These 10 on-set secrets could be an entire season of a show

The making of an exceptional TV series contains multiple hidden aspects that enrich the final product. Audiences often overlook the supporting details, incidents, underlying connections, and intentional scheduling that the makers incorporate into their shows.

Real experiences from TV show sets, including Friends, The Office, Stranger Things, The Big Bang Theory, and The Crown, indicate that each scene necessitated significant effort, creativity, unanticipated events, and interactions. Production documentation provides information equal in value to what audiences witness in the main content.

NOTE: This article is based on the writer's opinion. It is recommended that readers use discretion.

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The list of 10 on-set secrets that could be an entire season of a show is given below

10. Surprise entrance of Janice (Friends)

Friend's audiences remember Janice Hosenstein as one of the show's most memorable personalities because of her portrayal by actress Maggie Wheeler. Wheeler was kept out of sight of the audience and occasionally the actors by hiding behind black screens to maintain the humorous shock of Janice's unannounced entrances on Friends. This secrecy heightened the audience's reaction whenever her nasality

“Oh. My. God!” burst onto the scene.

The producers adopted elaborate methods to maintain secrecy about her appearances since they wanted her grand entrance effects to match those of celebrities. Wheeler shared:

"I wasn't allowed to even really wander around craft services. They made me stay in my dressing room."

Her scenes required her to stay hidden at the set until production used a black fabric screen to create her theatrical appearance. Through this theatrical treatment, the producers demonstrated that surprise was vital to the show's humour and maintaining Janice's reputation as an icon.

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9. Stage play alterations (Stranger Things)

The Duffer Brothers made some major changes while creating the play "Stranger Things: The First Shadow." They did this to keep important details about Season 5 a secret and avoid giving away any surprises. Series writer and playwright Kate Trefry explained the difficulties through Netflix’s behind-the-scenes documentary. She said:

"Whatever we want it to be, it's gonna be like 80% less."

Most narratives were cut from the stage version to preserve complete secrecy, which superseded plot exposition. The modifications to the play indicate that the adaptation carries essential connections that extend into upcoming developments of the series. The team maintained the show's recognizable air of mystery while creating viewer suspense for the next season with deliberate screenplay edits.

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8. The Annex arrangement (The Office)

A physical isolation space known as an annex separated characters Kelly, Ryan, and Toby from the central department of the television program The Office. There were deliberate reasons behind placing Kelly, Ryan and Toby in the annex building since Mindy Kaling, B.J. Novak, and Paul Lieberstein served as the writers and producers of the show. Brian Baumgartner (Kevin) explained:

“This is a fun little Easter egg. There was the main office, the main bullpen right? Jim and Pam and the accountants and Stanley and Phyllis and Michael's office and all that.”

He continued:

"And then there was the other side, right?" We called it the annex. If your desk was in the annex you were a writer, and they did this because the camera was always moving around. We were there all the time.”

Their placement in the annex provided them with convenient access to perform writing tasks and filming activities. They found a brilliant design to manage their two responsibilities without interrupting workflow. The show's writers accidentally created memorable and unbearable character dynamics through this strategic story development, which separated their characters from the main office area.

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7. Joe Keery’s emotional farewell (Stranger Things)

In an interview, Joe Keery (played by Steve Harrington) talked about the show's impactful ending. During his nine-year experience with the show, Keery experienced the last day of filming to be incredibly emotional. Keery finished his show, staying on site on the final day of filming to watch his fellow actors finish their filmed scenes while he took in the experience before they said their goodbyes. Joe said:

"To wrap it all up and the anticipation of working on something for so long — I mean, it’s been one-third of my life, really."

He said on the last day of filming:

"It was emotional. We sort of got to that last day and it was like everything really hit on that last day of shooting."

Keery highlighted the juxtaposition of success and sadness during this significant finale stage. His remark also illustrates the ways in which the show has impacted his development both personally and professionally.

His comments come weeks after Netflix declared that filming for Stranger Things Season 5 had wrapped up on December 10. Members of the cast offered their sincere homages to the series and the streaming behemoth commemorated the milestone with behind-the-scenes pictures.

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6. Improvised kiss (The Office)

During The Office's "Gay Witch Hunt" episode, Michael Scott (played by Steve Carell) improvised a memorable dramatic kiss directed at Oscar Nunez's Oscar on screen. Carell improvised a kiss when the writers had planned an embrace, adding that special awkward humor in the show. Nunez said:

“He wasn't supposed to kiss me, we were just supposed to hug, and he kept hugging me. And that particular take he came in really close, and I'm like, 'Where is he going with this?'"

Carell's dedication to authentic expressions and spontaneous abilities to enhance scenes contributes to what makes The Office so appealing to viewers.

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5. Sheldon's seat cushion (The Big Bang Theory)

In The Big Bang Theory's on-screen scenario, Sheldon occupied his designated area on the couch. The couch was used as the show's props. The performers approached this item with the utmost caution. Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik took great care of Sheldon's cushion throughout the show's production period.

The actors maintained the seat pristine because they reserved its usage exclusively for authentic production sessions. The actor ensemble employed a substitute cushion while carrying out their practice sessions. The crew exhibited constant care toward minor aspects throughout production.

The cushion Sheldon preferred served as more than room furniture because it helped actors maintain their accurate character portrayal each time the series aired.

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4. On-set temperature (The Office)

The Office production crew kept the temperature at 64 degrees Fahrenheit while shooting. Steve Carell played Michael Scott during The Office production while sustaining the set temperature at 64 degrees Fahrenheit. He performed well on camera, but maintaining a stable body temperature was important for him. The production heat strengthened throughout the show until heavy sweating accumulated on the actors.

The set temperatures were so frigid that other cast members had to utilize space heaters. The crew worked on unique modifications to enhance performance quality among actors. Operating a controlled temperature throughout the day was essential because crew members needed it to keep performance quality high during office scene filming.

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3. Personalized Props (The Crown)

The Crown's set designers worked hard to create realistic items that assisted in character transformations between scenes in Season 6. Set decorator Alison Harvey explained how they incorporated personal items inside drawers to make each character more vivid in their respective portrayal. In Prince Philip's dresser, there were cheeky postcards, and in Margaret Thatcher's storage, there were chocolates. These personal items helped actors gain a deeper insight into their characters. Harvey explained:

“We love to put things in drawers. The actor can reveal a drawer and something surprising is there for them.”

These props symbolized deeper meanings and enhanced the performance of the actors. The production's personal touches created an authentic royal atmosphere, highlighting the genuine experiences of the cast and onscreen events.

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2. Walter White’s rooftop pizza toss was filmed in one take (Breaking Bad)

On the second season of Breaking Bad, Walter White made headlines when he flung a pizza onto his house's roof. In a 2012 interview, Cranston claimed that although the production crew had dedicated hours to get the shot, he completed it in a single take.

Fans questioned whether the pizza shop sold uncut pizza after witnessing an unsliced pizza spiral into the air and land precisely on the roof. Gilligan stated in a 2017 Reddit AMA that he and the production crew created a scene to explain the problem since they anticipated that astute fans would notice this.

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1. On-set prank and real-life frienships (The Big Bang Theory)

The off-camera relationship between Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki created greater chemistry on the set of The Big Bang Theory between Penny and Leonard. Their lighthearted times as the show's was being filmed occasionally resulted in Galecki pretending to strike Cuoco, but she was hurt when she lost her footing. The joke between them ended badly when she stumbled and injured her head, which needed multiple stitches for treatment.

Chuck Lorre banned technical pranks on The Big Bang Theory set following an incident to preserve safety. The actors' strong bond permanently changed production protocols.

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Behind-the-scenes moments often make cherished TV shows extraordinary. Actors share stories of friendship, while writers and directors showcase their strategic vision and meticulous planning. Each series becomes memorable through emotional goodbyes and playful antics at workstations. These unique moments are preserved through audience memories and interviews that emphasize these shows to be distinct, not just by excellent writing or acting, but also by the dynamics behind the scenes.