# Big Bang 5/3 "The Spaghetti Catalyst" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 4, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277 "2010-05-04T13:25:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277/1 "2010-05-04T13:25:00Z")
I simply loved this episode! Leonard, Penny & especially Sheldon at their Best! “Are you coitusing with me?” will be my new catch phrase. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277/2 "2010-05-04T16:02:03Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > “Are you coitusing with me?” will be my new catch phrase. Bazinga! First, I thought it was all right, then Sheldon’s confession to Leonard & the Laundry Room conversation took it into Excellence. “Did he happen to say ‘Bros before hos’?” “Yes, but I didn’t want to offend the hos.” In a lot of ways, Sheldon really is his mother’s son. I hope one of these days we get to meet his MeeMaw. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277/3 "2010-05-04T16:33:18Z")
WTF? I turned it on at 9:30 to see it was the Sheldon as a waiter episode. [tvguide.com](http://tvguide.com) now informs me they put on a new episode at 9:00, and the repeat in it’s normal timeslot at 9:30? Bad form CBS. What would Sheldon say? ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277/4 "2010-05-04T16:34:39Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > what would sheldon say? bazinga!!! :d ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277/5 "2010-05-04T18:08:59Z")
I thought the new episode was funny but it still made me sad to see Penny and Leonard broken apart. I know, I 'll work on getting a life. ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277/6 "2010-05-04T20:23:16Z")
I’m thinking that Penny and Codex (from The Guild) should team up to cause Wil Wheaton some pain. Nah, he’d probably enjoy that. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277/7 "2010-05-04T20:59:29Z")
Leonard needs to play hard to get and disinterested for awhile. Penny’s cool but she’s not all that. OTOH, I think she has feelings for Leonard, and he just scared her with the declaration of love. He’s so needy, and that’d scare anybody. And she’s young enough to be worried about what her friends will think of him. Especially after that football game fiasco. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277/8 "2010-05-04T21:29:12Z")
I knew the show will get better if Leonard and Penny are no longer an item! The show just seemed off to me when it was the three amigos and then there was Penny and Leonard. This episode was inspired! Having Penny and Leonard “split custody” of Sheldon was hilarious. I’m hoping the show gets back to its 4 nerds and a gal theme. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277/9 "2010-05-04T22:46:05Z")
Eh, I don’t like the weird infantilization of Sheldon, and it was sort of at its apex in this show. I can buy an immature Sheldon and literally taking on the personality of a three year old. ---
**Author:** ![Lanzy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/74df32/32.png) [@Lanzy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lanzy)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277/10 "2010-05-04T22:48:56Z")
I missed the breakup, what happened? ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Shine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr_shine/32/464_2.png) [@Mr\_Shine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Shine)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277/11 "2010-05-04T23:41:44Z")
I’m surprised at the majority reaction. I thought it was, (with the possible exception of this series’ opener) the worst episode so far. Penny/Leonard as Sheldon’s Mum/Dad was excruciatingly bad, and there wasn’t one decent joke combo. (The “bros before hos” thing would have been funny if Leonard hadn’t spoiled it by immediately explaining it.) ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277/12 "2010-05-04T23:50:40Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Eh, I don’t like the weird infantilization of Sheldon, and it was sort of at its apex in this show. I can buy an immature Sheldon and literally taking on the personality of a three year old. Yeah, I also like the double entendre plots (like the bromance one) but if they lay it on too thickly the funny dies. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277/13 "2010-05-04T23:52:54Z")
> [@Lanzy](#): > > I missed the breakup, what happened? Leonard said I love you, Penney wasn’t ready for that, tension rose, Wil Weaton sowed the seeds of doubt in her mind to get the advantage in a bowling game, and she broke it off. Evil Wil Weaton is one of the better aspects of the show. ---
**Author:** ![Mikemike2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikemike2/32/305_2.png) [@Mikemike2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mikemike2)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277/14 "2010-05-05T02:15:33Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > Leonard said I love you, Penney wasn’t ready for that, tension rose, Wil Weaton sowed the seeds of doubt in her mind to get the advantage in a bowling game, and she broke it off. > > Evil Wil Weaton is one of the better aspects of the show. Excellent one sentence summary! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277/15 "2010-05-05T02:26:57Z")
> [@Mr\_Shine](#): > > I’m surprised at the majority reaction. I thought it was, (with the possible exception of this series’ opener) the worst episode so far. Penny/Leonard as Sheldon’s Mum/Dad was excruciatingly bad, and there wasn’t one decent joke combo. (The “bros before hos” thing would have been funny if Leonard hadn’t spoiled it by immediately explaining it.) My thoughts exactly. Also the laugh track seemed even more annoying than usual, possibly because the jokes bombed. Sheldon wasn’t funny or quirky or interesting, just retarded. About the only line I found mildly amusing was “Dude, don’t flatter yourself”. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277/16 "2010-05-05T02:44:19Z")
More Evil Wil Wheaton! Sheldon vs. Wil is a great pairing, and Jim Powers and Wheaton play off each other nicely. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277/17 "2010-05-05T02:56:39Z")
> [@Pedro](#): > > My thoughts exactly. Also the laugh track seemed even more annoying than usual, possibly because the jokes bombed. Sheldon wasn’t funny or quirky or interesting, just retarded. > > About the only line I found mildly amusing was “Dude, don’t flatter yourself”. I actually got to see this show for the first time last night and I absolutely hated that laugh track. It was played after every line funny or not. Is it always that obnoxious? ---
**Author:** ![AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AboutAsWeirdAsYouCanGet)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277/18 "2010-05-05T05:35:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Having Penny and Leonard “split custody” of Sheldon was hilarious. I was HOWLING at that. Sheldon really IS a little kid. Emotionally he IS a seven or eight year old…loved him freaking out about Goofy. That was such an awesome satire on the divorced parents thing…I mean they are “divorced” and it’s Sheldon that connects them… Did you guys know that Jim Parsons is gonna be on Sesame Street and the Martha Stewart show? I now have a two degree connection to Big Bird, Bert and Ernie and Elmo! (friend of mine knows Jim and was at her wedding) ---
**Author:** ![Pedro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/919ad9/32.png) [@Pedro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pedro)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277/19 "2010-05-05T05:53:30Z")
> [@Wile\_E](#): > > I actually got to see this show for the first time last night and I absolutely hated that laugh track. It was played after every line funny or not. Is it always that obnoxious? I don’t think so. It seemed more frequent and hysterical than I remember it, but my low opinion of this episode may be clouding that judgment. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2010, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277/20 "2010-05-05T05:58:12Z")
There was a Doper who went to a taping of the show recently, and he said there is no laugh track. I thought the episode was hysterical, but didn’t ring quite true - Sheldon is not really the type to worry about other people’s feelings, and put himself out to save their feelings. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-5-3-the-spaghetti-catalyst/538277.md?page=2)