Add The New York Post on Google Warning: Spoilers ahead! Do not proceed unless you’ve watched the fourth episode of “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.”
In the fourth episode of “The Big Bang Theory” spinoff, “Stuart Fails To Save The Universe,” original “Big Bang Theory” star Mayim Bialik makes a surprise return.
“It was so much fun, it was like an awesome reunion,” series star Kevin Sussman told The Post.
In the episode, Stuart (Sussman) lands in an alternate dimension where he’s being held in a psychiatric hospital with Bialik playing his therapist.
She’s skeptical of his accounts of traveling through alternate realities, including a world where he knew her as Amy, her neuroscientist character from “The Big Bang Theory.”
“It’s funny, because when we were working on ‘Big Bang,’ I had a very specific relationship with all of the cast members,” Sussman told The Post.
He noted that he used to “talk politics” with “The Big Bang Theory” star Jim Parsons, and he discussed acting with co-star Simon Helberg.
“And Mayim was basically my on-set therapist,” he said. “That’s just a coincidence. I don’t think [series creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady] knew that.”
He noted that because of their behind-the-scenes relationship, it was “very fitting” for Bialik to appear on the show as Stuart’s temporary therapist.
“The Big Bang Theory” aired for nearly 300 episodes on CBS, from 2007 to 2019, drawing 20 million weekly viewers.
The hit sitcom followed a group of nerdy friends, including Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Amy (Bialik). Comic book store owner Stuart Bloom was a side character.
In the spinoff, “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe,” he takes center stage, journeying into a different universe each episode. Sometimes, familiar faces from the original show pop up, playing different characters.
Sussman added that he and Bialik had “kept in touch” after “The Big Bang Theory” ended. During the Covid-19 pandemic, they participated in a Dungeons & Dragons game over Zoom, along with several of the show’s writers, and fellow actor Brian Posehn.
“But, I hadn’t worked with her in years – and she is so freaking funny in this,” he said.
Fellow “The Big Bang Theory” alum Kaley Cuoco already made an appearance in the second episode of “Stuart.”
“I hadn’t seen Kaley since ‘Big Bang’ ended,” said Sussman.
The cast was together for “so long – and, we were all so close on the show,” he said, noting that after it ended, “everyone has their careers that they go off and do.”
When Cuoco and Bialik appeared on their respective episodes of “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe,” Sussman said it was “amazing” how “we just fell right back into the same friendship that we had on set. It was just delightful.”
“I think he generally wanted to move on and do other stuff,” Sussman told The Post.
“But I could see him maybe doing an episode, I’ll leave it up to him. I know that whatever he did, he would knock it out of the park.”
“Stuart Fails to Save the Universe” is now streaming on HBO Max, with new episodes out Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET.
