# The Big Bang Theory 4/24--The Closure Alternative **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 25, 2013, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702 "2013-04-25T20:45:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702/21 "2013-04-26T17:16:28Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > She seems to cooperate pretty well with every guy she meets. > > They sort of addressed the lack of success in this episode, she’s kind of lazy. She’s not even all that passionate about acting. Maybe they could find her some moderate success as an actress, more commercials, some small recurring role, or something like that. I’ve never found the romance between Leonard and Penny credible though, I don’t know where they can go with that. Maybe this episode intends to herald some personality changes in Penny. Big mistake IMHO, character development kills comedy. I would love to see her in another ridiculous commercial! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702/22 "2013-04-26T17:26:20Z")
You mean like if she dressed as a [purple Genie and pitched Toyotas](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iymBRSUfz9U)? ---
**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:** [April 26, 2013, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702/23 "2013-04-26T17:29:51Z")
That could be _seriously_ meta, bordering on “Community-meta.” ---
**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:** [April 26, 2013, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702/24 "2013-04-26T17:40:48Z")
Even better-meta: Have William Shatner guest star as himself doing a commercial with Penny and have the guys nerd out over it. It should be a commercial about discount travelling, of course. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702/25 "2013-04-26T17:44:01Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > She seems to cooperate pretty well with every guy she meets. :smack: > [@](#): > > Maybe this episode intends to herald some personality changes in Penny. Big mistake IMHO, character development kills comedy. They don’t have to change her very much, but they at least need to find a way get her back on par with the other characters. Nothing kills comedy faster than when it starts to get sad. You can’t have the nerds grow socially without having the social queen find equal success in another area. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702/26 "2013-04-26T17:44:23Z")
> [@The\_Controvert](#): > > You mean like if she dressed as a [purple Genie and pitched Toyotas](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iymBRSUfz9U)? Yeah, sure, something like that, maybe… ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702/27 "2013-04-26T17:48:23Z")
I just surprised that there’s an active discussion about weather or not a obsessive compulsion is portrayed correctly. I thought it was a hilarious episode; and I’m very fortunate to have never once worried about whether or not Sheldon should have just drawn on O on the board, only sang the last note of the song, or only blow out once candle. We have some dopers who seem to be as OC about the tv show as Sheldon portrays in TBBT. ---
**Author:** ![Jane\_D\_oh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/839c29/32.png) [@Jane\_D\_oh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jane_D_oh)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702/28 "2013-04-26T18:01:26Z")
I was disappointed that Penny didn’t like Buffy. I think Leonard was spot on in suggesting it as a place where their Venn diagrams might intersect. The fact that it didn’t doesn’t bode well. Also, I had a chilling thought that Penny’s epiphany in conjunction with her real life commercial success means she was going to be killed off and that’s how we’d find out her last name. Then I remembered that Joss Whedon doesn’t write BBT. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702/29 "2013-04-26T18:04:51Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > I’ve mentioned before that BBT almost always gets the little things right, but this just made me so pleased. I disagree. Most of what I’ve seen about World of Warcraft is way off base. Locations and items that do not exist, game mechanics that do not work as described, etc. They also messed up details about D&D game mechanics. The card game they play as a generic clone of _Magic: The Gathering_ has no detectable internal consistency or gameplay mechanics. I don’t play _Age of Conan_, so I don’t know if they got that stuff right or not, but pretty much every other gaming detail I’ve seen has been wrong. ---
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702/30 "2013-04-26T18:22:25Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I’ve never found the romance between Leonard and Penny credible though, I don’t know where they can go with that. Maybe this episode intends to herald some personality changes in Penny. Big mistake IMHO, character development kills comedy. I don’t like Leonard and Penny period. Leonard would be much better off with Alex, the hot assistant. Penny would be better off with someone that could engage her without being weighed down. There’s a spectrum of intelligence and you don’t have to be tenure track at CalTech to show a ditzy actress that she doesn’t have to settle for douchebags. The entire romance makes no sense. Friendship? Yes. Sex? Blergh. > [@Enright3](#): > > I just surprised that there’s an active discussion about \*\*weather \*\*or not a obsessive compulsion is portrayed correctly. > > I thought it was a hilarious episode; and I’m very fortunate to have never once worried about whether or not Sheldon should have just drawn on O on the board, only sang the last note of the song, or only blow out once candle. > > We have some dopers who seem to be as OC about the tv show as Sheldon portrays in TBBT. There has been discussion about weather (or more accurately climate) and how the guys consistently overdress for living in SoCal. ---
**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:** [April 26, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702/31 "2013-04-26T18:29:11Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I disagree. Most of what I’ve seen about World of Warcraft is way off base. Locations and items that do not exist, game mechanics that do not work as described, etc. They also messed up details about D&D game mechanics. The card game they play as a generic clone of _Magic: The Gathering_ has no detectable internal consistency or gameplay mechanics. I don’t play _Age of Conan_, so I don’t know if they got that stuff right or not, but pretty much every other gaming detail I’ve seen has been wrong. OK. Reworded: They get the important things right. 😛 ---
**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:** [April 26, 2013, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702/32 "2013-04-26T18:30:18Z")
> [@pancakes3](#): > > I don’t like Leonard and Penny period. Leonard would be much better off with Alex, the hot assistant. Penny would be better off with someone that could engage her without being weighed down. There’s a spectrum of intelligence and you don’t have to be tenure track at CalTech to show a ditzy actress that she doesn’t have to settle for douchebags. The entire romance makes no sense. Friendship? Yes. Sex? Blergh. I really think Penny and Sheldon belong together. Not because it makes sense, because it makes great comedy material. The whole thing is unrealistic, so they might as well go for the most laughs. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702/33 "2013-04-26T18:34:15Z")
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; Penny needs to get a role in a low budget mockbuster or SyFy original TV movie or super cheesy scifi/fantasy show. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702/34 "2013-04-26T18:41:47Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > I disagree. Most of what I’ve seen about World of Warcraft is way off base. Locations and items that do not exist, game mechanics that do not work as described, etc. They also messed up details about D&D game mechanics. The card game they play as a generic clone of _Magic: The Gathering_ has no detectable internal consistency or gameplay mechanics. I don’t play _Age of Conan_, so I don’t know if they got that stuff right or not, but pretty much every other gaming detail I’ve seen has been wrong. Citing fictional games is not the way to prove your point. And I did say “almost always.” They get a lot of stuff right. A lot more than I expect them to (it’s just a TV show after all) and a lot more than I think they have to to keep their non-geek audience satisfied. So points for going the extra mile _ **most of the time** _. ---
**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:** [April 26, 2013, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702/35 "2013-04-26T18:42:23Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; Penny needs to get a role in a low budget mockbuster or SyFy original TV movie or super cheesy scifi/fantasy show. That’s a very good idea. Penny in hot costumes, and the guys endlessly whining over inaccurate details in the movie. Expect another restraining order for Sheldon. And then she could be in a booth signing autographs at ComicCon. Followed by another restraining order for Sheldon. ---
**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:** [April 26, 2013, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702/36 "2013-04-26T18:49:14Z")
Somebody forward that idea to Lorre and the writers! ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702/37 "2013-04-26T18:54:40Z")
It’s a great premise. They could milk it for most of a season. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702/38 "2013-04-26T19:22:02Z")
Okay, I had an idea for an episode. I do not think they would ever do it. I’m pretty sure they shouldn’t do it, but I love crossovers. For those who don’t know the show NCIS:LA, it’s an action-based series based in L.A. where they routinely solve murders and stop terrorists. The head of the operation is a cute, older, dangerous short woman named Hetty. I posit a situation where they uncover evidence for a powerful weapon in the hands of suspected terrorists, but the geek guy and gal can’t figure out if the physics for it works. Yeah, they send to UCLA for Sheldon and Leonard (and somehow you’d get Howard and Raj). Sheldon eventually figures out the physics is flawed and won’t work. Howard gets kidnapped and is saved by the hot girl agent, yielding appropriate inappropriate humor. Someone’s about to be murdered, and the agents are about to rush to action, but Sheldon’s eidetic memory yields the final clue, and they go to the RIGHT spot and save the day. After the day, they get souvenirs and leave, and agent Callen walks up to his supervisor’s desk, and knocks: “Hetty.” knock “Hetty”. knock “Hetty”. I will not be quitting my day job. ---
**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:** [April 26, 2013, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702/39 "2013-04-26T19:24:51Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > They sort of addressed the lack of success in this episode, she’s kind of lazy. She’s not even all that passionate about acting. Maybe they could find her some moderate success as an actress, more commercials, some small recurring role, or something like that. … For a moment it seemed like they were going there when the gang saw her in _Streetcar_ and Sheldon was impressed with how she remembered all those lines. At some point the character has to have _some_ redeeming value (_other_ than breasts that can be pushed up for a memorial service). ---
**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:** [April 26, 2013, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702/40 "2013-04-26T19:25:16Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > That’s a very good idea. Penny in hot costumes, and the guys endlessly whining over inaccurate details in the movie. Expect another restraining order for Sheldon. And then she could be in a booth signing autographs at ComicCon. Followed by another restraining order for Sheldon. Not to mention Bernie and Amy alternating between jealousy of the attention Penny is getting and being thrilled by the attention _they_ get when they visit the set. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-24-the-closure-alternative/656702.md?page=3)