# 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:** 3
**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, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/41 "2014-05-04T14:57:20Z")
> [@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. his style is being the straight man (in a multiperson comedy is the person who doesn’t get the joke) to himself, even as a solo act. he gives a punch line totally dead pan where most people attempting this can’t do it without a smirk. that is great acting. ---
**Author:** ![dgrdfd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@dgrdfd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dgrdfd)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/42 "2014-05-04T15:11:06Z")
> [@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. Well, I am American and if someone would have asked me who Bob Newhart was I would have said “Gilligan from Gilligan’s Island?” I also can’t stand Professor Proton and his delivery - it’s makes the scenes awkward and uncomfortable for me. Not sure if that makes amanset feel any better. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/43 "2014-05-04T17:56:44Z")
Bob Newhart was a comedy genius, his stand-up routines often involved phone-call type jokes. Back in the early 1960s, I saw him as Elwood Doud in a stage performance of “Harvey.” and he did one of his routines after the play was over. Wonderful, he was. He is now retired, and I understand that talk around Hollywood is that Chuck Lorre pounded on him until he agreed to do this role. ---
**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, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/44 "2014-05-04T18:00:51Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > Bob Newhart was a comedy genius, his stand-up routines often involved phone-call type jokes. Back in the early 1960s, I saw him as Elwood Doud in a stage performance of “Harvey.” and he did one of his routines after the play was over. Wonderful, he was. > > He is now retired, and I understand that talk around Hollywood is that Chuck Lorre pounded on him until he agreed to do this role. Given his age (84 years old), it seems somewhat unconscionable that anyone would “pound” on him for any reason. I take it that you mean Lorre “hounded” him and maybe even “pursued” him beyond the bounds of reason? ---
**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 4, 2014, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/45 "2014-05-04T18:12:52Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > his style is being the straight man (in a multiperson comedy is the person who doesn’t get the joke) to himself, even as a solo act. he gives a punch line totally dead pan where most people attempting this can’t do it without a smirk. Even when he was on stage alone he used to give the funny lines to someone else (via his one-sided phone calls). ---
**Author:** ![DianeZo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b3f665/32.png) [@DianeZo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DianeZo)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/46 "2014-05-04T18:19:46Z")
> [@Banquet\_Bear](#): > > …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.) > > Of course many of us have. He’s brilliant. There is a name I never hear enough of! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/47 "2014-05-04T18:23:58Z")
As British, I had barely heard of Bob Newhart until 2 years ago. Then in my quest for ever more sitcoms the complete **Newhart** arrived on my drive, and I would say it’s now one of my top ten, a great deal of which is due to Julia Duffy, not merely because of her beauty. She being a brilliant comic actress. **The Bob Newhart Show** followed, and I can barely watch it: not funny, terrible 70s fashions for men, and no eye candy. Also psychology is just not that funny, as **Frasier** showed whenever it went there, away from it’s usual broad humour in a family context. And I found out that some older English people had fond memories of his phone routines from the 1960s; which didn’t appeal to me at all when I heard them: very dated. The fact I only appreciate some of his stuff doesn’t negate the fact he is a deadpan genius. However it is weird to imagine that Americans believe that the whole world knows of **their** older comedians… Firstly they should have been grateful they have been obscured from knowing of many, many unfunny British comedians; and secondly, I doubt if famous Argentinian comedians such as Jorge Porcel, Gogó Andreu and Dr. Tangalanga ( to whom are also only names to me ) are household names in the USA. Still, he was prolly the best thing in this episode: none of the three strands really made it, and it was just blah. And the opening sequence was strange, since by now Penny really can’t possibly be thrown by the guys’ feeble enthusiasms. It’s been seven years living alongside the fools… However Penny’s hair was really **fine**. One gets to grasp at small mercies from even the least distinguished episodes of any sitcom. ---
**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, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/48 "2014-05-04T18:36:59Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > As British, I had barely heard of Bob Newhart until 2 years ago. > Then in my quest for ever more sitcoms the complete **Newhart** arrived on my drive, and I would say it’s now one of my top ten, a great deal of which is due to Julia Duffy, not merely because of her beauty. She being a brilliant comic actress. > > **The Bob Newhart Show** followed, and I can barely watch it: not funny, terrible 70s fashions for men, and no eye candy. Also psychology is just not that funny, as **Frasier** showed whenever it went there, away from it’s usual broad humour in a family context. And I found out that some older English people had fond memories of his phone routines from the 1960s; which didn’t appeal to me at all when I heard them: very dated. > > The fact I only appreciate some of his stuff doesn’t negate the fact he is a deadpan genius. > However it is weird to imagine that Americans believe that the whole world knows of **their** older comedians… Firstly they should have been grateful they have been obscured from knowing of many, many unfunny British comedians; and secondly, I doubt if famous Argentinian comedians such as Jorge Porcel, Gogó Andreu and Dr. Tangalanga ( to whom are also only names to me ) are household names in the USA. > Still, he was prolly the best thing in this episode: none of the three strands really made it, and it was just blah. And the opening sequence was strange, since by now Penny really can’t possibly be thrown by the guys’ feeble enthusiasms. It’s been seven years living alongside the fools… > > However Penny’s hair was really **fine**. One gets to grasp at small mercies from even the least distinguished episodes of any sitcom. Well … if you feel that way about Newhart, I may have the perfect solution for you. Have you heard his comedy albums? His first and arguably his best was titled, “The Button Down Mind of Bob Newhart”. It was great! It came out in 1960 and I still remember laughing so hard I thought I would bust a gut. I would strongly recommend it to you since you don’t like the video portions of his TV show. Do a search on Youtube. There are lots of his performances to be had. If I recall correctly, two of his funniest titles were, “Bus Driver Training” and there was one about a flying school and storm door company. These are easy to find on Youtube and you won’t have to worry about any of the 70s fashions because it’s strictly audio. ---
**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, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/49 "2014-05-04T18:44:58Z")
P.S. Here are three of Bob NewHart’s best audio routines for you. [Who is Bob Newhart dating? Bob Newhart girlfriend, wife](http://www.whosdatedwho.com/tpx_8881/bob-newhart/tpx_7952458) [Bob Newhart "The Driving Instructor" Comedy - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUb2-28adB0) Umm … btw … by “three strands” do you mean his three TV sitcoms? ---
**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:** [May 4, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/50 "2014-05-04T18:50:09Z")
> [@Charlie\_Wayne](#): > > Umm … btw … by “three strands” do you mean his three TV sitcoms? I think he means the A, B, and C plotlines. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/51 "2014-05-04T19:32:09Z")
@ **Charlie Wayne** Thanks. > [@silenus](#): > > I think he means the A, B, and C plotlines. Yes. They didn’t gel, and didn’t resolve much. By now, I’d settle for losing half the cast and watching a spin-off concentrating on Howard and Penny. [And Alex.] ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/52 "2014-05-04T19:36:02Z")
Complaining about horrible men’s fashion in a 70’s sitcom has got to be one of the most bizarre complaints I ever heard. “OMG I can’t even watch it with those wide ties!” ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/53 "2014-05-04T20:21:19Z")
> [@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? I understand the actor himself had to have **Star Wars** explained to him by Mr. Lorre. Apart from the fact there are many competing interests in the world, it’s not hard to understand that someone who’d served in the Korean War might be totally able to ignore **Star Wars** ( and **Star Trek** ) and it’s cultural impact in addition. A lot of stuff happened since 1929. To point out an equivalent case to **Star Wars,** a whole lot of middle-aged men would be unable to list the characters in **My Little Pony.** It’s the ones who can who are the problem. [QUOTE=CarnalK] Complaining about horrible men’s fashion in a 70’s sitcom has got to be one of the most bizarre complaints I ever heard. “OMG I can’t even watch it with those wide ties!” [/QUOTE] I’m not blaming you if you like 70’s fashions — and I like the mid-length dresses and tight-waisted prints for women — but the whole thing made the 70s look kinda cheap. I’m sure a lot of males in Chicago — where it was set — dressed very nicely in the 70s. ---
**Author:** ![pseudograph](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pseudograph/32/19768_2.png) [@pseudograph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pseudograph)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/54 "2014-05-04T20:33:30Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > However it is weird to imagine that Americans believe that the whole world knows of **their** older comedians… Firstly they should have been grateful they have been obscured from knowing of many, many unfunny British comedians; and secondly, I doubt if famous Argentinian comedians such as Jorge Porcel, Gogó Andreu and Dr. Tangalanga ( to whom are also only names to me ) are household names in the USA. I don’t think it’s that odd. In general American popular culture has more global influence than any other. Many Americans take that to an extreme by assuming some sort of American cultural hegemony, but it’s not like it’s completely baseless. That said, I really enjoyed Bob Newhart as Obi-Wan, but did anybody else expect him to guide Sheldon towards his destiny by giving him career advice, since he’s somewhat rudderless now, given his crisis of faith with string theory? ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2014, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/55 "2014-05-04T22:34:54Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > He is now retired, I would say semi-retired as he still does some [touring](http://www.songkick.com/artists/348546-bob-newhart) as well as tv appearances. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/56 "2014-05-05T00:41:57Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > **The Bob Newhart Show** followed, and I can barely watch it: not funny, terrible 70s fashions for men, and no eye candy. No eye candy? Suzanne Pleshette as [Emily Hartley](http://www.sitcomsonline.com/photopost/data/707/BobN62.jpg) was probably the hottest sitcom wife of all time! ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/57 "2014-05-05T01:11:53Z")
That would be Courtney Thorne-Smith. Miss Pleshette seemed a perfectly decent person, albeit with short hair, and I am certain my grandparents would have thought her French housewifely attractive [**not** a criticism, just social commentary]; however I was struggling to find the word that captures her attractiveness: it’s some _ana-_ word, near to anaesthetic, meaning bland and tepid, if pleasant. Still, each to his own. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/58 "2014-05-05T01:28:40Z")
Emily Hartley was smart, capable, and attractive. I find that extremely sexy. And FWIW, I am in my early 50’s, an engineer, really like science and math, and I have NEVER watched a Star Wars movie. ---
**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 5, 2014, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/59 "2014-05-05T04:58:46Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > they are a microbiologist and neuroscientist not a physicist. > > That’s a joke, ah say, that’s a joke, son. Yes, I know, but just too far-fetched for me to believe it. You don’t have to be a physicist to know a spherical cake would roll. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2014, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486/60 "2014-05-05T05:24:09Z")
I liked the episode. I had no problem with Professor Proton not knowing Star Wars, as the character is only a year or two younger than my Dad, who has never seen any of the films. Oh, Dad knows that Star Wars is a popular series of films, but I doubt that he could name a character or plot point. I think it is possible that Professor Proton could be the same way. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-may-1-the-proton-transmogrification/687486.md?page=4)