Where did the guys on BBT get their Ph.Ds

Yeah, this is a big problem for a place like MIT. A normal place is usually quite big on avoiding “nepotism” (a.k.a. “incest”). But MIT thinks its grads are the best in the Universe so why should they deign to hire someone from a “lesser” school. Despite being carefully explained to them why this mentality is exactly why you don’t hire your own, it persists and reinforces itself. (Note that many places do hire their own after they’ve proven themselves elsewhere, getting to at least Associate and sometimes even Full at another department.)

Since research positions aren’t considered as important as tenure track (and viewed as less permanent), this isn’t so important for that group.

Not to mention their comic book discussions, which are remarkably accurate, though they seem to be stuck in the 1970s.

didn’t one or possibly both of leonard’s parents teach or work at princeton? that would give leonard a break on tuition.