# EVIL WILL WHEATON ALERT--The Big Bang Theory 11/11--"The 21-Second Excitation" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 11, 2010, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303 "2010-11-11T14:28:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Tristan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tristan/32/18058_2.png) [@Tristan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tristan)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2010, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/61 "2010-11-15T12:52:34Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > …with Raj! I think that might have been Sheldon in the background? Maybe? ---
**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:** [November 16, 2010, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/62 "2010-11-16T15:28:46Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Was I the only one who thought that by the time the audience is seated, the movie would have been removed from the shipping cases and be loaded up on the projector? (In other words, Sheldon probably stole empty cases.) The film would definitely have been loaded already. It takes at least half an hour to do it, IIRC (or at least it did on 1980’s-era equipment). Also, film reels are damn _heavy_! I can’t imagine Sheldon be able to even _lift_ the cans if they’d been full, let alone run with one in each hand. Maybe part of the joke is that he _thought_ he was stealing the film, but was actually doing no such thing. > [@GuanoLad](#): > > Kaley just posted a pic of herself on Twitter, [playing table tennis](http://yfrog.com/5ttogyj). So it looks like she is mobile again. Didn’t she get up and walk to her bedroom in this episode? Guess I wasn’t paying real close attention; maybe it was filmed to give that impression and we didn’t actually see her walking? ---
**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 16, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/63 "2010-11-16T15:33:05Z")
She walked. I looked for the cast under her pants leg when she was sitting on the couch. It looks like it stops just above her ankle. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/64 "2010-11-16T15:40:13Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Didn’t she get up and walk to her bedroom in this episode? Guess I wasn’t paying real close attention; maybe it was filmed to give that impression and we didn’t actually see her walking? If I remember correctly, we see Penny starting to get upset, then a shot of Amy Farrah Fowler with Penny passing behind her as she walks to her bedroom. But, the way that second shot was framed, centered on Amy’s face, we can only see Penny from the neck down. I just figured they got a stand-in for Kaley Cuoco. I think the production company has sufficient pull within the industry to find one of those increasingly rare actresses with two functioning legs. ---
**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:** [November 16, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/65 "2010-11-16T15:53:37Z")
That seems to make sense. Kudos to the editors that I (and apparently **silenus** ) didn’t spot the ruse. ---
**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 16, 2010, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/66 "2010-11-16T16:27:33Z")
Smartly done, that. I never noticed we didn’t see Penny’s face. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/67 "2010-11-16T16:56:19Z")
Well, don’t just rely on my memory of something that happened for a few seconds five days ago. If anybody has it recorded, let us know if I’m even remotely accurate. ---
**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 16, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/68 "2010-11-16T16:59:09Z")
I still have the episode on Tivo, I think. I’ll check when I get home. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/69 "2010-11-16T17:34:33Z")
Your memory is correct - we do not see Penny’s face as “she” walks behind the couch to her room. The frame is focused on Bernadette and Amy, and you only see Penny from the neck down. I assumed it was a body double. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/70 "2010-11-16T19:15:35Z")
%^\*!&(^)\_# DVR didn’t record it again! Curses! ! ! ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/71 "2010-11-19T04:08:02Z")
I saw my first episode of Star Trek two days ago. It had one Wesley Crusher in it… and now I understand why people hate Will Wheaton. Yes, I’m late getting on the ball. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/72 "2010-11-19T04:40:54Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Yes, and Bernadette poised herself to answer the question. I just saw the episode where Bernadette is introduced, and apparently she’s a _microbiologist_ - definitely able to answer the question. ---
**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:** [November 19, 2010, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/73 "2010-11-19T22:24:19Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > …with Raj! He can’t talk to women while sober, but he _can_ play table tennis with them. Hmm. ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2010, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/74 "2010-11-19T22:42:55Z")
What makes you so sure that he was sober? ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/75 "2010-11-22T15:37:51Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > And Kaley Cuoco is just such a great comic actress. Indeed! I keep finding myself pleasantly surprised by her. She could have just been “the hot chick,” but she’s legitimately _very_ funny. Her timing and facial expressions constantly have me in stitches. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/76 "2010-11-22T15:58:26Z")
She and Sheldon play off each other so well there is a real danger of it turning into the “Sheldon and Penny Show” with the other extremely talented actors getting overlooked, and that would be a crime. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2010, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/77 "2010-11-22T16:06:46Z")
> [@gonzoron](#): > > Indeed! I keep finding myself pleasantly surprised by her. She could have just been “the hot chick,” but she’s legitimately _very_ funny. Her timing and facial expressions constantly have me in stitches. The initial reviews of this show just passed it off as the stereotypical “Nerd & Geek Guys meet Hot Chick.” NOBODY recognized the amazing comic talent under all that nerdiness, geekiness and babliousosity. It’s also amazing how all the actors manage to stay in character the whole time. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/78 "2010-11-22T16:10:46Z")
Kaley Cuoco was an established, credible sitcom star before Big Bang Theory started. She was arguably the headliner of 8 Simple Rules. ---
**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:** [November 22, 2010, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/79 "2010-11-22T16:13:36Z")
Roseanne had done a movie with Johnny Galecki, and was so impressed she wrote him into her show. She also gave Sara Gilbert and Sarah Chalke their big breaks. And the first season featured George Clooney. Roseanne is a great talent scout. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2010, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303/80 "2010-11-22T16:25:52Z")
Agreed about the talent on that show, and we shouldn’t forget Chuck Lorre. Galecki’s biggest claim to fame before Big Bang Theory was a minor character on Roseanne, so I’d say he definitely qualifies as a member of the cast nobody saw coming, as are the rest of the geeks. But Kaley Cuoco headlined a moderately successful sitcom for years. You can’t say nobody saw her coming. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/evil-will-wheaton-alert-the-big-bang-theory-11-11-the-21-second-excitation/560303.md?page=5)