Chuck Lorre has been a television powerhouse for decades. He's not only the creator of the hit series, The Big Bang Theory, but he also created Two and a Half Men, Mom, Dharma & Greg, and many more. Lorre is also known for his popular vanity cards that briefly appear at the end of each episode. For those not in the know, a vanity card is a production company logo that's shown briefly at the beginning or end of a TV episode. For Chuck Lorre, they are his trademark.
His first vanity card was televised at the end of the pilot episode for Dharma & Greg in 1997, and since then, they have been an integral part of all his shows. The internet has made these cards more popular, as fans can now go online to view them all. Most notably, his vanity cards at the end of The Big Bang Theory have gotten the most attention. Here are the 10 funniest cards throughout the show's run.
#370
This vanity card aired on Dec 8th, 2011, at the end of "The Speckerman Recurrence" (Season 5, Episode 11). While it's a simple vanity card, it's also hilarious because of how relatable it is, especially after the year that 2020 was.
Even better is that it slyly pokes fun at Penny's flailing acting career and her stint in the film Serial Ape-Ist and its sequel, Serial Ape-Ist II: Monkey See, Monkey Kill (which also "starred" series favorite, Wil Wheaton.)
#225
This vanity card aired on Nov. 10th, 2008, at the end of "The Panty Piñata Polarization" (Season 2, Episode 7). It starts off by creating a powerful and meaningful moment, diving deep into existentialism. However, the next paragraph cuts to how a description would look in a screenplay and depicts a truly absurd scene of a young man digging up the grave of Jimi Hendrix.
The juxtaposition from something extremely deep and profound, to something profoundly absurd, is part of what makes Chuck Lorre and The Big Bang Theory so popular. The show's ability to casually talk about dense scientific topics, followed by one-liners and physical humor, created a winning combination that was both educational and entertaining.
#624
This vanity card aired on May 16th, 2019, at the end of The Big Bang Theory Series Finale Special titled "Unraveling the Mystery: A Big Bang Farewell." The finale was a massive event, drawing in 18 million viewers. And just like the series itself, Lorre's final vanity card was both funny, yet touching.
"The Ends" obviously refers to both the casts' behinds, as well as the show's final bow. Making this vanity card even funnier is the fact that the cards for the two previous episodes read "Almost the End" and "The End." It was a punchline literally three weeks in the making.
#364
This vanity card aired on Nov 3rd, 2011, at the end of "The Isolation Permutation" (Season 5, Episode 8). It's funny because it pays tribute to some of the hardest working people in showbiz ... the lowly staffers.
Better yet, after thanking his staffers by name and telling them they'll now be a part of television history, Lorre finishes the card by reminding them that they won't be receiving a raise. Fans of the show can watch "The Isolation Permutation" to watch Sheldon attempt to build this Lego Death Star.
#460
This vanity card aired on Sept. 22nd, 2014, at the end of "The Locomotion Interruption" (Season 8, Episode 1). The card is an ode to procrastination (or perhaps massive writer's block), as Chuck Lorre clearly couldn't come up with anything to write here.
The four months that Lorre is referring to in the card is the gap between season seven and season eight, as this aired after the season eight premiere. It's also proof that a great joke can be made with very few words.
#512
This vanity card aired on Dec. 10th, 2015, at the end of 'The Earworm Reverberation' (Season 9, Episode 10). Once again, Lorre proves himself to be the master of both comedy and wisdom. The message starts off as seeming like a humorous card about eating cookies, but it turns into an honest piece of advice about dealing with regret.
Furthermore, his tips for eating cookies in bed is spot-on and should be followed by everyone. It's another prime example of Lorre's mastery of comedy and timing.
#264 & #265
The #264 vanity card aired during Two and a Half Men in 2009 when The Big Band Theory was still in its earlier seasons. In order to continue to build a fanbase for the show, Lorre cleverly told his Two and a Half Men viewers to tune into The Big Bang Theory for the punchline.
The #265 vanity card aired later that same night, on Nov. 2nd, 2009 at the end of "The Cornhusker Vortex." It simply read, "Your light was on." These two vanity cards were used again during The Big Bang Theory's 11th season. This time, Big Bang ran the joke, with Lorre promising the punchline to come at the end of his new show, Young Sheldon.
#559
Chuck Lorre was regularly getting in trouble for his vanity cards. He was political and hated censorship. This vanity card aired on May 4th, 2017 at the end of "The Gyroscopic Collapse" (Season 10, Episode 23). The card aired just a few months after then-President Trump took office, known for mocking his opponents and boasting.
He even mocked Arnold Schwarzenegger for Celebrity Apprentice's low ratings. Lorre hilariously fired back with a ratings taunt of his own, referencing Two and a Half Men (which was one of America's top-rated shows for years) and how Trump's The Apprentice received lower ratings.
#217
On Sept. 29th, 2008, at the end of "The Codpiece Topology" (Season 2, Episode 2), Chuch Lorre featured a censored vanity card about ... censorship.
The uncensored version is viewable on his website and features a list of basically harmless words that the CBS censor finds inappropriate.
#456
This vanity card aired on May 1st, 2014, at the end of "The Proton Transmogrification" (Season 7, Episode 22). Chuck Lorre muses on the fact that The Big Bang Theory had recently been banned in China, and in typical fashion, does so hilariously. Lorre perfectly sets the scene, imagining members of the CCP drafting up formal documents that declare Sheldon and Leonard to be obscene and offensive.
It's not only a great example of Lorre's comedic talent, but it's also a testament to the show's endearing popularity. This little sitcom about a group of nerds somehow took the world by storm, became the highest-rated sitcom in decades, and even got big enough to upset the rulers of China, one of the world's most powerful nations.