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The Big Bang Theory: The Loobenfeld Decay
In the middle of a discussion, Leonard and Sheldon hear Penny’s awful singing, and when they see her coming down the stairs, they try to escape unsuccessfully. Penny informs them that she has gotten a singing role in a small play, but the big thing about it is that a lot of talent scouts are going to be there, and she is hoping for a real chance in show business. Because they don’t want to be there, Leonard cooks up a lie in which him and Sheldon are going to a symposium, but Sheldon feels guilty about the lie afterwards and cooks up a new plan that involves a fake cousin.
| 8.3/10 (39 Votes cast) |
Episode Info
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Episode number: 1x10 Production Number: 3T6609 Airdate: Monday March 24th, 2008 Alternate Airdates:
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UK (
NL (
Main Cast
Episode Notes
Rating: 8.63 million
The title ("The Loobenfeld Decay") refers to the actor Sheldon pays to play his cousin, Toby Loobenfeld.
This episode reveals that Sheldon has big problems keeping other people's lies a secret, but no problems keeping his own.
This is the first episode where Sheldon utilizes his "triple-knock". (knock-knock-knock, Leonard. knock-knock-knock, Lennard. knock-knock-knock, Leonard.)
Music
| Artist | Song Title | Played When |
| (Unknown artist) | Out Tonight | Leonard & Sheldon hear Penny sing |
Episode Quotes
Sheldon: I was analyzing our lie and I believe we're in danger of Penny seeing through the ruse.
Leonard: How?
Sheldon: Simple. If she were to log on to www.socalphysicsgroup.org/activities/other, click on upcoming events, scroll to seminars, download the PDF schedule, and look for the seminar on molecular positronium, well, then, bippity boppity boo, our pants are metaphorically on fire.
Leonard: How?
Sheldon: Simple. If she were to log on to www.socalphysicsgroup.org/activities/other, click on upcoming events, scroll to seminars, download the PDF schedule, and look for the seminar on molecular positronium, well, then, bippity boppity boo, our pants are metaphorically on fire.
(Penny hugs Leonard at the same time when Howard and Rajesh enter the room.)
Howard: Oh, boy, group hug.
Penny: Uh-uh.
Howard: Uh-uh?
Penny: Uh-uh.
Howard: Okay.
Howard: Oh, boy, group hug.
Penny: Uh-uh.
Howard: Uh-uh?
Penny: Uh-uh.
Howard: Okay.
Toby Loobenfeld: (in a strange and deep voice) Let me ask you something, Penny. Have you ever woken up in a fleabag motel covered in your own vomit next to a transsexual prostitute?
Toby Loobenfeld: This is amazing, just sitting on a couch watching TV with a woman. Not being drunk or high or wondering if you're a dude down there.
Episode Goofs
In the beginning of the episode, Sheldon throws away a bag of chicken in the garbage can. He, reluctantly, drops the handles of the bag and they fall down facing the ground of the bag, not upwards. However, when he picks up the bag again afterwards, the handles are upwards, not facing down.
When Penny is telling Rajesh and Howard about Leonard's lie, the scarf Penny wears changes position without her touching it.
When Sheldon is pouring milk into a mug during the night while talking to Leonard, we see in one shot several mugs on the counter. However, when the camera angle changes, we can only see Sheldon's mug and the other(s) have disappeared.
Cultural References
Visual: A long discussion between Leonard and Sheldon takes place...
The long discussion is about Skynet's role in the Terminator series. Terminator is a sci-fi franchise consisting of a long series of movies and TV shows. The creator was James Cameron, and the first movie was "The Terminator" in 1984.
The long discussion is about Skynet's role in the Terminator series. Terminator is a sci-fi franchise consisting of a long series of movies and TV shows. The creator was James Cameron, and the first movie was "The Terminator" in 1984.
Penny: Remember when I auditioned for Rent...
Rent is a rock musical featuring music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson. There have been 11 productions since the first performance in 1993/1994 and the musical has won 6 awards, including 3 Tony Award's and 1 Pulitzer Prize.
Rent is a rock musical featuring music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson. There have been 11 productions since the first performance in 1993/1994 and the musical has won 6 awards, including 3 Tony Award's and 1 Pulitzer Prize.
Sheldon: ...and if you disagree, I recommend a CAT scan to look for a tumor...
A CAT scan (preferred name is X-ray computed tomography) is a medical imaging employing tomography created by computer processing. If you need more information, please read about it in the Wikipedia article.
A CAT scan (preferred name is X-ray computed tomography) is a medical imaging employing tomography created by computer processing. If you need more information, please read about it in the Wikipedia article.
Sheldon: If she Googles Leopold Houston...
Google is the world's most used web search engine, receiving several hundred million queries a day. It first launched on September 15, 1997 and was created by Sergey Brin and Larry Page. Google is available in countless languages, and have special features in which you can search news, videos, images, web sites and also look at weather forecasts, synonyms, time zones, maps, movie showtimes, airports, sports scores and much, much more.
Google is the world's most used web search engine, receiving several hundred million queries a day. It first launched on September 15, 1997 and was created by Sergey Brin and Larry Page. Google is available in countless languages, and have special features in which you can search news, videos, images, web sites and also look at weather forecasts, synonyms, time zones, maps, movie showtimes, airports, sports scores and much, much more.
Sheldon: ...she'll find a Facebook page...
Facebook is a global social website that's target is for people to meet through the same interests, activities, culture etc. online. Users can add friends (and send them messages both privately and through "Wall comments" that are visible to all the friends of each person combined.) in addition to playing games, becoming a fan of "pages", participate in games etc.
Facebook is a global social website that's target is for people to meet through the same interests, activities, culture etc. online. Users can add friends (and send them messages both privately and through "Wall comments" that are visible to all the friends of each person combined.) in addition to playing games, becoming a fan of "pages", participate in games etc.
Sheldon: ...and a desperate yet hopeful listing on eHarmony.com.
eHarmony is an online dating/relationship website that matches single men and women with singles of the opposite sex. In addition to their regular dating website, they also offer eHarmony Advice, which are helpful advices on how to start, build up and perfect a relationshop. eHarmony was founded in 2000 by Dr. Neil Clark Warren, and the headquarter is in Pasadena, California, which is the same city Leonard and Sheldon live in.
eHarmony is an online dating/relationship website that matches single men and women with singles of the opposite sex. In addition to their regular dating website, they also offer eHarmony Advice, which are helpful advices on how to start, build up and perfect a relationshop. eHarmony was founded in 2000 by Dr. Neil Clark Warren, and the headquarter is in Pasadena, California, which is the same city Leonard and Sheldon live in.
Howard: It's your Millenium Falcon...
Millenium Falcon is a fictional spaceship in the Star Wars universe, commanded by smuggler Han Solo and his Wookiee first mate, Chewbacca. The design of the Falcon was, humoristically, inspired by a hamburger, with the cockpit playing the part of the olive on the side. The design of the Falcon has been re-modified, re-scaled and re-used as Princess Leia's ship, Tantive IV.
Millenium Falcon is a fictional spaceship in the Star Wars universe, commanded by smuggler Han Solo and his Wookiee first mate, Chewbacca. The design of the Falcon was, humoristically, inspired by a hamburger, with the cockpit playing the part of the olive on the side. The design of the Falcon has been re-modified, re-scaled and re-used as Princess Leia's ship, Tantive IV.
Howard: Me and Princess Leia here will find some other way to spend the evening.
Princess Leia (also known as "Leia Organa Solo", "Crown Princess of Alderaan", "Princess of Naboo" and "Leia Amidala Skywalker") is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe. She is one of the main protagonists of the original Star Wars trilogy, and in the movie "Return of the Jedi", it was revealed that she was the twin sister of Luke Skywalker, thus the daughter of Darth Vader.
Princess Leia (also known as "Leia Organa Solo", "Crown Princess of Alderaan", "Princess of Naboo" and "Leia Amidala Skywalker") is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe. She is one of the main protagonists of the original Star Wars trilogy, and in the movie "Return of the Jedi", it was revealed that she was the twin sister of Luke Skywalker, thus the daughter of Darth Vader.
Sheldon: It's a very nice community. The Queen Mary is docked there.
RMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner that is famous for sailing the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967. It was built by John Brown and Company and it was launched on September 26, 1934. It went out of service on December 1, 1967, 33 years old.
RMS Queen Mary is a retired ocean liner that is famous for sailing the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 to 1967. It was built by John Brown and Company and it was launched on September 26, 1934. It went out of service on December 1, 1967, 33 years old.
Visual: Sheldon is wearing a sweater with an image of a green lantern.
This is a reference to Green Lantern, the name of several fictional superheroes in the DC Comics. The character is famously known for possessing a power ring that gives him superhuman powers. With the ring on, the Green Lanterns get control of the world and together, they form what is called "Green Lantern Corps", which is a police force.
This is a reference to Green Lantern, the name of several fictional superheroes in the DC Comics. The character is famously known for possessing a power ring that gives him superhuman powers. With the ring on, the Green Lanterns get control of the world and together, they form what is called "Green Lantern Corps", which is a police force.
Other Episode Crew
| • Creator | Chuck Lorre | Bill Prady |
| • Executive Producer | Chuck Lorre | Bill Prady | Lee Aronsohn |
| • Co-Executive Producer | David Goetsch | Robert Cohen (1) |
| • Producer | Faye Oshima Belyeu | Steven Molaro |
| • Co-Producer | Peter Chakos | Mary T. Quigley |
| • Consulting Producer | Jennifer Glickman | Stephen Engel |
| • 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 | Chris Klausen |
| • Second Assistant Director | Bill Ghaffary | 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 | Brian George (1) |
| • Re-Recording Mixer | Charlie McDaniel, III | Bob La Masney |
| • Director of Photography | Steven V. Silver |
| • Executive Consultant | Don Foster (1) | Eddie Gorodetsky | Mark Roberts (3) |
| • 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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