# Big Bang Theory 3/10--The Prestidigitation Approximation **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 10, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180 "2011-03-10T15:30:31Z")\ **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:** [March 10, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180/1 "2011-03-10T15:30:31Z")
Leonard must choose between new girlfriend Priya and his friendship with Penny. Meanwhile, Howard drives Sheldon crazy with a magic trick. ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180/2 "2011-03-10T18:49:01Z")
I’m looking forward to this. I can’t imagine a magic trick that Sheldon couldn’t figure out. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180/3 "2011-03-10T18:54:28Z")
And yet, Sheldon can be SO gullible and naive. ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180/4 "2011-03-10T19:19:11Z")
Oh, very true. But I’d still bet on his logical mind, presented with a problem involving physics (as most magic tricks do) to puzzle it out. ---
**Author:** ![JoelUpchurch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f05b48/32.png) [@JoelUpchurch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JoelUpchurch)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180/5 "2011-03-10T19:40:22Z")
> [@Lare](#): > > Oh, very true. But I’d still bet on his logical mind, presented with a problem involving physics (as most magic tricks do) to puzzle it out. The evidence doesn’t seem to support that. There is a history of frauds like Uri Geller fooling actual scientists, but stage magicians like The Amazing Randy seeing through their tricks immediately. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180/6 "2011-03-10T20:26:27Z")
Exactly. A scientist expects a piece of equipment to perform as he is told it is designed to perform, and he expects the operator of that equipment to be doing what he says he is doing. A magic trick involves cheating, and a scientist can be very vulnerable to cheating (especially if they believe they are good observers). This should be funny. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180/7 "2011-03-10T20:41:31Z")
Exactly. The magician tells the scientist to, “Watch carefully” and concentrate on the item. This completely distracts the scientist from seeing the real actions. ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180/8 "2011-03-10T21:00:50Z")
Good points. You’re right and I wasn’t thinking of that. Still, I expect to be entertained. ---
**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:** [March 11, 2011, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180/9 "2011-03-11T00:18:07Z")
> [@Hypno-Toad](#): > > Exactly. The magician tells the scientist to, “Watch carefully” and concentrate on the item. This completely distracts the scientist from seeing the real actions. Which is where Sheldon’s only real advantage with magic tricks comes in - he’s sufficiently clueless as to social cues that he may actually miss the misdirection, and look where the magician doesn’t want him to. It would, on the other hand, also dull his ability to identify a strange movement designed to hide the magician holding or transferring an item. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180/10 "2011-03-11T01:37:42Z")
The “A” plot reminded me of “Friends”, when Emily forced Ross to choose between her and Rachel. BTW, would that trick really work? LOOVED that they will continue torturing Sheldon with it! ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180/11 "2011-03-11T01:46:08Z")
Yeah, they’re just messing with him. Way funnier! And as much as it would pain me, I’d have to tell Priya that I will stay friends with Penny. If she can’t handle it, better to know sooner than later. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180/12 "2011-03-11T02:29:50Z")
I now officially want Priya out of the show. I want Leonard and Penny to get back together and wear out the bedsprings. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180/13 "2011-03-11T02:48:31Z")
I kind of figured it was a set up when Sheldon didn’t to actually pick the card. It was a good episode though ---
**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:** [March 11, 2011, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180/14 "2011-03-11T02:51:48Z")
Some [Derailment of the Love Interest](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DerailingLoveInterests) going here. I really mislike Priya here. She wasn’t as bad before, and…I don’t much like her here. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180/15 "2011-03-11T12:26:34Z")
Agreed. Priya is becoming too controlling (for my taste) with Leonard. And for Dagon’s sake, tuck in that shirt Leonard. Leaving it out makes you look like a douche. ---
**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:** [March 11, 2011, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180/16 "2011-03-11T12:32:34Z")
“Please, Leonard, it is a source of great pain to my family and me that my brother has that in his wardrobe.” I thought “What? A Star Trek uniform?” then I realized “OH! A Lt. Uhura Star Trek uniform!” ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180/17 "2011-03-11T12:37:08Z")
Leonard should have three Kirk Trek uniforms. Daily wear, dress uniform, and green wrap-around fat shirt. ---
**Author:** ![Skara\_Brae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Skara\_Brae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skara_Brae)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180/18 "2011-03-11T13:19:35Z")
I think this episode reeked of bad writing. Priya goes from a friendly polite girl to a total bitch in 1.2 seconds, Penny turns into a total rube (really, crashing their date and slurping Leonard’s drink?), and Leonard acts befuddled? Argh. Also, isn’t Penny Sheldon’s friend too? Is she going to totally ditch him as well? ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180/19 "2011-03-11T14:05:34Z")
Therein is the problem. Penny isn’t some girl that Leonard only knows as an ex. She’s his neighbor and part of his group of friends, even if they bug her. I can hear my boss talking about the episode as I type this. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 11, 2011, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180/20 "2011-03-11T14:23:19Z")
Funny B plot, annoying A plot. Clearly Priya knows “Lenny” still misses Penny being more than a friend and Penny still actually like “Lenny”. If Penny ever refers to Leonard as “Lenny” again, they can never ever get back together. So it is all a setup for Penny getting back together with Leonard. I just hope the “gang” does not get involved in getting them back together. I was annoyed Penny was acting so dumb at the Indian Restaurant. I was also annoyed by the Contact Lens bit. Oddly I find that less realistic then Sheldon hacking a National Defense Cray. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-3-10-the-prestidigitation-approximation/574180.md?page=2)