# Big Bang Theory, March 29, 2012 -- "The Transporter Malfunction" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 30, 2012, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269 "2012-03-30T13:18:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/1 "2012-03-30T13:18:41Z")
So, what did everybody think about last night’s episode? ---
**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:** [March 30, 2012, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/2 "2012-03-30T13:32:15Z")
“Metro-sexual, my ass.” ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/3 "2012-03-30T13:34:46Z")
I thought they worked in Leonard Nimoy very well. That was the funniest part. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/4 "2012-03-30T13:37:36Z")
I hadn’t thought of those transporters in 30 years- so cheesy and so brilliant at once. Does anybody have any idea how much they sell for MIB? “Okay, I heard it that time.” ---
**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:** [March 30, 2012, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/5 "2012-03-30T13:39:42Z")
General comments for this season: I’m really liking Penny/Leonard beta. Much less pathetic now that Leonard has grown a pair. On the other hand, I hate Sheldon’s new haircut and childishness. He used to just be detached and aloof. Now he’s just annoying. On the gripping hand, the ladies are coming to the front and proving they have better comedic chops than the guys this season. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/6 "2012-03-30T14:23:55Z")
The way the Spock action figure was in all those different poses? Brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/7 "2012-03-30T15:25:36Z")
how could their be two MIB transporters at the comic book store that Sheldon and Leonard didn’t seem to know about? holes in my head or the plot? ---
**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:** [March 30, 2012, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/8 "2012-03-30T15:29:29Z")
Maybe Stuart just got them in. They’ve shown the guys drooling over new things at the store several times. And Stuart is sweet on Penny, so he would give her a call about something like that if she asked him to. For that matter she could have special-ordered them through the store. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/9 "2012-03-30T16:08:38Z")
So, will Raj be coming out of the closet soon? (You think they’ll go that direction?) Also, it was nice to see Howard to have a genuine concern for someone other than himself. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/10 "2012-03-30T16:14:55Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > So, will Raj be coming out of the closet soon? (You think they’ll go that direction?) I hope not. It’s too well established that he’s straight. BTW, how was he able to speak around Lakshmi? ---
**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:** [March 30, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/11 "2012-03-30T16:17:32Z")
He had a bottle of wine on the table. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/12 "2012-03-30T16:21:29Z")
will Raj do a sham wedding to take the pressure off and have an open marriage? will there be a double wedding? with Raj being able to talk to females while sober (didn’t notice the bottle mentioned in message 11), will he find out he is unsuccessful with them for love and try males? if Raj is in a sham open marriage then will he pressure Howard to step outside of his marriage? as the world turns. ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/13 "2012-03-30T16:36:26Z")
At this point, I would almost rather have Raj come out of the closet as an explanation of the inability to talk around women. I don’t care how well established the straightness is, there are plenty of gay nerds, too, and I think it would be a good storyline which could be handled well. But that may be because I’m sick of the not talking to women thing. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/14 "2012-03-30T16:48:21Z")
“What is the purpose of a toy?” “To be played with.” “Then not doing so would be…” Pretty funny episode, I thought. Sheldon attempting to confess, but lying instead, then immediately confessing to each lie with another lie, had me cracking up. It seems they may be gradually replacing “can’t talk in front of women” with “always mistaken for gay” as Raj’s comedic hook. The latter may have more potential. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/15 "2012-03-30T16:51:59Z")
I always thought the Gorn was a lot bigger. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/16 "2012-03-30T17:02:06Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I hate Sheldon’s new haircut and childishness. I hate the new haircut, too. It makes him look like Hitler. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dread_pirate_jimbo/32/3897_2.png) [@Dread\_Pirate\_Jimbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dread_Pirate_Jimbo)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/17 "2012-03-30T18:43:11Z")
Nimoy voicing Tiny Spock automatically qualifies this episode as awesome, even without any of the other funny bits. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/18 "2012-03-30T18:46:12Z")
When Spock posed with one knee raised it killed me. I almost wish they hadn’t dipped into the well a second time with the Spock doll - it kinda diluted it. Although the Gorn was a nice touch. ---
**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 30, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/19 "2012-03-30T19:23:19Z")
It sure seems that Raj is the most expendable of the cast. No matter how much they try to write the occasional script for him, it never seems to be the best part of the show. If Sheldon has all the money he really wants, why didn’t he ever buy his own transporter? And why would the boys, who never really get that concerned about monetary things, buy something just to appreciate in value? Missed having Amy on the show. Her role is getting to be one of the better written parts. ---
**Author:** ![chrisk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@chrisk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chrisk)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2012, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269/20 "2012-03-30T19:32:34Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > If Sheldon has all the money he really wants, why didn’t he ever buy his own transporter? And why would the boys, who never really get that concerned about monetary things, buy something just to appreciate in value? As much as I understand it, it’s not really a monetary investment - having a collectible ‘mint in box’ is a point of bragging rights for a geek. But the social cred in geek circles drops just as fast as the monetary resale value when you open it, maybe even faster. As far as why he didn’t buy it himself - well, if he used that logic, the apartment would be stuffed with collectibles to the point where you couldn’t live in it. Logic dictates that you have to stop at some point. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-march-29-2012-the-transporter-malfunction/617269.md?page=2)