# Big Bang Theory, November 21, 2013 -- "The Thanksgiving Decoupling" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 21, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441 "2013-11-21T16:51:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/21 "2013-11-22T14:11:38Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Meh. Funniest episode this season, and it still was inferior _Big Bang_. It didn’t hang together at all. When the funniest part was Bernadette and a marshmallow, the show has problems. Do you mean when she turned around a grabbed one before leaving the kitchen? There were many things (mentioned above) funnier than that… or did I miss a really funny Bernadette/marshmallow part? ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/22 "2013-11-22T14:18:48Z")
> [@What\_the](#): > > Do you mean when she turned around a grabbed one before leaving the kitchen? > > There were many things (mentioned above) funnier than that… or did I miss a really funny Bernadette/marshmallow part? You missed it. When Amy (?) mentions Penny’s married, Raj and Bernie do a take, mouths open, and that’s Bernie has a marshmallow in hers. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2013, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/23 "2013-11-22T14:39:41Z")
> [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](#): > > You missed it. When Amy (?) mentions Penny’s married, Raj and Bernie do a take, mouths open, and that’s Bernie has a marshmallow in hers. That was the best moment of the show. This Ep was better than the last two and I don’t see Leonard being unreasonable. He tracked down the paperwork needed while waiting for dinner and was prepared to help take care of it Monday. Penny is the one who over-reacted. I like the Zak character, it was good to see him back and Bernie’s Dad is always funny. He is a nice contrast to every other character on the show. Who is the actor? BTW: I am really sad that they did not cast Carol Kane as Bernie’s Mom and hope they eventually get her as an eccentric aunt or grandmother. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/24 "2013-11-22T14:54:56Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > That was the best moment of the show. > > This Ep was better than the last two and I don’t see Leonard being unreasonable. He tracked down the paperwork needed while waiting for dinner and was prepared to help take care of it Monday. Penny is the one who over-reacted. I agree. The whole thing was a rather contrived setup to make Leonard look extremely insecure and whiny, but realistically, you’d think there would be a lot more of a “OH SHIT!” kind of reaction and strong desire to get it fixed out of Penny. Instead, she’s kind of like “It’s not real! Oh, it is? Well, we’ll fix that later.” Leonard is understandably upset- at every turn, it was Penny doing something screwy or irresponsible, and then when he reacted in anything but a perfectly accepting way, he got pilloried for it. I mean, I thought the part about inviting Zac over was entirely Penny’s deal and Leonard neither requested it nor overreacted too badly. She’s entirely the person who made that the big deal. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/25 "2013-11-22T15:03:52Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > I’ve still got a few minutes left, but I had to stop in to the thread to say this is probably one of the funniest episodes I’ve ever seen. Zack being a moron, drunk Sheldon, LOLs all over the place. After Sheldon apologized I thought he might suggest that him and Amy go have sex, but slapping her on the ass was pretty funny. me too! me too! I laughed all the way through this episode. There were so many good one liners and sight gags that I couldn’t list them all; but my favorite probably when Howard where the Crisco is kept and he said something like “in her cheek?” The ass slap was funny, but just before it happened I thought it was going to be a huge kiss. The ass slap was funnier. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/26 "2013-11-22T15:03:58Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I have mixed feelings aboiut this one – some stuff worked, and some was extremely annoying. But I LOVED how Mayim Bialik managed with her twisted grin to convey both annoyance at the condescension of drunken Sheldon and joy that he actually touched her bottom when he swatted her on the rear. I think the smile was partly that he touched her bottom but also a realization that she could get him to be less inhibited and perhaps a little frisky if she gets him drunk. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/27 "2013-11-22T15:27:16Z")
Burping Pi was pretty funny. To annul a wedding, is there any evidence of fraud, bigamy, or “Want of Understanding”? “Want of Understanding”? What’s that? Ding Ding Ding, we have a winner. Funny line, but timing was bad. Bialik usually has better delivery. The Ass Slap smirk was up to her usual standards. I think they did a good job with the Wolowitz house set. Garish Wallpaper, patterned sofas, furniture cluttered with knick knacks. I think it makes sense that Bernie’s father would bond with “Stretch” rather than Howard. Sheldon comes closer to treating his Girlfriend like he treats his wife. As a subservient. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/28 "2013-11-22T15:35:07Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I loved Bernadette’s father bonding with football-fan Sheldon (who knew?). And of course Amy’s expression after the swat. But I honestly can’t think of anything else memorable. I wouldn’t exactly say Sheldon is a football-fan. He just watched it because his father forced him to before he could do his homework. ---
**Author:** ![detop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bcef8e/32.png) [@detop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/detop)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/29 "2013-11-22T15:41:07Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > I wouldn’t exactly say Sheldon is a football-fan. He just watched it because his father forced him to before he could do his homework. Exactly. He’s _ **knowledgeable** _ about football (since it’s Texas state religion), doesn’t mean that he’s a **fan** of it. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/30 "2013-11-22T15:42:33Z")
I don’t think Penny ever really grasped that her marriage to Zack was real until the paper signing scene. For pretty much the first half of the episode, she kept saying it was a goof and wasn’t real. I liked that exchange though, especially the part about the children. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/31 "2013-11-22T15:43:38Z")
“Was Las Vegas tipped on it’s side, because you might have been drunk.” Bahahahahaha! ---
**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:** [November 22, 2013, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/32 "2013-11-22T15:49:30Z")
The cow tipping was also a nice opening as it was a bit of a shout back to some Internet flack I remember the show getting in its first or second year when Penny made an offhand remark about cow tipping on Friday nights. It was nice for a show that get science right more than most sitcoms to go back and lightly expose the urban legend that is cow tipping. The fact they used it to set up the Las Vegas joke was well done. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/33 "2013-11-22T15:52:40Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > I wouldn’t exactly say Sheldon is a football-fan. He just watched it because his father forced him to before he could do his homework. But it does remind him of his father, and time they spent together. And while he probably wouldn’t admit it, that probably means a lot to him. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/34 "2013-11-22T16:13:48Z")
I’m sure it’s no surprise to anyone, but throughout the whole series, they have been really inconsistent with Sheldon and his proclivities toward alcohol. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2013, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/35 "2013-11-22T16:28:05Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > I’m sure it’s no surprise to anyone, but throughout the whole series, they have been really inconsistent with Sheldon and his proclivities toward alcohol. I recall the Long Island Ice Tea incident leading to his pants-less physicist video. He tried drinking a shot when Penny was tending bar at the Cheesecake factory. He kept spitting it back out. Was there any other time he tried drinking? This was setup with him missing his Dad, an actual human feeling. It seemed out of character but not incredibly so. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/36 "2013-11-22T16:46:30Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > I’m sure it’s no surprise to anyone, but throughout the whole series, they have been really inconsistent with Sheldon and his proclivities toward alcohol. Not really. If you set them out time-wise, you see that he slowly but surely imbibes a bit more each time, especially if the drink is sweet and the alcohol is hidden. Shots he can’t do, but he’s had Long Island Iced Tea, wine, not-so-virgin Cuba Libres, and now what looked like about a 6-pack of beer. His “proclivities” are that he doesn’t like it, but he has some experience with it, mostly negative. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/37 "2013-11-22T16:53:31Z")
No that was wine he was drinking when the pantsless physicist video was made. Remember, he was nervous and Penny said it would calm him down. He said he doesn’t drink alcohol and she said something I don’t remember and then he drank it. The Long Island Iced Tea one was when Wil Wheaton was treating Amy badly during the filming of ‘Fun With Flags’. In one of the very first episodes he grabs two beers out of the fridge and opens them and gives one to Leonard without any qualms, yet after that he’s always insistent that he doesn’t drink. There was also the incident with the shot as you described. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/38 "2013-11-22T17:02:56Z")
He drank during Howard’s bachelor party in order to follow the social custom, but I don’t remember what he was drinking. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2013, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/39 "2013-11-22T17:42:23Z")
> [@detop](#): > > Exactly. He’s _ **knowledgeable** _ about football (since it’s Texas state religion), doesn’t mean that he’s a **fan** of it. This. From 306 The Cornhusker Vortex (2009): Leonard: Sheldon, how do you know this stuff? Sheldon: **I grew up in Texas. Football is ubiquitous in Texas. Pro football, college football, high school football, Pee-Wee football; in fact, every form of football except the original: European football, which most Texans believe to be a commie plot.** Leonard: Unbelievable. Sheldon: If you’re interested, I also know all about frying meat that isn’t chicken as if it were chicken. Leonard: So you could teach me? Sheldon: Football or chicken fried meats? Leonard: Football! I’m going to Penny’s on Saturday to watch a game with her friends, and I don’t want to look like an idiot. I want to blend in. Sheldon: If you want to blend in with Penny’s friends, I think looking like an idiot would be the perfect camouflage. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2013, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441/40 "2013-11-22T17:46:46Z")
The Cuba Libre incident: - **Leonard:** [Sheldon is singing “L’Chaim” at Penny’s bar] I can’t believe it! What got into him? **Penny:** Oh, maybe a couple of virgin Cuba Libres that turned out to be kinda slutty. **Leonard:** You didn’t. **Penny:** Hey, you do your experiments, I do mine.\* [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-november-21-2013-the-thanksgiving-decoupling/674441.md?page=3)