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FTW: "Big Bang Theory" Gives Comic-Con Fan a Trip to Space
Things are about to get positively galactic for one lucky attendee of the "Big Bang Theory" panel at Comic-Con Friday afternoon in San Diego, thanks to the CBS television series' awarding of an actual trip to space.
"The flight was first offered on stage by former NASA astronaut Richard Searfoss to co-star Simon Helberg. He declined. His character, Howard, blasted off into space at the end of the fifth season," explains the Associated Press.
The winner is Mercedes Becerra of Paso Robles, California, says Warner Brothers.
Searfoss is the Chief Test Pilot of XCOR, the Mojave-based aerospace company building spacecraft for various purposes, including recreational space flight.
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UT San Diego elaborates that Searfross "passed out envelopes to fans who asked a question during the panel. A woman named Mercedes opened the one with the golden ticket reading 'SPACE.'"
The fan's big win definitely set attendees and wish-they-were-attendees abuzz:
Soo..someone literally just won a trip to space at the Big Bang Theory panel. #onlyatcomiccon
— Melissa Rosson (@MelissaRosson) July 13, 2012
OK, that's. Just. I don't even. @XCOR and @BigBang_CBS just gave one of the panel attendees a TRIP TO SPACE. Just now. #SDCC
— Chris Radcliff (@chris_radcliff) July 13, 2012
Producer Chuck Lorre added in his quip:
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Chuck Lorre: "The #BigBangTheory is going beyond where no other sitcom has gone before!" #ComicCon #SDCC
— The Big Bang Theory (@bigbangtheory) July 13, 2012
Here's the full script of what Lorre said, courtesy WB:
“The fifth season finale episode of The Big Bang Theory proved to be an unexpectedly emotional experience for all of us working on the show. The idea that one man’s journey into space had the power to bond his friends together was somehow deeply touching,” said co-creator/executive producer Chuck Lorre. “And now, everyone — cast, crew and the millions of fans of the show — can gather together and experience that same wonderful bond when we watch one lucky fan take an actual trip into space, courtesy of XCOR. We are so proud and grateful to be part of this adventure: The Big Bang Theory, boldly going where no sitcom has gone before!”
No info yet on when the winner will blast off.
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