Silicon Valley produced several fans during its seven-season run in the mid to late-2010s. The exploits of Richard Hendricks and the Pied Piper team present several funny plotlines, and the universe of the show becomes denser as their company faces increasingly difficult challenges.
Silicon Valley presents several likable characters, but the show is perhaps better known for its intricate storytelling. Fans of the series might wonder how writers developed the story of Pied Piper and the consistent satire of the tech world. Behind-the-scenes details may surprise audiences.
Mike Judge Worked In The Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is one of creator Mike Judge's highest-rated works. The series unpacks the world of programming and startups perhaps unlike any other show. Several of the details of the series appear to be authentic, so it is unsurprising that Mike Judge had experience in its subject matter.
Judge told Wired that he worked for a startup in the Silicon Valley in 1987. He was hired by Parallax, a small company with less than 50 employees, and he disliked the experience. The job helped inspire him to create the series and roast the culture he saw when working in the area.
Pied Piper Was Based On A Real Company
The plot of Silicon Valley revolves around the growth of Richard Hendrix's company, Pied Piper. Richard develops a groundbreaking algorithm and puts together a rag-tag team to help develop it and use it in a marketable way. At one point in the series, Richard's algorithm is used to help develop a decentralized internet.
Spectrum revealed that this idea was used by a real company, MaidSafe. When the show's team was putting together plotlines, they contacted David Irvine, Viv Rajkumar, and Nicholas Lambert, the higher-ups at MaidSafe to show authenticity.
One Of The Stars Passed Away During Filming
Audiences might say that Silicon Valley goes through several changes as the show continues. Some of Silicon Valley's most intelligent characters are presented more as the show goes on, while others seem to disappear completely. In Season 1, audiences meet Peter Gregory.
Peter Gregory is played by Christopher Evan Welch. The character represents one of the most well-known personalities in the tech world. Pajiba reported that Welch tragically passed away due to cancer after only appearing in five episodes. The show subsequently changed plans for Season 2.
The Show Helped Create A Compression Rating System
Programmers might say Silicon Valley realistically showcases the culture of startup companies as well as computer development. In the series, its characters refer to the Weissman score. It might surprise fans to know that this real system didn't exist before the show aired.
The Wall Street Journal revealed that the Weissman score was developed by Tsachy Weissman, a professor at Stanford University. The producers of Silicon Valley asked him to create the real compression rating score which is used in the series.
The Intro Was Consistently Updated
Silicon Valley presents audiences with a quick introduction sequence as each episode begins. The segment features animations of the startup-dense area of California, complete with logos of several famous companies.
While many viewers perhaps thought the introduction remained consistent throughout the series, eagle-eyed fans might notice details changing as the show continued. As new companies were developed and discussed on a grand scale, they would be added to the intro.
Wired Produced A Real Article About A Character
Nelson "Big Head" Bighetti gives Silicon Valley one of its funnier characters. He is showcased more frequently in the early seasons of the show, as Richard's inept friend who lucks into successful employment positions without trying.
Although he doesn't do much to earn it, he gets a feature in Wired magazine in Season 2 to underscore his presence in the programming world. In real life, Wired produced the fictional article for its readers to enjoy a day after the episode aired.
The Intro Presents The Real Stories Of Startups
Observant fans perhaps notice the changing introduction of Silicon Valley as the series continued and new startups came into the ever-changing tech world. However, only the most watchful viewers may have noticed the introduction's presentation of real conflicts within these companies.
For example, in the Season 3 intro, hot air balloons can be seen bearing the Uber and Lyft logos bouncing against each other, indicating the well-known competition between the two transportation companies. In the Season 2 intro, the Facebook logo passes over the WhatsApp logo and grows in size after Facebook acquired the company.
Richard and Monica Almost Had A Romance Develop
Silicon Valley presents several hilarious supporting characters, but it's hard to argue that its most memorable roles aren't of the main cast. Richard Hendricks is the protagonist of the series, and audiences get to see his journey in the spotlight.
Early on in the show, fans might have thought Richard and Monica Hall would develop a relationship more significant than simply coworkers. Entertainment Weekly revealed that the people behind the show tried out the plotline, but they decided the best move was to "shut it down."