# Big Bang Theory - 23 Nov **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 24, 2009, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-23-nov/518732 "2009-11-24T02:52:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-23-nov/518732/21 "2009-11-25T13:10:42Z")
> [@Torpor\_Beast](#): > > The prank would’ve been likely to be fatal to Sheldon in real life though, since the helium would displace the oxygen in the room. Which is kind of jarring since the show usually prides itself on keeping the science in it as close to the reality as possible. I guess this would depend on the room’s ventilation, but I was thinking just the opposite: that the helium wouldn’t be concentrated enough to provide the desired effect. The only time I’ve seen the helium/squeaky-voice bit IRL has been the result of someone inhaling directly from a balloon or tank. At any rate, what made the scene funny was not the prank _per se_, but Sheldon’s reactions to his mysterious voice transformation. Jim Parsons can really sell a scene like that one. If I may also add, despite its ugly color, that Cheesecake Factory uniform was [extremely flattering](http://www.imdb.com/media/rm596020736/nm1851981) on Melissa Rauch. Howard had better hold on to that for dear life. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-23-nov/518732/22 "2009-11-25T14:57:06Z")
I’ve never been to The Cheesecake Factory. Is that what their uniforms actually look like? ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-23-nov/518732/23 "2009-11-25T15:24:08Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > This was the episode that my wife and I watched the taping thereof: [Attending taping of BIG BANG THEORY - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=537540) > > The line “Raj, talk to me” had us falling off the chairs, we musta laughed for five minutes. Am I the only one surprised that this episode was taped less than 4 weeks before airing? I have always thought there would be a time lapse of 6 weeks or more. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-23-nov/518732/24 "2009-11-25T15:26:06Z")
> [@niblet\_head](#): > > I’ve never been to The Cheesecake Factory. Is that what their uniforms actually look like? Not at all. Those uniforms look like they work at an IHOP or Dunkin Donuts, almost. Cheesecake Factory uniforms tend towards white shirts with khaki or dark slacks, and dark apron, iirc. Sort of the snooty bistro look. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-23-nov/518732/25 "2009-11-25T16:53:28Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Not at all. Those uniforms look like they work at an IHOP or Dunkin Donuts, almost. Cheesecake Factory uniforms tend towards white shirts with khaki or dark slacks, and dark apron, iirc. Sort of the snooty bistro look. Also, the set bears no resemblance to any Cheescake Factory I’ve ever seen. [They look like this.](http://srjerman.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/79500809_87df2582c4.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Torpor\_Beast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/71e660/32.png) [@Torpor\_Beast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Torpor_Beast)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-23-nov/518732/26 "2009-11-25T18:17:45Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > I guess this would depend on the room’s ventilation, but I was thinking just the opposite: that the helium wouldn’t be concentrated enough to provide the desired effect. The only time I’ve seen the helium/squeaky-voice bit IRL has been the result of someone inhaling directly from a balloon or tank. My thinking was that with big enough concentration of helium in the air to get the silly voice effect, there wouldn’t be enough oxygen left to breathe. Obviously there was enough to alter Sheldon’s voice. > [@Wheelz](#): > > At any rate, what made the scene funny was not the prank _per se_, but Sheldon’s reactions to his mysterious voice transformation. Jim Parsons can really sell a scene like that one. Yep, the scene was still funny. Can’t deny that. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-23-nov/518732/27 "2009-11-28T07:46:01Z")
This episode was totally unbelievable. Clearly, when you’re conjuring up imaginary Battlestar Galatica actresses to take a bath with, 6 is the proper choice, not Starbuck. Starbuck wasn’t imaginary, afterall. Or was she? That last episode certainly confused matters. But in any event, there was an imaginary 6 for most of the show’s run. Next time they should actually pay attention to the other shows before bringing in imaginary actresses to bathe with. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2009, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-23-nov/518732/28 "2009-11-28T23:51:27Z")
> [@Torpor\_Beast](#): > > (snip)The prank would’ve been likely to be fatal to Sheldon in real life though, since the helium would displace the oxygen in the room. Which is kind of jarring since the show usually prides itself on keeping the science in it as close to the reality as possible.(snip) I was out of town and DVR’d it to watch last night. Kripke opened valves on two tanks, one clearly labeled Helium and one, blue in color, had a label that started with the letter “O”. Welding oxygen is usually green, but medical grade oxygen tanks are usually blue. Kripke, realizing that killing Sheldon would be inconvenient, obviously set up a Heliox mixture. He is a worthy adversary. ---
**Author:** ![MitzeKatze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ad7895/32.png) [@MitzeKatze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MitzeKatze)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-23-nov/518732/29 "2009-11-29T00:45:31Z")
> [@Bill\_Door](#): > > Welding oxygen is usually green, but medical grade oxygen tanks are usually blue. Medical-grade oxygen is (and all gaseous O2 I think is supposed to be) in a green tank (or a tank with a green shoulder). ---
**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:** [November 29, 2009, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-23-nov/518732/30 "2009-11-29T04:27:54Z")
> [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](#): > > So I guess Sheldon drinks caffeine now. Or is there a caffeine-free version of Mountian Dew? Mountain Dew is caffeine-free in Canada - Sheldon has his flown in specially. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-23-nov/518732.md?page=1)