# How Old Are The Character on "The Big Bang Theory" Suppose To Be? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 20, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747 "2010-01-20T21:44:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2012, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747/81 "2012-02-01T23:24:45Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > OM f’in G. Penny was born when I was starting my senior year of high school. > > Where is my walker?!? OM f’in G. Penny was born 10 years after I started my senior year of high school. Where is my Dr. Kevorkian?!? ---
**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:** [February 2, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747/82 "2012-02-02T00:59:56Z")
In [The Einstein Approximation](http://bigbangtrans.wordpress.com/series-3-episode-14-the-einstein-approximation/)Leonard says that Sheldon has been emotionally stuck for “about 29 years.” And everyone quit whining about Penny. My \*kids \*are older than Penny. ---
**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:** [February 3, 2012, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747/83 "2012-02-03T08:04:55Z")
Leonard said that Sheldon was 30 on tonight’s show. ---
**Author:** ![Hogfather65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hogfather65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hogfather65)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747/84 "2012-02-13T16:17:32Z")
> [@Sister\_Vigilante](#): > > You guys should watch the original pilot, where they aren’t rich PhDs and Leonard and Sheldon sell their sperm for money, and Sheldon has actually had sex. And there’s no Howard or Raj. > > Jim Parsons is 38 in real life? I got the feeling that since he’d graduated college so early he would be the youngest character. > > I’ve never seen them teach a class although Sheldon has given a lecture before. Leonard mentions that he pretty much sits and thinks about physics all day for grant money. That was in the most recent episode. > > Raj is in a rat hole of an apartment and always talking about how awful it is to live in India but apparently he’s actually quite rich and grew up in an affluent household. Saw the pilot - my daughter was disapointed at the thought of Sheldon as a ‘Normal’ person - she will not watch it because of it.😃 ---
**Author:** ![Hogfather65](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7bcc69/32.png) [@Hogfather65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hogfather65)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747/85 "2012-02-13T16:20:14Z")
> [@Barking\_Dog](#): > > Well, the pilot doesn’t mention their jobs or education level, they decide to leave the sperm bank without donating, and Howard and Raj do show up. And there’s no reference to suggest Sheldon has had sex, although there is a moment where he tries to impress Penny, which I interpreted as he was attracted to her. And he drinks a beer. there where 2 pilots… ---
**Author:** ![jemima37](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/779978/32.png) [@jemima37](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jemima37)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747/86 "2012-04-26T17:50:18Z")
Leonard said tonight “12 years since high school and I’m still sat at the nerd table” if you leave high school at 16 as we do in UK, then it makes him 28 Friends of mine recently called their baby Leonard Sheldon, big fans! ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747/87 "2012-04-26T18:03:08Z")
Most people in the United States leave high school around 18 so, by that statement, he would be 30. But if he were an exceptional student, he may have graduated earlier. ---
**Author:** ![movingfinger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@movingfinger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/movingfinger)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747/88 "2012-04-27T07:03:29Z")
Regarding Sheldon’s money, there was a scene where Howard opens a drawer and finds numerous uncashed checks. When he asks Sheldon why he hasn’t cashed them he is told that the things Sheldon would buy with them haven’t been invented yet. ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747/89 "2012-04-27T12:59:11Z")
Sheldon presumably cashes a check when he needs the money for something (food, rent, comic books) - but his needs are less than his salary, so he’s got a bunch of checks in the drawer. I am surprised that he isn’t using direct deposit, however. Although I guess that would be a change and he doesn’t deal well with that. And we wouldn’t have the paycheck joke. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747/90 "2012-04-27T13:06:02Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > I always assumed they were non-faculty researchers. They never call each other or are referred to as “Professor,” so they are clearly not faculty. It’s always “Dr.” this and “Dr.” that, so a professor position is out. Whether or not CalTech actually has non-postdoc, non-faculty research positions, I don’t know – but other institutions do. We never referred to my American university professors as “Professor whatever”, it was always “Dr whatever” or by firstname. This applies to profs from the Colleges of Sciences and of Engineering. Other end of the country from CalTech. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747/91 "2012-04-27T15:05:37Z")
> [@jemima37](#): > > Leonard said tonight “12 years since high school and I’m still sat at the nerd table” if you leave high school at 16 as we do in UK, then it makes him 28 > > Friends of mine recently called their baby Leonard Sheldon, big fans! Well, a person who has a PhD would not have left school at 16 - you need A-levels to go to college or uni. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747/92 "2012-04-27T16:37:28Z")
In most American states it is possible for smart people to graduate early, like Doogie Houser. It’s not unusual for very smart people to have (multiple) graduate degrees at the age of 20. ---
**Author:** ![jerseymule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jerseymule/32/3155_2.png) [@jerseymule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerseymule)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747/93 "2012-04-27T16:55:00Z")
> [@LH75](#): > > I am getting ready to trace a circuit with a fluke meter that is older than Penny. I still wear some shoes that are older than Penny. ---
**Author:** ![PigArcher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bcef8e/32.png) [@PigArcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PigArcher)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747/94 "2012-04-27T20:38:28Z")
> [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](#): > > In most American states it is possible for smart people to graduate early, like Doogie Houser. It’s not unusual for very smart people to have (multiple) graduate degrees at the age of 20. I’d disagree that it’s “not unusual”, but yes, it is possible to have a PhD (and therefore, a Master’s) by 20. ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747/95 "2012-04-27T21:19:23Z")
When I look at Penny, I knoew exactly how Howard feels normally ! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747/96 "2012-04-27T21:22:41Z")
> [@kenetic](#): > > I’d disagree that it’s “not unusual”, but yes, it is possible to have a PhD (and therefore, a Master’s) by 20. I’ll weasel on the fact that I said it’s not unusual for “very smart” people. I’ve known 7 people who had college degrees before they were 20, and all of them are easily in the “very smart” category. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747/97 "2012-04-28T00:10:56Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > We never referred to my American university professors as “Professor whatever”, it was always “Dr whatever” or by firstname. This applies to profs from the Colleges of Sciences and of Engineering. Other end of the country from CalTech. I was a “Postdoctoral Instructor” at Caltech, which meant I taught classes of my own, and my (undergrad) students, somewhat to my discomfiture, insisted on addressing me as “professor”.\* I did not feel entitled to it, especially as I had come from Britain where only the equivalent of American “full professors” get to be called professor. I would have been much more comfortable being called “Doctor” to which I was proud of being entitled. However, it was clearly not something you could fight. I have taught in other California universities and colleges too, and always been addressed as “Professor” by undergrads even though I was not truly of professorial rank. In my experience, above the undergraduate (and maybe Master’s degree) level things tend to be a lot less formal, and increasingly so as you go up the ranks. Even a doctoral student is likely to address a professor with whom he is acquainted by name, without any title. Only if someone is pretty much a stranger to you, or you are in a particularly formal situation, are you likely to call them Dr. something (or, even more rarely, Professor or Dean, or whatever), as you might call a virtual stranger Mr. something-or-other in other settings. (Although, with certain weird exceptions like British surgeons,\*\* in an academic setting, someone entitled to be called Doctor might be a bit miffed to be called Mister or Ms. I would, in fact. I earned that Ph.D., dammit.) So certainly in California, but I am fairly sure it is the same throughout the U.S., undergraduates will call any teacher above the rank of T.A. “Professor”, but doctoral students on up will mostly use “Doctor,” if they are being at all formal (which they often are not). The fetish made in BBT of calling people Dr., is mainly just part of Sheldon’s general weirdness and snobbery. It is not normal academic practice, and I do not think you are meant to think it is. \*Most postdocs are not “Postdoctoral Instructors” however, and I believe most do no teaching at all or only a little, on an occasional basis, helping out an actual professor. Their job is almost entirely research. They do not have undergrad courses of their own and probably will not be routinely called professor by anyone (nor are they entitled to be). \*\*In Britain, at least, an M.D. (or B.Med.) who qualifies as a surgeon reverts to being called Mister, again. (I am not sure how this works for female surgeons; probably she becomes Ms.) This is considered quite an honour, and a surgeon (surgeons being notoriously prickly) may well resent being addressed as Doctor, even though he is one. ---
**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:** [April 28, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747/98 "2012-04-28T01:56:41Z")
> [@njtt](#): > > I was a “Postdoctoral Instructor” at Caltech, which meant I taught classes of my own, and my (undergrad) students, somewhat to my discomfiture, insisted on addressing me as “professor”.\* I did not feel entitled to it, especially as I had come from Britain where only the equivalent of American “full professors” get to be called professor. I would have been much more comfortable being called “Doctor” to which I was proud of being entitled. However, it was clearly not something you could fight. I have taught in other California universities and colleges too, and always been addressed as “Professor” by undergrads even though I was not truly of professorial rank. YMMV. When I was an undergrad, the PhD’s were called “Doctor” and everyone else was Mr./Ms., regardless of their place on the faculty hierarchy. Maybe they called each other something else behind closed doors. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747/99 "2012-04-28T03:42:35Z")
> [@jemima37](#): > > Friends of mine recently called their baby Leonard Sheldon, big fans! :smack: Just figured out where Lorre got their names, from sitcom god [Sheldon Leonard!](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheldon_Leonard) ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747/100 "2012-04-28T13:35:25Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > YMMV. When I was an undergrad, the PhD’s were called “Doctor” and everyone else was Mr./Ms., regardless of their place on the faculty hierarchy. Maybe they called each other something else behind closed doors. Well, where were you? I am talking specifically about Caltech, which is where BBT is set, and, as I say, undergraduates insisted on using “Professor” even when technically inappropriate. It was a couple of decades ago when I was there, but can vouch for the fact that the same applied at other So Cal institutions, for instance, Cal State L.A., quite recently. Very few members of the “faculty hierarchy” at any university level institution, will not be Ph.D.s (or some other type of “doctor”), so I am not really sure what you are talking about there. T.A’s are not faculty. Arguably, neither are postdoc’s. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-old-are-the-character-on-the-big-bang-theory-suppose-to-be/525747.md?page=6)