# Big Bang Theory 10/6--The Wiggly Finger Catalyst **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 6, 2011, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779 "2011-10-06T13:23:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Minnie\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Minnie\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Minnie_Luna)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779/21 "2011-10-07T15:13:44Z")
The one thing that really bothered me was the deaf girlfriend not being able to lip read. All (n=5) of the deaf people I know are fairly good lip readers. I guess it doesn’t make for good comedy if she knew exactly what was going on. ---
**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 7, 2011, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779/22 "2011-10-07T15:22:52Z")
About the only funny moment was between Raj’s parents, the ‘love doesn’t last’-line by his father and the look he got from the mother. Otherwise, really bland. And I’m starting to think maybe Chuck Lorre has some deep-seated subconscious hatred towards his characters; I think they’re all growing less and less likeable, with the exception being perhaps Leonard, who just seems to fade a little. How did the characters in _Two and a Half Men_ start out? Were they ever likeable? (I never really got into the show, and what little I’ve seen is from later seasons.) ---
**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:** [October 7, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779/23 "2011-10-07T15:34:42Z")
Mext week marks the return of Evil Wil Wheaton, and an appearance by Brent Spiner. If that episode sucks, I’ll have to give up on _BBT_ ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779/24 "2011-10-07T15:42:53Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > About the only funny moment was between Raj’s parents, the ‘love doesn’t last’-line by his father and the look he got from the mother. Otherwise, really bland. > > And I’m starting to think maybe Chuck Lorre has some deep-seated subconscious hatred towards his characters; I think they’re all growing less and less likeable, with the exception being perhaps Leonard, who just seems to fade a little. How did the characters in _Two and a Half Men_ start out? Were they ever likeable? (I never really got into the show, and what little I’ve seen is from later seasons.) Well, Charlie Harper was depicted as a humorous and superficially charming “ladies’ man” for the first few seasons. Alan was a vaguely-lovable “Charlie Brown / Rodney Dangerfield”-type loser, who had some moral compass to him, which he lost in later seasons as life beat him down. The kid, Jake, was dumb and goofy; now he is a dumb, goofy teenager. He was pretty cute as a kid; now, not so much. ---
**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 7, 2011, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779/25 "2011-10-07T16:05:36Z")
> [@Minnie\_Luna](#): > > The one thing that really bothered me was the deaf girlfriend not being able to lip read. All (n=5) of the deaf people I know are fairly good lip readers. I guess it doesn’t make for good comedy if she knew exactly what was going on. This bugged me too, for the same reason. 75% of my friends who **aren’t** deaf can read lips. My guess is that most people can, to some degree or another. Emily seems to have lost that ability along with her hearing and sense of moral rectitude. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779/26 "2011-10-07T18:25:39Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > This bugged me too, for the same reason. 75% of my friends who **aren’t** deaf can read lips. My guess is that most people can, to some degree or another. Emily seems to have lost that ability along with her hearing and sense of moral rectitude. Hmm… is it possible that she was reading lips, but not calling attention to it? Maybe she didn’t want Penny talking to her that much at spin class, so signed to a friend to sign back to her? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779/27 "2011-10-07T18:30:12Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > It’s like the actor who lays Raj went to the writers and said “Make me the center of an episode.” Since he already claimed to have a deaf girlfriend (and later said he made it up) in an episode, they used that idea for this episode. > > Sheldon is a notary and Raj is super rich. > > The best line was from Raj’s father: I’m a gynocologist. I know what she’s giving you. Great line but lousy episode. Howard playing “sign language interpreter” just made no sense and from they way they were acting you would’ve though the girl was blind as well. Even if I could buy that the woman couldn’t read lips in a one-on-one close conversation they were acting like she couldn’t see them mugging it up at each other. And I’m also not buying Raj being “Richie Rich rich” all or a sudden…that’s the kind of information that a quick google search would reveal and I can’t believe that none of his friends would’ve figured it out and I really can’t believe Sheldon would’ve kept it a secret as long as he did…and it really doesn’t jibe with his character and lack of confidence around girls. Now I **can** see Priya being rich and keeping it a secret. And the coin flip was lame as well although the scene at the restaurant was mildly amusing…he orders corn succostash and a pitcher of margaritas so he can free up his mind to think about important things…like hamburgers and lemonade. One thing I can give it was it didn’t suck nearly as bad as this weeks “The Office”. Quite a weak night of Thursday TV ---
**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:** [October 7, 2011, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779/28 "2011-10-07T18:39:51Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > About the only funny moment was between Raj’s parents, the ‘love doesn’t last’-line by his father and the look he got from the mother. Otherwise, really bland. \ Raj’s parents always crack me up - they are brilliant. I think this season is still funny, but it does kind of feel like they’ve lost their way somewhat; they need some kind of story line to get things back on track or something - I don’t know what. ---
**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 7, 2011, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779/29 "2011-10-07T18:42:28Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > And the coin flip was lame as well although the scene at the restaurant was mildly amusing…he orders corn succostash and a pitcher of margaritas so he can free up his mind to think about important things…like hamburgers and lemonade It was also very un-Sheldon. The Sheldon we know and love would have kept rolling the dice until he got the result he wanted. ---
**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:** [October 7, 2011, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779/30 "2011-10-07T18:51:47Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > It was also very un-Sheldon. The Sheldon we know and love would have kept rolling the dice until he got the result he wanted. On the one hand, the Sheldon of old spends A LOT of time trying to control every aspect of his universe, so just letting the throw of the dice dictate would take a lot of pressure off of him. On the other hand, it seems highly unlikely that he could let go of the reins like that. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779/31 "2011-10-07T20:13:33Z")
If he were smart, he’d come up with a GURPS-style weighted probability scale. [Three six-sided dice](http://gamesandgadgets.org/theblogs/perrol/dice-odds-for-3d6/) will come up 10 or 11 most often, and each number away from that in either direction will be less likely. 9/10/11/12 could be hamburger (~48% likelyhood), and only an 18 would bring succotash (\>0.5% likelyhood). This would allow much control, but with occasional random results. Normal distribution in your pocket, and yes, I’m a nerd. (I also noted that one time Parsons started his line before the dice had stopped, which is something most people do when they’re “letting the dice decide” IRL.) ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779/32 "2011-10-07T20:40:40Z")
In defense of Raj not being able to talk to girls, some of the funnies BBT lines (IMO) have been when Raj has whispered something in Howard’s ear and then hearing Howard’s reaction. I think the problem isn’t that they’re beating the “not talking to girls” thing to death…but they’ve gone away from WHY it was funny. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779/33 "2011-10-07T20:41:48Z")
There was a scene towards the end when Penny was comforting Raj when Kaley is clearly laughing to herself. Out-of-character moment: Sheldon would _never_ divulge what somebody had him notarize. It would be a violation of confidence and his notary’s pledge, and it’s just not Sheldon. Favorite line: “I didn’t mean to ambush her. It’s just kind of hard not to sneak up on deaf people.” The actress Katie Leclerc is really deaf (or at least very hearing impaired) so I’m guessing the sign language was legit. The question is how did Raj learn it so fast: sign language is like learning any other language in the amount of time it takes to master. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_the\_Immortal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Max\_the\_Immortal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_the_Immortal)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779/34 "2011-10-08T00:10:41Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Out-of-character moment: Sheldon would _never_ divulge what somebody had him notarize. It would be a violation of confidence and his notary’s pledge, and it’s just not Sheldon. The dice told him to. Am I the only one who noticed that Sheldon’s dice were a d6 and a d12? _Sigh_ It seems like every D&D reference in popular media is “so close, and yet so far” in terms of accuracy. It really should have been a pair of d10s, three d6s (as mentioned above), or a single d20. ---
**Author:** ![BTEzra04](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9f8e36/32.png) [@BTEzra04](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BTEzra04)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779/35 "2011-10-08T01:33:54Z")
This episode definitely felt very “meh” in a lot of ways. Maybe just because it was Raj-focused. I just hope it’s funnier next week. The first two episodes were great. Third, all right. This one…meh… ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779/36 "2011-10-08T01:43:17Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > …The actress Katie Leclerc is really deaf (or at least very hearing impaired) so I’m guessing the sign language was legit. The question is how did Raj learn it so fast: sign language is like learning any other language in the amount of time it takes to master. Yes, the actress plays a deaf teenager (who can speak orally) on ABC Family’s **Switched at Birth**. And I don’t understand why it’s supposed to be a big surprise that Raj’s family is loaded. Way back in season 1 he’d make some comment about growing up poor in India only for other characters to point out that his father was a doctor who drove a Bentely, and he grow up with servants. Granted the latter isn’t the sign of wealth in India it is in the states, but owning an expensive foriegn car? Not to mention sending multiple children to university and grad school. The only question was _how_ rich the Koothrappalis were. That said this was a terrible episode. Raj’s subplot was stupid, and the funniest part was the scene with Penny, Bernadette, & Amy trying to find someone to set Raj up with. Oh, and Amy Farrah Fowler as a bridesmaid? I am so looking forward to that. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779/37 "2011-10-08T05:30:06Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > The actress Katie Leclerc is really deaf (or at least very hearing impaired) so I’m guessing the sign language was legit. The question is how did Raj learn it so fast: sign language is like learning any other language in the amount of time it takes to master. In this interview Katie Leclerc mentions that the actors learned it for the show, but I wasn’t clear if they learned it by rote or actually learned ASL. [http://www.tvline.com/2011/10/big-bang-theory-season-5-episode-4-leclerc/](http://www.tvline.com/2011/10/big-bang-theory-season-5-episode-4-leclerc/) She also mentioned the Jim Parson’s role got completely rewritten and he had to learn a whole new script 2 days before they shot the show. There was also a link to an article that mentioned that Courtney Ford will guest star on the show as a girl they meet at the comic book store. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779/38 "2011-10-08T15:39:39Z")
The Raj being rich didn’t bug me. They have hinted at him being wealthy in the past. What did bug me is Mr Sheldon “Thursday is Pizza Day and They didn’t give me turkey, tomato, lettuce, cheese; they gave me turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomato” Cooper would consider what to order in a restaurant a “trivial decision”. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779/39 "2011-10-08T15:59:52Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > In this interview Katie Leclerc mentions that the actors learned it for the show, but I wasn’t clear if they learned it by rote or actually learned ASL. I would guess they learned the gestures they needed to know the same as they would dialogue or if their character had to say something in German or Klingon. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2011, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779/40 "2011-10-08T21:40:03Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > The Raj being rich didn’t bug me. They have hinted at him being wealthy in the past. What did bug me is Mr Sheldon “Thursday is Pizza Day and They didn’t give me turkey, tomato, lettuce, cheese; they gave me turkey, cheese, lettuce, tomato” Cooper would consider what to order in a restaurant a “trivial decision”. Yes, that seemed out of charater - he doesn’t need dice to make decisions like what to order, since he always orders the same thing. Brian [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-10-6-the-wiggly-finger-catalyst/598779.md?page=3)