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The Big Bang Theory
S1.E4
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IMDbPro

The Luminous Fish Effect

  • Episode aired Oct 15, 2007
  • TV-PG
  • 21m
IMDb RATING
8.0/10
5.8K
YOUR RATING
Johnny Galecki, Laurie Metcalf, and Jim Parsons in The Big Bang Theory (2007)
ComedyRomance

Sheldon's mother is called to intervene when he delves into numerous obsessions after being fired for being disrespectful to his new boss.Sheldon's mother is called to intervene when he delves into numerous obsessions after being fired for being disrespectful to his new boss.Sheldon's mother is called to intervene when he delves into numerous obsessions after being fired for being disrespectful to his new boss.

  • Director
    • Mark Cendrowski
  • Writers
    • Chuck Lorre
    • Bill Prady
    • David Litt
  • Stars
    • Johnny Galecki
    • Jim Parsons
    • Kaley Cuoco
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    8.0/10
    5.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mark Cendrowski
    • Writers
      • Chuck Lorre
      • Bill Prady
      • David Litt
    • Stars
      • Johnny Galecki
      • Jim Parsons
      • Kaley Cuoco
    • 8User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos83

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    Top cast8

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    Johnny Galecki
    Johnny Galecki
    • Leonard Hofstadter
    Jim Parsons
    Jim Parsons
    • Sheldon Cooper
    Kaley Cuoco
    Kaley Cuoco
    • Penny
    Simon Helberg
    Simon Helberg
    • Howard Wolowitz
    Kunal Nayyar
    Kunal Nayyar
    • Raj Koothrappali
    Laurie Metcalf
    Laurie Metcalf
    • Mary Cooper
    Mark Harelik
    Mark Harelik
    • Dr. Eric Gablehauser
    Sierra Edwards
    Sierra Edwards
    • Summer
    • Director
      • Mark Cendrowski
    • Writers
      • Chuck Lorre
      • Bill Prady
      • David Litt
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews8

    8.05.8K
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    Featured reviews

    9stomaino

    First episode with a Sheldon & Penny scene!

    This is a significant episode as it's the first one with a scene with just Sheldon & Penny. These would turn out to be comedy gold and show just how much chemistry the actors have.
    8mr_olimpia09

    The Big Bang Theory - The Luminous Fish Effect: Everyday Humor in Action

    This episode focuses on the characters' interactions and the comedic consequences of their everyday actions. It highlights each character's unique traits and how their scientific mindset clashes with ordinary situations.

    Pros: character-driven humor, engaging dialogues, and light comedic situations.

    Cons: plot is simple and predictable, but fits the sitcom's tone.

    Verdict: A funny and light episode that reinforces the characters' personalities and maintains the series' momentum.

    My rating: 8/10.
    6studioAT

    The Luminous Fish Effect

    This was a fun early episode of the show, introducing Sheldon's Mum (though I suppose you could say reintroducing if you count 'Young Sheldon').

    I agree with previous reviewers - the Sheldon and Penny scenes are the highlight of the episode for me.
    9Hitchcoc

    Hooray for Mom

    When Sheldon can't keep his mouth shut at a luncheon to meet the new department head, he gets fired. His loss of work leads to his doing all kinds of goofy experiments in the apartment. Leonard call his mom (Laurie Metcalf, who is fantastic) ande she moves in for a while and waits him out. We get a dose of her fundamentalism and her judgmentalism but it is really funny as Sheldon reacts to her. Excellent episode.
    1yatinsrivastava

    How not to handle stereotypes

    I love Big Bang Theory,but till this episode Raj's character is simply kept as a comic relief,mostly harbouring on his Indian roots to evoke laughter. In this particular episode Raj denigerates Indian food and says some Victorian era stuff about Mumbai. Later in the episode,Sheldon's mom asks Raj whether chicken is one of the animals that they consider magical back in India (it doesn't even make any sense). The writers can surely do better than using these racial stereotypes for the sake of comic relief. Disappointed!!!

    Related interests

    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When Mary Cooper (Laurie Metcalf) introduces herself as "Sheldon's mother" to Dr. Eric Gablehauser (Mark Harelik), Sheldon's boss, he says that's impossible and that she must've had Sheldon when she was a teenager. Laurie Metcalf is 17 years older than Jim Parsons.
    • Goofs
      Sheldon mentions that if he invented a time machine, he would go back in time and give it to himself, thus preventing the need to ever invent it. Because Sheldon believes time travel is a closed loop, he would see this as having created a paradox; Sheldon never invented it in the past to bring it to himself in the future.
    • Quotes

      Sheldon: I'm not going to apologize. I didn't say anything that wasn't true.

      Mary: [Firmly] Now you listen here, I have been telling you since you were four years old, it's okay to be smarter than everybody else, but you can't go around pointing it out.

      Sheldon: Why?

      Mary: [All but yelling] Because people don't like it! Remember all the ass-kickings you got from the neighbor kids?

      [Drops a pair of shoes down]

      Mary: Now let's get crackin'! Shower, shirt, shoes, and let's shove off!

    • Crazy credits
      CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #187 Awright, shut up, siddown and listen. I am da immortal spirit Sheldon Leonard and for da last few years I've been using da body of Chuck Lorre to channel my ideas for new sitcoms. For da record, he's a stinkin' lousy channel and my ideas are much better than what he's puttin' on television. Dis is why I am breaking my anonymity. No matter how specifical I tell da kid what to write, he still manages to cock it up. Dharma & Greg? What da hell was dat? I specifically said "do a show about a queer guy who loves a straight chick, and she loves him back, but they can't, you know, bump uglies." But does Lorre listen? No way Jose. The putz turns it inside out, winds up with hippie chick loves uptight lawyer and then wonders why he can't buy an Emmy. (I did find a writing team to act as a channel for dat pitch, which worked out pretty good, Emmy and cash-wise.) Anyway, back to Lorre. Couple years later while he's sleepin', I whisper to him, "Two brudders inherit a midget." Funny, right? What's Lorre do? You got it. Two and a Half Men. Gimme a break! Anyway, I decide to give the mook one last chance. While he's under da gas at the dentist, I tell him to do a show about four wise guys and a sexy dame what knows da score. So what does da knucklehead do? Scientists and a waitress! It just breaks my heart. But at least the dope managed to slip my name in dis one. Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta schlep over to Milton Berle's crypt for a little pinochle with the boys.
    • Connections
      References Dharma & Greg (1997)
    • Soundtracks
      History of Everything
      (uncredited)

      Written by Barenaked Ladies

      Performed by Barenaked Ladies

      [Series theme song played during the opening titles]

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • October 15, 2007 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Hawaiian
    • Filming locations
      • Stage 25, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA(uncredited)
    • Production companies
      • Chuck Lorre Productions
      • Warner Bros. Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 21m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9

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