# The Big Bang Theory, December 12, 2013 -- "The Cooper Extraction" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 12, 2013, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-december-12-2013-the-cooper-extraction/676200 "2013-12-12T22:29:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2013, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-december-12-2013-the-cooper-extraction/676200/41 "2013-12-14T23:25:40Z")
This episode was funny but I wonder if it would have been better if instead of the characters controlling the stories they were telling, we just saw a universe where Sheldon didn’t exist. Then again, Leonard making everyone pee themselves was probably the biggest laugh of the episode. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2013, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-december-12-2013-the-cooper-extraction/676200/42 "2013-12-14T23:27:18Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Sheldon is from the Houston area, not West Texas. Jim Parsons is from the Houston area (Spring), but Sheldon’s from “East Texas” and was born in Galveston, so my guess is that he’s from somewhere like Winnie or Liberty/Dayton, or possibly somewhere like Bay City, Sweeny or Angleton. ---
**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:** [December 15, 2013, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-december-12-2013-the-cooper-extraction/676200/43 "2013-12-15T00:22:43Z")
I was thinking about this the other day. AFF was pretty much trying to say Sheldon is a great person because he brought all of them together and pretty much made them who they are. But that’s really no thanks to him. I mean, it would be one thing if Sheldon talked to Leonard told him to believe in himself and gave Leonard the confidence he needed to ask Penny out. But he didn’t do anything like that. All those things they gave Sheldon thanks to was just pure dumb luck and happenstance. I mean really, we’re supposed to be thankful to Sheldon because he picked the apartment that lived across from Penny? Only except at the time when Sheldon moved into that apartment, she didn’t even live there!? :dubious: Heck, Leonard is with Penny _in spite of_ Sheldon if you ask me. And since Leonard and Penny were the axis for why all those other great things that happened, it’s really all thanks to Leonard and Penny. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-december-12-2013-the-cooper-extraction/676200/44 "2013-12-15T02:34:10Z")
I enjoyed this episode, but I confess I enjoy most of them. It was better than a simple flashback episode that other series inflict. And it wasn’t a production number either. I think it’s a testament to Balik’s professionalism that she’s able to keep a straight face playing AFF. And props to the producers for hiring an actor who can double as a science technical adviser. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-december-12-2013-the-cooper-extraction/676200/45 "2013-12-15T13:09:01Z")
[QUOTE=Biggirl] Leonard: [knock, knock, knock]What do you think? [knock, knock, knock]What do you think? [knock, knock, knock]What do you think? [/QUOTE] Color me slow, but I didn’t understand this joke. Explanation? Regards, Shodan ---
**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:** [December 15, 2013, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-december-12-2013-the-cooper-extraction/676200/46 "2013-12-15T13:15:29Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Color me slow, but I didn’t understand this joke. Explanation? > > Regards, > Shodan Leonard has often wondered how wonderful life would be if a certain compulsive obsessive person had not been born. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-december-12-2013-the-cooper-extraction/676200/47 "2013-12-15T14:33:22Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Color me slow, but I didn’t understand this joke. Explanation? > > Regards, > Shodan The knocking is a reference to how Sheldon always knocks on doors. [knock, knock, knock]Penny! [knock, knock, knock]Penny! [knock, knock, knock]Pennny! They poke fun at it sometimes, like if someone opens the door before the third knock, they tell Sheldon he can finish the sequence. ---
**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:** [December 15, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-december-12-2013-the-cooper-extraction/676200/48 "2013-12-15T16:06:25Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > I was thinking about this the other day. AFF was pretty much trying to say Sheldon is a great person because he brought all of them together and pretty much made them who they are. > > But that’s really no thanks to him. I mean, it would be one thing if Sheldon talked to Leonard told him to believe in himself and gave Leonard the confidence he needed to ask Penny out. But he didn’t do anything like that. . . Nonsense. Why, Sheldon went over there and personally assured Penney that Leonard was a gentle and thorough lover. :eek: 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-december-12-2013-the-cooper-extraction/676200/49 "2013-12-15T16:07:28Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > Leonard has often wondered how wonderful life would be if a certain compulsive obsessive person had not been born. The usual word order is obsessive-compulsive. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-december-12-2013-the-cooper-extraction/676200/50 "2013-12-15T16:12:55Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The usual word order is obsessive-compulsive. Exactly the kind of correction a compulsive obsessive person would make. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-december-12-2013-the-cooper-extraction/676200/51 "2013-12-15T16:25:30Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > The usual word order is obsessive-compulsive. [Actually…](http://www.roadkilltshirts.com/I-HAVE-CDO-ITS-LIKE-OCD-BUT-ALL-THE-LETTERS-ARE-IN-ALPHABETICAL-ORDER-AS-THEY-SHOULD-BE-T-SHIRT-WHITE-INK-P13513.aspx) ---
**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:** [December 15, 2013, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-december-12-2013-the-cooper-extraction/676200/52 "2013-12-15T19:00:55Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > This episode was funny but I wonder if it would have been better if instead of the characters controlling the stories they were telling, we just saw a universe where Sheldon didn’t exist. So that wasn’t Sheldon in the laundry room with Penny?😉 The premise started with Leonard having never moved in with Sheldon. But it varied a bit from there. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-december-12-2013-the-cooper-extraction/676200/53 "2013-12-15T20:56:40Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > So that wasn’t Sheldon in the laundry room with Penny?😉 > > The premise started with Leonard having never moved in with Sheldon. But it varied a bit from there. Was Sheldon in that scene? Somehow I didn’t notice 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![alfonzos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4bbf92/32.png) [@alfonzos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alfonzos)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-december-12-2013-the-cooper-extraction/676200/54 "2013-12-15T22:25:17Z")
Keep in mind, these were **not** alternate realities but characters telling stories about each other and trying to top one another how pathetic everyone else is. On that note, it was mean-spirited but funny nevertheless. It’s a sitcom, not a documentary. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-december-12-2013-the-cooper-extraction/676200.md?page=2)