# The Big Bang Theory 4/5--Stephen Hawking Excitation (Stephen Hawking sighting!) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 5, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941 "2012-04-05T20:09:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**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:** [April 5, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941/1 "2012-04-05T20:09:47Z")
When Stephen Hawking visits Caltech to give a lecture, Sheldon goes to great lengths for a chance to meet his hero in person. ---
**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 5, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941/2 "2012-04-05T20:17:33Z")
The preview clips look hysterical. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941/3 "2012-04-06T01:56:24Z")
A very short Stephen Hawking sighting but this one was funny enough to stay on the DVR for a rewatch. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941/4 "2012-04-06T02:49:10Z")
he moves to grin at appropriate times. very cool. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941/5 "2012-04-06T04:10:12Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > When Stephen Hawking visits Caltech to give a lecture, Sheldon goes to great lengths for a chance to meet his hero in person. What was the last joke? Sheldon fainted and Hawking said something like, “Great, another \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.” ---
**Author:** ![eldowan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@eldowan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eldowan)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941/6 "2012-04-06T04:17:55Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > What was the last joke? Sheldon fainted and Hawking said something like, “Great, another \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.” Fainter Why do I feel like I’m walking into a whoosh? ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941/7 "2012-04-06T05:05:06Z")
I thought it was pretty weak writing but that was damn cool of Mr. Hawking to appear on the show. I was sure they were going to do it off screen like Howard’s mom. It would have been funnier though if Hawking really insulted Sheldon like he does to Howard. “Perhaps you’ll make a contribution to science one day, like dusting a Science Museum.” ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941/8 "2012-04-06T05:09:28Z")
> [@eldowan](#): > > Fainter > > Why do I feel like I’m walking into a whoosh? Thanks ---
**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:** [April 6, 2012, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941/9 "2012-04-06T05:44:24Z")
“Manties” would’ve been better than “Man panties.” ---
**Author:** ![Barking\_Dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Barking\_Dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barking_Dog)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941/10 "2012-04-06T07:52:47Z")
I think “manties” are a registered trademark. And i think that was probably the funniest episode of the season easy. It was hysterical! ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941/11 "2012-04-06T12:18:21Z")
when Bernie objected to Howard’s tormenting Sheldon but then set Sheldon up to shop with Howard’s mom to save herself was a good laugh. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941/12 "2012-04-06T12:29:24Z")
I thought Howard went way over the top in tormenting Sheldon. The maid outfit was just too mean. Not to mention it probably means we won’t see Bernadette in that dress. By the way, I doubt Howard’s mom would ever let anyone else do his laundry. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941/13 "2012-04-06T12:43:06Z")
I normally hate the trite joke of: “Oh, look! Guy in a dress!! Ha ha ha” But Sheldon in that french maid outfit was both disturbing and hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941/14 "2012-04-06T13:31:12Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > I normally hate the trite joke of: “Oh, look! Guy in a dress!! Ha ha ha” But Sheldon in that french maid outfit was both disturbing and hilarious. Very much so! Ha! ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941/15 "2012-04-06T13:44:32Z")
Our idiot local CBS station preempted TBBT for some stupid telethon. Jerks!! ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941/16 "2012-04-06T14:01:17Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > Our idiot local CBS station preempted TBBT for some stupid telethon. Jerks!! You probably already know this, but you can see the episode on [cbs.com](http://cbs.com). (Although when I missed last week’s episode it took forever before I found the right page. I kept getting directed to a page with clips. I eventually ended up using a different computer to get to it and have been too lazy to figure out the differences in the browser settings.) ---
**Author:** ![jk1245](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/49beb7/32.png) [@jk1245](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jk1245)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941/17 "2012-04-06T16:53:02Z")
Good episode. I thought for sure we were going to get a “bazinga” in Hawking’s electronic voice. And I agree on the disturbing+hilarious comment on Sheldon on the maid outfit. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941/18 "2012-04-06T17:42:24Z")
just saw the episode on the CBS site - omg, hilarious. every time I thought they were being too mean to Sheldon, then he would be a horrible jerk & I thought, ‘bring it on.’ The dialog was just great this ep I thought. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941/19 "2012-04-06T19:51:41Z")
Hawking visits Caltech quite frequently, or, at least, he did when I was there back in the '90s. I never actually spoke to him (I am not a physicist), but I saw him around the place a number of times. I would expect that somebody like Sheldon, and quite possibly Leonard too, would probably know him quite well. (Caltech is a very small campus; they would not be lost in the crowd.) ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2012, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941/20 "2012-04-06T20:05:14Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > I thought Howard went way over the top in tormenting Sheldon. The maid outfit was just too mean. Not to mention it probably means we won’t see Bernadette in that dress. > > By the way, I doubt Howard’s mom would ever let anyone else do his laundry. If the maid outfit fits Sheldon, it’s way too big for Bernadette. (Maybe that’s why she wouldn’t wear it? I can absolutely picture Howard going to buy it and telling the clerk, “She’s about your size” when she isn’t.) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-4-5-stephen-hawking-excitation-stephen-hawking-sighting/617941.md?page=2)