What visual cues distinguish the different floors on The Big Bang Theory?

What visual cues distinguish the different floors on The Big Bang Theory? - Top view of thoughtful lady in casual wear writing with marker on cardboard box while sitting near suitcases and pile of boxes in light living room

I have recently begun watching The Big Bang Theory. Mostly passively, this is my wife's new show. For this reason I have noticed some things, but haven't watched closely enough to notice small differences.

I wonder about the fact that each of the floors look the same as they walk upstairs. Researching further, I see that the three floors (including the one they live on) with two staircases and a warning-taped elevator are all actually the same set (see item #2 in this list).

This site does reference the fact that they make small changes to distinguish each of these three floors. Does anyone know what these differences are? Are they listed somewhere on another site?



Best Answer

Small elements are changed such as plants and the door numbers

Noted here: How does ‘The Big Bang Theory’ staircase work?

  • However, in reality, there is only one hallway-staircase set on Stage 25 on the Warner Brothers lot (a separate set is available for the lobby, which connects to the stairs). When scenes involving multiple floors are filmed, the same set is redressed to appear to be different floors — the production design and set dressing teams change out the apartment number plaques and add or remove items ranging from water jugs, potted plants, decals and bicycles to make it appear that each part of the scene is on a different floor.
  • The yellow tape and “out of order” signs on the broken elevator are also changed for each “floor.”
  • The doors are mostly kept closed or shot in a way that hides the fact that they actually lead to the fourth floor apartment sets.
  • If you look closely, you can see that, on each floor, the scuffs on the walls and baseboards are the same on each “floor”.

This GIF shows each floor and the differences, from the Buzzfeed article: 10 Fun Facts About The Big Bang Theory.




Pictures about "What visual cues distinguish the different floors on The Big Bang Theory?"

What visual cues distinguish the different floors on The Big Bang Theory? - Interior of atelier with table and clothes on hangers
What visual cues distinguish the different floors on The Big Bang Theory? - Crop unrecognizable person packing ceramic tableware in parchment
What visual cues distinguish the different floors on The Big Bang Theory? - From above of big pot with blossoming red and yellow dahlias with purple peonies and orchid near pink rose flowers in water with red leafs in daylight



Are all the floors on Big Bang theory the same?

When scenes involving multiple floors are filmed, the same set is redressed to appear to be different floors \u2014 the production design and set dressing teams change out the apartment number plaques and add or remove items ranging from water jugs, potted plants, decals and bicycles to make it appear that each part of the ...

How are the stairs scenes in big bang theory?

\u201cThe way it works is, you go down the stairs, and then they yell, 'Hold. ' They change the scenery from like if the apartment says 1a it suddenly says 2a or 3. They change the set so it looks exactly like another floor. You run back up the stairs, that go nowhere, and then you walk back down as if it's a new floor."

How many floors are there in The Big Bang Theory?

The Stairs exist in the fictional apartment building at 2311 Los Robles Avenue that serpentines around the broken elevator for a distance of five floors where Sheldon, Leonard and Penny reside. The elevator was repaired in 2019.

What floor does Sheldon live on?

Leonard, Sheldon, and Penny occupy apartments on the fourth floor. Adjacent to a lamp store, it is located about a block from Pasadena City Hall, which is visible through Sheldon and Leonard's window.



Find Out Which ‘The Big Bang Theory’ Star Is the Most Emotional as Series End Nears




Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Images: Ketut Subiyanto, Teona Swift, Ketut Subiyanto, Ryutaro Tsukata