# The Big Bang Theory, April 4, 2013 -- "The Tenure Turbulence" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 5, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888 "2013-04-05T02:20:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**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 6, 2013, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888/41 "2013-04-06T01:24:05Z")
Sheldon has said his package is fully functional, or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![obfusciatrist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/4af34b/32.png) [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888/42 "2013-04-06T02:12:45Z")
> [@deltasigma](#): > > Apparently you are unfamiliar with basic human biology. Let me help you out. > > [Webmd](http://teens.webmd.com/boys/wet-dream-faq) > > [Ayurvedic blog, but has more detail](http://blogs.rediff.com/allayurvedicremedies/2011/09/17/what-specifically-causes-nocturnal-emissions/) Now I feel all broken. I haven’t had a wet dream since I was 14 and have experienced many rather lengthy periods of no ejaculating at all. And my balls never exploded. At least that would have been an interesting experience to compensate for the dry spells. Not sure that I’m buying the scientific rigor of your second link though. But that may just be a bias against sites telling me all the wonderful things that “best herbal supplements” can do for me. ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888/43 "2013-04-06T02:23:13Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > Now I feel all broken. I haven’t had a wet dream since I was 14 and have experienced many rather lengthy periods of no ejaculating at all. And my balls never exploded. At least that would have been an interesting experience to compensate for the dry spells. > > Not sure that I’m buying the scientific rigor of your second link though. But that may just be a bias against sites telling me all the wonderful things that “best herbal supplements” can do for me. It’s your prostate that would explode, not your testes. And simple analogy to men who’ve had their [vas deferentia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vas_deferens#Significance_in_contraception) severed and tied should be sufficient to assuage any fears of exploding testicles. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888/44 "2013-04-06T04:38:06Z")
> [@deltasigma](#): > > Whoa. Give me a moment to pay you due homage. [lays prostrate] > > But don’t you think they’ve deliberately down played that since then? I mean the jokes about the fist sisters and the like was mostly Wolowitz territory when they were all single. Raj and Leonard got a few in here and there. But Sheldon? Never that I recall, except maybe as in that joke by implication. But even then, it was rare wasn’t it? Or is my memory just shit? (yes, I’ll just go ahead and preemptively check the second box. ☹ ) Yeah, in the [unaired first pilot](http://bigbangtheory.wikia.com/wiki/Unaired_Pilot) there was a similar scene, only that Sheldon was off camera “making his deposit” and then had to apologize to a waiting Leonard: \*Took you long enough. Sorry. I got distracted. Really? How exactly do you get distracted making a sperm deposit? You find something more interesting in your pants? No. Just the usual contents which I was operating in the traditional manner. But then I started to think… \*Hard to imagine “our” Sheldon behaving like that. ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888/45 "2013-04-06T04:46:19Z")
Cool. From your link and for others who may be interested: > [@](#): > > _[The Big Bang Theory](http://bigbangtheory.wikia.com/wiki/The_Big_Bang_Theory)’s_ **Unaired Pilot,** refers to the original pilot made for the 2006-2007 season that was not picked up by the network, thus it was never aired. Only [Johnny Galecki](http://bigbangtheory.wikia.com/wiki/Johnny_Galecki) and [Jim Parsons](http://bigbangtheory.wikia.com/wiki/Jim_Parsons) were in the cast, and the female lead, Katie, was envisioned as “a street-hardened, tough-as-nails woman with a vulnerable interior”. Katie was played by actress [Amanda Walsh](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1303038/) . They also had a female friend called Gilda (played by [Iris Bahr](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0052754/) ). The show’s original theme music was also different, using [Thomas Dolby’s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Dolby) hit “[She Blinded me with Science](http://bigbangtheory.wikia.com/wiki/She_Blinded_me_with_Science)” It seems to be available too, though not through the usual channels. Don’t think I can any more. There are [clips on youtube](https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=site%3Ayoutube+big+bang+theory+unaired+pilot&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=N5g&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&sclient=psy-ab&q=site:youtube.com+big+bang+theory+unaired+pilot&oq=site:youtube.com+big+bang+theory+unaired+pilot&gs_l=serp.3...3526.6065.2.6228.12.10.2.0.0.2.209.1710.0j9j1.10.0.ckwqrh..0.0...1.1.8.psy-ab.-lO43JmwE-o&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.44770516,d.ZGU&fp=c79eabfdc467ac91&biw=1427&bih=755) purporting to be from that episode but I didn’t verify. ---
**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 6, 2013, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888/46 "2013-04-06T04:56:52Z")
That unaired pilot comes from the parallel universe where Spock will have a beard (or did have when they came back to kill the whales). It has no bearing on the behavior of the Sheldon in this universe. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888/47 "2013-04-06T05:08:22Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > That unaired pilot comes from the parallel universe where Spock will have a beard (or did have when they came back to kill the whales). It has no bearing on the behavior of the Sheldon in this universe. ``` I subscribe to the "Many Worlds" theory which posits the existence of an infinite number of Sheldons in an infinite number of universes and in at least one of them Sheldon's a wanking fool. ``` ---
**Author:** ![deltasigma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e5b9ba/32.png) [@deltasigma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deltasigma)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888/48 "2013-04-06T05:10:57Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > That unaired pilot comes from the parallel universe where Spock will have a beard (or did have when they came back to kill the whales). It has no bearing on the behavior of the Sheldon in this universe. OK. At least until the episode where they swap out goody two-pods with evil horn dog Sheldon. (it could happen - there’s an alternate universe episode in the future for this show, I guarantee it) 🙂 ---
**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 6, 2013, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888/49 "2013-04-06T05:29:13Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Sheldon has said his package is fully functional, or something like that. Fully functional _and_ aesthetically pleasing. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2013, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888/50 "2013-04-06T14:57:27Z")
We got Penny Boob and Butt shots and it isn’t even sweeps. The bending over joke would have worked just fine shot from the front. The reverse angle was just a gratuitous “Nerds pause here!” moment. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888/51 "2013-04-07T20:16:04Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > This is true, but Leonard did imply that Sheldon was a frequent wanker: > > - Leonard, I don’t think I can do this. > What, are you kidding? You’re a semi-pro. > - Yes, it’s always seemed to me that they sort of retconned Sheldon’s lack of interest in sex since the first episode. ---
**Author:** ![MilTan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@MilTan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MilTan)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888/52 "2013-04-07T21:45:19Z")
All they had to do to make the tenure stuff believable (except for having an HR person on the committee; there was no rescuing that) would be to have the guys compete for a tenure-track job, instead of an already-tenured position. Given what we’ve seen of their jobs on the show, it’s likely that none of them are on the tenure track right now, and in many departments (though probably not CalTech physics), the only way a tenure track position opens up is if someone with tenure retires or dies. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888/53 "2013-04-07T23:39:34Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The first pilot episode had the two roommates returning from a sperm bank deposit, so Sheldon knows how to wank and does. He also had a fuck buddy in the first pilot. But what difference does that make? The first pilot isn’t canon. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888/54 "2013-04-08T00:13:00Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > He also had a fuck buddy in the first pilot. But what difference does that make? The first pilot isn’t canon. The fuck buddy was from the unaired pilot. The “semi-pro” at masturbating line was from the actual pilot/first episode that aired. ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2013, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888/55 "2013-04-08T07:45:43Z")
Other than Penny’s eye candy and AFF’s none to subtle hints to Sheldon, a big MEH from me. (TBH, I FF through alot of it) ---
**Author:** ![Wisp00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/977dab/32.png) [@Wisp00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wisp00)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888/56 "2013-04-11T22:45:54Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > Yeah, in the [unaired first pilot](http://bigbangtheory.wikia.com/wiki/Unaired_Pilot) there was a similar scene, only that Sheldon was off camera “making his deposit” and then had to apologize to a waiting Leonard: > [@deltasigma](#): > > There are [clips on youtube](https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=site%3Ayoutube+big+bang+theory+unaired+pilot&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a#hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=N5g&rls=org.mozilla:en-US%3Aofficial&sclient=psy-ab&q=site:youtube.com+big+bang+theory+unaired+pilot&oq=site:youtube.com+big+bang+theory+unaired+pilot&gs_l=serp.3...3526.6065.2.6228.12.10.2.0.0.2.209.1710.0j9j1.10.0.ckwqrh..0.0...1.1.8.psy-ab.-lO43JmwE-o&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.44770516,d.ZGU&fp=c79eabfdc467ac91&biw=1427&bih=755) purporting to be from that episode but I didn’t verify. I find it interesting how concepts of shows change. Here’s a clip showing all of the sexual references about Sheldon in the unaired pilot: [Sheldon has sex!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qv71E9IdW9w) I’m glad they didn’t go this way and give us another girl obsessed character. This is despite finding his current complete lack of sexuality a little off putting. I don’t know why they can’t just make him admit that he has sexual urges, but is suppressing them because he finds interpersonal relationships uncomfortable, and/or he feels he can better dedicate himself to his work by avoiding such things. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888/57 "2013-04-12T09:56:18Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Sheldon has said his package is fully functional, or something like that. Well, in ST:TNG, Data said the same thing, but I doubt he produced any sperm. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2013, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888/58 "2013-04-12T22:48:17Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > The fuck buddy was from the unaired pilot. The “semi-pro” at masturbating line was from the actual pilot/first episode that aired. Yes, and the unaired pilot came FIRST, making it the FIRST pilot. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2013, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888/59 "2013-04-13T03:42:35Z")
Wouldn’t one of them be the co-pilot? ---
**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 13, 2013, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888/60 "2013-04-13T04:44:32Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Well, in ST:TNG, Data said the same thing, but I doubt he produced any sperm. I always wondered if that meant Data produced some kind of faux-semen or just that he could get an erection. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-april-4-2013-the-tenure-turbulence/654888.md?page=4)