‘The Big Bang Theory’: Go Behind the Scenes With the Cast on Set (PHOTOS)

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The Big Bang Theory
Erik Voake/CBS

Microsoft founder Bill Gates guest starred as himself this season. In the storyline, his company was considering partnering with the pharmaceutical giant where Penny works. “He has great comic timing — who knew?” marvels Johnny Galecki who poses with executive producers Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady, Steve Holland, and Steven Molaro, Rauch, director Mark Cendrowski, Bialik, Parsons, Phoebe Gates, Gates, Kaley Cuoco, Kunal Nayyar and Helberg.

The Big Bang Theory - Mayim Bialik and Jim Parsons take selfie in bed
Sonja Flemming/CBS

Amy (Mayim Bialik) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) have come a long way since meeting in Season 3. “The biggest shift for them was coitus and moving in together and Sheldon navigating all that,” Bialik says. Now that the pair is married, what’s next for them? “I’m hoping that we’ll just see life,” Bialik says. Teases Parsons, “Do you think Amy will be pregnant?”

THE BIG BANG THEORY
Bill Inoshita/CBS

Howard (Simon Helberg) drives Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) to the hospital, where she delivers the couple’s second baby, a son named Neil Michael. “Two babies in two years!” exclaims Helberg. Rauch, herself a new mom, says, “The writers have kept the parenthood storyline very real. I think that they’ve tackled the struggles that a lot of new parents go through.”

The Big Bang Theory - Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki
Warner Bros Entertainment

Parsons and Galecki also spent some time in the car when Leonard drove the BFFs to work. While these scenes tend to be prerecorded, “we try to do as much in front of the studio audience as we can,” Holland says. “So we’ll set up a couple of chairs and a little steering wheel and the cast will reenact it like a little theater scene.”

The Big Bang Theory - Kaley Cuoco, Anthony Rich
Warner Bros Entertainment

The set’s family vibe extends from the cast to the crew, including full-time assistant director/part-time director Anthony Rich (with Cuoco).
“Anthony has been here since day one,” Holland says. “In fact, most of the crew has been here since Season 1!”

The Big Bang Theory - Bob Newhart - 'The Proton Regeneration'
Michael Yarish/CBS

Comedy legend Bob Newhart made his fifth appearance on the Emmy-winning comedy as the now-deceased Professor Proton, Sheldon’s childhood hero. “Whenever Sheldon is in crisis, Professor Proton will appear to him in a dream wearing his Jedi robes to counsel him,” Holland says.

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Bill Gates, babies, and Bob Newhart — not to mention one major wedding. The Big Bang Theory Season 11 was one for the ages.

Click through the gallery above for some insight from behind the scenes, as well as a look at all of the on-set shenanigans.

The Big Bang Theory, Season 12 Premiere, Monday, September 24, 8/7c, CBS

For more exclusive content from your favorite shows like Big Bang Theory, Supernatural, and more, pick up TV Guide Magazine’s Special Comic-Con Issue, on sale now. It’s an all-access SUPERFAN guide with 88 pages of behind-the scenes photos, scoops, and interviews.