The Big Bang Theory creator, Chuck Lorre, was seriously concerned about the sitcom after Kaley Cuoco’s one decision led to an unexpected change in her character, Penny. Starting with Season 8, Penny’s long blonde locks were replaced with a pixie cut.
Kaley Cuoco in The Big Bang Theory | Credit: CBS
The hairstyle generated an underwhelming response from the viewers, who shared their dislike for her new look. Lorre later reflected on her decision, sharing that he would have preferred Cuoco consult him before taking the drastic step.
Chuck Lorre Reflected on Kaley Cuoco’s Haircut Ahead of Season 8
The Big Bang Theory Season 8 introduced Penny with a pixie cut, and the reason behind the change was not influenced by the show itself but by Kaley Cuoco’s involvement in the film Burning Bodhi.
A still from The Big Bang Theory | Credit: CBS
The actress revealed in The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series that she cut down her hair for Matthew McDuffie’s independent movie.
However, Chuck Lorre was not very pleased with her decision, sharing that it was startling for them as they had no clue about the haircut. “I wish we had been in the loop,” he said, via Glamour Magazine.
The show creator further explained the reasons behind his concern with her haircut, which caused an unexpected and unexplained change to the beloved character.
Chuck Lorre | Image by Kempton, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Had she come to me, I would have told her how the ratings dropped on Dharma & Greg when Jenna Elfman did the same thing. And they dropped on Felicity as well.
He underscored that the audience had developed a strong attachment not only to Penny’s personality and traits but also to her appearance, noting that such changes have led to negative audience reactions and decreased ratings.
He also emphasized that the situation would have been the same if any other actor, such as Johnny Galecki, had done something similar while starring in the show.
Kaley Cuoco Came to Regret Her Decision to Change Her Hair
In her interview for The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series, Kaley Cuoco also reflected on her new look. She admitted that she did not inform anyone about her decision.
“[I] showed up to our Big Bang wrap party with short hair,” The Big Bang Theory star said before adding, “Chuck hugged me and said, ‘Wow, look at your hair!'”
Burning Bodhi | Credit: Monterey Media
The Emmy-nominated actress also described Burning Bodhi as an excuse for the haircut, stating, “I thought by cutting my hair, I would spend less time in the hair and makeup chair.”
However, her decision backfired, as styling the short hair was even more complicated and time-consuming than her previous hair. Sharing her regret about the haircut, she said,
In my attempt to spend less time on my hair, that decision bit me in the ass — I was like, This is the worst decision! What was I thinking?! I thought I was cutting off all this time, because I hated going in and getting ready.
Kaley Cuoco in The Big Bang Theory | Credit: CBS
Cuoco also noted the irony of her situation, having previously questioned similar decisions made by other actors. Despite the criticism, the actress embraced the experience as part of the unpredictable nature of show business.
