Kaley Cuoco recently opened up about her least favorite The Big Bang Theory episode to film, revealing the challenges she faced with one storyline in particular. Over its 12-season run, the beloved sitcom showcased plenty of wacky scenarios, especially for Cuoco’s character Penny, a Nebraska native pursuing her Hollywood dreams. While viewers loved watching Penny’s misadventures, some moments proved far from fun for Cuoco behind the scenes. One of the most memorable—yet toughest—episodes for her to shoot was the infamous Serial Apeist storyline.
Serial Apeist: A Hairy Ordeal for Kaley Cuoco
In Season 7’s “The Friendship Turbulence,” Penny reluctantly returns to her role in Serial Apeist 2: Monkey See, Monkey Kill, a sequel to the fictional low-budget horror film Serial Apeist. The character only agrees to take the role due to financial troubles, a decision that lands her in a ridiculous costume and locked in a cage, acting alongside Wil Wheaton.
The experience was challenging not only for Penny but for Cuoco herself, who described filming the scene as her worst experience on set. Recalling the episode, Cuoco shared with TV Line: “The worst experience was filming Serial Apeist and getting covered in [hair] from head to toe. I was like, ‘Really, you guys? This is what’s happening?’ And Chuck [Lorre] just thought it was so funny. He loved it. I never understood why.”
Chuck Lorre’s Surprising Take on Serial Apeist
While Cuoco found the scene a nightmare, The Big Bang Theory creator Chuck Lorre wasn’t particularly enthusiastic about the episode either, although he found the premise humorous. Reflecting on the storyline, Lorre admitted that Serial Apeist wasn’t his proudest moment, explaining, “We wanted Penny to have some small success in her form of being a successful actor, but it’s not my favorite episode. The goal was to put her in a bad movie and see her struggling to make something work.”
Although Lorre acknowledged the episode’s mixed reception, he continued to support Cuoco’s role in the storyline as it served Penny’s character arc. Ultimately, the Serial Apeist subplot provided fans a look at Penny’s ups and downs as she worked toward her Hollywood dreams.
Despite her dislike for the episode, Cuoco’s commitment to the role as Penny resonated with fans and has even left room for potential reunions in the future.
