'The Big Bang Theory' Showrunner Talks Shamy's Big Night, Bob Newhart, and 'Star Wars'

Warning: This interview about the “The Opening Night Excitation” episode of The Big Bang Theory contains spoilers.

That just happened… after nearly half a season spent on the Shamy breakup that started in the Season 8 finale, The Big Bang Theory quickly reunited Sheldon and Amy in last week’s episode, and then accelerated the relationship in hyperdrive in “The Opening Night Excitation,” a Star Wars-themed installment that saw the two virgins celebrate Amy’s birthday by, well, doing it.

In addition to the big Shamy moment and the nod to the Star Wars premiere — another major event in the Big Bang universe — the episode also included a return appearance by Emmy-winning TV legend Bob Newhart as Sheldon’s mentor Arthur “Professor Proton” Jeffries, and one of Wil Wheaton’s best recurring guest performances playing a cheeky, and in this instance Star Wars fans-taunting, version of himself.

The Big Bang Theory showrunner Steve Molaro talks to Yahoo TV about the very special episode, why the writers decided to kick the Shamy relationship up a level now, how beloved Newhart is on the set, and what’s ahead for the whole gang when the show returns in January. Oh, and he also shares how no one, not even the show’s writing staff, is safe from fan spoilers, especially when it comes to The Force Awakens.

To combine so many things that are so beloved in this universe is pretty special: Shamy, Bob Newhart, Star Wars.
I know, I know. I feel like we got really lucky, and the planets aligned for this one. We’re all pretty happy with how it turned out.

Why now? What was the reason to make this event happen in the “Shamy” relationship now?
It seemed to be a lovely way to put a bow on the end of the arc of this season, that started at the end of last season when Amy broke up with Sheldon. We had the idea to tie the storylines together between Amy and Sheldon and the Star Wars premiere day, and I knew I always wanted to bring Bob Newhart back again, so it was just all so exciting to us. It seemed like a great time to make it happen.

That’s a trifecta, but then there’s also another great guest performance from Wil Wheaton, at his cheekiest while tormenting Star Wars fans with his Star Trek-dom.
[Laughs.] He’s so great. I even texted him ahead of time when we were thinking about [the episode], and I was just like, “Hey, would you be OK going to the Star Wars premiere with the guys, but not being a Star Wars fan and just being completely pro-Star Trek?” I got back a text five seconds later that said, “Yes! I’ll absolutely do that!” He was game, and on board, and we love having him back whenever we can get him.

Related: The Science of Love: The Evolution of Shamy

Did you talk a lot about how Sheldon and Amy’s night together would play out? I think it was lovely, captured the sweetness of it and the nervousness of it, but there was still humor, too. That’s a lot to have to convey, to live up to all the expectations fans had.
Sure. I think we knew for a while that nervousness, especially on the part of Amy, was going to play a big part of it. That seemed very real to us. For all her talk and all her waiting, as a grown woman now facing this moment in her life, I think nerves and fear would be a very real part of that. That’s what we tried to capture. I think Mayim [Bialik] and Jim [Parsons] did just a spectacularly beautiful job.

The juxtaposition of the scene with Sheldon and Amy in bed discussing their feelings before and after with the scene of the guys discussing their feelings before and after seeing Star Wars was funny, but also really served how momentous an occasion this was for Shamy.
I think so, and I was really fond of how having the fun in the movie theater with Wil and the guys really allowed us to back off a little on the comedy for Sheldon and Amy, and let that play out a lot closer to how it might actually play out for two adults in this situation.

And Sheldon has finally sacrificed something that is important to him for Amy.
He did, with a little encouragement from Professor Proton from beyond the grave.

What was Bob Newhart’s reaction to being a part of this particular storyline?
I think he had a wonderful time. We love that guy so much. It continues to be the greatest thrill to even have him on our stage and be a part of this. When I watch those scenes of Bob Newhart as a ghost Jedi, sitting on Sheldon’s bed, having a serious conversation, it’s funny, it’s weird, and it’s really sweet. It’s like all these great emotions. He is amazing and truly, truly hilarious and so talented. I think we all still can’t quite believe that we’ve gotten to work with him several times now.

Is there a different feeling on set when he’s there?
Always. You can’t not be happy if that guy’s on the stage.

Was there any hesitancy in doing this storyline now? It’s not just a big moment for Sheldon and Amy, but for the entire show. This is really a watershed moment, especially when you think about where Sheldon started.
You know, to me it feels a little bit like trying to decide when to have a baby. Is there ever really a right time? I mean, in my own personal experience, it never quite felt like, “OK, this is exactly the right time to have a baby. Let’s do this.” Our biggest concern with the show was doing it right and honoring the characters, more than the actual timeline. I think it’s pretty neat that it happened in the middle of the season, as opposed to a finale, where it might be a little more expected. As far as that goes, you know how the episode ends. While it’s huge for them, obviously, it’s also, Sheldon has a plan in place, and it’s still Sheldon and Amy, when it’s all said and done. So as far as the timeline goes, I think we feel pretty comfortable with it.

Speaking of the ending, is Sheldon serious? Is that really his expectation, that sex is a once-a-year thing on Amy’s birthday?
I think in that moment, probably yes. But we’ll see what happens.

The women know what happened, or rather what Sheldon planned to happen. The guys don’t. Are they going to find out soon?
I’m not sure yet. The way the [next] couple of episodes have happened, it just hasn’t come up. How much the guys know is to be determined.

What is ahead for the next half of Season 9? We know Sheldon has Meemaw’s ring tucked away. The potential of Sheldon Cooper as a groomzilla is just too good not to have happen at some point. What can you say about Shamy’s continuing timeline?
We spent half of the season focused pretty heavily on Sheldon and Amy, so right now, with this epic episode behind us, we’re going to take a little breather from hardcore Sheldon-Amy relationship stuff and kind of get back into the groove of everything else that we like to do.

Raj’s romantic life is the one most up in the air… more focus on him, and his pretty obviously mismatched girlfriend, Emily?
Sure, Emily will be back. And just fun things for everybody, really.

Related: ‘The Big Bang Theory’ Tops List of Top 20 Shows in High-Income Households

Howard and Raj’s band, Footprints on the Moon, is the best storyline ever for that bromance. Please say we haven’t seen the last of the band.
[Laughs.] We’re big fans of Footprints on the Moon. In fact, I would love for us to get some Footprints on the Moon T-shirts going. I don’t know why that hasn’t happened yet. I have a feeling we are not done hearing from, what does Howard call them? “Everyone’s favorite sci-fi novelty rock band”… and I feel like there’s two more adjectives in there as well that I can’t remember.

That song, after that episode, was stuck in my head for weeks.
“Thor and Dr. Jones”… not just you. Everybody on the stage and in this production office couldn’t stop singing it. You finally get it out of your head, and then somebody would be walking down the hall humming it, and it would go right back in. We have to write some more lyrics. I think we only have what you heard on TV. We have to finish the song, about the epic and ridiculous battle between a Norse god and an archaeologist.

One last question I have to ask: Have you seen Star Wars yet?
No. All [TBBT] writers are going on Thursday night. Anyone who doesn’t make it on Thursday night here in our offices, that’s too bad, because I think come Friday morning, we’re not going to honor any spoiler alerts. You would think for a show like this, that is so understanding of spoilers… but the writers’ room on The Big Bang Theory is the worst place on earth if you don’t want to have something spoiled. Just a complete disregard, even when you’re like, “I’m about to see this, please don’t talk about it.” It doesn’t matter.

The Big Bang Theory airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on CBS.