That Time TBBT Made Us Cry for a Character Never Seen on Screen
Imagine the level of talent it took to make us mourn a character we'd never seen!
After reimagining its concept and refilming the pilot, The Big Bang Theory premiered on CBS in 2007. It has since become a worldwide phenomenon, generating massive viewership even after ending in 2019. Over its twelve-year run, TBBT released twelve seasons and spawned an equally popular prequel, Young Sheldon, which aired concurrently with its predecessor for two years starting in 2017.
Perhaps the key to TBBT's success lies in its unorthodox premise. While most comedies poked fun at nerds, this show centred on a group of scientists and their friends, portraying their daily lives. Moreover, The Big Bang Theory's characters were so relatable that audiences easily became attached to them. There was even a character who never physically appeared on the show yet was deeply loved by many, causing sadness upon her sudden passing.
Howard Wolowitz's mother, Debbie, became an integral part of his persona from the moment he first appeared on the show. The quirky and often creepy engineer who lived with his mother offered ample comic relief. Notably, even though viewers never actually saw Debbie, many were moved to tears during episode 15 of season 8, which featured her funeral.
Voiced by the talented Carol Ann Susi, Mrs. Wolowitz was written out of the show following the actress's death in November 2014. To say she was 'killed off' might sound too harsh, given the gentle nature of her departure – she 'took a nap and never woke up,' Howard related to his friends after receiving the news from his aunt over the phone.
The subsequent scene was both tear-jerking and heartwarming, coupled with a touch of humour, as the group tried to console Howard. Even Sheldon managed a kind word, leading Penny to become emotional. And for the first time on TBBT, Mrs. Wolowitz was spoken of as a 'wonderful person,' without the usual jokes and comments that typically accompanied every mention of her.
'To Mrs. Wolowitz, a loving mother to all of us!' Leonard toasted, making even the most stoic viewers sob.
The series continued for four and a half more seasons without Debbie and Carol Ann Susi. Even though she wasn't central to the plot, we missed her disembodied voice and the unique humour she brought, as did all TBBT characters.