Big Bang Theory's Spanking Scene Was Hard For Jim Parsons Due To How 'Amusing' It Was
As Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik) gets deeper into her relationship with Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), she craves physical affection from him. However, since the theoretical physicist has no interest in such things, Amy has to secure it in strategic ways. An unforgettable example comes in Season 6, Episode 10 ("The Fish Guts Displacement"), when Sheldon is displeased with Amy for lying about being sick. For tricking him into caring for her longer than needed, Amy must be punished. Sheldon proceeds to lay Amy across his lap and spank her behind, much to her enjoyment.
On-screen, this is a very serious matter for Sheldon. But in between takes, Parsons couldn't stop laughing. In an interview with The Paley Center for Media, the actor said of the scene, "It was, I would say, one of the hardest things I've ever had to do because I found it tremendously amusing." In a separate interview on "Conan," Parsons elaborated, "We kept having to do take after take because I kept laughing, which was kind of rare for me."
Parsons is tasked with executing his share of embarrassing scenes throughout "The Big Bang Theory," such as when Sheldon gives a drunken acceptance speech in his underwear or when he wears a French maid costume. So what made the spanking scene particularly amusing to him?
The spanking scene was originally supposed to be off-camera
While the spanking scene between Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik) was part of the script for "The Fish Guts Displacement" from the table read, it was originally supposed to take place off-camera, with viewers only hearing the sound of the slaps (and Amy trying to muffle her excitement). Yet right before the episode was set to be filmed, it was decided that the spanking would happen on-camera.
"Which I'm fine with, I don't mind spanking somebody. But I can't tell you how hard it was to, when you're concentrated on making a noise all week, it's like doing a radio play. Once the camera was on me and I realized I haven't worked at all on what my face or the rest of my — I don't know how to handle myself during this," Parsons said on "Conan."
The actor explained how he was trapped in an endless cycle of laughing and then getting frustrated with himself for doing so. Luckily, his co-star was a champ throughout the many takes it took to get through the scene. During an interview with The Paley Center for Media, Parsons said of Bialik, "You have no idea how game this one is."