# The Big Bang Theory, May 1 - The Proton Transmogrification **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 2, 2014, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486 "2014-05-02T05:16:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [May 3, 2014, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/21 "2014-05-03T03:01:03Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > I can’t be the only one hoping they kill off more characters so we get to see Penny in her funeral dress again, can I? > [@Sir\_Prize](#): > > I thought Penny looked the best I’ve ever seen her. Mourning becomes Penny. Hmm, not bad, but it’s missing a certain something. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2014, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/22 "2014-05-03T06:39:39Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > On the down side, we really should have gotten at least one of the girls as Princess Leia… Amy, 'cause she’s not getting Leia’d. ---
**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:** [May 3, 2014, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/23 "2014-05-03T11:41:23Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Amy, 'cause she’s not getting Leia’d. Boo! ---
**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:** [May 3, 2014, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/24 "2014-05-03T16:05:03Z")
> [@Sir\_Prize](#): > > I thought Penny looked the best I’ve ever seen her. No, the Wonder Woman outfit could never be topped. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2014, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/25 "2014-05-03T17:48:44Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Virgins? Nah. Most of them have seen _The Rocky Horror Picture Show_. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/26 "2014-05-03T18:35:34Z")
So Professor Proton was 84 when he died, and Episode IV came out in 1977, when he was 47. It’s hard to believe that a 47 year old scientist didn’t know what Star Wars was - or wasn’t he as big a nerd as Sheldon? ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/27 "2014-05-04T00:09:28Z")
Utterly dreadful. Worst episode in a long time. I know that the old guy apparently is known in the US and as such many have some affection for him, but as a foreigner that doesn’t know him from Adam the guy cannot act and is a charisma black hole. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/28 "2014-05-04T00:20:36Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > Utterly dreadful. Worst episode in a long time. > > I know that the old guy apparently is known in the US and as such many have some affection for him, but as a foreigner that doesn’t know him from Adam the guy cannot act and is a charisma black hole. That’s what happens when you watch television from another country - sometimes you don’t get it. Bob is beloved because he’s given us two great television series, to say nothing of his stand-up comedy. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2014, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/29 "2014-05-04T01:27:58Z")
> [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](#): > > That’s what happens when you watch television from another country - sometimes you don’t get it. Bob is beloved because he’s given us two great television series, to say nothing of his stand-up comedy. And his character, Professor Proton, reminds us older 'Mericans of our beloved Mr. Wizard. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/30 "2014-05-04T03:09:18Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > So Professor Proton was 84 when he died, and Episode IV came out in 1977, when he was 47. It’s hard to believe that a 47 year old scientist didn’t know what Star Wars was - or wasn’t he as big a nerd as Sheldon? Well, no, uh, _nobody_ could – could have been as big, uh, a nerd as – as _Sheldon_. ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/31 "2014-05-04T04:42:24Z")
What bothered me about the spherical cake is that neither of the intelligent women realized it’d roll off the table. I could see that coming well in advance, and I’m not nearly as smart as them. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/32 "2014-05-04T09:18:32Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > What bothered me about the spherical cake is that neither of the intelligent women realized it’d roll off the table. I could see that coming well in advance, and I’m not nearly as smart as them. Baking is, to link another thread, outside their milieu. 🙂 I find that easier to believe than that Sheldon got everyone to re-watch the first five films to suit him. Everyone’s got a girl now, meaning that sort of stuff would be over. Heck, if Frodo, Sam, Pippin, and Merry had met chicks at that first inn, everyone would be saying “Hail Sauron.” ---
**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:** [May 4, 2014, 10:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/33 "2014-05-04T10:56:39Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > Utterly dreadful. Worst episode in a long time. > > I know that the old guy apparently is known in the US and as such many have some affection for him, but as a foreigner that doesn’t know him from Adam the guy cannot act and is a charisma black hole. Bob Newhart has been one of the top comedians since 1958. I have a hard time believing that he’s unknown to non-Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/34 "2014-05-04T14:02:50Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > Utterly dreadful. Worst episode in a long time. > > I know that the old guy apparently is known in the US and as such many have some affection for him, but as a foreigner that doesn’t know him from Adam the guy cannot act and is a charisma black hole. …I live in New Zealand: and even I’ve heard of Bob Newhart. He is a comedy legend. The Bob Newhart Show is a classic: Newhart had arguably the greatest last episode on television ever, and even the TV series Bob managed to make it to NZ TV, even though it wasn’t very good. (But I loved it.) > [@panache45](#): > > Bob Newhart has been one of the top comedians since 1958. I have a hard time believing that he’s unknown to non-Americans. Of course many of us have. He’s brilliant. ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/35 "2014-05-04T14:35:16Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Bob Newhart has been one of the top comedians since 1958. I have a hard time believing that he’s unknown to non-Americans. I can honestly say that I have never seen either of the two sitcoms that Wikipedia says he is known for and the first place I ever heard of him was here. Sometimes shows don’t do as we’ll abroad or they are not repeated often enough, so generations may miss them. As an example, as a kid I used to watch ‘Benson’. It was only a few years ago, when I looked it up after somehow being reminded of it, that I found it was actually a spin-off from ‘Soap’, a show I have never seen and have no memory of ever being in the schedules. ---
**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:** [May 4, 2014, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/36 "2014-05-04T14:44:28Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > I can honestly say that I have never seen either of the two sitcoms that Wikipedia says he is known for and the first place I ever heard of him was here. > > Sometimes shows don’t do as we’ll abroad or they are not repeated often enough, so generations may miss them. As an example, as a kid I used to watch ‘Benson’. It was only a few years ago, when I looked it up after somehow being reminded of it, that I found it was actually a spin-off from ‘Soap’, a show I have never seen and have no memory of ever being in the schedules. Go away kid, you bother me. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/37 "2014-05-04T14:49:51Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > What bothered me about the spherical cake is that neither of the intelligent women realized it’d roll off the table. I could see that coming well in advance, and I’m not nearly as smart as them. they are a microbiologist and neuroscientist not a physicist. That’s a joke, ah say, that’s a joke, son. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/38 "2014-05-04T14:51:27Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > I can honestly say that I have never seen either of the two sitcoms that Wikipedia says he is known for and the first place I ever heard of him was here. > > Sometimes shows don’t do as we’ll abroad or they are not repeated often enough, so generations may miss them. As an example, as a kid I used to watch ‘Benson’. It was only a few years ago, when I looked it up after somehow being reminded of it, that I found it was actually a spin-off from ‘Soap’, a show I have never seen and have no memory of ever being in the schedules. You are entirely correct insofar as most people here love Bob Newhart and most of their comments reflect that. If you believe his acting ability is bad, that is probably due to his advanced age. But most people here are happy to give him a pass on that because he has made them very, very happy for a great many years and he has been the star of a few excellent shows. I hope that may explain to you why there is so much strong feeling here for Bob Newhart. Even so, I don’t understand why so many people think this episode is such a fabulous achievement. Seems to me, this show was a great show for many years, but it is now no longer anywhere nearly as funny as it once was. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/39 "2014-05-04T14:51:38Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > It was only a few years ago, when I looked it up after somehow being reminded of it, that I found it was actually a spin-off from ‘Soap’, a show I have never seen and have no memory of ever being in the schedules. Here’s the distinctive [theme music](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVffO-mNLdE). If that doesn’t spark any sense memories, then you’re right, you never saw it. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/40 "2014-05-04T14:56:41Z")
You might be surprised which household name celebrities are unknown in other countries. Also, comedy often doesn’t translate well between cultures or even between different generations. I love Bob, but I doubt I would like Prof Proton if I wasn’t already familiar with Bob’s shtick. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486.md?page=3)