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The Big Bang Theory: The Middle Earth Paradigm
Embarrassed after being defeated by a Bar Mitzvah party at paintball, the guys are surprised when Penny invites them to her upcoming Halloween & Costume party. They decide to go, but for them, the party is a disaster. Sheldon, who is sad that there is not going to be a costume parade and awards, tries to make people guess what he has dressed up like, while Howard tries to impress different women at the party but with no success. Leonard gets in a disturbing situation when Penny’s ex-boyfriend Kurt shows up at the party and insults him, and Koothrappali tries not to talk to any women because of his mythology, but a situation pops up that result in him and a girl in bed together.
| 8.4/10 (13 Votes cast) |
Episode Info
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Episode number: 1x6 Production Number: 3T6605 Airdate: Monday October 29th, 2007 Alternate Airdates:
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UK (
NL (
Co-Guest Stars
Main Cast
Episode Notes
Rating: 8.92 million
This episode reveals that Wolowitz isn't English.
This episode reveals that Rajesh is quite concerned about racism towards himself or his culture.
This episode reveals that Leonard's middle name is Leakey.
This episode marks the first and second time Leonard and Penny kiss.
This episode marks the first time we "see" Rajesh having sex with a woman.
The title ("The Middle Earth Paradigm") is a reference to the Halloween costume Leonard chose; Frodo.
Episode Quotes
Leonard: I think we have to acknowledge those were some fairly savage pre-adolescent Jews.
Howard: What, are all the girls in the bathroom?
Penny: Probably, but in their own homes.
Penny: Probably, but in their own homes.
Sheldon: We were annihilated by our own incompetence and the inability of some people to follow the chain of command.
Leonard: Sheldon let it go!
Sheldon: No, I wanna talk about the fact that Wolowitz shot me in the back.
Leonard: Sheldon let it go!
Sheldon: No, I wanna talk about the fact that Wolowitz shot me in the back.
Leonard: (wearing big ears and a funny costume resembling Frodo from Lord of the Rings)
I don't wanna look like a dork...
I don't wanna look like a dork...
Episode Goofs
When Sheldon pours juice in a glass in his apartment, we can see him screwing the bottle cap on. However, in the next shot, the cap is off again and Sheldon's hand isn't even visible.
Cultural References
Rajesh: We really suck at paintball.
Paintball is a sport in which players compete (either individuals or in groups) to eliminate other players by hitting them with a pellet filled with paint. Courses can be practically anything both indoors and outdoors as long as there are hiding places and sometimes also a lot of room. The official rules of the game are just as simple as shooting each other, but players are free to make up their own rules in the game (like having to steal the other team's flag) if all the players agree to follow those rules. The very first paintball game was done in Henniker, New Hampshire, on June 27, 1981.
Paintball is a sport in which players compete (either individuals or in groups) to eliminate other players by hitting them with a pellet filled with paint. Courses can be practically anything both indoors and outdoors as long as there are hiding places and sometimes also a lot of room. The official rules of the game are just as simple as shooting each other, but players are free to make up their own rules in the game (like having to steal the other team's flag) if all the players agree to follow those rules. The very first paintball game was done in Henniker, New Hampshire, on June 27, 1981.
Howard: (...) bar mitzvah party.
A "Bar Mitzvah" (male version) and a "Bat Mitzvah" (female version) are traditional Judaism "coming-of-age" ceremonies. This ceremony usually takes place when the child has turned 13, but for girls in the Orthodox movement, 12. The Bar Mitzvah is actually just like any other Sabbath service, though a lot of people think it's the time when the child goes from childhood to adulthood.
A "Bar Mitzvah" (male version) and a "Bat Mitzvah" (female version) are traditional Judaism "coming-of-age" ceremonies. This ceremony usually takes place when the child has turned 13, but for girls in the Orthodox movement, 12. The Bar Mitzvah is actually just like any other Sabbath service, though a lot of people think it's the time when the child goes from childhood to adulthood.
Visual: All of the guys are standing in the apartment dressed as The Flash.
This is a reference to multiple fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics. Though there are many versions of the superhero, all of them have one thing in common; "The Flash" has the superpower of "super-speed", in which "he" has the ability to move extremely fast, use superhuman reflexes and violate certain laws of physics (hence, "Flash" as in extremely fast).
This is a reference to multiple fictional comic book superheroes from the DC Comics. Though there are many versions of the superhero, all of them have one thing in common; "The Flash" has the superpower of "super-speed", in which "he" has the ability to move extremely fast, use superhuman reflexes and violate certain laws of physics (hence, "Flash" as in extremely fast).
Leonard: I call Frodo!
Frodo Baggins is a fictional character in the J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings", in which he is the principal protagonist. Frodo was a hobbit of the Shire who inherited Sauron's Ring from Bilbo Baggins and set his mission to destroy it in Mount Doom.
Frodo Baggins is a fictional character in the J.R.R. Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings", in which he is the principal protagonist. Frodo was a hobbit of the Shire who inherited Sauron's Ring from Bilbo Baggins and set his mission to destroy it in Mount Doom.
Leonard: You went with Thor?
Thor is a red-haired and bearded God of Thunder in Germanic mythology and Germanic paganism. Mjöllnir is the name of his weapon, a hammer that is one of the most unique and memorable characteristics about Thor. Most of the surviving stories related to Germanic mythology either center on Thor or Thor's exploits.
Thor is a red-haired and bearded God of Thunder in Germanic mythology and Germanic paganism. Mjöllnir is the name of his weapon, a hammer that is one of the most unique and memorable characteristics about Thor. Most of the surviving stories related to Germanic mythology either center on Thor or Thor's exploits.
Rajesh: Look at Wolowitz. He's dressed like Peter Pan.
Peter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist J. M. Barrie, and Peter is described as being a mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up. The stories about Peter Pan are mostly based around the fictional island of Neverland, where Peter leads a group called the Lost Boys. The stories also center on the real world, in which Peter meets a girl called Wendy and he takes her to Neverland. In addition to the two distinct works by J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan has also been mentioned or featured in more modern TV series, movies, comic books etc.
Peter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist J. M. Barrie, and Peter is described as being a mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up. The stories about Peter Pan are mostly based around the fictional island of Neverland, where Peter leads a group called the Lost Boys. The stories also center on the real world, in which Peter meets a girl called Wendy and he takes her to Neverland. In addition to the two distinct works by J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan has also been mentioned or featured in more modern TV series, movies, comic books etc.
Rajesh: Sheldon is neither sound nor light, but is obviously dressed as the Doppler effect.
The Doppler Effect (also referred to as The Doppler Shift) is the change in frequency of a wave for an observer moving relative to the source of the wave. It's named after Austrian physicist Christian Doppler, who proposed the theory in 1842.
The Doppler Effect (also referred to as The Doppler Shift) is the change in frequency of a wave for an observer moving relative to the source of the wave. It's named after Austrian physicist Christian Doppler, who proposed the theory in 1842.
Howard: I'm not Peter Pan, I'm Robin Hood.
Robin Hood is a highly-skilled archer and outlaw, as well as a hero, in English folklore. He is most know for the quote "stealing from the rich and giving to the poor". He is mostly followed by his group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men", and another trademark of the character is the Lincoln green clothes.
Robin Hood is a highly-skilled archer and outlaw, as well as a hero, in English folklore. He is most know for the quote "stealing from the rich and giving to the poor". He is mostly followed by his group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men", and another trademark of the character is the Lincoln green clothes.
Rajesh: By Odin's beard...
This is a reference to the chief god in Norse paganism and the ruler of Asgard, named Odin. He is considered a principal member of the Aesir and is often associated with words such as wisdom, war, battle, death, magic, poetry, prophecy, victory and hunt.
This is a reference to the chief god in Norse paganism and the ruler of Asgard, named Odin. He is considered a principal member of the Aesir and is often associated with words such as wisdom, war, battle, death, magic, poetry, prophecy, victory and hunt.
Rajesh: ...this is good Chex Mix.
Chex Mix is a type of snack mix that consists of Chex cereals, chips, breadsticks, pretzels, or crackers, though people can choose a variety themselves. Chex Mix also offers a recipe on its boxes if people wish to make it at home, and these recipes are also available online. The product came out in 1952 as "Chex Party Mix", but was re-named Chex Mix when Ralston Purina commercially introduced the product in 1985.
Chex Mix is a type of snack mix that consists of Chex cereals, chips, breadsticks, pretzels, or crackers, though people can choose a variety themselves. Chex Mix also offers a recipe on its boxes if people wish to make it at home, and these recipes are also available online. The product came out in 1952 as "Chex Party Mix", but was re-named Chex Mix when Ralston Purina commercially introduced the product in 1985.
Rajesh: Penny is wearing the worst Catwoman costume I've ever seen.
Catwoman (sometimes referred to as "The Cat") is a fictional character in the DC Comics, mostly associated with Batman. Catwoman is looked at as a supervillain, and was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, partially inspired by Ruth Steel. The first Catwoman comic was published Spring 1940 and Catwoman's "obsession" is high-stakes thefts.
Catwoman (sometimes referred to as "The Cat") is a fictional character in the DC Comics, mostly associated with Batman. Catwoman is looked at as a supervillain, and was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane, partially inspired by Ruth Steel. The first Catwoman comic was published Spring 1940 and Catwoman's "obsession" is high-stakes thefts.
Howard: And there's this great show on VH1 about how to pick up girls.
VH1 (known as "VH-1: Video Hits One" from 1985 to 1994 and "VH1: Music First" from 1994 to 2003) is an American cable television network located in New York City. It was launched on January 1st, 1985 and is currently owned by the MTV Networks. VH1's slogan is "Watch and discuss".
VH1 (known as "VH-1: Video Hits One" from 1985 to 1994 and "VH1: Music First" from 1994 to 2003) is an American cable television network located in New York City. It was launched on January 1st, 1985 and is currently owned by the MTV Networks. VH1's slogan is "Watch and discuss".
Sheldon: ...I'm much more suited to being the guy from the FAA analyzing wreckage.
The FAA (shortened for "Federal Aviation Administration") is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation that has permissions to oversee and regulate all civil aviation in the U.S. The agency was formed on August 23, 1958 and their annual budget is $15,956 million.
The FAA (shortened for "Federal Aviation Administration") is an agency of the United States Department of Transportation that has permissions to oversee and regulate all civil aviation in the U.S. The agency was formed on August 23, 1958 and their annual budget is $15,956 million.
Other Episode Crew
| • Creator | Chuck Lorre | Bill Prady |
| • Executive Producer | Chuck Lorre | Lee Aronsohn | Bill Prady |
| • Co-Executive Producer | Robert Cohen (1) | David Goetsch |
| • Producer | Steven Molaro | Faye Oshima Belyeu |
| • Co-Producer | Peter Chakos | Mary T. Quigley |
| • Consulting Producer | Jennifer Glickman | David Litt |
| • Associate Producer | Kristy Cecil |
| • Production Designer | John Shaffner |
| • Editor | Peter Chakos |
| • Casting | Nikki Valko | Ken Miller (2) |
| • Unit Production Manager | Kelly Lee |
| • First Assistant Director | Anthony Rich |
| • Second Assistant Director | Chris Klausen |
| • Costume Designer | Mary T. Quigley |
| • Hairstylist | Faye Woods |
| • Set Decorator | Ann Shea (1) |
| • Property Master | Scott L. London |
| • Production Sound Mixer | Bruce Peters |
| • Script Supervisor | Julie Fleischer |
| • Production Coordinator | Gregg Moscot |
| • Re-Recording Mixer | Charlie McDaniel, III | Bob La Masney |
| • Director of Photography | Steven V. Silver |
| • Executive Consultant | Mark Roberts (3) | Eddie Gorodetsky | Don Foster (1) |
| • Associate Director | Howard Murray |
| • Main Title Theme | Barenaked Ladies |
| • Casting Associate | Peter Pappas |
| • Makeup Artist | Peggy Nichols |
| • Science Consultant | David Saltzberg Ph.D. |
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