Simon Helberg, who played Howard on The Big Bang Theory, revealed that at the start of the show, fans approached him to criticize the sitcom. He grew frustrated with their constant negativity and admitted that some scenes with Howard would not make the cut in today's climate. Fans were also unhappy with Howard's behavior early on, which some identified as harassment. Helberg agreed with the opinions and was not thrilled with his character's storylines either. However, he enjoyed playing Howard more as his heart grew bigger and he shed his sleazy layer. His favorite time on the show was alongside Melissa Rauch, who played Bernadette.