Stuart Fails To Save The Universe's Baffling Cameo Creates A The Big Bang Theory Plot Hole

Published Aug 13, 2026, 5:00 PM EDT Ana Dumaraog is a Writer and Editor at Screen Rant, where she expertly covers Network TV offerings, among other things She has spearheaded the effort to make the site an authority on broadcast shows, initially starting with The Big Bang Theory franchise, NCIS, and One Chicago before taking on the specialization in general. Ana has also covered a wide-spread of topics in the past — from franchises like, the MCU and Star Wars, to classic TV favorites, such as Frasier and MASH. Ana brings clarity and enthusiasm to every story she tackles—whether reporting on new releases or offering deep dives into fan-favorite franchises. Her coverage translates complex entertainment developments into engaging, audience-focused content. Despite its multiversal story, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe manages to create a The Big Bang Theory plot hole. Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, together with Zak Penn, have expanded the nerd-centric sitcom once again, although this time, with a spinoff set in the future. Taking place after the events of The Big Bang Theory finale, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is unlike anything in the franchise, as it fully leans on the sci-fi genre, unlike its predecessors' grounded storytelling. Kevin Sussman's Stuart Bloom is forced on a multiversal journey with Lauren Lapkus' Denise, Brian Posehn's Bert Kibbler, and John Ross Bowie's to save reality. Apparently, the comic book store owner accidentally destroyed the Vari-state Quantum Entanglement device created by Howard Wolowitz, Sheldon Cooper, and Leonard Hofstafdter, resulting in the dystopian state of Pasadena in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe episode 1. Even as the show jumps from one reality to another, one small detail leads to its first-ever The Big Bang Theory plot hole. Stuart Should Have Recognized Amy's Dad & Leonard's Mom The fact that Stuart Fails to Save the Universe deals with alternate realities gives it creative space to take risks without breaking canon. Despite that, it still manages to contradict The Big Bang Theory continuity thanks to a couple of fun cameos. In the premiere, Stuart and Bert walk down the streets of Pasadena to find Penn & Teller performing for sustenance. In an effort to help the duo, Stuart hands Penn some donations. The problem with this is that Penn was actually in The Big Bang Theory, playing Amy's father, Larry. Subsequently, Christine Baranski appears in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe episode 2 as herself through a PSA, and once again, Stuart AND Barry should have recognized her as Leonard's mom. As established in the series thus far, it doesn't matter what universe Stuart and his crew land on, they still recognize the people that they already know from the main timeline. That's the reason why Stuart recognized Raj and Penny. Given that, he should have done the same when they encountered Penn and Baranski. The fact that Stuart sat beside Beverly during Leonard and Penny's wedding, while Barry even tried hitting on her, makes this worse. Which Other The Big Bang Theory Characters Might Appear In Stuart Fails To Save The Universe? Warner Bros. Discovery With two episodes out, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe still has several episodes to go. Plenty of time to bring in more familiar faces from the flagship, and perhaps, even its prequels. After all, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is dealing with alternate realities, so it won't create any plot holes to bring them in despite the timeline discrepancy. In terms of members of the Pasadena gang, Raj and Penny have already appeared, setting a precedent for the rest of the group. What's the most curious is if Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will feature an on-screen reunion between Leonard and Sheldon, especially after Young Sheldon ignored Johnny Galecki's character. Regarding The Big Bang Theory supporting characters, marketing for the show previously confirmed that Will Wheaton is appearing as an evil version of himself. What leads to his comeback and transformation is uncertain at this point, but it's always fun seeing him, especially considering the genre of the show and the actor's ties to Star Trek. Other potential fun cameos include Leslie Winkle and, with a little bit more creativity, Mrs. Wolowitz. Sky's the limit when it comes to this, which makes Stuart Fails to Save the Universe's future wildly exciting. Stuart Fails to Save the Universe Release Date July 23, 2026 Network HBO Max Stuart Fails to Save the Universe follows comic book store owner Stuart Bloom as he embarks on a mission to restore reality after causing multiverse chaos. Assisted by his girlfriend Denise, geologist Bert, and physicist Barry Kripke, Stuart navigates the fallout of a broken device designed by Sheldon and Leonard. The Big Bang Theory 6/10 Release Date 2007 - 2019-00-00 Network CBS The Big Bang Theory follows a group of socially awkward scientists and their interactions with each other and the people around them. Centered on physicists Sheldon and Leonard, the series humorously explores friendship, romance, and the quirks of life among an eclectic group of academics.