# Bob Newhart to guest on Big Bang Theory **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 2, 2013, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329 "2013-05-02T17:34:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/21 "2013-05-03T13:48:45Z")
I think the story was cobbled together for Bob’s appearance, and Penny was generally out of character. But she wasn’t really part of the story, just there to set up some punch lines. It’s an episode worth watching because you don’t get to see Bob perform much anymore, but that’s pretty much it. However reports are he’d like to guest again in the future, and maybe we’ll see more of Professor Proton Jr. in other episodes also. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2013, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/22 "2013-05-03T13:51:15Z")
Was it a flaw in the script or a flaw in Sheldon when he called Arthur “Mr.” instead of “Dr.?” He has a PhD, you know. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/23 "2013-05-03T14:38:04Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > Penny seems to be getting dumber. I mean this is Zack (blow up the moon) level stupidity… Maybe her IQ is inversely proportional to her H[sub]2[/sub]O[sub]2[/sub] consumption? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Righteous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Dr.Righteous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Righteous)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/24 "2013-05-03T14:38:34Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > Bernie is giving in massively on the kid thing. Yeah, that really annoyed me. Why is it no one on TV can just not want kids? It always has to be that they want them but can’t have them, or they get their minds magically changed, or their character is already a douchey selfish ass so not wanting kids is just one more way to show that… feh. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2013, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/25 "2013-05-03T14:40:47Z")
> [@Dr.Righteous](#): > > Yeah, that really annoyed me. Why is it no one on TV can just not want kids? It always has to be that they want them but can’t have them, or they get their minds magically changed, or their character is already a douchey selfish ass so not wanting kids is just one more way to show that… feh. Le sigh. The vast VAST majority of married couples end up having kids. This is not some plot by the TV lords to make the Childfree-By-Choice ™ morons feel bad. It’s a reflection of reality. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2013, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/26 "2013-05-03T14:42:26Z")
The second any character on that show gets knocked up, thinks about getting knocked up, or tries to get knocked up is the second I stop watching it for good. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/27 "2013-05-03T15:27:20Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Honestly, if you don’t already know about the potato electricity experiment, if someone told it to you, why would you believe them? It sounds ridiculous (even to me and I’ve seen it work). Would you suggest trying to hook it up to a pacemaker? It just seemed out of character to me. She’s not _that_ dumb. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/28 "2013-05-03T15:32:05Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > Maybe her IQ is inversely proportional to her H[sub]2[/sub]O[sub]2[/sub] consumption? Bazinga! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/29 "2013-05-03T16:05:16Z")
When it comes to Howard and Bernadette having kids, I smell a spin-off. They don’t even have to separate from the main show, just deal with their parenthood in it’s own format. An interesting thought, Howard and Bernadette could end up with some really smart short kids, Sheldon and Amy could end up with some really dorky geniuses, but Leonard and Penny’s kids will just be kind of average. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/30 "2013-05-03T16:08:20Z")
From reading different reports about the episode: Chuck Lorre decided not to announce Newhart to the live audience beforehand and he asked “What if they don’t remember me?” When he came out he got a two minute standing ovation. Then the DJ started playing the theme song from his old show. Newhart started crying, then “Leonard” started crying. Rumors are he may have a recurring role. ---
**Author:** ![Becky2844](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Becky2844](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Becky2844)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/31 "2013-05-03T16:12:24Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > When it comes to Howard and Bernadette having kids, I smell a spin-off. They don’t even have to separate from the main show, just deal with their parenthood in it’s own format. > > An interesting thought, Howard and Bernadette could end up with some really smart short kids, Sheldon and Amy could end up with some really dorky geniuses, but Leonard and Penny’s kids will just be kind of average. I would like to watch this spin-off as long as they live with Howard’s motha. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/32 "2013-05-03T16:16:30Z")
I am fine with Penny’s “dumbness”, because it was all related to the one concept (potato-tricity) which she clearly didn’t get. If she was being blindingly stupid over multiple things that would be annoying. I liked the line where Sheldon asked Professor Proton if he remembered signing the picture and Proton responded with, “I wear a bracelet with my address on it.” ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/33 "2013-05-03T16:22:38Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Meh. > > What annoyed me was the Penny regression. The schools in Nebraska aren’t _that_ bad. She would have seen a potato clock before, or at least been exposed to the principles. I wouldn’t necessarily count on it. I don’t think I even heard of a potato clock until this episode. I do recall, however, something to do with a couple of lemons and a voltage meter or LED or something. But I don’t t remember doing it in school. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/34 "2013-05-03T16:27:48Z")
While I am of course familiar with the potato clock and how it works, it is one of those things I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen myself. Certainly no science class I was ever in actually did it. > [@johnpost](#): > > Bernie is giving in massively on the kid thing. I thought that was going to be a set up for Howard getting all excited that she’d finally changed her mind and then in the end she just wants to get a dog. While I’d prefer she be allowed to simply not want kids, that boat already sailed when they couldn’t just let her not want them but had to have her actually dislike them. I don’t want kids and never have (and made sure I never will) but I don’t have any issue with them. I quite liked Newhart’s performance and it was worth some Woody-level stupidity from Penny for his stunned silence and simple “no” in response. ---
**Author:** ![TheFaerie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TheFaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFaerie)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/35 "2013-05-03T16:36:06Z")
> [@Becky2844](#): > > From reading different reports about the episode: Chuck Lorre decided not to announce Newhart to the live audience beforehand and he asked “What if they don’t remember me?” When he came out he got a two minute standing ovation. > Then the DJ started playing the theme song from his old show. Newhart started crying, then “Leonard” started crying. > Rumors are he may have a recurring role. That almost made me cry. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![TheFaerie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c57346/32.png) [@TheFaerie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheFaerie)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/36 "2013-05-03T16:38:34Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > I quite liked Newhart’s performance and it was worth some Woody-level stupidity from Penny for his stunned silence and simple “no” in response. I did too. I have always loved his delivery and his timing was great. What a classic show. ---
**Author:** ![shiftless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9c0ed/32.png) [@shiftless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shiftless)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/37 "2013-05-03T16:48:00Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Honestly, if you don’t already know about the potato electricity experiment, if someone told it to you, why would you believe them? It sounds ridiculous (even to me and I’ve seen it work). Exactly. It seemed inconsistent to me that he would roll his eyes at someone not understanding the concept. Bob Newhart’s character was supposed to be a guy who does that experiment regularly to explain science concepts. Maybe the point was to show that he was jaded and tired but it came off as petty disdain for what I thought was a valid question from Penny. For a fleeting moment I thought we might see Penny actually become interested in science, in the same way and from the same guy as Sheldon. Alas, they missed that for a cheap “yer stoopid Penny” joke. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/38 "2013-05-03T16:49:54Z")
> [@shiftless](#): > > Exactly. It seemed inconsistent to me that he would roll his eyes at someone not understanding the concept. Bob Newhart’s character was supposed to be a guy who does that experiment regularly to explain science concepts. The key being that the does this for 8 year olds. There are lots of questions that I’d find completely reasonable from an 8 year old that would flabbergast me from a 32 year old. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/39 "2013-05-03T16:56:36Z")
Bob’s clearly short of energy these days, but that tart, deadpan delivery is still perfect and it was a treat to see him again. The script? Don’t worry about it; it was a one-off written around Bob, not the characters. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/40 "2013-05-03T16:56:56Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > The key being that the does this for 8 year olds. There are lots of questions that I’d find completely reasonable from an 8 year old that would flabbergast me from a 32 year old. Maybe you just hang around smarter people than I do, but I remember explaining the concept of how to make electricity from lemons to a rather incredulous friend of mine who was an incredibly intelligent and talented English barrister and writer. Leagues ahead of Penny’s intelligence as portrayed, but somehow he either forgot that class or it wasn’t covered in his studies. I don’t find Penny’s dialogue to be particularly “dumb” or evidence of her getting any dumber. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329.md?page=3)