# The Big Bang Theory 9-27-12: The Date Night Variable **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 27, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029 "2012-09-27T15:26:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2012, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029/61 "2012-09-30T21:15:14Z")
I wonder of this “real girlfriend” comes with a flask tied around her neck. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2012, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029/62 "2012-09-30T23:56:35Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > I wonder of this “real girlfriend” comes with a flask tied around her neck. :dubious: Hearing impaired, perhaps? ---
**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:** [October 1, 2012, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029/63 "2012-10-01T00:04:23Z")
They tried that already. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2012, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029/64 "2012-10-01T01:17:01Z")
This episode was all about how stunted each character is and how none of them is going to get what they need emotionally. AFF should leave Sheldon, Bernadette should leave Howard. Howard should leave his mother and Leonard should leave Penny. And Penny needs to stop freakin’ chewing on her tongue. I think she’s trying to convey ‘snarky’ or maybe exasperation but all I get is “mmmm. . .tasty tongue”. I got hooked on this show watching the reruns on TBS. It used to show how the nerds _liked_ being nerdy. They enjoyed their games and important jobs. They liked being smart. Now they’re all as pathetic as everyone who picked on them thought they were. There, that ends my BBT rant. ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029/65 "2012-10-01T01:42:26Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > I read somewhere (_TV Guide_, I think) that Raj will be getting a real girlfriend this season. So the Raj-as-pathetic theme will be going by the wayside soon. I don’t know–there’s still the undeniable fact that he pointed out once: “No matter what happens now, I’ll always be the guy who got a girlfriend _after_ Sheldon Cooper!” There’s some pathos left there, I think. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2012, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029/66 "2012-10-01T04:47:05Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > They tried that already. Damn, I haven’t seen every BBT episode. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029/67 "2012-10-01T13:38:51Z")
TV Guide pointed out that Stewart is now a regular character, listed in the credits. Interesting trivia: In the episode with The Time Machine, Leonard says he is going to sell all his things to “Larry at the comic book store.” So Stewart probably bought the shop thinking he could make a living from it. Classic mistake. ---
**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 1, 2012, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029/68 "2012-10-01T13:42:31Z")
The problem I have with a brokedown Stuart is that he has connections. He should be playing those out for all he’s worth. It would also give the show a plethora of guest stars to play with. Heck, just Wil Wheaton’s gaming group alone would be good for a couple of seasons. ---
**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 1, 2012, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029/69 "2012-10-01T14:43:57Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > They tried that already. Twice, actually. The first one was kind of a throw-away scene; she was never actually on the screen. The whole bit takes place in the cafeteria. RAJ:… blah blah blah my girlfriend yada yada yada… LEONARD: How can _you_ have a girlfriend?! You can’t even talk to women! RAJ: Duh! Deaf chick. LEONARD: Huh??? RAJ: That’s what _she_ said! The second one was a couple of seasons later, with an actress who actually appeared on the screen. Howard came along as their sign-language translator. It only lasted one episode. ---
**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:** [October 1, 2012, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029/70 "2012-10-01T17:10:04Z")
> [@SCSimmons](#): > > I don’t know–there’s still the undeniable fact that he pointed out once: “No matter what happens now, I’ll always be the guy who got a girlfriend _after_ Sheldon Cooper!” There’s some pathos left there, I think. I’m likely to be the guy who got a girlfriend _after_ Rajesh Koothrappali, but if they keep adding progressively more pathetic characters, maybe I’ll beat one of them. ---
**Author:** ![TV\_time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f17d59/32.png) [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029/71 "2012-10-02T14:17:26Z")
The thing that struck me abut this episode is that Leonard has clearly been pumping iron, or something, which is just wrong. I mean science nerds are not supposed to be buff. ---
**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 2, 2012, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029/72 "2012-10-02T14:19:15Z")
He’s probably trying to avoid having a motorcycle fall on him again. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029/73 "2012-10-02T15:53:08Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > I’m likely to be the guy who got a girlfriend _after_ Rajesh Koothrappali, but if they keep adding progressively more pathetic characters, maybe I’ll beat one of them. Didn’t you already have that thing with Howard? ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029/74 "2012-10-02T15:59:17Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I got hooked on this show watching the reruns on TBS. It used to show how the nerds _liked_ being nerdy. They enjoyed their games and important jobs. They liked being smart. Now they’re all as pathetic as everyone who picked on them thought they were. I agree. And these “nerds” get more hot tail than I ever have. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029/75 "2012-10-02T16:58:22Z")
> [@TV\_time](#): > > The thing that struck me abut this episode is that Leonard has clearly been pumping iron, or something, which is just wrong. I mean science nerds are not supposed to be buff. Well, he is the muscle. Leonard: \*Why do I always have to carry the heavy stuff? \* Sheldon: _Well, it’s very simple. In our ragtag band of scientists with nothing to lose, I’m the smart one, Wolowitz is the funny one, and Koothrappali is the lovable foreigner who struggles to understand our ways and fails. That leaves you, by default, as the muscle._ ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 2, 2012, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029/76 "2012-10-02T19:35:42Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > I read somewhere (_TV Guide_, I think)… > [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > TV Guide pointed out that Stewart is now a regular character… Was anyone else stunned to come across not one, but _two_ references to TV Guide? mmm ---
**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:** [October 3, 2012, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029/77 "2012-10-03T12:13:21Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > Was anyone else stunned to come across not one, but _two_ references to TV Guide? > mmm Yes. I didn’t think anyone bought that magazine anymore. When they stopped carrying television listings, I thought it lost its purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029/78 "2012-10-03T13:15:38Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Yes. I didn’t think anyone bought that magazine anymore. When they stopped carrying television listings, I thought it lost its purpose. [TV Guide](http://www.tvguide.com/) has an online presence where they are the same as any other entertainment magazine but with name recognition. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029/79 "2012-10-03T13:38:40Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > [TV Guide](http://www.tvguide.com/) has an online presence where they are the same as any other entertainment magazine but with name recognition. Also, they have an iOS app that is a good, customizable source for listings, as well as entertainment news. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029/80 "2012-10-03T18:02:56Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > [TV Guide](http://www.tvguide.com/) has an online presence where they are the same as any other entertainment magazine but with name recognition. I have their TV tonight page bookmarked on my phone. It shows new prime-time programming only and I usually look at it once a day. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-9-27-12-the-date-night-variable/636029.md?page=3)