Penny wasn’t in the pilot for The Big Bang Theory. The first woman in the lead role didn’t work, so she was replaced. Penny on The Big Bang Theory was very different, but the show’s people changed her. Kaley Cuoco was the only female lead for the first three years. Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, and Kunal Nayyar play the roles of Raj.

The Big Bang Theory‘s unaired pilot had a different cast besides Leonard and Sheldon. Instead of Penny and the other two boys, two female characters were written. Iris Bahr’s Gilda resembles Sara Gilbert’s Leslie.

Penny, as played by Cuoco, was kind to them. She teases, but she’s a loyal friend. Despite Sheldon’s annoyance, she helped when needed. Katie only appeared in one episode and could have changed if she stayed, but how she treated the two male key players was off-putting.