Episodes 6.09 The Parking Spot Escalation (Nov. 29)

[Shel_Ra_Ho_Le]

So the question is; how many times have you guys seen this episode now?

[phantagrae]

The thing with doing theoretical work is that you essentially have to wait for the experimentalists to prove it or disprove it. So Bernadette might not be completely wrong in saying that none of his theories have been definitively proven. The thing with Sheldon is that, besides all his background about him being a child prodigy and winning awards very young, we know very little of how big of a fish he is in science right now. At least that's what I gather. And even with theoretical work you can get recognition, it's not all sitting and waiting. So I don't really know, was there any episode besides the one where he gets the Chancellor Award mentioning anything about his work? I can't remember off the top of my head.

I've always had the general impression that he was somewhat known in his field because of his child prodigy status, but also just because of his work.

However, they play kind of fast and loose with this (as with everything) in terms of whether or not he's known to other physicists. I know there was some discussion over the Hawking episode when Sheldon was trying to get Howard to introduce him.

Some people were saying that at that level there aren't that many physicists and that Hawking would probably have known who Sheldon was and might even have routinely set up a meeting with him if he were going to be in the area, etc., or that Sheldon could easily have requested a meeting on his own merits and not had to rely on Howard for an introduction.

So, I'm not sure where he's supposed to fit in career-wise, but I think that he's supposed to be right up there. He was well-known enough for NPR to ask him to speak on that radio program, for instance.

[phantagrae]

So the question is; how many times have you guys seen this episode now?

I think I've really only watched it all the way through maybe twice? I know I watched it all the way through once, then went back and rewatched certain scenes, but I don't know if I watched it all the way through more than twice.

Of course, I've been busy this past weekend, so I may be forced to watch it again before the next episode airs. :D

[koops]

I've always had the general impression that he was somewhat known in his field because of his child prodigy status, but also just because of his work.

However, they play kind of fast and loose with this (as with everything) in terms of whether or not he's known to other physicists. I know there was some discussion over the Hawking episode when Sheldon was trying to get Howard to introduce him.

Some people were saying that at that level there aren't that many physicists and that Hawking would probably have known who Sheldon was and might even have routinely set up a meeting with him if he were going to be in the area, etc., or that Sheldon could easily have requested a meeting on his own merits and not had to rely on Howard for an introduction.

So, I'm not sure where he's supposed to fit in career-wise, but I think that he's supposed to be right up there. He was well-known enough for NPR to ask him to speak on that radio program, for instance.

 

Yes, the whole Hawking thing is rather bizarre. Hawking probably wouldn't know all the theoretical physicists but if Sheldon were meant to be a big fish he would have most definitely not needed Howard to introduce him. 

As for the radio program, well, you don't necessarily need to be well known to speak on one. My co-supervisor has been on the radio and he's a self-inflated egomaniac who only publishes through his students. lol.

[mobildj]

After rewatching the episode, I have one point to make---

 

Amy mentioned the bikini wax to Sheldon BEFORE they got into the car.  She made a comment about it while he was spray painting the curb.

 

Maybe that is why he was "intrigued."

Nope she simply said she had something done today and wanted to show him.  That is all he knew.. nothing about a bikini wax.  At least I don't think so?  I never heard her mention the bikini wax specifically to him- unless it was earlier in the episode?

[koops]

Nope she simply said she had something done today and wanted to show him.  That is all he knew.. nothing about a bikini wax.  At least I don't think so?  I never heard her mention the bikini wax specifically to him- unless it was earlier in the episode?

 

She did, she said "I'm all tingly... of course it could just be my newly defoliated bikini zone..."

[Pomita]

I've always had the general impression that he was somewhat known in his field because of his child prodigy status, but also just because of his work.

However, they play kind of fast and loose with this (as with everything) in terms of whether or not he's known to other physicists. I know there was some discussion over the Hawking episode when Sheldon was trying to get Howard to introduce him.

Some people were saying that at that level there aren't that many physicists and that Hawking would probably have known who Sheldon was and might even have routinely set up a meeting with him if he were going to be in the area, etc., or that Sheldon could easily have requested a meeting on his own merits and not had to rely on Howard for an introduction.

So, I'm not sure where he's supposed to fit in career-wise, but I think that he's supposed to be right up there. He was well-known enough for NPR to ask him to speak on that radio program, for instance.

 

------------

 

Exactly (I was the one who made that comment about Hawking). On the whole, the show implies time and again that Sheldon is supposed to be at least an esteemed theoretical physicist, even if he isn't world-renowned (the Chancellor's award, 'the board of directors say he's a beautiful mind', his getting concessions on teaching duties to lecture only the 'best and brightest', the cutting-edge graphene problem he worked on in Einstein Approximation, publishing papers about the Higgs..) But this picture is completely contradicted by his having to meet Hawking through Howard, as if he's a grad student or something. In that episode I really took some time to reconcile myself to the comedic license!

 

As for his field of work, there are several famous physicists working in String Theory, but unfortunately this is one field which just won't be experimentally verified in the next several decades, simply because the energy scales relevant to it are far, far above what is achievable by current technology in particle experiments. They only just managed to discover the Higgs! This is why Sheldon isn't going to win a Nobel for Strings, at least, since a Nobel is only awarded for verified work. 

 

They might have him win a Milner award, which was presented mostly to String theorists this year. $3 m is worth something.

[bostrich]

------------  On the whole, the show implies time and again that Sheldon is supposed to be at least an esteemed theoretical physicist, even if he isn't world-renowned

I think this is accurate. The meeting Hawking through Howard thing, I just try to write off as a plot device for that episode. Hawking said something along the lines of you clearly have a brilliant mind and scientists don't say that just to be nice. I take the view that Sheldon is probably reasonably well known in his field but viewed by other physicists as a bit of a kook at the same time. If his theories are very far advanced many of his ideas may not be accepted by other theoretical physicists just yet either.

[Pomita]

I think this is accurate. The meeting Hawking through Howard thing, I just try to write off as a plot device for that episode. Hawking said something along the lines of you clearly have a brilliant mind and scientists don't say that just to be nice. I take the view that Sheldon is probably reasonably well known in his field but viewed by other physicists as a bit of a kook at the same time. If his theories are very far advanced many of his ideas may not be accepted by other theoretical physicists just yet either.

 

Yes, it seems quite likely that Sheldon would have crazy advanced ideas of that kind. Of course, it's also true that in science, it's often those very ideas which were scoffed at when they were brought up, that ultimately turn out to be correct!

[Jimbo]

It's not a spoiler--it's in the episode description.

I don't understand why people knowingly read about episodes they haven't seen yet and then complain about spoilers.

[phantagrae]

I don't understand why people knowingly read about episodes they haven't seen yet and then complain about spoilers.

While what I said wasn't a spoiler, these episode threads are not for spoilers. There is a thread specific for spoilers.

These threads are for discussing what is known about an episode, like the title or guest stars, but not anything that hasn't been released by CBS.

And some people don't even watch the official promos before the ep airs.

[Moonbase]

I don't understand why people knowingly read about episodes they haven't seen yet and then complain about spoilers.

 

Because there are threads for spoilers and some of us want to discuss the episode synosis but not find out what happens before it airs. T

 

While what I said wasn't a spoiler, these episode threads are not for spoilers. There is a thread specific for spoilers.

These threads are for discussing what is known about an episode, like the title or guest stars, but not anything that hasn't been released by CBS.

And some people don't even watch the official promos before the ep airs.

 

^ this.

 

It's not easy staying away from the spoiler threads I can tell you ... and there's three of them now. 

Edited December 5, 2012 by Moonbase

[Shel_Ra_Ho_Le]

Oopsies they made a mistakie...that Iron Man helmet was in the comic book store in s5,, The Wheaton party episode and Stuart was gonna sell it to Leonard for MUCH cheaper than $500!  

[phantagrae]

Oopsies they made a mistakie...that Iron Man helmet was in the comic book store in s5,, The Wheaton party episode and Stuart was gonna sell it to Leonard for MUCH cheaper than $500!  

 

Maybe the price went up...?

[mobildj]

She did, she said "I'm all tingly... of course it could just be my newly defoliated bikini zone..."

Ah, yes, now I remember 

[BillF63]

I have to say I did not like this episode. The childish antics between Howard and Sheldon really turned me off and I was more annoyed with the both of them. I will watch this again in re-runs and of course the DVD and hopefully I will change my mind. Right now I didn't like it.

[Nogravitasatall]

I enjoyed the episode. I think the car was Mini. Not sure about the office chair. At home Sheldon has a Herman-Miller. Certified for 24 hr occupancy I understand. Not sure what Leonard sits on. I don't think Penny has an office chair at home. Raj has one and so does Howard. He may have access to two office chairs. One would be his and one he could borrow from Bernadette. Raj has a big chair at work but its ergonomics are poor. I'm locked out of my house and am waiting for someone to come home with the keys. I'm sitting on a wicker chair from Ikea, with cushions we bought elsewhere. The keys have arrived now.

So I'll stop.

Edited December 18, 2012 by Nogravitasatall

[rachelshamyfan]

I enjoyed this one, amys comment to bernadette about sex life was funny as was the nudeness of sheldon and howard and both trying to get one over each other. Bernadette went a bit evil (but funny with it) when amy complained about her car being towed and scratched

Edited January 17, 2013 by rachygd

[rachelshamyfan]

Question re the mini laptop thing sheldon was using in the car park, is that a new thing? Not seen him with it before that I can remember

[phantagrae]

Question re the mini laptop thing sheldon was using in the car park, is that a new thing? Not seen him with it before that I can remember

I don't think we've seen it before. Wasn't that scene after the one where Howard "contaminated" Sheldon's regular laptop?

[rachelshamyfan]

Yeah it was, lol at him trying to sell.his laptop in the dry cleaners!

[Dbear12]

Again overall great episode. However, the makeup between Howard and Sheldon was weak and lame. Sheldon was so wrong in this episode and went batshit crazy again. I think instead of Raj bringing Howard in to work it out with crazy Sheldon, it should have been an enraged Leonard coming in, mad about Penny's nose, telling crazy Sheldon he is going to end it or else. Then instead of a restaurant scene, they should have had Leonard and Penny together and her asking how Leonard ended it. He would tell her then of some off the wall threat he made, that would only scare Sheldon, and she would tell him he really is a genius. She could then kiss him, then jump back, crying "Oh my nose". Scene end. Finally they could have used the dry cleaning scene or then the restaurant scene.

 

I actually am with you on this, while I understand both Penny and Leonard were secondary characters in this episode, it would have been a nice follow up to what we saw last episode with the ILY.

 

I also think Howard was in the right here.  I working a place with limited parking, having a forever empty parking spot is not cool at all, hell people get upset if a marked parking spot is unused for someone on a two week vacation.

 

In addition, the spot is not really Sheldon’s it’s the universities, so they can assign it to whomever they want.

 

But overall this episode was great and shows that season six is a major improvement from season four and five (especially four).  I feel the actual tone of the show is more like what we saw in the first couple seasons versus the soap opera tone of the last couple seasons.

[Jacks]

Excellent! Loved the entire episodes & had many LOL moments.

 

"Anal autograph" Hahahaha The look on that man's face was great.

[Deyus]

Hi Name is Max and I really registered just for this. (btw english isnt my native language so sorry if there's something wrong)

 

I just rewatched the whole Series and now I'm at S6E9 and in the first Minute I saw Leonard handing Sheldon a Cookie and he (Sheldon) ate it without complaint.

Is'nt one of Sheldon's Top Rules "Nobody Touches my Food"?

 

If someone already posted this I'm sorry I didnt read through the entire Thread.

[Stephen Hawking]

So, who do you reckon won, regarding their revenge actions, Sheldon or Howard?

I, personally, think Sheldon won, with his naked revenge wiggle, in Howard's new car.