Among the beloved cast of ‘The Big Bang Theory‘, Howard Wolowitz was perhaps the most problematic character. His aggressive flirting methods were borderline harassment that constantly made him repel women. No doubt, Bernadette Rostenkowski was the best thing that happened to the MIT graduate.
Actor Simon Helberg, who played Howard’s character, even received threatening mail from viewers for his character’s behavior around women. However, fans who stuck with the show witnessed a considerable change in Howard after he met Bernadette. One might even say that she saved the sitcom from doling out problematic arcs. So, here’s a dive into how creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady spun ‘The Big Bang Theory’ to combat its biggest problem.
Howard Wolowitz Became Less Perverted After Dating Bernadette Rostenkowski
Since the series began, Howard Wolowitz has considered himself a smooth ladies’ man. Unlike his ‘The Big Bang Theory’ friends, he approached women with cheesy pickup lines that often made them uncomfortable. Penny even punched Howard in season two for trying to kiss her.
The man even devised a formula called the “Wolowitz Coefficient” to set up a system for approaching women. His inspiration was the Drake Equation. No need to dig deep into your memory, here’s what it’s for: to know the chances of alien contact. Howard’s version though was for women according to the area they were living in and whether they might find him and his fellow scientists attractive. Yeah, everyone doubted his sincerity and Mr. Wolowitz actually clarified that he was a “horny engineer” who would never joke about math or sex.
Thankfully, Bernadette’s entry into Howard’s life completely changed the character. Initially seen as a timid, Catholic girl, Bernadette dissolved Howard’s aggressive approach toward women and fans even got to feel bliss while seeing his romantic side.
Although their setup by Penny in season three began as a bust, both began to bond over their overbearing mothers. Howard struggled a lot with his deep-seated issues related to his family. Then, his mother, who never appeared on the show, totally controlled his life. This revelation by Howard tells everything: “My mother calls me every day at work to see if I had a healthy bowel movement.” But, he leveled up for the love of his life, Bernadette, eventually.
Fans would have never guessed Howard and Bernadette’s relationship would go for the long haul. Howard came out of his perverted fantasies and eventually became a functioning boyfriend – all hats off to Bernadette.
Bernadette Was Planned As A Guest Character On ‘The Big Bang Theory’
As ‘The Big Bang Theory’ progressed, Bernadette helped the characters in more than one way. Not only did she solve the Howard equation but also helped Penny find a job in her pharmaceutical company. However, fans might be surprised to find out that Bernadette was never meant to be a regular in ‘The Big Bang Theory’.
Chuck Lorre’s original plans involved Melissa Rauch appearing for only one episode in season three. However, viewers responded well to Howard and Bernadette’s chemistry and Rauch became a part of the main cast. Lorre never wrote the episodes with a long sight and let the characters develop on screen.
On the Jennifer Hudson Show, the actress revealed, “Right before I got cast as Bernadette, I was literally at the unemployment office the week before that job. I was just supposed to be there for the week, and then they said I was gonna do a couple of more episodes. The fact that it turned into that, I’m just so endlessly grateful.”
In case you missed it: ‘The Big Bang Theory’: Was Mary Cooper Really A Bad Mother? ‘Young Sheldon’ Explains Her Complex Arc
Romance is all good, but the real bombshell dropped when Howard became the first among his friends to get married. While others wavered and struggled in their relationships, Bernadette and Howard became a stable power couple. Howard was not only a loving husband but also a caring father to Halley and Neil. This ‘The Big Bang Theory‘ love story deserves more appreciation.
