# The Big Bang Theory, Season 9, Episode 4 (October 12, 2015) -- "The 2003 Approximation" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 12, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459 "2015-10-12T18:31:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/1 "2015-10-12T18:31:30Z")
I am starting this thread in anticipation of tonight’s episode. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2015, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/2 "2015-10-12T19:11:40Z")
The episode description actually sounds pretty funny. Now we’ll see if they can deliver. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2015, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/3 "2015-10-12T21:42:58Z")
I am declaring tonight’s to be the worst episode ever in anticipation of its broadcast. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2015, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/4 "2015-10-12T21:46:11Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > I am declaring tonight’s to be the worst episode ever in anticipation of its broadcast. Yeah, it is always good to put that out there early on. ---
**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 12, 2015, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/5 "2015-10-12T22:03:16Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > I am declaring tonight’s to be the worst episode ever in anticipation of its broadcast. Hey! That’s my job! ---
**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 13, 2015, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/6 "2015-10-13T00:34:35Z")
My husband announced that if Leonard didn’t sign the breaking of the roommate agreement, he would never watch this show again. He absolutely hates Sheldon. And now he dislikes Penny for giving in to Sheldon. But he’ll still watch. I liked the Thor and Dr. Jones song. Do you think it was a Garfunkel and Oates original? ---
**Author:** ![mage-girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@mage-girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mage-girl)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/7 "2015-10-13T01:13:40Z")
I won’t go so far as to call this the “WORST EPISODE EVAR” but I will say it was a disappointment. ☹ A PLOT: Leonard and Penny and Sheldon. I could see how Leonard would be used to the way things were with Sheldon. We don’t like change, even when it could be good for us. However, Penny being the one to give in made me want to scream. I did love it when Sheldon asked Amy to be his roommate. So, so clueless. The look on Amy’s face was perfect. B PLOT: Howard and Raj. I’m not at all fond of filksong, so I know I’m biased. But it just seemed awfully - forced. I dunno. I know this show can do better. So do I keep watching and hoping? Undecided. ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/8 "2015-10-13T01:46:50Z")
Sigh. Sheldon is no longer funny. Sheldon is an ass. Sheldon being an ass is not funny. And the faster the showrunners figure this out, the faster things will improve. Filk can be uproariously funny. This particular filk, along with the exact same notes we’ve hit before on the Howard and Raj relationship, was just kind of lame. I’m guessing this is basically what we get when the whole show gets a free ride for three years based on the last contract signed. As long as they deliver a show every week, who gives a rat whether it’s funny or not? ---
**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:** [October 13, 2015, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/9 "2015-10-13T03:33:58Z")
That’s what happened to Drew Carey. I was wrong. They couldn’t deliver. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/10 "2015-10-13T13:06:58Z")
I enjoyed the “Thor and Dr. Jones” song and subplot. It was also good to see Emily again. I’m glad she is still in the picture. She should definitely play a major role if they decide to do a Halloween-themed episode. Her odd predilections are tailor-made for such a holiday! The Sheldon storyline gave me a few chuckles, but it wasn’t as funny as I had hoped. I think it would have been a better idea to actually have a new roommate work out for at least a bit, before the inevitable breakdown. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/11 "2015-10-13T13:49:58Z")
> [@gytalf2000](#): > > I enjoyed the “Thor and Dr. Jones” song and subplot. It was also good to see Emily again. I’m glad she is still in the picture. She should definitely play a major role if they decide to do a Halloween-themed episode. Her odd predilections are tailor-made for such a holiday! Laura Spencer seems to have been bumped up to series regular, or at least I saw her name in the main credits, so we should be seeing more of Emily. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/12 "2015-10-13T15:16:13Z")
> [@gytalf2000](#): > > I think it would have been a better idea to actually have a new roommate work out for at least a bit, before the inevitable breakdown. They could do a new-roommate-a-week-for-sheldon for about half a season and cycle through some guest stars ---
**Author:** ![Gothic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/839c29/32.png) [@Gothic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gothic)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/13 "2015-10-13T15:17:17Z")
> [@xizor](#): > > They could do a new-roommate-a-week-for-sheldon for about half a season and cycle through some guest stars I’m already picturing a scene with Matt Damon. ---
**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:** [October 13, 2015, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/14 "2015-10-13T15:23:00Z")
In the montage with the prospective roommates, were any of them recognizable? ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/15 "2015-10-13T15:36:42Z")
> [@xizor](#): > > They could do a new-roommate-a-week-for-sheldon for about half a season and cycle through some guest stars Oh, great idea! ---
**Author:** ![Sauron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Sauron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sauron)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/16 "2015-10-13T15:51:19Z")
I was really hoping we’d see Chris Pratt in this episode, since Sheldon tweeted him. Ah well. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/17 "2015-10-13T16:10:39Z")
Wil Wheaton must be interviewed as a prospective roommate although he does have his own house. But he is no longer on Sheldon’s mortal enemies list. I do believe Kripke is in next week’s episode so that has some laff potential. ---
**Author:** ![magnusblitz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@magnusblitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magnusblitz)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/18 "2015-10-13T17:24:55Z")
Seeing that Emily is still around was easily the best part of the episode. Pretty bland otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/19 "2015-10-13T17:55:13Z")
Did anyone notice the product placement? In a show that’s almost goes out of it’s way to take known brands and put different names on them, they were practically flashing their bottles of Ballast Point right at the camera. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2015, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/20 "2015-10-13T18:07:38Z")
I really like filk, so I enjoyed that part of the episode. I’m sure people will be singing “Thor and Dr. Jones” at cons, and thinking up new lyrics. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459.md?page=2)