# The Big Bang Theory 10/4-- The Decoupling Flucutation **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 4, 2012, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735 "2012-10-04T19:59:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735/21 "2012-10-05T16:46:13Z")
Sheldon was making a joke. MIT has the best rep as a science school among us art types. Probably for a reason. He was making Stuart the equivalent of Howard. As for Howard, since he helped design the space toilet, he should have been able to extract some payback using it. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735/22 "2012-10-05T17:01:24Z")
Looks like Wil and Lavar are coming back. In [another episode](http://theclicker.today.com/_news/2012/10/05/14242812-star-trek-stars-levar-burton-and-wil-wheaton-to-return-to-big-bang-theory?lite# __utma=14933801.562467270.1342393699.1349452550.1349456312.239&__ utmb=14933801.2.10.1349456312& __utmc=14933801&__ utmx=-& __utmz=14933801.1342393699.1.1.utmcsr=%28direct%29%7Cutmccn=%28direct%29%7Cutmcmd=%28none%29%7Cutmctr=%28not%20provided%29&__ utmv=14933801.%7C8=Earned%20By=msnbc%7Ccover=1%5E12=Landing%20Content=Mixed=1%5E13=Landing%20Hostname=www.nbcnews.com=1%5E30=Visit%20Type%20to%20Content=Earned%20to%20Mixed=1&__utmk=141210162) of “Fun With Flags.” ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735/23 "2012-10-05T17:10:36Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I’m greatly disappointed that “astronaut screaming for nine minutes” isn’t actually on youtube - how hard would it have been to put up a mask in a window and get Wolowitz to scream? > > Since when did Sheldon take a dislike against MIT in general? I know he’s not impressed that Howard only has a Masters, but sodomize him with a rusty spade for equating MIT to art college. > > muldoonthief, MIT '89 _Wolowitz went to MIT. What’s your educational background? I went to art school. Equally ridiculous. Let’s go._ It was perfectly in character. Sheldon looks down on everyone, but especially engineers: Sheldon: _Engineering—where the semi-skilled laborers execute the vision of those who think and dream. Hello Oompa-Loompas of science._ ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735/24 "2012-10-05T17:14:24Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Looks like Wil and Lavar are coming back. I don’t remember Lavar Burton on the Big Bang Theory. Does he play himself? What did he do the first time he was on? ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735/25 "2012-10-05T17:16:51Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Sheldon showing real concern over Leonard was. . . disconcerting. > > I missed the very beginning. How did Penny come to tell AFF she was breaking up with Leonard and what reasons did she give? I must know! This is very important! It was a funny scene with a couple of LOL (for me) scenes… _Do you think you and Leonard might ever get married? Oh, well, you know, Leonard is great. But do you think you’ll ever get married? He’s a sweetie. You’re not answering the question. Do you love him? Yeah, sure, of course I love him. It doesn’t sound like it. Well, I do. Do you tell him that? No, he’d just take it the wrong way. What does that mean? It means he is special and smart and nice and… Are you gonna break up with him? No! Maybe. I don’t know. I had no idea you were unhappy. That’s the thing: I’m not. I’m not unhappy at all. It’s just… I don’t know… I-I’ve been in love before, but it felt different. But maybe this is a new, better, boring kind of love._ ---
**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:** [October 5, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735/26 "2012-10-05T17:39:52Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Sheldon showing real concern over Leonard was. . . disconcerting. I disagree. “Please don’t hurt my friend” was possibly Jim Parsons’ best line reading of the entire series so far. Not the funniest, of course, but one of his best in-character moments. Sheldon could easily be a cartoon character. Kudos to Parsons for giving him some relatability. ---
**Author:** ![HeyHomie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heyhomie/32/207_2.png) [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735/27 "2012-10-05T17:55:25Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > I don’t remember Lavar Burton on the Big Bang Theory. Does he play himself? What did he do the first time he was on? A season or two back. Sheldon is annoyed that their gang is spending time at Raj & Priya’s place instead of his, so he decides to make new friends. He invited Kripke, Stuart, Penny’s boyfriend at the time (some big meathead whose name escapes me), and LeVar Burton (via Twitter), who doesn’t show. The evening winds up being a huge bust. After the final commercial, there’s a small bit where LeVar shows up to the apartment and, for reasons that I can’t remember right now, is glad he didn’t go. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735/28 "2012-10-05T17:55:48Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > I don’t remember Lavar Burton on the Big Bang Theory. Does he play himself? What did he do the first time he was on? Sheldon tweeted him an invite to his party when his usual group started meeting at Raj’s place instead ([The Toast Derivation](http://bigbangtheory.wikia.com/wiki/The_Toast_Derivation)). _As the night developed, surprisingly LeVar came to the gathering (terribly late) but when he saw Barry, Zack, and a half naked Stuart singing to “I’m Walking On Sunshine”, LeVar immediately left and said, “I am so done with Twitter”._ ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735/29 "2012-10-05T18:01:36Z")
> [@sachertorte](#): > > I don’t remember Lavar Burton on the Big Bang Theory. Does he play himself? What did he do the first time he was on? It was “The Toast Derivation.” He walked into (and right back out of) the apartment where Stuart, wearing nothing but a towel around his waist, and another wrapped around his head like a turban, was singing karaoke with his two new best friends, Zack and Barry Kripke (Sheldon had left in a snit because they were having fun wrong). ---
**Author:** ![Helena330](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/helena330/32/531_2.png) [@Helena330](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Helena330)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735/30 "2012-10-05T18:46:18Z")
I thought maybe I was losing my sense of humor so I’m glad it’s not just me that’s been dis-satisfied with BBT. When they start having to rely on gimmickry (Howard in space) rather than good writing, you know they’re running out of ideas. I hope they can get it back together. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735/31 "2012-10-05T18:56:08Z")
> [@Helena330](#): > > I hope they can get it back together. they have four years. ---
**Author:** ![Caricci](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Caricci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Caricci)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735/32 "2012-10-05T19:14:01Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I’m greatly disappointed that “astronaut screaming for nine minutes” isn’t actually on youtube - how hard would it have been to put up a mask in a window and get Wolowitz to scream? > > Since when did Sheldon take a dislike against MIT in general? I know he’s not impressed that Howard only has a Masters, but sodomize him with a rusty spade for equating MIT to art college. > > muldoonthief, MIT '89 The president of Stuart’s college went to MIT. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735/33 "2012-10-05T19:45:56Z")
Yeah, I’ve been a loyal fan, but this year is starting slow. I did like Sheldon saying: \*Please don’t hurt my friend. \* And I did laugh when he bashed engineers (not because I \*share \*his disdain for engineers, just because I find his disdain for engineers amusing. Too many of my friends are engineers for me to have disdain for them.) ---
**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:** [October 5, 2012, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735/34 "2012-10-05T19:53:11Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > _Wolowitz went to MIT. What’s your educational background? > I went to art school. > Equally ridiculous. Let’s go._ > > It was perfectly in character. Sheldon looks down on everyone, but especially engineers: > > Sheldon: _Engineering—where the semi-skilled laborers execute the vision of those who think and dream. Hello Oompa-Loompas of science._ Ah - that I get. It’s just that MIT graduates far more than it’s fair share of Sheldonesque theoretical physicists, which is why I don’t get why he was bashing the entire Institute, instead of just the engineers. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735/35 "2012-10-05T20:34:07Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Ah - that I get. It’s just that MIT graduates far more than it’s fair share of Sheldonesque theoretical physicists, which is why I don’t get why he was bashing the entire Institute, instead of just the engineers. Collegiate rivalry? Sheldon works at CalTech so obviously CalTech \> MIT. If MIT was better, Sheldon would be working there. QED ETA: It’s not like he hasn’t bashed MIT physics before: \*“If by “Holy Smokes”, you mean a derivative restatement of the kind of stuff you could find scribbled on the wall of any men’s room at MIT, sure.” \* ---
**Author:** ![sachertorte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sachertorte/32/3727_2.png) [@sachertorte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sachertorte)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735/36 "2012-10-05T20:53:10Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Ah - that I get. It’s just that MIT graduates far more than it’s fair share of Sheldonesque theoretical physicists, which is why I don’t get why he was bashing the entire Institute, instead of just the engineers. Because you don’t call someone who is actually stupid, “stupid.” That’s not funny. Berating MIT grads as being stupid is _funny_. It isn’t serious commentary on the world. While Sheldon may think it, I don’t think you need to be told that taking Sheldon’s world view to heart is… not the point. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735/37 "2012-10-05T21:46:57Z")
> [@Khadaji](#): > > Yeah, I’ve been a loyal fan, but this year is starting slow. I did like Sheldon saying: \*Please don’t hurt my friend. \* > And I did laugh when he bashed engineers (not because I \*share \*his disdain for engineers, just because I find his disdain for engineers amusing. Too many of my friends are engineers for me to have disdain for them.) I liked the “Please don’t hurt my friend” line as well. Touching! ---
**Author:** ![Gerald\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/43a26b/32.png) [@Gerald\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gerald_II)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735/38 "2012-10-05T22:03:15Z")
The highlight for me was when Sheldon told Penny “don’t hurt my friend.” But the show is kind of declining in quality. I expect poop jokes on other shows, not he Big Bang Theory. I liked that Leonard was dating Priya but him going back to Penny makes him look like more of a loser and the jokes aren’t that good. I don’t like Stuart either. ---
**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:** [October 5, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735/39 "2012-10-05T22:25:17Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Amy hiding her right hand got obvious after a while. And AFAIK, the sleeping chambers on the ISS don’t have windows. Yeah, but the image of astronauts gluing an alien mask onto one to scare the crap out of Howard was the funniest moment of the show. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2012, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735/40 "2012-10-05T22:44:53Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I’m greatly disappointed that “astronaut screaming for nine minutes” isn’t actually on youtube - how hard would it have been to put up a mask in a window and get Wolowitz to scream? The lack of audio would get old after a while. at the very least, you’d think your speakers were broken. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-10-4-the-decoupling-flucutation/636735.md?page=3)