# The Big Bang Theory, Season 8, Episode 23 (April 30, 2015) -- "The Maternal Combustion" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 30, 2015, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920 "2015-04-30T19:40:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920/21 "2015-05-01T18:26:13Z")
What was Penny’s line about the bearded Jewish guys? I missed it. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920/22 "2015-05-01T19:00:28Z")
> [@ivylass](#): > > It would have been nice for a different conflict, maybe arguing over parenting styles, and I thought Freud was pretty much debunked as a psychologist? I can’t see a doctor of Beverly’s caliber buying into that. Leonard’s mother is really a caricature of John B. Watson, so the Freudian mumbo-jumbo was pretty nonsensically incongruent. ---
**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 1, 2015, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920/23 "2015-05-01T19:13:18Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > What was Penny’s line about the bearded Jewish guys? I missed it. That both mothers liked bearded Jewish guys, so they had that in common. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920/24 "2015-05-01T19:55:38Z")
Why are the girls attracted to those guys anyway? Leonard is always stomping on Penny’s dreams of acting. Sheldon does absolutely nothing romantic towards Amy. Howard is pretty much a little kid who treats Bernadette like she’s his mother. No wonder she doesn’t want kids, she already has one. I don’t get it. Regarding this episode though: “Dirty double-mother sucker” made me LOL. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920/25 "2015-05-01T20:01:52Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > Regarding this episode though: “Dirty double-mother sucker” made me LOL. Suckler, dammit! Not sucker! It’s much funnier that way. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920/26 "2015-05-01T20:15:42Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > Suckler, dammit! Not sucker! It’s much funnier that way. Sorry, you’re correct. I was copying off a previous post. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920/27 "2015-05-01T20:18:12Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > Sheldon does absolutely nothing romantic towards Amy. When Amy and Sheldon first met, she told him that any and all forms of physical contact were off the table. I think hanging around Penny has mellowed her. I’m thinking the finale is going to be Sheldon and Amy finally hitting the sheets, then Sheldon emerging with TONS of scientific ideas and insights. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920/28 "2015-05-01T20:31:08Z")
Yes, he’s going to change his field of study from string theory to dark matter to coitus. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920/29 "2015-05-01T23:31:26Z")
i loved the answer to what noah fed the carnivores on the ark. very logical. much better than the answer we had in sunday school, either a miracle or the carnivores were on a fast. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Controvert](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dec6dc/32.png) [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920/30 "2015-05-02T00:53:10Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > they did downplay the previous rapport between Dr. Beverley & Penny Perhaps she didn’t recognize the new blond fella. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920/31 "2015-05-02T18:34:35Z")
I laughed at Mary’s observation about her treatment of Leslie: A true Christian would have turned the other check and forgiven her; on the other hand, a true Texan would have shot her. I split the difference. Laurie Metcalf is a talented actor. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920/32 "2015-05-02T18:50:08Z")
By Leslie, do you mean Beverly? ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2015, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920/33 "2015-05-02T18:54:15Z")
Yes. I don’t know where Leslie came from. ---
**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, 2015, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920/34 "2015-05-03T02:27:07Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Favorite moments- Mary’s response to what they fed the lions of the Ark. > “Super weaner” and “Dirty double-mother suck[l]er!” > Stuart’s “I put on pants” while Howard mutters “Kiss-ass.” > The look on Bernie’s face when she walks into the song & turns right back around. I enjoyed the episode, for all these reasons. And what the lions ate. And Howard getting stuck on the kitchen floor. And isn’t Beverley supposed to be a behaviorist? How can she have any regard for Freud? (Or was that just a set-up for the “two bearded Jews” remark?) ---
**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 3, 2015, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920/35 "2015-05-03T10:54:11Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I enjoyed the episode, for all these reasons. And what the lions ate. And Howard getting stuck on the kitchen floor. And isn’t Beverley supposed to be a behaviorist? How can she have any regard for Freud? (Or was that just a set-up for the “two bearded Jews” remark?) Unless their is an in story reason for a sitcom psychiatrist to be anti-Freud, they are followers of Freud by default because that is the only name most people associate with the field. Big Bang theory is usually good about being more sophisticated about hard science and engineering jokes but I guess it doesn’t cover psychiatry. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920/36 "2015-05-04T12:57:45Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#): > > i loved the answer to what noah fed the carnivores on the ark. very logical. much better than the answer we had in sunday school, either a miracle or the carnivores were on a fast. Yeah, makes perfect sense, when ya think about it… ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920/37 "2015-05-04T14:13:10Z")
I thought it was a squandered opportunity. Christine Baranski and Laurie Metcalf playing off each other? I’ll take a double order, please. But it all seemed so superficial and hastily disposed of. Who cares about Howard being a slob again? Give the B-team the night off and let those two brilliant comic actresses strut their stuff. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2015, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920/38 "2015-05-04T17:17:26Z")
> [@Sir\_Prize](#): > > Unless their is an in story reason for a sitcom psychiatrist to be anti-Freud, they are followers of Freud by default because that is the only name most people associate with the field. Big Bang theory is usually good about being more sophisticated about hard science and engineering jokes but I guess it doesn’t cover psychiatry. I wonder if maybe the problem is that their ‘usual sources’ for the hard-science/engineering guys don’t include a psychiatrist, and hard-scientists look down on psychiatrists the same way they look down on engineers. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920/39 "2015-05-05T02:19:03Z")
Beverly Hofstadter is supposed to be a neuroscientist in addition to being a psychiatrist. Why didn’t they just ask Mayim Bialik to be the technical consultant for Beverly Hofstadter’s talk about her job? Why didn’t they at least ask Bialik to recommend someone to be the technical consultant for it? Bialik serves as the technical consultant for her own talk about her job, since she actually has a Ph.D. in neuroscience: > **[List of The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon characters | Beverly Hofstadter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Big_Bang_Theory_characters#Beverly_Hofstadter)** > > Beverly Hofstadter (Christine Baranski) is Leonard's unloving and overly analytical mother who works as a neuroscientist, as well as a psychiatrist. She is Sheldon's female equivalent regarding neurotically strict speech patterns, disregard for social conventions, and compulsive attention to detail. The lack of Beverly's maternal feelings and actions toward Leonard has led to him having an obsessive need to please. Mrs. Hofstadter and Mrs. Cooper do not get along. > For her role as Beverly, in bot... > **[List of The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon characters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Big_Bang_Theory_characters#Amy_Farrah_Fowler)** > > The American television sitcom The Big Bang Theory, created and executive produced by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, premiered on CBS on September 24, 2007, while the American comedy spin-off prequel television series Young Sheldon, created and executive produced by Lorre alongside Jim Parsons and Steven Molaro, premiered on CBS on September 25, 2017. > The Big Bang Theory initially centers on five characters: Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper, two physicists and roommates; Penny, their neighb... ---
**Author:** ![johnspartan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a183cd/32.png) [@johnspartan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnspartan)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2015, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920/40 "2015-05-05T16:43:25Z")
I thought this was the most the show has ever been openly hostile and kind of mean to Christian beliefs. Before it’s generally been perhaps one-offs (mostly from Sheldon), and the portrayal of his mother has actually been pretty sympathetic. Past episodes have shown she can outsmart Sheldon and Leonard… or at least Jedi-mind-trick them. This was the first that I recall that really seemed to have a “Ha ha you stupid people with beliefs” bone to pick. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-23-april-30-2015-the-maternal-combustion/718920.md?page=3)