If Kaley Cuoco Isn't Reprising Penny In 'The Big Bang Theory's' New Spinoff, Her Interview Answer Deserves An Acting Award

Lots of big shows are heading to the 2026 TV schedule, but none have quite the same level of anticipation as HBO Max’s "Big Bang Theory" follow-up "Stuart Saves the Universe," which finally started filming in September after a lengthy development process. The spinoff’s core cast has long been set, and sporadic updates have unveiled returning co-stars, with some taking on new characters. But fans have remained in the dark regarding potential returns for "TBBT" regulars like Kaley Cuoco.

Luckily, Cuoco herself seemed to let the cat out of the bag without ever having to touch the bag or even admit to there being any cats in the area. Speaking with Entertainment Tonight about her latest TV gig, MGM+’s four-ep mystery thriller "Vanished," the actress put on the least convincing poker face humanly possible when the topic of reprising Penny was addressed. It’s not what she said so much as the “look at my face instead of listening to my words” way that she delivered the answer.