# 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:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/61 "2013-05-05T22:11:51Z")
I forget the exact line, but Bob had a good one referring to the Newhart finale. He said “Am I awake?” or something like that. It was quick, subtle, and wouldn’t have registered as anything but a tired old man if you didn’t catch it, but it had me rolling. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/62 "2013-05-06T00:23:10Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > 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. Sheldon thinking: “Well, it’s just a doctorate from _Cornell_; not much better than an associate’s from Penny’s community college.” > [@shiftless](#): > > 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. That would have been a fantastic plot twist; shame it didn’t occur to any of the writers. > [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](#): > > Sheldon seems to be reverting to childhood more each time. This will make it tougher for him to progress in his relationship with Amy without a major reversal. I completely disagree. Think about what we saw here; Sheldon - _Sheldon_ - expressing an emotional attachment to another human being. Even engaging in unsolicited physical contact (the hug at the end of the episode), _mirabile dictu_! He also showed some introspection, when he told Arthur how he didn’t have friends when he was a child, but he did have Prof. Proton. Also, am I seeing things, or is Kaley Cuoco a little more…enhanced… in the chestular area? I don’t mean to suggest that she’s gotten work done, but it did seem she’s packing slightly more in the ol’ Maidenform. Perhaps she’s pregnant? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/63 "2013-05-06T01:37:06Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > but Leonard and Penny’s kids will just be kind of average. What if they had his beauty and her brains? ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/64 "2013-05-06T02:05:17Z")
Newhart has slowed, yes, but he isn’t tossing in the sponge just yet. An AP item today says he has 25 one-nighters booked this year, and he and his bestie, 87yo Don Rickles, will be playing the AARP convention in Vegas late this May. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/65 "2013-05-06T02:59:21Z")
Finally watched w/o FF-ing. Really enjoyed it. Loved Prof Proton telling Leonard,“You dating her? You’re the genius!” ---
**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 6, 2013, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/66 "2013-05-06T03:05:59Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > I forget the exact line, but Bob had a good one referring to the Newhart finale. He said “Am I awake?” or something like that. It was quick, subtle, and wouldn’t have registered as anything but a tired old man if you didn’t catch it, but it had me rolling. I didn’t pick up on that before. I wish I had, it was a good line. > [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > What if they had his beauty and her brains? Genetics doesn’t work that way. Concentrated traits are often a result of interspecies breeding, but within the same species individual traits fall midway between the range of the parents. I believe this is what science-y types call the Law of Averages. ---
**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:** [May 6, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/67 "2013-05-06T14:02:19Z")
Melissa Rauch has a great potential future doing voiceovers. She has shown a great talent for imitating voices. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/68 "2013-05-06T14:30:57Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Genetics doesn’t work that way. Whoosh. Google it. ---
**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 6, 2013, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/69 "2013-05-06T14:34:42Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Whoosh. > > Google it. [This](http://quoteinvestigator.com/2013/04/19/brains-beauty/), I suppose. Apt. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/70 "2013-05-06T14:59:05Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I believe this is what science-y types call the Law of Averages. I believe regression to the mean is the phrase you’re looking for. > [@](#): > > but within the same species individual traits fall midway between the range of the parents. That also isn’t how genetics works. I did not end up with eye (more blue than my mom’s and my dad’s were brown) and hair (much darker than either of them) color halfway between those of my mother and father. I am also taller than both of them. And, I’m pretty sure, smarter than both of them. ---
**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 6, 2013, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/71 "2013-05-06T15:25:32Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > I believe regression to the mean is the phrase you’re looking for. > > That also isn’t how genetics works. I did not end up with eye (more blue than my mom’s and my dad’s were brown) and hair (much darker than either of them) color halfway between those of my mother and father. I am also taller than both of them. And, I’m pretty sure, smarter than both of them. You aren’t a fictional character though. We can’t learn anything about genetics by studying real life examples, the path to truth is built on myth and legend. You are getting that none of this is serious right? ---
**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 6, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/72 "2013-05-06T15:29:18Z")
Maybe hybrid vigor will kick in. The product of a mating between a male of the Nerd breed and a female of the Big-Handed Nebraskan breed, while rare, just might produce a whelp that is superior to both. I don’t think the world is quite ready for a socially-adjusted, articulate genius with great looks. TMZ wouldn’t know how to handle it. ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/73 "2013-05-06T17:58:09Z")
It wasn’t my favorite episode, but to hear Leonard bitch-slap Sheldon through the bedroom wall, plus Leonard’s happy smile after having done it, was worth the price of admission. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/74 "2013-05-06T18:11:46Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > You are getting that none of this is serious right? No, I thought you were being serious because with the information that you weren’t being serious I can’t see what was supposed to be humorous in your first comment. But I’ll accept having been whooshed. ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/75 "2013-05-06T19:56:42Z")
I thought Bob’s timing was terrific and delivery reliably understated and pitch-perfect. Not a big fan of the show, but his low-key performance (especially compared to everyone in this cast) was most welcome. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2013, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/76 "2013-05-06T21:20:30Z")
It was nice to see Bob and I thought the episode was good. They were obviously playing to him and built the episode around him so I can give them a pass on dumbing down Penny. And I agree with whoever said it upthread they missed the opportunity to turn Penny onto science. ---
**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:** [May 6, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329/77 "2013-05-06T21:40:23Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > No, I thought you were being serious because with the information that you weren’t being serious I can’t see what was supposed to be humorous in your first comment. > > But I’ll accept having been whooshed. The woosh actually comes from [Leonard’s reaction to meeting Penny](http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x7ieq7_big-bang-theory-pilot-leonard-smart_fun)in the very first episode. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bob-newhart-to-guest-on-big-bang-theory/657329.md?page=3)