The characters on The Big Bang Theory are known for their nerdy quirks and obsessive tendencies, but they're also a pretty lighthearted bunch, so we never really got to see them geek out over Breaking Bad when that show was on the air. But I bet the cast will be doing that soon, as Breaking Bad favorite Dean Norris will bring his acting chops to the CBS comedy during Season 10.
Dean Norris, who has one of the most expressive eye-to-forehead areas in Hollywood, will join Big Bang Theory not for an extended gig, sadly, but also not for a mere one-off guest appearance either. He's getting a multi-episode arc that will tie into everything that Howard was doing at the end of Season 9, and we can look forward to seeing him in the first three episodes of Season 10.
For his stint, Norris will play Captain Williams, a representative of the Air Force through the Department of Materiel Command, according to EW. And as you might imagine, he's got quite a bit of interest invested in Howard and the gyroscope. You'll recall that there were suspicions raised in the Season 9 finale that the Air Force was spying on the project, and Norris will obviously be how the show continues that storyline into Season 10. And if he's around for three whole episodes, I'm guessing things don't go smoothly for anyone involved here. Sorry, Howard.
It shouldn't be too much of a stretch for Dean Norris to get militant in The Big Bang Theory, as his acting and physical presence often puts him in authoritative roles. The most popular, of course, was his time as DEA agent Hank Schrader on Breaking Bad, a character that audiences still get emotional over. Then he took over CBS' summer lineup for a few years as the makeshift leader Big Jim Rennie on Under the Dome, not to mention playing Ben Franklin on the Sons of Liberty miniseries. And if there's any justice in this world, we'll get to see him back as Hank in some fashion on Better Call Saul.
Not that Howard and his gyroscope are the most urgent things being addressed when the hit comedy returns. Season 9 left some of these characters in strange places, as Leonard and Sheldon are both bothered by the thought of their respective father and mother getting it on inside a hotel room. But audiences know that guest stars Judd Hirsch and Laurie Metcalf are anything but a bother when they're onscreen, so that season premiere should be quite interesting.
The Big Bang Theory will return to presumably huge ratings for CBS when Season 10 kicks off on Monday, September 19, at 8:00 p.m. ET. To see when everything else will debut later this year, check out our fall TV schedule.
