# Has no one started a Big Bang Theory Thread this week? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 10, 2013, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953 "2013-05-10T02:06:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953/21 "2013-05-10T17:10:09Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > What disappointed me was how easy the girls gave up on Las Vegas. The Strip is only 4 hours or so from the Burbank airport. They would have gotten there maybe an hour later than they would have by plane. They also lost the money for the hotel rooms, which Penny can ill afford. Was that a plot point? Most hotels can be cancelled relatively late in the game, right? ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953/22 "2013-05-10T17:14:37Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Was that a plot point? Most hotels can be cancelled relatively late in the game, right? I’m not familiar with Vegas hotels, but it’s not uncommon for hotels to offer specials, with a 3 or 5 day minimum cancellation policy. Heck, it’s Kaley Cuoco, so they probably got the rooms through priceline. ---
**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 10, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953/23 "2013-05-10T17:15:48Z")
It wasn’t a plot point, but they would be cancelling after 6pm on the night they were arriving. The hotel would still charge them for that night. So they are out one night’s cost at the least. Plus their airfares, because I don’t think they would spring for the more expensive fully-refundable fares. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2013, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953/24 "2013-05-10T17:25:41Z")
I’m pretty sure Simon Helberg actually cracked up the cast at one point. He was doing his Pacino, right before the commercial, and when I rewound it it’s at least obvious that it cracked up Kaley Cuoco - she even looks off stage towards the audience while laughing. I also don’t recall Sheldon smiling with so much teeth before. ---
**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 10, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953/25 "2013-05-10T17:51:09Z")
First, people in LA do frequently fly to Vegas, it is pretty cheap. However, they could also easily drive there no problem, but I suppose we can come up with some explanation like AFF was too embarrassed and just wanted to go home or something. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953/26 "2013-05-10T17:55:37Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > It wasn’t a plot point, but they would be cancelling after 6pm on the night they were arriving. The hotel would still charge them for that night. So they are out one night’s cost at the least. Plus their airfares, because I don’t think they would spring for the more expensive fully-refundable fares. Oh, I forgot it was that late. You’re right. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953/27 "2013-05-10T17:56:18Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > First, people in LA do frequently fly to Vegas, it is pretty cheap. However, they could also easily drive there no problem,… Even with the “Check Engine” light on? ---
**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 10, 2013, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953/28 "2013-05-10T18:00:38Z")
$168 round-trip on Southwest. It’s a 65 minute flight from Burbank to McCarran. Collectively the girls are out about a grand for the weekend. Bernadette and AFF can afford it, but Penny will be back to hawking Penny-Blossoms online before long at this rate. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953/29 "2013-05-10T18:25:11Z")
Not a plot point but it would not shock if Bernadette and AFF had agreed that they would pay for the room and the lion’s share of the week end costs just so their less financially secure (and common friend element) pal could go. ---
**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:** [May 10, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953/30 "2013-05-10T18:35:24Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > Not a plot point but it would not shock if Bernadette and AFF had agreed that they would pay for the room and the lion’s share of the week end costs just so their less financially secure (and common friend element) pal could go. I tend to doubt that Penny would agree to that. Wasn’t there an earlier episode that revolved around trying to loan her money and her getting pissed off about it? ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953/31 "2013-05-10T18:56:25Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > I tend to doubt that Penny would agree to that. Wasn’t there an earlier episode that revolved around trying to loan her money and her getting pissed off about it? It’s not entirely consistent. Examples: **402 – The Cruciferous Vegetable Amplification** Penny: I’m a little low on cash. Leonard: How much you got? Penny: Nothing. Leonard: How can you walk around with no money? Penny: I’m cute. I get by. **214 – The Financial Permeability** Penny: What are you saying? That I’m using my body to get dinner? That I’m some kind of Chinese food prostitute? Howard: Yeah, Raj, what are you saying? Penny: ‘Cause let me tell you something, buddy, I pay my own way in this world, okay? I don’t rely on anybody! ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953/32 "2013-05-10T19:04:52Z")
And of course the running gag of her using their wireless connection and how historically she has used her body to get things for free. Even in the intro mentioning her new bikini and joking how at the pool drinks will be on these (pointing to her chest). She may be occasionally sensitive about the fact that she takes money and gifts with or without providing any services in return but the character historically has been willing to. If the plot demanded it the cover/face-saving could easily have been that she knows how to gamble better and that they would be entitled to 50% of any winnings she had (not expecting there to be any) and complications ensuing when she actually won some big bucks but wouldn’t stop betting and lost it all … ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953/33 "2013-05-10T23:52:20Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > BTW, I have a feeling I am in a minority,but I cannot stand Raj’s girlfriend. More specifically, I cannot stand the actress because I think she cannot act. It sounds like she is giving punchlines on every line. She’s a character actor (actress?). This is pretty much the character she plays, on a range from very slightly shy & quirky to “Big Bang Theory” shy & quirky. Love the actress and the work she does in her musical comedy duo Garfunkel & Oates (check out Youtube for their song, “The Loophole”, a hilarious VERY NSFW tune), but I haven’t loved what they’ve done with her on the BBT. This episode was a little better, maybe. “Raising Hope” uses her better, but she hasn’t been around much this season. Probably too busy. > [@Morbo](#): > > I’m pretty sure Simon Helberg actually cracked up the cast at one point. He was doing his Pacino, right before the commercial, and when I rewound it it’s at least obvious that it cracked up Kaley Cuoco - she even looks off stage towards the audience while laughing. > > I also don’t recall Sheldon smiling with so much teeth before. I’m pretty sure Helberg cracked up Penny in season 1 or 2 as well. Wish I could remember more, but her reaction was a bit BIG for that scene, and they cut pretty quickly to another camera. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953/34 "2013-05-11T01:01:20Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > Love the actress and the work she does in her musical comedy duo Garfunkel & Oates (check out Youtube for their song, “The Loophole”, a hilarious VERY NSFW tune), Holy crap, that’s Ramona, Sheldon’s creepy groupie from the second season episode, “The Cooper-Nowitzki Theorem.” 🙂 ---
**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 11, 2013, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953/35 "2013-05-11T02:11:51Z")
Yep. Keeping it in the “family” as it were. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953/36 "2013-05-11T22:33:34Z")
One thing that keeps haunting me-- I don’t think I’ve ever seen Sheldon smile so much. It was. . . kinda creepy. ---
**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 11, 2013, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953/37 "2013-05-11T22:48:18Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > One thing that keeps haunting me-- I don’t think I’ve ever seen Sheldon smile so much. It was. . . kinda creepy. He only smiles in a few episodes. I’m remembering the one where he got drunk and got up in front of an audience, but there’s also one I can’t place where he gets a devilish grin, quite creepy indeed. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2013, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953/38 "2013-05-11T23:20:28Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > He only smiles in a few episodes. I’m remembering the one where he got drunk and got up in front of an audience, but there’s also one I can’t place where he gets a devilish grin, quite creepy indeed. There’s also the one where Raj makes a list in People Magazine… Sheldon: \*Fine. What do you want me to do? \* Leonard: \*Smile. \* Howard: _Oh, crap, that’s terrifying._ Leonard: \*We’re here to see Koothrappali, not kill Batman. \*[http://youtu.be/V46z4CeJJUw](http://youtu.be/V46z4CeJJUw) ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2013, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953/39 "2013-05-12T01:18:33Z")
Meh episode for me. Once again the gaming stuff just didn’t work. Apparently in BBT-style D&D, monsters don’t hit back and player characters never miss. Non-existent spells get cast on party members, new player characters spontaneously pop into existence in the middle of dungeons, the DM handles things inconsistently, etc. Did like Howard’s impressions, but that was pretty much the only redeeming quality this week. ---
**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 12, 2013, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953/40 "2013-05-12T01:32:30Z")
Rule of Cool. Besides, real D&D would put the studio audience to sleep by the end of Act 1, and have the viewing audience switching over to QVC just as quickly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-no-one-started-a-big-bang-theory-thread-this-week/657953.md?page=3)