On The Big Bang Theory, the phrase "Go Big Red" serves as a rallying cry for Penny's home team, the Nebraska Cornhuskers, distinguishing her Midwest roots from the core group of nerdy friends. While Kaley Cuoco's character is famously from Omaha, the decision to set her origin in Nebraska was driven by executive producer and writer Lee Aronsohn's personal ties to the state.
Aronsohn lived in Lincoln, Nebraska, for two years while dating his girlfriend at the time. When the production team needed to determine Penny's home state, Aronsohn pitched Nebraska due to his familiarity with the location. During his stay, he opened a comic book shop named Trade-A-Tape Comic Center. Although he sold the store in 1977 following a breakup, the business continues to operate today.
Penny's narrative arc mirrors aspects of Aronsohn's own journey. Just as Penny moves from Nebraska to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career before eventually becoming a pharmaceutical sales representative, Aronsohn left his comic book store and moved to Los Angeles after closing it. A native of New York, Aronsohn has built a long career in Hollywood dating back to 1980, with credits including writing for The Love Boat and Murphy Brown, as well as co-creating Two and a Half Men.
Although Penny hails from Omaha rather than Lincoln, the specific city where Aronsohn once lived still appears in the show's lore. In the pilot episode, Penny mentions her screenplay about a sensitive girl who travels from Lincoln, Nebraska, to Los Angeles to become an actress, directly referencing the producer's former home.
Sources: TVLine.