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The Big Bang Theory
S2.E20
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The Hofstadter Isotope

  • Episode aired Apr 13, 2009
  • TV-PG
  • 20m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
4.5K
YOUR RATING
Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, Jim Parsons, and Kunal Nayyar in The Big Bang Theory (2007)
ComedyRomance

Leonard is upset when the owner of the comic book store goes on a date with Penny, so he convinces Howard and Raj to take him to a bar so that he can pick up a woman of his own.Leonard is upset when the owner of the comic book store goes on a date with Penny, so he convinces Howard and Raj to take him to a bar so that he can pick up a woman of his own.Leonard is upset when the owner of the comic book store goes on a date with Penny, so he convinces Howard and Raj to take him to a bar so that he can pick up a woman of his own.

  • Director
    • Mark Cendrowski
  • Writers
    • Chuck Lorre
    • Bill Prady
    • David Goetsch
  • Stars
    • Johnny Galecki
    • Jim Parsons
    • Kaley Cuoco
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    4.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mark Cendrowski
    • Writers
      • Chuck Lorre
      • Bill Prady
      • David Goetsch
    • Stars
      • Johnny Galecki
      • Jim Parsons
      • Kaley Cuoco
    • 6User reviews
    • 1Critic review
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos12

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    Top cast8

    Edit
    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
    Kevin Sussman
    Kevin Sussman
    • Stuart Bloom
    Ian Scott Rudolph
    Ian Scott Rudolph
    • Captain Sweatpants
    • (uncredited)
    Lori Anne Shields
    Lori Anne Shields
    • Raj's Bar Lady
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Mark Cendrowski
    • Writers
      • Chuck Lorre
      • Bill Prady
      • David Goetsch
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews6

    7.84.4K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    8Hitchcoc

    Strike Three

    In this episode, we are introduced to Stuart and his comic book store. He is portrayed first as a talented guy with art credentials and a nice personality. He even gets a date with Penny which Sheldon ruins. Eventually, the depressed Leonard ends up with Howard and Raj at a pickup bar. Of course, this is not going to work out;
    8mr_olimpia09

    The Hofstadter Isotope: Birthdays, Surprises, and Geeky Fun

    This episode revolves around Leonard's birthday, with the gang trying to plan a celebration that highlights both humor and friendship. The situational comedy and character interactions provide plenty of laughs and quirky moments.

    Pros: engaging character dynamics, humorous scenarios, relatable social awkwardness.

    Cons: predictable plot, relies heavily on birthday-related tropes.

    Verdict: A fun and light-hearted episode that blends friendship, humor, and classic sitcom charm.

    My rating: 8/10.
    5studioAT

    The Hofstadter Isotope

    This is an important episode in a way because it shows that Penny just might be interested in dating someone like Leonard.

    This storyline worked a little better than the storyline in the bar I felt.

    Ok overall.

    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
      First appearance of the comic book store.
    • Goofs
      While Sheldon and Howard are arguing over the comic book, Howard's hand position changes.
    • Quotes

      Penny: You know, it's kind of early. Do you want to maybe come in for some coffee or something?

      Stuart: Oh, gee. It's a little late for coffee, isn't it?

      Penny: Oh... you think coffee means coffee. That is so sweet.

    • Crazy credits
      CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #248 I believe that Newton's first law of motion is the reason we will emerge from our current economic woes. That law states that an object at rest tends to stay at rest and an object in motion tends to stay in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. How does that relate to the financial #$%*storm we're now cowering under? Allow me to explain. There are slightly less than seven billion people on this planet. Assuming that roughly half that number are either too young, too old, too lazy, or too loaded to work, that still leaves almost three and a half billion people getting up in the morning to chase the almighty dollar, the transcendent rupee, the zen yen,the dear ol' euro, the what's goin' on yuan, the... well, you get the idea. Now, call me crazy (and many have called me far worse), but I happen to think that three and a half billion motivated people is one big damn object in motion. And the only thing acting against that object is the friction caused by a small bunch of greedy, dumbass, screw-the-pooch, Ivy League pot stickers (the unbalanced force). I therefore assert that the unbalanced force (you know who you are, shame on you), will eventually be overwhelmed by the object in motion (three and a half billion people with pluck, aka pluckers), thus allowing the object in motion to continue its relentless journey forward, thriving and conniving until it is once again slowed down by other unbalanced forces, or a very large meteorite. Or a plague. Or fundamentalists with nukes. Or atmosphere-eating nanobots. Or a super volcano. Or Skynet. Or Cylons.
    • Connections
      References Star Trek: The Trouble with Tribbles (1967)
    • 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

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 13, 2009 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Production companies
      • Chuck Lorre Productions
      • Warner Bros. Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 20m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16 : 9

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