# The Big Bang Theory, Season 11, Episode 5 (October 23, 2017) -- “The Collaboration Contamination” **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 24, 2017, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-5-october-23-2017-the-collaboration-contamination/799725 "2017-10-24T15:17:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [October 26, 2017, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-5-october-23-2017-the-collaboration-contamination/799725/21 "2017-10-26T16:39:42Z")
I got the 3-of-clubs reference right away and told my wife it had to be P&T. I still have their books with that card trick in it. Didn’t they also recently do it on “Fool Us”? Melissa Rauch was sitting most of the episode, right? I loved her “That’s right” lines though. The writers must know that’s a good catch-phrase for her, given the way she pronounces it. ---
**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:** [October 28, 2017, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-5-october-23-2017-the-collaboration-contamination/799725/22 "2017-10-28T18:03:02Z")
Explain to me why Raj is still on this show? Seems he just provides a body for this week’s tertiary character to talk at. Stuart does a much better job fulfilling that role. ---
**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:** [October 28, 2017, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-5-october-23-2017-the-collaboration-contamination/799725/23 "2017-10-28T18:42:47Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Explain to me why Raj is still on this show? Seems he just provides a body for this week’s tertiary character to talk at. > > Stuart does a much better job fulfilling that role. How about neither of them showing up so often? It’s now a show about couples, and three is enough couples, so Raj should move away and Stuart can show up on 2 or 3 episodes each season. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-5-october-23-2017-the-collaboration-contamination/799725/24 "2017-10-28T19:45:39Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > How about neither of them showing up so often? It’s now a show about couples, and three is enough couples, so Raj should move away and Stuart can show up on 2 or 3 episodes each season. If Stuart were still “cool” Stuart of his original appearance, he could find a girlfriend. Raj never seems to have any chemistry with anyone. Or, Kunal Nayyar doesn’t. I know he’s married in real life, but none of his relationships have been convincing, which is probably why none of the actresses have stayed on the show. Melissa Rauch stayed on the show because she had great chemistry with Simon Helberg. Everyone Raj has dated has seemed forced and weird, including Lucy. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2017, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-5-october-23-2017-the-collaboration-contamination/799725/25 "2017-10-28T23:30:23Z")
Raj needs to find a woman who can’t talk around men unless she’s drunk. ---
**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:** [October 29, 2017, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-5-october-23-2017-the-collaboration-contamination/799725/26 "2017-10-29T04:06:08Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Explain to me why Raj is still on this show? Seems he just provides a body for this week’s tertiary character to talk at. > > Stuart does a much better job fulfilling that role. I bet the reason is diversity. Whether that was the original reason or not, if they axed Raj now there’d be a lot of protest. I still think he’s a good character, but they need to do more with him. I imagine some viewers aren’t happy with his current role. ---
**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 29, 2017, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-5-october-23-2017-the-collaboration-contamination/799725/27 "2017-10-29T14:00:19Z")
I think they should get that child to the doctor soon. She is sleeping _all_ the time … Really I understand that they want to keep from having to introduce a child as an actual character but the lack of any actual time with parent child interactions strains credulity. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2017, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-5-october-23-2017-the-collaboration-contamination/799725/28 "2017-10-30T23:00:31Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > I think they should get that child to the doctor soon. She is sleeping _all_ the time … > > Really I understand that they want to keep from having to introduce a child as an actual character but the lack of any actual time with parent child interactions strains credulity. Keep in mind that we only see these people for 23 minutes a week. That leaves plenty of time for parent/child bonding offscreen. And I for one am glad they’re keeping it offscreen. ---
**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:** [October 31, 2017, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-5-october-23-2017-the-collaboration-contamination/799725/29 "2017-10-31T01:15:26Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > I think they should get that child to the doctor soon. She is sleeping _all_ the time … > > Really I understand that they want to keep from having to introduce a child as an actual character but the lack of any actual time with parent child interactions strains credulity. Strains credulity? How many times do you remember seeing Ross’ son on _Friends_? ---
**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:** [October 31, 2017, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-5-october-23-2017-the-collaboration-contamination/799725/30 "2017-10-31T01:23:47Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Strains credulity? How many times do you remember seeing Ross’ son on _Friends_? Ross was a nursing mother? :eek: Nobody wants to see a kid on TBBT. Nobody wanted to see a kid on Friends either. They’re doing it right. ---
**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 31, 2017, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-5-october-23-2017-the-collaboration-contamination/799725/31 "2017-10-31T05:37:06Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Strains credulity? How many times do you remember seeing Ross’ son on _Friends_? Never. But never watched the show! Oh don’t get me wrong, I do not think the show would benefit from having a tyke on screen. Keep the character off camera, like Mrs Wolowitz (but less vocal or even not heard), cut in each time as one or the other of them is leaving settling the kid to sleep or such and have them anxious about the narrow window they have) but some the kid’s nonexistence as Raj comes by and hangs out and Sheldon does a variety of chores including changing smoke alarm batteries (never did that without having it go off myself) and cleaning an oven (!) is just _so_ unrealistic that it exceeds even the very wide berth given to allow for suspension of disbelief already granted to a sitcom. Heck, I’d even accept Bernie being more upset with Raj complaining that she only has a small window to get work done before before the kid gets up from her nap. ---
**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 31, 2017, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-5-october-23-2017-the-collaboration-contamination/799725/32 "2017-10-31T13:36:05Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Ross was a nursing mother? :eek: > > Nobody wants to see a kid on TBBT. Nobody wanted to see a kid on Friends either. They’re doing it right. Nobody wants to see a child on any tv show. This show was decent, it always seems like it takes them 3-4 shows to get in the groove of their characters. Still waiting for a knockout episode this season. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-5-october-23-2017-the-collaboration-contamination/799725/33 "2017-10-31T13:41:30Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Nobody wants to see a child on any tv show. That Petrie kid was okay. He’d stop by for a chat with Rob and Laura, then it was off to the basement with him. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-5-october-23-2017-the-collaboration-contamination/799725/34 "2017-10-31T15:50:28Z")
FYI If you live in the NYC area, the Jets are on Thursday night so this week’s BBT (and Young Sheldon if that matters) will air on CBS at like 2:30 am. My DVR found it for me. ---
**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 31, 2017, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-5-october-23-2017-the-collaboration-contamination/799725/35 "2017-10-31T15:51:54Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Nobody wants to see a child on any tv show. Even on a show where the kid is alluded to in the title, Two and a Half Men, they cut the kid out after a while. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2017, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-5-october-23-2017-the-collaboration-contamination/799725/36 "2017-10-31T16:28:18Z")
That’s because he found religion or had an epiphany or something and condemned the lascivious nature of the show. ---
**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 31, 2017, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-5-october-23-2017-the-collaboration-contamination/799725/37 "2017-10-31T16:45:19Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > That’s because he found religion or had an epiphany or something and condemned the lascivious nature of the show. Plus, he grew up funny looking. If he had grown up hunky, they’da found a way. I wasn’t a regular watcher of the show so I’m most definitely wrong, but I was under the impression that having his character have sex with skanky-assed Mylie Cyrus was the final straw for him. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-11-episode-5-october-23-2017-the-collaboration-contamination/799725.md?page=1)