The Anxiety Optimization

Episode aired Jan 29, 2015
TV-14
20m

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

3.4K

YOUR RATING

Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar in The Big Bang Theory (2007)

The Big Bang Theory: The Anxiety Optimization

Play trailer1:08

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4 Photos

Comedy Romance

When Sheldon becomes stuck in a rut with his work, the gang try to help him by raising his stress levels. Howard teases Raj with a game called "Emily or Cinnamon."When Sheldon becomes stuck in a rut with his work, the gang try to help him by raising his stress levels. Howard teases Raj with a game called "Emily or Cinnamon."When Sheldon becomes stuck in a rut with his work, the gang try to help him by raising his stress levels. Howard teases Raj with a game called "Emily or Cinnamon."

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

3.4K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Videos1

Trailer 1:08

The Big Bang Theory: The Anxiety Optimization

Photos3

User reviews2

7.43.3K

Featured reviews

8Hitchcoc

Emily or Cinnamon

Sheldon spends an entire day trying to work up new theories and draws a total blank. He then uses a technique which says that scientists do their best work when experiencing severe stress. So he asks the gang to bug him while he works. But, like always, things get out of hand and he messes things up for everyone. Also, Howard comes up with a game that is crude and nasty.

Trivia
This is the penultimate time that "Soft Kitty" is sung, due to a lawsuit by the daughters of the original composer for using the song without their permission. Even though the lyrics were slightly altered and the lawsuit was later dropped, the song is only heard once more in The Recollection Dissipation (2017).

Goofs
Towards the end of the episode, when Penny and Leonard are trying to put an overtired Sheldon into his bed, the bed is clearly a prop as it is way too small for him. When they begin to sing Soft Kitty, he leans back and puts his head on the pillow but his feet are hanging way off the end.

Quotes
[last lines]
Emily Sweeney: So, I hear you guys have been playing a little game.
Howard Wolowitz: Well, um, we were just kidding around.
Emily Sweeney: Well, you may think it's funny that Raj is sweet and sensitive, but I think it's sexy.
[kisses Raj]
Emily Sweeney: Ugh, why is there dog hair in your mouth?

Crazy credits
CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #485

(black and white picture of an infant, presumably Chuck Lorre himself)

Connections
References Song of the South (1946)

Soundtracks
History of Everything
(uncredited)
Written by Barenaked Ladies
Performed by Barenaked Ladies
[Series theme song played during the opening titles]