# The Big Bang Theory 2/16--The Rothman DisintegrationSeason **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 16, 2012, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063 "2012-02-16T20:47:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063/21 "2012-02-17T18:38:50Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I was bothered by the fact that Kripki was so un-athletic. He rock-climbs for _fun_, which implies at least a certain level of hand-eye coordination. Not only that, he didn’t _look_ unathletic. Sheldon is at least tall and lanky at appears as though he’s never been on a court. Kripki looks like someone who could handle dribbling a basketball without looking physically disabled. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 17, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063/22 "2012-02-17T21:12:42Z")
I’m expecting a change-of-pace episode, possibly end of season cliffhanger, in which Amy kidnaps Penny and takes her to a remote cabin to be her squaw. It’s getting kind of creepy, that plotline. ---
**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:** [February 17, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063/23 "2012-02-17T21:15:36Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > I was bothered by the fact that Kripki was so un-athletic. He rock-climbs for _fun_, which implies at least a certain level of hand-eye coordination. No no no. He’s into _wok_ climbing. He enjoys standing on Chinese cookware. runs out of room dodging blunt objects ---
**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:** [February 19, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063/24 "2012-02-19T02:55:28Z")
I just can’t believe that Sheldon would have let the Dean leave the bathroom after urination and not washing his hands go without at least having made some comment about it. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063/25 "2012-02-19T03:39:58Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > I’m expecting a change-of-pace episode, possibly end of season cliffhanger, in which Amy kidnaps Penny and takes her to a remote cabin to be her squaw. It’s getting kind of creepy, that plotline. Agreed. I’ve seen people complain about the Raj/Howard jokes (and agree they’d gotten to a bit of a bad point), but they never, ever get to the ‘ick’ point that the Amy/Penny stuff has rather long-since reached… I’m glad the Raj/Howard got toned down, I just wish they hadn’t replaced it with Amy acting like that toward Penny. The ‘bi-curious Amy’ jokes were amusing, the ‘bi-predatory Amy’ jokes are not. ---
**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:** [February 19, 2012, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063/26 "2012-02-19T03:45:28Z")
The gym scenes made me laugh my ass off - “Who’s unsatisfactory at PE now?” (The “bitches” was implied). 😃 ---
**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:** [February 19, 2012, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063/27 "2012-02-19T06:39:27Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > I just can’t believe that Sheldon would have let the Dean leave the bathroom after urination and not washing his hands go without at least having made some comment about it. For that matter, was this the first time we’ve seen someone actually urinating (or at least attempting to) on a prime time TV show? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063/28 "2012-02-19T07:36:41Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > For that matter, was this the first time we’ve seen someone actually urinating (or at least attempting to) on a prime time TV show? Nah. I remember a urinal scene in _Rosanne_. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 7:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063/29 "2012-02-19T07:49:28Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Nah. I remember a urinal scene in _Rosanne_. “Oh, I get it! It’s like being in an elevator!” ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063/30 "2012-02-19T16:05:06Z")
> [@Tengu](#): > > I’ve seen people complain about the Raj/Howard jokes (and agree they’d gotten to a bit of a bad point), but they never, ever get to the ‘ick’ point that the Amy/Penny stuff has rather long-since reached… Because the Raj/Howard stuff is mutual. Penny is clearly very uncomfortable with Amy’s “extra” attention, which is what makes it icky. ---
**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:** [February 19, 2012, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063/31 "2012-02-19T16:14:04Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > Because the Raj/Howard stuff is mutual. Penny is clearly very uncomfortable with Amy’s “extra” attention, which is what makes it icky. Nah, I’d say Howie’s been a ltitle weirded out a few times. Whoever said predatory was right - Amy is waaaayyyyyyy too enthusiastic, whereas Raj is just clueless. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063/32 "2012-02-19T16:26:38Z")
I can only think of one point when Howard got weirded out by one of Raj’s comments (the whole thing about dreaming about having a tunnel from his front door to Howard’s back door), but, yeah, the fact that Raj’s response wasn’t to push it further after that is a big part of why Raj/Howard is just tired, whereas Amy/Penny is creepy. ---
**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:** [February 19, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063/33 "2012-02-19T18:02:17Z")
I’m tired of the Amy/Penny predatory thing, too - it definitely is well into “creepy” territory, with Penny obviously so uncomfortable with someone she considers a friend constantly making inappropriate comments about her. ---
**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:** [February 19, 2012, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063/34 "2012-02-19T18:40:07Z")
It will get a lot less “icky” when, as the season finale, everybody gives in to their hidden desires. Penny, Amy and Bernadette get all oily and slippery when someone spills cooking oil during a “Girls Night” dinner. At Raj’s apartment, he and Howard finally face facts and move from erzatz to actual. Down at the comic book store, Captain Sweatpants shows Leonard why he’s the Captain. Elsewhere Evil Wil Wheaton makes Sheldon his bitch. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063/35 "2012-02-19T18:41:00Z")
I agree that it’s about as cringe-worthy as watching a urethral catheterization video. But just to play devil’s advocate here—would it change things any if Amy were hot AND didn’t have the personality of a Smurf with Asperger’s? > [@](#): > > Penny, Amy and Bernadette get all oily and slippery when someone spills cooking oil during a “Girls Night” dinner. I’ll be in my bunk. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063/36 "2012-02-19T18:51:20Z")
AFF has done research on and knows of the science of pleasure. also as a scientist would have a natural curiosity of things unknown to them (in this case actual experience not in a lab). AFF being her hyper nerd science character is clueless to social interaction as well. so from a science person perspective it isn’t so creepy. not that the show is trying to be deeply philosophically and psychologically accurate but it is something to hang comedy on. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063/37 "2012-02-19T19:02:07Z")
Dammit! I had the whole sentence mapped out in my head and I screwed the proverbial pooch. What I meant to say was “would it make any difference _for Penny and/or BBT’s faithful viewing audience_ if Amy were hot,” etc. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063/38 "2012-02-19T19:13:24Z")
Ouch, that was bad. A total lack of effort on the part of the writers. So we had: 1. Someone giving a friend an awful gift that the friend can’t put away nor tell the giver how horrible it is. 2. People vying for something that turns out to be found wanting by the winner. Neither of these have ever been used in sitcom history. (Sorry, there is no smiley big enough to go here.) I have no idea why modern sitcom writers re-use such stale plots. At least subvert them or do call outs or something. And why on Earth redo the Rock-Paper-Scissors-Spock-Lizard things again? Especially if they don’t end up playing it? Hint to one and all playing against Sheldon: pick lizard. This is the number one scripted show on Thursday nights, folks. ---
**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:** [February 19, 2012, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063/39 "2012-02-19T19:50:48Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Hint to one and all playing against Sheldon: pick lizard. I like to mix it up a little bit; throw in paper now and then. Why would Spock smash the scissors, anyway? ---
**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:** [February 19, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063/40 "2012-02-19T19:52:23Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Why would Spock smash the scissors, anyway? They made some cutting remark about his mother most likely. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-2-16-the-rothman-disintegrationseason/613063.md?page=3)