'The Big Bang Theory' Season 8 News: Simon Helberg Reveals True Importance Of Sheldon Cooper's Couch Cushion [VIDEO]
Special attention is paid to a seemingly unimportant object on the set of CBS's The Big Bang Theory.
The Big Bang Theory star Simon Helberg, who plays Howard Wolowitz on the popular sitcom, spoke with The Huffington Post recently, discussing the importance a particular cushion on the couch used during filming.
Sheldon's (Jim Parsons) "spot" on the couch is one of the most significant gags on the series, and Helberg said that the production team goes so far as to have an alternate cushion while not filming.
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"The cushion that [Parsons] sits on, which probably will be in the Smithsonian someday, Sheldon's spot, they actually swap out that cushion during our rehearsal," Helberg shared. "So the whole week, until the few hours that we tape, there is an alternate cushion."
The special cushion is actually hidden somewhere, according to Helberg.
"God forbid something gets spilled on that cushion -- that show, the ratings would plummet," he said. "So they hide this cushion somewhere. And there's probably like a Brinks truck [with] just a bunch of armed guards there waiting until Tuesday night ... just so that we can rub our butts on it."
Ridiculous or not, The Big Bang Theory has found much of its success off gags like this. The show is still the no. 1 comedy on television and stars Parsons, Johnny Galecki (Leonard) and Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting (Penny) are receiving $1 million per episode.
The Big Bang Theory airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.
