Why would The Cheesecake Factory have let itself be portrayed so insipidly on Big Bang Theory?

[rachel776]

For a chain, it's an upscale, fairly polished restaurant with good food and sexy waitresses in crisp uniforms, but Big Bang Theory shows it as a bland, Dennys-type diner. Penny's uniform looks like something a dumpy cafeteria server would have worn in the 1970s. The Cheesecake Factory's world headquarters are literally down the road from where the show is supposed to take place (and not much farther to where it was filmed).

[BlackAndBlueBalls]

so, after looking into this because I've often laid awake at night, pondering the same thing, it turns out that there was no agreement between The Big Bang Theory and The Cheesecake Factory for advertising or promotions of any kind. Which actually blew my mind. But ultimately, they decided that free advertising is good because The Cheesecake Factory admits to having a pretty small budget for advertising.

Let's be honest, there's no way that it hurt the business. The show is loved by millions, and they made The Cheesecake Factory interesting to many who would have never given it a second thought. Yes, it's very different than portrayed on the show, but customers don't know that until they're already in the door.

Rule number something something in the food business is, "get people talking about your business". Another long-held business belief is that once people are inside, they're more likely to make a purchase. Both of those were accomplished by letting The Big Bang Theory include them in their show.

[molonski2]

Interesting , I can't comment because I know Denny's , and have been in USA but the Cheesecake franchise in Australia is not the same , its just cakes and stuff , I did see that episode though , and If the uniforms are sexy I'm suprised they didn't use that.. Maybe they couldn't?

For me , I thought Big Bang was a great example that you dont have to be that good to make huge sums of money , I thought it was hardly even funny , the female character was okay , but there you go , it is what it is.

Let me know what your thoughts are on your question - after this analysis?

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

I wouldn’t describe it as “upscale and polished” over here. The Cheesecake Factory is pretty much on the same level as a place like O’Charley’s and honestly? It’s maybe only one step above a Denny’s, which is just a step above a Waffle House. It’s about as much “fine dining” as an Olive Garden. Probably less bc Olive Garden has a semblance of a dresscode for customers. It’s just a restaurant, and they probably got paid to have their trademark mentioned on tv, why would they care if it’s an accurate depiction that’s not overtly negative like a Waffle House?

[hahahmm]

Where I live in Florida it's not "fine dining" but it's priced higher than an Olive Garden, has better decor and decent food. The pricing is insanely over the top tho so while we'd go maybe 2x a year in the past we have no plans of going there again. For the same price range you could go to a real higher end restaurant so there's no point. Reminds me of how Panera used to have great prices and then they kept raising them & reducing portion sizes till it just didn't make any sense at all. Same way fast food is/has gone.

[CupcakeTheDestroyer]

Well yeah, Cheesecake factory is basically fast food. It’s all just frozen food that gets reheated

[hahahmm]

Then they are masters of marketing! The cheescakes they sell seem scammy too. Not really worth what they charge.

[DeeDeeDeVour]

Choosing the word "insipidly" to describe The Cheesecake Factory on the show is precisely dead on.

However, and more importantly, it's just a show that gave the restaurant chain free advertising.

The scenes in the show depicting The Cheesecake Factory often aroused my appetite for some of my favorite Cheesecake Factory goodies.

It's effective.

[DeeDeeDeVour]

@rachel776
Thank you for the MHO. :)

[hahahmm]

I think how Chesecake Factory works varies from region/state to state or something because I have heard it describe as being different than what I see in Florida. But their prices started going way too high years ago. It's overpriced here in Florida. Also the table service (wait stuff) sucks. There's nothing special about it at all. In fact your service -- where I live -- would be worse than at any restaurant I can think of. But at a real upscale restaurant you either have good service or amazing service. Not mediocre or below average service.

[abc3643]

Give me Cajun Jambalaya Pasta or give me death!!

[rachel776]

i loved the spicy chicken meatballs they used to have at RockSugar which was owned by Cheesecake Factory. they closed after Covid but they still have them at Social Monk if i ever have to drive way out in the valley. i will do a lot for food sometimes 😁

[Red_Arrow]

Having not watched the show, I doubt that there was any claim the the business portrayed was the Cheesecake Factory. No markings to that effect on the clothes or on signs. And the Cheesecake Factories I have been to are clean and comfortable with great cheesecake. It is no supposed to be an upscale fine dining experience.

[AviatorTom]

Having your name advertised on a top-5 show is a pretty obvious benefit. I'm guessing Cheesecake Factory paid a nice sum to TBBT, and got a good return on its investment.

[paledreams]

Or 0 and just free advertising in exchange for no lawsuits? Lol 😆😂

[AviatorTom]

@paledreams Just looked it up. You are correct. Cheese Factory claims they paid nothing... and enjoyed free advertising.

[Friendlybro79]

I totally agree with you here. This used to piss me off so much about that show. I can't believe the cheesecake factory never volunteered real uniforms at least lol. She looked terrible in that awful uniform and she is beautiful. Lol.

[TommyMountainFigure]

Not being in the US, I didn't know it was a REAL place. I wouldn't have known it existed if it wasn't for TBBT

[HawkPerception]

I've actually never been to the cheesecake factory, so I have no clue.

But ya know what they say. Any publicity is good publicity.

[OtterMan68]

and according to Penny, you don't have to be a good waitress, just pretty to keep your job there

[loveslongnails]

There's no such thing as bad publicity when it comes to an imaginary show.

[killake-ko]

Money! money! money!

[sheikalana]

Any publicity is good publicity.

[DJB72]

Free advertising.