# Big Bang 9/30 "The Cruciferous Vegetable Amplification" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 30, 2010, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597 "2010-09-30T14:09:09Z")\ **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:** [September 30, 2010, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597/1 "2010-09-30T14:09:09Z")
Penny: You’re turning yourself into a robot? Sheldon: Yes Penny: Didn’t you already do that? ---
**Author:** ![Meeko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Meeko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meeko)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597/2 "2010-10-01T00:32:33Z")
Penny: All right guys who wants to buy my panties? Only $1,400.00 Raj and Howard both shrug it off, then reconsider. – “Really, that’s the question you want to ask him? When he installed a ramp?” ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597/3 "2010-10-01T00:59:53Z")
A good episode, but with a slight technical inaccuracy. I contend that the Roadrunner’s cartoon nemesis is correctly known as the Coyote. A similarly drawn character was identified as Wile E. Coyote, but only in cartoons featuring other characters, e.g. Bugs Bunny. Apart from an instance of breaking the fourth wall, the Coyote was mute, and he was referred to on-screen as “Coyote”, or by an amusing series on faux-Latin sobriquets. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597/4 "2010-10-01T02:14:38Z")
I think the more appropriate Looney Tunes analogy is that the various characters were all contract actors doing various parts. Of course Wile E. Coyote and Yosemite Sam always got to play the villians. Coyote got to occasionally play opposite the sheepdog and had a character name like Sam or Fred or George, I forget. The Road Runner toons were a tribute to silent films and miming. ---
**Author:** ![JimmyFlair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ce7236/32.png) [@JimmyFlair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JimmyFlair)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597/5 "2010-10-01T03:48:28Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > A good episode, but with a slight technical inaccuracy. > > I contend that the Roadrunner’s cartoon nemesis is correctly known as the Coyote. A similarly drawn character was identified as Wile E. Coyote, but only in cartoons featuring other characters, e.g. Bugs Bunny. Apart from an instance of breaking the fourth wall, the Coyote was mute, and he was referred to on-screen as “Coyote”, or by an amusing series on faux-Latin sobriquets. I totally heard that in my head in Sheldon’s voice. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597/6 "2010-10-01T03:51:13Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Coyote got to occasionally play opposite the sheepdog and had a character name like Sam or Fred or George, I forget. Ralph Wolf and Sam Sheepdog. He could play a wolf, or a coyote. What a range that guy had, huh? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597/7 "2010-10-01T04:00:12Z")
> [@Meeko](#): > > “Really, that’s the question you want to ask him? When he installed a ramp?” Oddly enough, as soon as Sheldon rolled in, I wondered the same thing. Also, I’m surprised Leonard didn’t call Sheldon on the roommate agreement thing. The clause took effect if Sheldon should ever turn himself into a robot. He didn’t do that, he merely created a robot with a two way audio/video feed on it…Or more appropriately, he mounted a laptop onto a robot and logged onto Skype, nothing special really. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597/8 "2010-10-01T04:04:15Z")
Until he got pissy at Howard for stealing the R2-D-Bag joke, I was wondering if Raj’s actor was suffering from laryngitis or something while filming the episode, since all he did was whisper to Howard. (On another note, you’d suspect that Sheldon would have realized the need for a manipulator arm…) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597/9 "2010-10-01T04:07:01Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > Until he got pissy at Howard for stealing the R2-D-Bag joke, I was wondering if Raj’s actor was suffering from laryngitis or something while filming the episode, since all he did was whisper to Howard. I know I’m going to feel like an idiot for saying this…but you know that’s a running joke right? Raj won’t speak within earshot of a female, unless he’s drinking (or thinks he is). ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597/10 "2010-10-01T04:15:13Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > (On another note, you’d suspect that Sheldon would have realized the need for a manipulator arm…) I wonder if this is going to be a running joke for the whole season. There was an arm in the first episode, and now Virtual Sheldon. They could show one piece at a time, and in the last episode go all Power Rangers and assemble them into one giant robot to spread death and destruction throughout Pasadena. Or just guard Sheldon’s spot on the couch. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597/11 "2010-10-01T04:16:35Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I know I’m going to feel like an idiot for saying this…but you know that’s a running joke right? Raj won’t speak within earshot of a female, unless he’s drinking (or thinks he is). Yeah, I know, but there was an exceptional amount of it all coming at once, which just felt like ‘writing around the actor’s infirmity’. (What, 2 thirds of the episode before they get the boys alone so Raj can talk? That’s kind of exceptional.) ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597/12 "2010-10-01T05:47:18Z")
> [@JimmyFlair](#): > > I totally heard that in my head in Sheldon’s voice. You and me both. > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Apart from an instance of breaking the fourth wall, the Coyote was mute, and he was referred to on-screen as “Coyote”, or by an amusing series on faux-Latin sobriquets. Why do I remember an episode of the Road Runner when the Coyote referred to himself as “Wile E. Coyote, SUUUPERRRRR GEEEENIIIUUSS,” where the last two words are drawn out? ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597/13 "2010-10-01T06:26:21Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > which just felt like ‘writing around the actor’s infirmity’. (What, 2 thirds of the episode before they get the boys alone so Raj can talk? That’s kind of exceptional.) Which is where I thought they might be going with the whole Penny falling down the stairs bit. Since the real life actress broke her leg and will be missing for a bit. But I guess that happened after they filmed this episode. [quote=“Robot\_Arm, post:10, topic:555597”] They could show one piece at a time, and in the last episode go all Power Rangers and assemble them/QUOTE] Brilliant! > [@JimmyFlair](#): > > I totally heard that in my head in Sheldon’s voice. The only way it could possibly be read… ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597/14 "2010-10-01T10:13:31Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > Why do I remember an episode of the Road Runner when the Coyote referred to himself as “Wile E. Coyote, SUUUPERRRRR GEEEENIIIUUSS,” where the last two words are drawn out? That was in the aforementioned Bugs Bunny shorts, [fourth paragraph](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wile_E._Coyote_and_Road_Runner). ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597/15 "2010-10-01T11:52:41Z")
Continuing the hijack: > [@](#): > > Coyote got to occasionally play opposite the sheepdog and had a character name like Sam or Fred or George, I forget. Ralph Wolf was clearly a different character. He had a red nose, in distinction to Wile E. Coyote’s brown/black one (I maintain that he’s Wile E. Coyote – IIRC lots of Warner Brother material calls him that, but I haven’t any cites), and when he speaks his voice is very different from the coyote’s. [http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%3Fei%3DUTF-8%26p%3DRalph%2BWolf&w=160&h=121&imgurl=www.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DRalph%2BWolf%23focal%3D679a7e6430caf752cd6378a27e880966%26furl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fupload.wikimedia.org%252fwikipedia%252fen%252f9%252f90%252fSam\_and\_Ralph\_clock.png&size=&name=search&rcurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DRalph%2BWolf%23focal%3D679a7e6430caf752cd6378a27e880966%26furl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fupload.wikimedia.org%252fwikipedia%252fen%252f9%252f90%252fSam\_and\_Ralph\_clock.png&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DRalph%2BWolf%23focal%3D679a7e6430caf752cd6378a27e880966%26furl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fupload.wikimedia.org%252fwikipedia%252fen%252f9%252f90%252fSam\_and\_Ralph\_clock.png&p=Ralph+Wolf&type=&no=3&tt=108&oid=http%3A%2F%2Fts1.mm.bing.net%2Fimages%2Fthumbnail.aspx%3Fq%3D241059309316%26id%3D231301c441476460b51fbb26b475f272&tit=Sam+Sheepdog+%26+Ralph+Wolf+...&sigr=15gdsoai4&sigi=159uaordv&sigb=11kvg6gnf&fr=yfp-t-980](http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%3Fei%3DUTF-8%26p%3DRalph%2BWolf&w=160&h=121&imgurl=www.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DRalph%2BWolf%23focal%3D679a7e6430caf752cd6378a27e880966%26furl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fupload.wikimedia.org%252fwikipedia%252fen%252f9%252f90%252fSam_and_Ralph_clock.png&size=&name=search&rcurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DRalph%2BWolf%23focal%3D679a7e6430caf752cd6378a27e880966%26furl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fupload.wikimedia.org%252fwikipedia%252fen%252f9%252f90%252fSam_and_Ralph_clock.png&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DRalph%2BWolf%23focal%3D679a7e6430caf752cd6378a27e880966%26furl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fupload.wikimedia.org%252fwikipedia%252fen%252f9%252f90%252fSam_and_Ralph_clock.png&p=Ralph+Wolf&type=&no=3&tt=108&oid=http%3A%2F%2Fts1.mm.bing.net%2Fimages%2Fthumbnail.aspx%3Fq%3D241059309316%26id%3D231301c441476460b51fbb26b475f272&tit=Sam+Sheepdog+%26+Ralph+Wolf+...&sigr=15gdsoai4&sigi=159uaordv&sigb=11kvg6gnf&fr=yfp-t-980) And the Coyote once had his _real_ scientific name appear on screen (as did the Roadrunner), in the post-Jones cartoon “Wizard of Ows”. It’s bundled on the DVD for _Looney Tunes: Back in Action_, and the appearance of the for-real scientific name is a hilarious shock. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597/16 "2010-10-01T11:56:17Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > Continuing the hijack: > > > [@](#): > > > > Coyote got to occasionally play opposite the sheepdog and had a character name like Sam or Fred or George, I forget. > > Ralph Wolf was clearly a different character. He had a red nose, in distinction to Wile E. Coyote’s brown/black one (I maintain that he’s Wile E. Coyote – IIRC lots of Warner Brother material calls him that, but I haven’t any cites), and when he speaks his voice is very different from the coyote’s. > > [http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%3Fei%3DUTF-8%26p%3DRalph%2BWolf&w=160&h=121&imgurl=www.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DRalph%2BWolf%23focal%3D679a7e6430caf752cd6378a27e880966%26furl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fupload.wikimedia.org%252fwikipedia%252fen%252f9%252f90%252fSam\_and\_Ralph\_clock.png&size=&name=search&rcurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DRalph%2BWolf%23focal%3D679a7e6430caf752cd6378a27e880966%26furl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fupload.wikimedia.org%252fwikipedia%252fen%252f9%252f90%252fSam\_and\_Ralph\_clock.png&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DRalph%2BWolf%23focal%3D679a7e6430caf752cd6378a27e880966%26furl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fupload.wikimedia.org%252fwikipedia%252fen%252f9%252f90%252fSam\_and\_Ralph\_clock.png&p=Ralph+Wolf&type=&no=3&tt=108&oid=http%3A%2F%2Fts1.mm.bing.net%2Fimages%2Fthumbnail.aspx%3Fq%3D241059309316%26id%3D231301c441476460b51fbb26b475f272&tit=Sam+Sheepdog+%26+Ralph+Wolf+...&sigr=15gdsoai4&sigi=159uaordv&sigb=11kvg6gnf&fr=yfp-t-980](http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%3Fei%3DUTF-8%26p%3DRalph%2BWolf&w=160&h=121&imgurl=www.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DRalph%2BWolf%23focal%3D679a7e6430caf752cd6378a27e880966%26furl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fupload.wikimedia.org%252fwikipedia%252fen%252f9%252f90%252fSam_and_Ralph_clock.png&size=&name=search&rcurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DRalph%2BWolf%23focal%3D679a7e6430caf752cd6378a27e880966%26furl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fupload.wikimedia.org%252fwikipedia%252fen%252f9%252f90%252fSam_and_Ralph_clock.png&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3DRalph%2BWolf%23focal%3D679a7e6430caf752cd6378a27e880966%26furl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fupload.wikimedia.org%252fwikipedia%252fen%252f9%252f90%252fSam_and_Ralph_clock.png&p=Ralph+Wolf&type=&no=3&tt=108&oid=http%3A%2F%2Fts1.mm.bing.net%2Fimages%2Fthumbnail.aspx%3Fq%3D241059309316%26id%3D231301c441476460b51fbb26b475f272&tit=Sam+Sheepdog+%26+Ralph+Wolf+...&sigr=15gdsoai4&sigi=159uaordv&sigb=11kvg6gnf&fr=yfp-t-980) This image was just a few down from the one you posted. [http://www.avoidinglife.com/media/wilevsralph.jpg](http://www.avoidinglife.com/media/wilevsralph.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597/17 "2010-10-01T14:46:48Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > Until he got pissy at Howard for stealing the R2-D-Bag joke, I was wondering if Raj’s actor was suffering from laryngitis or something while filming the episode, since all he did was whisper to Howard. > > (On another note, you’d suspect that Sheldon would have realized the need for a manipulator arm…) I was kind of expecting him to turn up with the arm from the previous episode mounted, in response to the doorknob conundrum. I was surprised that Sheldon set such a late date for grand unification (at some point in the 22nd century), which is generally supposed to be not all that far away (there are good candidate theories even now, only the protons don’t seem to decay fast enough). And of course, string theory, should it turn out to be correct, would include the standard model, and hence, unify the three microscopic forces, as well. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597/18 "2010-10-01T15:04:11Z")
I think we know how Penny will interact with the guys while laid up with a broken leg. I wonder how they will give the robot cleavage? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597/19 "2010-10-01T15:07:12Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I think we know how Penny will interact with the guys while laid up with a broken leg. I wonder how they will give the robot cleavage? 😃 I saw an article a day or so ago that said that she has been written out of a few episodes. (but alas, I cannot find a link.) ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597/20 "2010-10-01T15:10:31Z")
I thought this episode was way too much Sheldon. Quirky characters work best as supporting characters, not main characters. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-9-30-the-cruciferous-vegetable-amplification/555597.md?page=2)