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The Big Bang Theory Season 4 Episode 5

The Desperation Emanation

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AIRED: Oct 21, 2010

7.4

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Episode Summary

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Leonard is depressed to realize all the other guys have girlfriends, while he doesn't. Amy wants to introduce Sheldon to her mother.

Fan Episode Reviews (5)

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6.0

By Canogaparkcindy, Nov 24, 2011

Another lackluster episode of Big Bang Theory. The main reason was Kayley Cuoco's absence, it definitely did not go unnoticed. It's almost the equivalent of Sheldon missing out on an episode. Not only that, but I didn't laugh much tonight, the only part I found myself laughing at was when Sheldon & Amy were talking to Amy's mother, but that's really just about it.

I really couldn't care less for Leonard's story line, going on a bad double date, and the date was someone you'd usually see on Two and a Half Men, so no, it really wasn't my cup of tea. I wonder if she will appear again in future episodes, I really hope she doesn't. And what was that with Raj and his deaf girlfriend? I also hope they don't make too much of that either.moreless
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5.5

By thefanof, Jan 22, 2011

I think at this point everyone knows how I feel about Johnny Galecki and his character on this show, so it is no surprise that a Leonard-centric episode produces one of the least funny episodes in months.

I have openly criticized sitcoms for having everyone get in a relationship as a show matures and has more seasons, and this show is falling into the same trap. Why does Raj and Howard have to have a girlfriend? How is that integral to the show?

I laughed at Sheldon's lying to Amy's mother on the video chat, but other than that, a pretty forgettable episode.moreless
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Leonard: You know how you always say Amy is a girl who is your friend but not your girlfriend? Well, can't say that anymore...

8.0

By doguineta, Jan 12, 2011

Another 2 plot one. And this one is the work of the season yet, and mainly it's because Penny was missing (due to Kaley's horse-riding incident).

Leonard plot: So Leonard realises he is the only one without a girlfriend (Raj has a deaf one) so after amy tells him he stinks of despertation, he asks Howard to fix him up with one of Bernadette's friends on a double date, but the girl is gross and vulgar. But he ends up staying with her after hearing of the possibility of having sex with her.

Shamy plot: amy asks Sheldon to meet her mom, which freaks him out as he doens't know what it means. So after Leonard tells him that means she wants to take it to the next level, he tries to avoid her, disguising as Groucho Marx, but fails. The episode ends with Shel telling Amy's mom he is having sex with her and really enjoying it.

Title Reference: Amy saying Leonard is very desperate to get a girlfriend.

Overall: Pretty dull episode. My favourite part was the star song Sheldon sang down the stairs. Made funnier becuase when he forgets a star, he goes back up again to start over. 8/10moreless
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Sheldon, the 'whacky neighbor,' moves into the starring role, when Amy Farrah Fowler asks him to meet her mother. Leonard gives off a Desperation Emanation, of anti-phermones. Where's Penny?

7.0

By Chipslinger, Dec 30, 2010

The Big Bang Theory has perhaps gotten too big for its britches, moving to Thursday night, which was NBC's domain for so long they had squatter's rights. Still, I am watching it instead of Community, but switching right back to NBC for 30 Rock, The Office, and even Outsourced. I would like to watch $#*! My Dad Says, just to see Shatner Pants, but not enough to miss 30 Rock or The Office, whichever one it is. I do admit that NBC is faltering, and that CBS had built up some good comedies, but I wish they had stayed with Monday nights. They had a pretty good line up there, but since losing The Big Bang Theory to Thursday, they don't really have much left. OK, Two and a Half Men, but Rules of Engagement kind of needed a little push, and now they have messed up two nights of TV, Monday and Thursday.

Enough already, with the kvetching about program scheduling. The Big Bang Theory is a good show that has been improving for quite a while. They may have reached a plateau, but Sheldon is on fire. He has now become the main focus, at least for the time being, and Leonard is in a slump. Leonard couldn't get anywhere even if he entered a woman's detention facility with a pile of paperwork, as Rajeesh said--in other words he couldn't get laid in a woman's prison with a pile of pardons. Wolowitz, Rajeesh, Stuart, and even Sheldon now have girlfriends, but Leonard does not.

And where is Penny? I guess I missed an episode and am out of the loop, but it seemed like she was just gone, and they mentioned her only in passing, with regards to Leonard and his lack of Penny, or any other potential rebound gal. I guess Wolowitz's girlfriend Bernadette does set him up for a date, but her obnoxious sense of humor is a big turn off. At least that is until she invites Leonard for a second date at her cousin's wedding. And since there is an open bar, she'll be practically giving it away.

The Big Bang Theory is still funny, but it was much funnier on Monday nights.moreless
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Pretty good episode

7.5

By polin678, Dec 30, 2010

Pretty good episode tho the absence of Penny seemed weird.I guess the reason she wasnt in this one its cause of Kaleys accident.I hope we see her in the next episodes,i love her interactions with Sheldon,i always crack up when they have a scene together.Tho it wasnt the best,i did like the episode.Shamy ,lol, is working pretty good and its really interesting to watch them together.Sheldon freaking out when Amy asked him to meet her mother was really funny!What i didnt like was Leonard whining about not having a girlfriend.He gets annoying when he does that.Anw Jim Parsons always saves the day with his amazing acting even at episodes with average storylines.Sheldon Cooper for the win!moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Johnny Galecki	Leonard Hofstadter
Jim Parsons	Sheldon Cooper
Simon Helberg	Howard Wolowitz
Kunal Nayyar	Rajesh Koothrappali
Melissa Rauch	Bernadette Rostenkowski

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Charlotte Newhouse	Joy	Guest Star
Annie O'Donnell	Mrs. Fowler	Guest Star
Kevin Sussman	Stuart	Recurring Role
Carol Ann Susi	Mrs. Wolowitz	Recurring Role
Mayim Bialik	Amy Farrah Fowler	Recurring Role

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Episode Photos

Johnny Galecki on The Big Bang Theory fr...

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Mayim Bialik on The Big Bang Theory from...

© 2010 CBS Corporation
Jim Parsons on The Big Bang Theory from ...

© 2010 CBS Corporation
Mayim Bialik and Jim Parsons on The Big ...

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (6)
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- Leonard: If they took all the money they spent trying to make a decent Hulk movie they could probably just make an actual Hulk.
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- Leonard: Wait, you have a girlfriend? I thought you couldn't even talk to a girl!
  Raj: Two words, dude: deaf chick!
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- Mrs. Wolowitz: Howard, get the door!
  Wolowitz: Why can't you get it?!
  Mrs. Wolowitz: You know I'm doing a bowel cleanse for my colonoscopy! (pause) I'm like an upside-down volcano here! (opens door)
  Wolowitz: Oh, hey! Uh, I hope you don't hear that.
  Leonard: The volcano thing? No.
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- Amy: I find the notion of romantic love to be an unnecessary cultural construct that has no has no value to human relationships.
  Sheldon: (admiringly) Amy Farrah Fowler, that's the most pragmatic thing anyone has ever said to me.
  Amy: I trust this clarification allows us to return to boy/friend/girl/friend status?
  Sheldon: Of course. Would you like to join me for Chinese food?
  Amy: Sheldon, please, you're suffocating me.
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- Leonard: What would you be if you were attached to another object by an inclined plane wrapped helically around an axis?
  Sheldon: Screwed!
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- Raj: Oh, Leonard, you remind me of that funny old story about a man who walks into a women's correctional institution with a stack of paperwork that would allow the female convicts to go free.
  Leonard: You're saying I couldn't get laid in a women's prison with a handful of pardons?
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NOTES (3)
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- Though credited, Kaley Cuoco does not appear in this episode due to a horse riding accident where she fell off the horse and it subsequently stepped on her leg, breaking it and necessitating a lengthy hospital stay that included several surgeries.
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- This episode's end titles has Chuck Lorre's Vanity Card #303.
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- International Airdates: United Kingdom: December 2, 2010 on E4; Turkey: September 27, 2011 on CNBC-e; Czech Republic: November 10, 2011 on Prima COOL; Slovakia: November 25, 2011 on Markiza
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- When Leonard asks Sheldon if he's considered telling Amy how he feels, Sheldon replies "Leonard, I'm a physicist, not a hippie!" This is a riff on the "I'm a doctor, not a…" construct used on various occassions by Dr. McCoy on the original Star Trek. Other Star Trek universe doctors have used this phrasing since.
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