Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

debm55

(48,525 posts)
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 11:53 AM Thursday

How was Penny on the Big Bang Theory able to afford her apartment based on her Cheesecake Factory money.. Just pondering

This is for fun, not a serious questions.
39 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
How was Penny on the Big Bang Theory able to afford her apartment based on her Cheesecake Factory money.. Just pondering (Original Post) debm55 Thursday OP
ALL tv shows are unrealistic in that respect... FirstLight Thursday #1
I didn't know you edited your post. I am sorry that I upset you so much as shown in your original post. I didn't debm55 Thursday #3
I don't know but most people don't realize how good of an actress she is Eliot Rosewater Thursday #2
Thank you very much , Eliot Rosewater. debm55 Thursday #4
She was a ranked amateur tennis player. "The Flight Attendant" was really good underpants Thursday #8
HAHAHAH. Thank you underpants. debm55 Thursday #10
And also, an accomplished hunter/jumper rider Bayard Friday #27
Didn't know that. I think she was married to an US Olympic rider underpants Friday #29
Are you pulling our leg??? Bayard. debm55 Friday #33
More more pics if you google Bayard Friday #37
Rent Control....we need more of that today..... walkingman Thursday #5
Absolutely. Thank you very much, walkingman. debm55 Thursday #11
Her parents helped pay for the apartment. That show was so entertaining 💙 TommieMommy Thursday #6
Thank you TommieMommy. debm55 Thursday #12
She was a brilliant astrophysicist working for NASA BOSSHOG Thursday #7
HAHAHAHHHAHHAHA, That is so funny. Thank you so much BOSSHOG. debm55 Thursday #13
and "Cheesecake Factory" is just a cover for a secret interplanetary project DBoon Friday #30
HAHAHA. Thanks for the laugh.DBoon. Though she did do some commercials with William Shatner. debm55 Friday #35
She made really good tips. House of Roberts Thursday #9
Thank you very much for that information. House of Roberts. debm55 Thursday #14
Well, Leonard bought her a car, and Sheldon loaned her money without expecting her to repay it, rsdsharp Thursday #15
Very true, rsesharp. Thank you . debm55 Friday #20
How were they unable to fix the frickin' elevator for 12 years? edbermac Thursday #16
I always pondered about that too, Thank you very much. edbermac. debm55 Friday #21
Aliens. It had to be aliens. hunter Thursday #17
HAHAHAHAHHAH. Thank you very much, hunter. That is funny. debm55 Friday #22
Well, LogDog75 Friday #18
Oh my. I didn;t realize that, LogDog75 debm55 Friday #19
I've noticed that tons of supposedly "average" individuals and families in tv & movies snot Friday #23
Very true, snot. debm55 Friday #24
Same with ads for toxic dryer sheets. Use these and you will enjoy an upper middle class life! diane in sf Friday #26
TV shows are fantasies and in this fantasy rurallib Friday #25
Agree. Thank you rurallib. Yes, I agree with your post --like that would ever happen. debm55 Friday #31
That may explain why the elevator was out of service for 12 years LogDog75 Friday #38
It's in the script. mwmisses4289 Friday #28
Thank you very much, mwmisses4289. It's in the script. debm55 Friday #32
Originally, She was an aspiring actress and FemDemERA Friday #34
Thank you very much for sharing that. Could be possible. TY FemDemERA debm55 Friday #36
SOmetime we just have to accept the premise as it is LogDog75 Friday #39

FirstLight

(15,512 posts)
1. ALL tv shows are unrealistic in that respect...
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 11:59 AM
Thursday

It's part of the reason so m,any people try and keep up with the jonses and put themselves in debt...thinking that somehow that lifestyle is attainable for anyone who can't make over $200K/year or more.

It's all bullshit.

debm55

(48,525 posts)
3. I didn't know you edited your post. I am sorry that I upset you so much as shown in your original post. I didn't
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 12:02 PM
Thursday

Last edited Thu Jul 17, 2025, 08:48 PM - Edit history (2)

think I would get that response. and I am sorry for bringing up a bad personal situation that hurt you.EDIT It was meant to be a fun OP

Eliot Rosewater

(33,192 posts)
2. I don't know but most people don't realize how good of an actress she is
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 11:59 AM
Thursday

Kaley Cuoco can never be seen remembering lines and she convinces you she’s exactly that person.

Having had a little experience with acting, she really is amazing on that show.

BOSSHOG

(43,351 posts)
7. She was a brilliant astrophysicist working for NASA
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 12:19 PM
Thursday

Did all her work undercover and online. No one knew it. The dumb blond routine was an act, a brilliant cover up. On occasion she would pass on top secret data to a “customer” at the Cheesecake Factory.

DBoon

(23,978 posts)
30. and "Cheesecake Factory" is just a cover for a secret interplanetary project
Fri Jul 18, 2025, 05:01 PM
Friday

"Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds; to seek out new life and new civilizations; to boldly go where no one has gone before!"

Hidden in the basement of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory

debm55

(48,525 posts)
35. HAHAHA. Thanks for the laugh.DBoon. Though she did do some commercials with William Shatner.
Fri Jul 18, 2025, 07:04 PM
Friday

rsdsharp

(11,081 posts)
15. Well, Leonard bought her a car, and Sheldon loaned her money without expecting her to repay it,
Thu Jul 17, 2025, 01:16 PM
Thursday

and periodically she’d dump Leonard for one of her “intellectually challenged” ex boy toys.

LogDog75

(647 posts)
18. Well,
Fri Jul 18, 2025, 01:13 AM
Friday

When Penny tagged along with Amy and Sheldon on their first date, Sheldon did the math and figured out she had slept with 31 men. That's a lot of "dates" so was she looking for a mate or doing it for the money?

Inquiring minds want to know.

snot

(11,207 posts)
23. I've noticed that tons of supposedly "average" individuals and families in tv & movies
Fri Jul 18, 2025, 01:19 PM
Friday

have lifestyles far beyond what most people I know can afford – giant homes in perfectly planned neighborhoods, two cars in the garage, etc.; and many of them hardly seem to work at all.

diane in sf

(4,166 posts)
26. Same with ads for toxic dryer sheets. Use these and you will enjoy an upper middle class life!
Fri Jul 18, 2025, 03:56 PM
Friday

rurallib

(63,934 posts)
25. TV shows are fantasies and in this fantasy
Fri Jul 18, 2025, 03:26 PM
Friday

the building owner charged very low rents and was even willing to go in the hole to keep his tenants happy.

like that would ever happen

mwmisses4289

(1,564 posts)
28. It's in the script.
Fri Jul 18, 2025, 04:43 PM
Friday

This is our standard response whenever we see something in a show or movie that seemed odd or even impossible even for that show or movie.

FemDemERA

(536 posts)
34. Originally, She was an aspiring actress and
Fri Jul 18, 2025, 07:00 PM
Friday

Was in some movies and commercials. She moved in after making a movie. Maybe she got some periodic payments? But she also seemed short of money for things like internet and car repairs, so maybe had just barely enough? They did talk about her money problems in the beginning. Later, she gave up acting for a job at a pharmaceutical company and had more money.

Then again, all the others seemed to have plenty of money and still chose to have roommates.

Great show. First season was the best. Still laugh at reruns


LogDog75

(647 posts)
39. SOmetime we just have to accept the premise as it is
Fri Jul 18, 2025, 09:56 PM
Friday

Leonard and Sheldon shared an apartment therefore rent and utilities. Leonard was an experimental physicist and Sheldon was a rhetorical physicist. When someone asked how much does a physicist make she said not that much. According to GlassDoor a physicist at Caltech in 2025 makes between $108,000 - $183,000. So, in 2006 it would be reasonable to say they each made $50,000 or more.
https://www.glassdoor.com/Salary/Caltech-California-Physicist-Salaries-E22139_D_KO19,28.htm

So if Leonard and Sheldon had a combined income of $100,000 or more and had to share an apartment to make ends meet then how is it Penny making minimum wage at the Cheesecake Factory having a fully furnished apartment by herself doesn't make sense. It would make more sense if she had a female roommate to share costs.

It's just the premise of the show and something we, the audience, needn't worry about. Sometimes, we just have to suspend our the reality of the situation and just enjoy the show.

Latest Discussions»The DU Lounge»How was Penny on the Big ...