The Flight Attendant’s season two finale airs this week. This season has been a wild ride so far and it will be interesting to see how all the loose ends are wrapped up. Kaley Cuoco appeared on The Late Late Show this week and talked to James Corden about a few different things, including that her dad attended every taping of The Big Bang Theory and even had his own director’s chair on set. That’s 279 episodes!
Kaley Cuoco has described how her father sat in the audience for every single episode of The Big Bang Theory.
The Flight Attendant star played Penny in the long-running sitcom, which aired for 279 episodes from 2007 to 2019.
The show was filmed in front of a live studio audience, with Cuoco growing emotional on Monday (23 May) night’s episode of The Late Late Show as she told James Corden about her dad Gary’s dedication to the series.
“He had a director’s chair with his name on it,” she recalled. “He never sat in it. He always stood. And every night for curtain and bows and for intros, he would be at the top and he would give me a thumbs up.”
The cast and crew would always give Gary a thumbs-up back, with Cuoco continuing: “The whole audience ended up doing it. It was like a weekly thing. It was just very special for all of us.”
She said that her father “still misses” attending the show’s tapings, saying: “I couldn’t do a show without him at that point, it had been years. I kept thinking, you can’t miss one now, you are part of the show.”
This story is sweet because Kaley finds it sweet. Others might find every night to be a bit much. I wonder if her dad was just super into that (annoying) show or if it was a habit of his to look out for his daughter. Kaley was 22 by the time Big Bang Theory was filming, but started acting when she was much younger so it would make sense if her dad was a presence on set to ensure her safety and well-being. She didn’t mention whether he does that for the The Flight Attendant, but probably not and for the best since it’s on HBO Max and has sex scenes. That would be awkward.
Kaley and her new boyfriend, Tom Pelphrey, also stepped out together earlier this week to support producer Greg Berlanti at his Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony. Greg is an extremely prolific producer, and The Flight Attendant is one of his shows. Kaley and Tom look happy and smiley. I like the pattern of her pantsuit, but it’s a lot of fabric.
I dunno, I think this is nice. My parents never came to a single show, concert, or performance I was in during high school. I would rather they came to all than none.
❤️ I am sure there were reasons but I’m still sorry you missed seeing your parents in the audience beaming with pride.
I love nothing more than making eye contact with my son after a performance or a competition or a long pass to TD and being able to give the thumbs up for good job. He won’t want or need our validation forever, but as long as he looks for us, we’ll be there.
That is so lovely!! Your son is very lucky to have you 🙂
Thank you for your kind words, and I love your username btw. My fave house & one of my fave characters 😀
I went to a lot of my Kiddo’s hockey games (not all – logistics/expense made that impossible). Kiddo was a goalie – it was really hard for me to watch them play, so when it got to be too much for me, I’d pace behind the bleachers or at the top of the arena. They knew I was there, that I loved them, supported them and wanted them to play well, but also knew that I worried and couldn’t always actually watch a tough game. It became a running joke between us – the tighter the score, the more I paced.
I loved going to their concerts and recitals (Kiddo also plays flute). I don’t think I missed any of those, but those didn’t involve plane tickets or having to board the dog.
I think it’s fabulous that Kaley’s father went to the tapings and was so familiar on set that he had his own (unused) director’s chair. Even at 22, knowing you have a parent looking out for you makes a kid feel valued and loved (as something beyond a paycheck).
I vote for sweet, given what we know of the industry. At 22, she would still have been really vulnerable and would not have enough clout to protect herself. It’s nice to see a parent take an active interest without selling out their kid to the tabs for fame, and it was filmed before a live audience so I think it’s different than hanging out on every closed set.
Kailey was acting as a main character in the show 8 Simple Rules at age16. She was the older “hot” and more edgy sister but everything was very family friendly.
If my 16 years old daughter was in the same situation I would be very proud… but I would absolutely want to keep a close eye on her, too.
Sounds like there is a lot of possibility for it to be overwhelming or stressful at that age (not to mention safety concerns for a teen!)
I get the sense her father probably attended all those episodes, so him continuing to do that as she got older does not seem weird. To me it comes off very supportive – he could have peaced out of her professional life when she turned 18.
Yes, knowing Hollywood and what happens to actresses I’d try to do the same if this was my kid. Good for dad. Predators abound in this industry.
I fully encourage any parent even of adults who wants to be there for their child in the business until they’re keenly aware enough to protect themselves to keep a protective eye out. He stayed very much within the bounds of just showing for tapings too, so his presence was felt but without being intrusive and over bearing crossing professional lines.
And I understand why he felt the need, this was just her 2nd “big” show, the original show she was protected more as a older but still minor at the time IIRC. A young 20 something in a position of heading a huge show she didn’t want to lose in just her 2nd showbiz rodeo could be vulnerable to a power-leverage situation and forced into something.
Just look everywhere at all the MeToo it happens constantly. It happens to even the most “savvy” long time showbiz families- Paltrow, Sorvino, Arquette, Jolie(Voight).
If it can happen to these people with that much pull in Hollywood, it could happen to a random actress just getting her early breaks like Kaley was.
From the title (&bc of how I feel about her) I thought this would be annoying. However, I didn’t realize it was a live taping. That’s perfectly sweet to go see her performance. I’m surprised he was actually able to make it to everyone but that’s fine. It’s once a week. I thought it filmed like most other shows and he’d be there stage managing her on set all day.
Not *quite* the same, but when my BIL started out in the business (as a writer first, then worked up the ladder, show by show, to a show creator/exec. producer), we would go to every Friday night taping as a family. After a few seasons, the novelty wore off lol. Most people don’t realize you get there by 4 or so, and takings can go from then up till 10, 11, even 12 a.m.! They are BORING for the most part (how many times can you sustain the same level of laughter/shock/whatever after you’ve seen 4 takes of it?? Lol)
Still, it was fun 😊. I wouldn’t’ve wanted to miss any.
Good for her parents being supportive and proud, in all honesty. There’s a lot of kids who didn’t receive even a fraction of that dedication growing up.
If I was in that circumstance I truly believe my mum and dad would do the same and I would want them to. I think it’s lovely that he came along to either keep her company or make sure she’s safe/happy/has someone to talk to. I truly believe that only surrounding yourself with people who work for you is very toxic.
Her father she sees like clockwork. That last guy when she was married to him? Not so much.
This is sweet! She was underage when she started acting so I can see why a parent would do this
There doesn’t seem to be any stories over the years about him being an overbearing stage dad or stealing her money, so I’m inclined to put him in the “protective/proud” category.
My parents would absolutely come watch me shine at my job if they could.
I can’t believe the second season of Flight Attendant is almost over. It feels like there is way too much that still needs to happen.
I lost two years worth of kindergarden performances because of that stupid virus. I wish I could have them back.
Her dad is kinda hot.
Cute. She’s never had a problem getting a man. 💙