared the deets at a Paley Center panel, joking about how the setup numbed him below the waist and left him mimicking floating movements for hours. The result? Pure magic onscreen. But offscreen, it was a struggle. He asserted adding that the rest of the illusion was his own body movements mimicking weightlessness:
I was sitting on basically like a bicycle seat. Really, I feel for the cyclists out there, yet I don’t feel because it really numbed me below the waist at a certain point … And then there were some teamster guys — it was like a seesaw — who are lifting me and pulling me. The rest of it was just the body movements of floating.
Even Jim Parsons (Sheldon) couldn’t help but give Helberg his props, calling his performance absolutely astounding. When Sheldon’s impressed, you know you’ve nailed it. Parsons revealed,
Everything about [Helberg’s] ‘antigravity movement,’ if that’s what it’s called, was completely him. Absolutely astounding.
Turns out, pulling off space scenes takes more than just some CGI magic—it’s all about the dedication!
Simon Helberg Recalls Awkward Moment Filming Big Bang Theory with Stephen Hawking
Starring in a sitcom like The Big Bang Theory seems like a dream, right? Well, for Simon Helberg, it came with some seriously awkward moments. During an interview with Conan O’Brien, Helberg opened up about his discomfort filming with Stephen Hawking. The legendary physicist didn’t just stop by; he decided to watch Helberg rehearse. He recalled (via The Things):
I did, I did get to meet him and it was so surreal.
But here’s the kicker: he had to perform an impression of Hawking right in front of him! Helberg joked, acknowledging the delicate situation,
I had to do this scene where I did an impression of him, for him, in front of, and it’s kind of… I mean it’s, you know, he’s severely disabled, and I am kind of making fun of his voice…
And so, I have to do this thing where I, in front of him, and it had to be. I asked the producers to clear it… I mean I didn’t want him to stand up and beat me. No, I did not want to pick on him. He’s brilliant and, and, it’s not fair.
Thankfully, Hawking was a total champ about it. After Helberg’s impression, he stood up and saluted him, earning a smile from the genius himself. That moment? A huge deal for Helberg.
