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Episode recap: The Bat Jar Conjecture
Holy competition, Batman! The guys are getting together to take on all comers in the Physics Bowl. No way they can be beaten. Except that Sheldon, in his usual self-absorbed alpha maleapalooza, has to provide all the answers and may jeopardize the team for the needs of one. Uh oh, I feel a moral lesson of life coming.
Cut to the best animation/opening sequence in all of television.
How ironic that while the physics foursome is debating the team name, it's Sheldon, of all people, who insists the vote should be unanimous. But that's where the camaraderie ends. Sheldon's eventual banishment from the team comes in the form of a Batman cookie jar delivered by Leonard.
Down a phat medulla oblongata, the guys have to find a replacement — well, if it isn't Leslie Winkle. The last time we saw her, she wasn't taking part in a contest, but more like something related to "The Contest" (and, not for nothing, but when did the FCC approve the use of the word coitus before 8:20 pm?) Props to Leonard for putting their Pon Fahr bygones aside and bringing Leslie on board.
We go back and forth with correct answers. Of course, it comes down to one final question that has stumped everyone except for one of Sheldon's teammates/seatfillers. But Sheldon would rather answer himself than distribute the power among his fellow AAers — and loses. Moral lesson learned. This lesson will also come in handy during the NBA Playoffs. But I digress.
IMHO, this episode had great moments showing the guys' isolation from pop culture that made me fall in love with this show back in the fall.
AA?
Marcia, Jan and Cindy?
Got your game face on?
Love it! And Rajesh sputtering two quick words Penny's way (without the help of alcohol this time)? You go, Pops! You're getting there.
Said Sheldon early in the episode, "I should answer all the anthropology questions because I'm a mammal." Guffaw! I nearly choked on the Twizzler I was munching on when I heard that. This show is so well written.
And there was plenty of Penny. And she was funny. And she called Leonard "Sweetie."
Thanks, Chuck!
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Apr 21, 2008 9:18 PM
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As someone who often participates in Quiz Bowl-esque competitions (and often the only person able to answer), I found the episode hilarious.
I believe Penny has called Leonard "sweetie" before...except, like in this episode, it was incredibly sarcastic.
Was there a Star Trek reference in Sheldon/Leonard's answer to the the "Tweety Taw A Tiddy Tat" question?
There are too many Star Trek references! Share a little bit with Star Wars, the superior franchise! (oh, I went there.)
Sara Gilbert needs a permanent casting spot. That is all.
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Apr 22, 2008 12:06 AM
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Can we please talk about Howard's mock turtleneck? I'm still chuckling about it.
Or what about Sheldon's version of "I'm rubber, you're glue..."? Pure genius.
I love this show.
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Apr 22, 2008 8:31 AM
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As someone who has been forced to watch the scene many times by my husband- I loved that the boys convinced Sheldon to join the team by using Spock's final words.
Also nice to see Rajesh getting some more funny moments- his evil laugh was killing me and the comment that you couldn't kill a Bengal tiger with a magnifying glass was great!
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Apr 22, 2008 8:47 AM
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Howard's "Brandy Chastain" moment was hilarious, especially with the mock turtleneck.
Sheldon was hilarious as well. When he couldn't answer that final question, he literally looked like he was going to explode.
Even though Penny hasn't had many scenes lately, she steals the ones that she has been in. Her interaction with the guys is over the top funny.
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Apr 22, 2008 9:53 AM
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Howard was revealed to be wearing a "dickie" under his t-shirt, not a mock turtleneck (just an fyi). So funny as he rips off his T shirt, like he is god's gift to women. He is quickly becoming my favorite on the show!
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Apr 22, 2008 10:05 AM
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Guess I am showing my age...but my first "AA" thought was (cringe) Atom Ant!
Oh...and Howard's fashion accessory is called a "dickey" (or "dickie.") Didn't know they made those for men.
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Apr 22, 2008 10:12 AM
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I love this show! I think it's one of the best written comedies on right now.
Zinger314, they finished the quote with "Romulan," which is indeed a Star Trek reference.
Favorite moments:
Howard channeling Brandy Chastain
None of the guys knowing any of the Penny's pop references
Anything Sheldon does/says!
Having Leslie back
Rajeesh's comment about the tiger and the magnifying glass
Oh, pretty much everything! I start laughing when this show comes on and usually don't stop until the very end.
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Apr 22, 2008 10:16 AM
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They couldn't have made this episode better if they'd tried! They started out with pon farr (which, yes, I did say with Leonard) and ended with Tweety Bird seeing...Romulans! Zinger314, you can NEVER have enough Trek references - especially since Trek is head and shoulders above Wars! (If nothing else, there's just soooo much more material to work with.)
Loved seeing all four of the guys, and it was really nice to hear Rajesh say so much. Howard's dickie had me howling. And I really liked Penny's interactions with them all and her being supportive enough to attend the physics bowl. It was also rather brilliant to end with a formula that none of them, save the janitor, recognized at all; it was cool to see them flumoxed by something they might be expected to know.
Big points to the writers: this is why I've found myself addicted to this show.
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Apr 22, 2008 10:19 AM
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My burning question is: how--and when--did Leslie Winkle "make Sheldon Cooper cry like a little girl"???
Great episode. Funny thing is, Sheldon's logic was totally valid, so technically he was correct about the fact that the goal was to win, not necessarily to 'play nice.' But, note to writers: I too would like to see some other references from time to time, other than Star Trek, Batman, and the Green Lantern. After all, "that's how we roll here in the Shire." 
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Apr 22, 2008 6:50 PM
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Finally a show without whores or morons...I started watching last fall and was worried there might not be enough of a following to keep it going after the strike. I have gotten three of my friends into the show and they are now fans. Tell your friends, neighbors, wives and girlfriends. There is something for everyone. Great postings guys...More Melissa Gilbert!(fan since Rosanne), ant magnafying glass comment, Wolowitz?sp had me rolling for about a minute and a half. He was fully flexed and it really looked like he won the lottery or something. Can't wait for next Monday.............Trek is BETTER than Wars; but Wars still kicks ass.
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Apr 22, 2008 7:54 PM
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So much pop culture locked into one episode. Great! I'm not going to reiterate what everyone has written but just know that between Sheldon's twitchy implosions and "I Tawt I Taw a Romulan," I pretty much wet myself.
By the way, Atari, That's SARA Gilbert who was in "Roseanne" with Johnny Galecki. Melissa Gilbert, her older sister, was in "Little House on the Prairie."
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Apr 23, 2008 2:51 PM
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Stream of Consciousness:
Nice to get some good Penny/Leonard interaction with the “what did you spill on it” dialogue. They are doing a good job moving that story slowly. Raj accidentally talks to Penny!! Ha! 4 man bobsled team: “Tickets to that please” Nice Penny. I love that Sheldon has to give in due to a Spock quote! “Leonard, you said I only had to ask questions…”(reminds me of an old SNL presidential debate*) “One more thing” “Yes?” “Its on b*tch” The list of smart actresses is great! Sheldon is an “ East Texas Doorknob” and told her she should go back to “Launry and Childbearing”  “PMS?... A couple of days early but okay.” They should bring her back on more often. Okay Premenstrual Syndrome vs. Alcoholics Anonymous is pretty funny! “Looks like something they found on the ship at Roswell” Classic, Walowitz, classic. Sheldon’s response, “I don’t understand the question.” Perfect. Holy crap it’s a feaux turtleneck!! Trivial Pursuit with Penny! “I go outside and I talk to people.”  “Romulan” with a the slip me some skin soft five. Awesome.
IMHO, this episode had great moments showing the guys' isolation from pop culture that made me fall in love with this show back in the fall.
I agree. Their pop culture knowledge is limited to very specific fields.
There are too many Star Trek references! Share a little bit with Star Wars, the superior franchise! (oh, I went there.)
It’s a different kind of “nerd” Trek being the more science based and Wars being the more mystical. Our guys fall more in the Trek. But a little more Wars couldn’t hurt.
Howard was revealed to be wearing a "dickie" under his t-shirt, not a mock turtleneck (just an fyi).
I beg to differ. A dickie would be a false shirt front extending down the chest. Howard’s most assuredly did not extend down his chest. That was a feaux collar, in this case turtleneck in nature.
Oh...and Howard's fashion accessory is called a "dickey" (or "dickie.") Didn't know they made those for men.
Again, not a true “dickie” which were originally made for men to go under a tuxedo jacket.
My burning question is: how--and when--did Leslie Winkle "make Sheldon Cooper cry like a little girl"???
Crap! I forgot about that! That must be addressed.
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Apr 24, 2008 4:37 PM
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