The Big Bang Theory

The Hamburger Postulate

Season 1, Episode 5, Aired 10/22/07

Episode Summary

Fearing he's wasting his time on Penny, Leonard ends up making a connection with Leslie. Meanwhile, Sheldon frets over a change to his hamburger routine.

8.0

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Cast & Crew

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Johnny Galecki

Leonard Hofstadter
Jim Parsons

Sheldon Cooper
Kaley Cuoco

Penny

Fan Episode Reviews (8)

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What a brilliant name for this episode!

9.0

"Superb"

By Pucktweety, Oct 30, 2011 Report Abuse

This wasn't my favourite episode but it was still really good!

Sheldon as always was a star and Leonard and Sheldons conversations about Penny where hilariously and really quite demented! His illusions where funny - and his train of thought was insanely confusing but it made me laugh of course! Like everything Leonard and Sheldon do of coruse!

The whole soup plantation thing was really cute as well! Even though it was insanely small part of the script I remember it well :P

Penny's reactions where confusion - like the script writers didn't want to make it too obvious she was beginning to like Leonard or make it open to maybe she does like him, or maybe she doesn't!moreless

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Nerds.

9.5

"Superb"

By Sarah_LOST, Oct 30, 2011 Report Abuse

While eating at the Cheesecake Factory where Penny works, the guys run into Leslie Winkle (Sara Gilbert), a fellow scientist who works with Leonard (and previously turned him down for a date saying she had no attraction to him). She suggests that Leonard play in her string quartet as they are in need of a new cellist. However, what she really wants is to get personal with Leonard (especially after hearing him play the cello). When Sheldon comes home and finds a necktie on Leonard's door, he runs to Penny's apartment to ask her what the necktie means. Penny tells him and seems slightly disappointed, though she does congratulate Leonard later on. Leonard tries to figure out what her words meant, but eventually gives up, deciding he should choose a real relationship (Leslie) over an imaginary one (Penny). However when he arrives in the lab, Leslie makes it clear she used him just to satisfy her sex drive, saying she's 'good till New Year's'. Leonard later tells Penny, who walks away with a smile on her face; she seems to be quite happy to hear this news.
I love the starting scene in Penny's working place where the nerds are being weird by using the sauces as a games on something along those lines - legends. I love the way Sheldon is so stubborn. I love the way Lenny and Leslie are, and the way Sheldon is when they are sleeping together. I also love the scene Sheldon freaks out about somebody changes his equation on his board, due to LEslie working it out. I love the scene whith Penny and Lenny. And the scene when Leslie doesn't want Lenny in that way. I love how nerdy the conversations are every time and how Lenny thinks too much about everything.moreless

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"Who touched my board?" Who wrote this scene? It's hot! (really hot, not Paris Hilton hot) Jim and Sara are across the room from each other, fully clothed, but it feels like the scene on the beach in FROM HERE TO ETERNITYmoreless

9.6

"Superb"

By katisanjuan, Oct 16, 2011 Report Abuse

Amid all the Porkies-style carnality with nerd # 1, encounters which were intentionally superficial, I discovered one of the hottest scenes I ever remember on television. Not on HBO, nor on a show with too many inexperienced doctors, but between the incomparable, ever-underrated Jim Parsons, "Who erased my board?" and Sara Gilbert, grunge femme fatale. And other than the aforementioned board, nothing private was touched. This is Bacall, at the doorway in Key Largo...
You know how to whistle dont you Steve?...leaving Bogart speechless. But Gilbert and Parsons deserve the acting honors over Bogart and Bacall. B & B werent acting. More Sara, more Jim and Sara, more suggestive banter. A lot more.moreless

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105

8.8

"Great"

By Canogaparkcindy, Nov 04, 2010 Report Abuse

Every episode to this date has been quite superb but this episode was definitely the funniest so far. Like I said before, I can officially say that I'm a fan of this show, and this episode shows why. We've got subtle humor and it doesn't scream "sitcom."

To just about everything that Sheldon says to Leslie & Leonard's very strange humor, this episode was absolutely hilarious. By the end of every episode, I'm left wondering where the rest of the episode went which seems to be an underlying problem since the first episode.

There seems to be no climax to a certain event. No big moment that ties the whole episode together. All the past episodes, it's just something happens, Sheldon says something funny and then the episode is done before you know it. Something that I also haven't seen yet is heart. So far this series is just an entertaining watch, nothing much more.moreless

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Leonard is moving on from Penny with Leslie, their night of passion proves an akward situation for Sheldon, and allows Penny to reaccess her feelings for Leonard, the magnificent beast.

9.5

"Superb"

By JayMc416, Jul 14, 2010 Report Abuse

I liked this episode, in fact I never laughed so hard when I heard Sara Gilbert say "oh Leonard you magnificent beast"

It was really funny watching Sheldon react to the tie on the door. Then calling Leonard to confirm the message.

I like Sara Gilbert as Leslie, she adds the other perspective of the female geek. Especially since this show does lack female stars. I love how she is always cooking in the lab with science equipment.

Poor Leonard and Penny, it is so clear that these two are both pining for each other, but I guess society is keeping them apart.

As for the highlight scene, Sheldon asking Penny who he should talk to about permanently reserving a table at "The Cheesecake Factory"moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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Trivia
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- It is revealed that Sheldon went to college when he was eleven. Edit
- When Leslie is freezing the banana with liquid nitrogen, she says that it is "320° below zero," which would be in Fahrenheit. One scientist warning another would have used either the Celsius or Kelvin scale. Edit
Notes
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- This episode's end titles has Chuck Lorre's Vanity Card #189. Edit
- The German episode title is "Die andere Seite der Krawatte", meaning "The Other Side of the Necktie". The French title is "Le Postulat du hamburger", the Italian title is "Il postulato dell'hamburger", and the Spanish and Mexican title is "El postulado de la hamburguesa". Edit
- Music: "Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman" by Bryan Adams. Edit
Quotes
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- Sheldon: I need your help in a matter of semiotics. Penny: What? Sheldon: Semiotics, the study of signs and symbols as a branch of the philosophy related to linguistics. Penny: Okay, honey, I know you think you are explaining yourself, but you're really not. Edit
- Sheldon: Can't we just go to Big Boy? They only have one burger: the Big Boy. Penny: The Barbecue Burger is like the Big Boy. Sheldon: Excuse me, in a world that already includes a Big Boy, why would I settle for something that's like a Big Boy? Edit
- Sheldon: (at The Cheesecake Factory) Who do I speak to about permanently reserving this table? Penny: I don't know, a psychiatrist? Edit
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