# Big Bang Theory 12/7--The Gorilla Experiment **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 8, 2009, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-12-7-the-gorilla-experiment/520446 "2009-12-08T14:18:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [December 8, 2009, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-12-7-the-gorilla-experiment/520446/21 "2009-12-08T23:29:48Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I hope they never show Wolowitz’s mother, but if they do, please let them cast Doris Roberts. Who does the voice? The guy who plays Howard is my guess. I love how they yell at each other constantly. Reminds me of my mother. > [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > The writers seemed to get Sheldon’s Physics correct, but even I’m not sure what he was driving at when he showed Penny that mg=ma. > > Is Penny still an aspiring actress; has she done anything actressy lately? And why is someone like Bernadette working at the Cheesecake Factory? Because she hasn’t got a job in her chosen geek field. As for the point, it is that acceleration equals gravity. Hey! Did anyone else realize that Penny and Cooper are both references to copper? ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-12-7-the-gorilla-experiment/520446/22 "2009-12-09T00:05:26Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Who does the voice? The guy who plays Howard is my guess. Carol Ann Susi is Mrs. Wolowitz. First couple of times I heard it, I did think it could be Simon Helberg (Howard) putting the voice on. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-12-7-the-gorilla-experiment/520446/23 "2009-12-09T00:25:33Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > Hey! Did anyone else realize that Penny and Cooper are both references to copper? Sheldon and Leonard equals [Sheldon Leonard](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheldon_Leonard). (And acceleration equals gravity.) ---
**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:** [December 9, 2009, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-12-7-the-gorilla-experiment/520446/24 "2009-12-09T04:47:06Z")
Add me to the Bernadette fan club - though it would have been interesting if she was interested in Sheldon’s Physics as well (yes, I know that they already did something similar). In fact it would be interesting if she was interested in astronomy as well (so although she is interested in Howard, she isn’t particular interested in Howard’s work, but she likes all the other’s work) Brian ---
**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:** [December 9, 2009, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-12-7-the-gorilla-experiment/520446/25 "2009-12-09T09:26:39Z")
Sheldon teaching Penny got me thinking- presumably they all have to teach classes, but I don’t think we’ve ever seen that, other than when Sheldon was asked to give a presentation. What must it be like to be in one of Sheldon’s classes? ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-12-7-the-gorilla-experiment/520446/26 "2009-12-09T13:34:18Z")
I liked the episode, but as I said before, the writers need to watch themselves so they don’t turn it into “the Sheldon show.” It’s too easy and too many shows, have taken that route, they just fall back on a funny character and let him take over the show. Each of the characters by themselves has strong points, except for Leonard, which is classic sitcom writing. Have the central character be somewhat bland and center the show around the others reacting to him. (Think, “Dick Van Dyke,” “Mary Tyler Moor,” “Bob Newhart” the main person is pretty much neutral while the secondary character bounce the lines off them) ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-12-7-the-gorilla-experiment/520446/27 "2009-12-09T21:03:33Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > Sheldon teaching Penny got me thinking- presumably they all have to teach classes, but I don’t think we’ve ever seen that, other than when Sheldon was asked to give a presentation. What must it be like to be in one of Sheldon’s classes? Physicists like Sheldon and Leonard don’t necessarily have to teach any classes. They could just have research appointments without teaching duties. ---
**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:** [December 9, 2009, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-12-7-the-gorilla-experiment/520446/28 "2009-12-09T21:44:48Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > I thought it was an amazing exploration of compatibility. Intellectually one would think that Bernadette was far mroe suitable for Leonard; yet clearly they can barely hold a conversation. I kept waiting for Penny to notice how awkward Bernadette was with Leaonard, and gain the confidence that she was socially much better suited for him. One thing I absolutely love about this show is how the human dynamics are so true-to-life. People are not equations, and what would seem to work often doesn’t. I also love that the four lead guys are not presented as having been friends from high school (or even junion high). That does not happen in the real world. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2009, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-12-7-the-gorilla-experiment/520446/29 "2009-12-09T22:38:34Z")
> [@Saltire](#): > > Obviously, putting Penny and Sheldon together is always going to be funny. But I think they’re doing it too often. The standard formula seems to be to find a way for those two to be alone and driving each other nuts, and then have the rest of the cast somewhere else doing the B-plot. I rather liked the opening, just because they had everyone there at once. More than that, I’m afraid that Leonard is rapidly becoming just the plot device that puts Penny and Sheldon together. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-12-7-the-gorilla-experiment/520446/30 "2009-12-11T00:22:30Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I also love that the four lead guys are not presented as having been friends from high school (or even junion high). That does not happen in the real world. Yes it does, and from what I’ve seen it’s not uncommon. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2009, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-12-7-the-gorilla-experiment/520446/31 "2009-12-11T04:27:54Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > More than that, I’m afraid that Leonard is rapidly becoming just the plot device that puts Penny and Sheldon together. I agree and I hope the writers realize this. I’m not a fan of the romance bit between Penny and Leonard, but all the characters in the show are strong. It’s just too easy to fall back on the easy laughs with Sheldon. I hope they take a bit of the focus off Sheldon, 'cause the others are quite funny too ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-12-7-the-gorilla-experiment/520446/32 "2009-12-12T20:26:00Z")
So what do the annual incomes of the guys look like? Raj works for Sheldon, Leonard seems to have a similar job as Sheldon and Howard has a “lesser,” but probably the highest paying job of them all. Anyone want to take a guess? ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2009, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-12-7-the-gorilla-experiment/520446/33 "2009-12-12T20:53:54Z")
> [@tr0psn4j](#): > > So what do the annual incomes of the guys look like? Raj works for Sheldon, Leonard seems to have a similar job as Sheldon and Howard has a “lesser,” but probably the highest paying job of them all. Anyone want to take a guess? [Salary.com](http://Salary.com) lists a $50,000-$66,000 yearly salary for “Physicist I.” [Salary.com](http://Salary.com) lists a $55,000-$77,000 yearly salary for a “Mechanical Engineer.” All of them are obviously quite well off. Maybe not for LA, but well off in general. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-12-7-the-gorilla-experiment/520446.md?page=1)