# The Big Bang Theory 2/10--"The Benefactor Factor" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 10, 2011, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896 "2011-02-10T15:04:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896/21 "2011-02-11T14:44:14Z")
> [@](#): > > I didn’t start watching until the second season. There’s been Leslie Winkle, that doctor played by Sara Rue, that visiting professor who liked role playing (and not in the way the guys are used to), Penny, and Raj’s sister. Have I forgotten anyone? > > More in a season than I get in a decade. > > Several decades, in fact. > > I need a drink. The pre-Pepper Mill me seconds this. Back in grad school several of us used to compare our non-existent sex lives. In this show _Sheldon_ has actually had women coming on to him. ---
**Author:** ![gonzoron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a6a055/32.png) [@gonzoron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzoron)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896/22 "2011-02-11T15:09:36Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > Is Kaley Cuoco putting on some weight? She kind of looked like she had put on some weight in those exercise clothes she was wearing when Leonard walked home. Odd, I thought she was unusually hot in those scenes. (and I usually think she’s pretty hot, so unusually hot is pretty darn hot.) I think it’s the socks. Dunno why, but those are some sexy socks. Episode was pretty enjoyable overall. The benefactor lady was really good. The cast overall very funny, and the plot less over-the-top and silly than some of the recent ones. I think I like AFF in small skyping doses better than in person. Last week’s fish tank gag and this week’s liberal arts bit were some of her best work. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896/23 "2011-02-11T16:41:58Z")
I agree in real life Penny would’ve had more feelings that this, but this is standard for sitcom fare. Remember “That 70s Show,” or “Petticoat Junction” where characters swap boyfriends and still remain OK with it. I loved this episode, the pacig was good, but the laughter was noticable for me and I ususally don’t notice that. I agree these “nerds” get far too much sex, but in reality if you dress the guys up none of them are ugly at all. In real life none of them would have trouble getting a date much less sex. I think the theme of “men do stupid things when it comes to the possiblity of sex” is a good theme (think: Bill Clinton, John Edwards, etc). ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896/24 "2011-02-11T16:42:08Z")
Fun episode I thought. The cougar was funny, especially the way she openly abused Raj and Space Plumber. So that was the crazed girl from _Play Misty for Me_. Good to see she is still around and acting. Funny, last week I thought Community was awesome while BBT phoned one in. This time I thought Community was fairly weak while BBT had a really good one. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896/25 "2011-02-11T16:55:38Z")
> [@](#): > > I agree these “nerds” get far too much sex, but in reality if you dress the guys up none of them are ugly at all. In real life none of them would have trouble getting a date much less sex. But it’s not a matter of _looks_. It’s means, motives, and opportunity. And mindset. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896/26 "2011-02-11T17:21:31Z")
> [@JoelUpchurch](#): > > My favorite line was when AFF warned Sheldon that if he didn’t do something, the rich people might give money to the liberal arts departments and Sheldon cried, “Oh the Humanities!”. I liked the part where AFF says the money could go to the Geography Department and Sheldon says, “Not the dirt people.” It’s so condescending and perfectly fits Sheldons smarter-than-thou attitude. ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896/27 "2011-02-11T19:51:50Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > If [imdb.com](http://imdb.com) is to be believed, the benefactor is being played by Jessica Walter. If that’s the case, Leonard has my sympathy. Hey, in her heyday, she was considered sizzlin’. Watch _[Play Misty for Me](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067588/)_. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896/28 "2011-02-11T19:54:09Z")
> [@PoorYorick](#): > > Hey, in her heyday, she was considered sizzlin’. Watch _[Play Misty for Me](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067588/)_. I think his point is that [Jessica Walter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Walter) as Evelyn was a crazy stalker. The original Fatal Attraction. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2011, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896/29 "2011-02-11T20:06:16Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > Fun episode I thought. The cougar was funny, especially the way she openly abused Raj and Space Plumber. So that was the crazed girl from _Play Misty for Me_. Good to see she is still around and acting. 😕 You’ve never seen **Arrested Development** , or **Archer**? She’s been acting pretty steadily these days. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2011, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896/30 "2011-02-11T20:07:52Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I think his point is that [Jessica Walter](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Walter) as Evelyn was a crazy stalker. The original Fatal Attraction. Nah, I was referring to her turns as Lucille Bluth and Mallory Archer. I was hoping for a “musty old claptrap” reference last night though. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896/31 "2011-02-11T20:31:34Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > But it’s not a matter of _looks_. It’s means, motives, and opportunity. And mindset. True but all of the guys are decent looking, well educated, they have good respectable jobs and they are in their late 20s/early 30s. This is just the kind of man women look for. Even accounting for social awkwardness all of them (except Sheldon possibly) should have no issues. I agree mindset is the key but today but they’d get offers. I worked in a computer store over the holidays and they had some REAL nerds and geeks and and they were much like these guys are “supposed” to be 🙂 Remember when the producer of a soap opera on _the Simpsons_ says “I wanted Mary Ann from ‘Gilligan’s Island’ ugly, not ugly ugly” 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896/32 "2011-02-11T20:41:30Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > 😕 You’ve never seen **Arrested Development** , or **Archer**? She’s been acting pretty steadily these days. I didn’t like \*AD \*so I never watched more than 2 episodes. I never heard of _Archer_. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2011, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896/33 "2011-02-11T21:14:59Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > I never heard of _Archer_. It’s on FX. Do yourself a favor. Personally, I couldn’t _not_ think of her as a live-action version of Mallory Archer on BBT. I think that made it even funnier! “Who told you you could eat those shrimp?!” ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896/34 "2011-02-11T21:22:40Z")
> [@](#): > > True but all of the guys are decent looking, well educated, they have good respectable jobs and they are in their late 20s/early 30s. This is just the kind of man women look for. Go back in time and tell that to the 30 year old me. But it certainly wasn’t my experience. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896/35 "2011-02-11T21:24:46Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > It’s on FX. Do yourself a favor. > > Personally, I couldn’t _not_ think of her as a live-action version of Mallory Archer on BBT. I think that made it even funnier! > > “Who told you you could eat those shrimp?!” Exactly! I watched them back-to-back, and now I can just imagine Sterling saying “Mother! You slept with lab mutant science geek?” before putting a bullet in Leonard’s kneecap. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896/36 "2011-02-11T21:45:46Z")
> [@Morbo](#): > > 😕 You’ve never seen **Arrested Development** , or **Archer**? She’s been acting pretty steadily these days. Oh wow…I never even put her voice to Mrs. Archer and I always wondered who did her. Cool. This ep was pretty funny, although I will chalk this one as another episode where Sheldon’s “too smart for people” act is way too over the top. I don’t care how stupid/smart/stupid-smart you are…some of the things he says on this show are totally unbelievable; and not the omg-I-can’t-believe-he-just-said-that unbelievable, but the omg-there-is-no-way-an-actual-person-would-say-that unbelievable. I give credit to everyone else on the show (especially Raj and Walowitz) as to the only reason I keep watching. ---
**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:** [February 11, 2011, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896/37 "2011-02-11T22:52:29Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > Oh wow…I never even put her voice to Mrs. Archer and I always wondered who did her. Cool. And to make it funnier - Jeffrey Tambor (a.k.a George Bluth Senior) is the voice of Len Drexler, the head of ODIN (and one of Sterling’s possible fathers) ---
**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:** [February 13, 2011, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896/38 "2011-02-13T18:14:52Z")
This week’s TV Guide has a blurb on Carol Ann Susi who voices Mrs. Wolowitz. She says that is real voice. Quick, get her together with Fran Drescher (The Nanny) and Maggie Wheeler (Janice on Friends). ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2011, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896/39 "2011-02-14T01:34:00Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > This week’s TV Guide has a blurb on Carol Ann Susi who voices Mrs. Wolowitz. She says that is real voice. Quick, get her together with Fran Drescher (The Nanny) and Maggie Wheeler (Janice on Friends). And Estelle Harris (Estelle Costanza, George’s Mom). [I find my son treating his body like an amusement park…too bad you can’t do that for a living…you can sell out Madison Square Garden](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icr02VbbCjY) ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2011, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896/40 "2011-02-14T21:24:28Z")
I was pleased when, a few episodes ago, the “Truth or Dare” game ended with Penny leaving, upset by (and unwilling to answer) what she’d do if another girl figured out what a great guy Leonard was. Similarly, I liked Penny’s reaction to the costume party with Zack on New Years’ Eve at the comic book store. So this episode was a disappointment, because Penny’s reaction when Leonard comes back from the “walk of shame” having slept with the wealthy donor was not in the least discomfited. On the contrary, she seemed genuinely amused and not in the least bit upset. Rats. Did I miss a memo? (cross posted from a thread I started after failing to find this one!) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-10-the-benefactor-factor/570896.md?page=3)