The Big Bang Theory

Chosen answer: Out of everyone's apartments, the gang likely eats and hangs out at Leonard and Sheldon's apartment because it has the largest living room space and they would be given the most amount of room to interact in. Raj's apartment and Penny's apartment do not appear to have as much living room space as Leonard and Sheldon's apartment, so they may not want to hang out there, nor would they want to hang out at Howard's place since his mother would be there.

Casual Person

In addition to this, I'm sure that Sheldon has some sort of rule that if they aren't eating at a restaurant, they eat at Sheldon and Leonard's place because it's where Sheldon is most comfortable.

immortal eskimo

In addition, I think a big part of the reason would be that 3 of the 5 (at first) friends lived in the same building so eating there meant fewer people had to travel. Plus, it was very quickly traditional for Penny to come over to Leonard and Sheldon's apartment to eat so it was natural it stayed that way. And lastly, it's not at Penny's apartment since Penny usually doesn't have money to pay for the food so since Leonard usually brings the food, it's logical everyone goes to his apartment.

lionhead

This isn't true. In one episode, I can't remember which, the group eats at Raj's place with Priya. Sheldon expresses his displeasure to Amy who explains that Leonard is the nucleus and that where Leonard goes, everyone goes. Sheldon has no such rule about eating there.

Ssiscool

Since he states his displeasure it proves he is more comfortable eating at home. He even doesn't like eating at a dinner table in his own apartment, let alone somewhere else entirely. He only compromises if he has no choice.

lionhead

Chosen answer: It's not mentioned exactly, but it's implied to do with his weight and drinking.

Greg Dwyer

Chosen answer: Sheldon was 14 when his father died.

raywest

Show generally

Question: Was it ever established how long Howard spent on the International Space Station? I ask because some story arcs that begin with one season's finale pick up immediately where the last season left off (S4-S5), but others take place more or less in real time, such as when the guys went on a scientific expedition to the Arctic Circle. So did Howard actually spend three months on the ISS, or was there a "time jump"?

zendaddy621

Chosen answer: Howard went up on Expedition 31 and came back on 32. If the BBT universe holds to the same schedule as the real one, he would have been up there for approximately two months.

Answer: It typically goes by the name "pizza saver", but it's often called a pizza stool or pizza table (some have 3 legs and some have 4). When Carmela Vitale was issued a patent, she called it a package saver.

Bishop73

Answer: That was a dream Sheldon had; Penny never had it cleaned.

Answer: Heads Up, developed by Ellen DeGeneres. I believe it originally began on her talk show with the use of index cards.

Cubs Fan

Answer: Because she is a scientist with some OCD personality traits. She sees everything black and white. Same as Sheldon.

Ssiscool

Answer: He was probably sick of it by that point. He has complained many times about roommate agreement regulations.

Answer: Plot-wise, there was no reason given for her exit. She was a minor character, not a regular, and writers often write them out of a series without an explanation. The actress, Margo Harshman, did go on to work in a web series the next season and, following that, had a more substantial role on NCIS.

raywest

Answer: Bernadette is surprised at the thought that Sheldon could get married. Going against everything she knows.

Ssiscool

Answer: He has no concept of money and simply cannot budget at all. Therefore it is likely he squandered his money.

Ssiscool

Answer: Scientists actually hardly make any money. Raj is almost fully supported by his parents to live like he lives.

lionhead

Chosen answer: She is upset at Howard not because he didn't tell her, but because he lied to her. He claimed to have told her about all the women he slept with but didn't mention many of them. She is mad at Penny because she thinks Penny betrayed her by setting her up with someone she didn't respect and expected them to fail.

Greg Dwyer

Chosen answer: She is simplifying the situation. Bernadette may not be the one insisting on the Pren, but she is going to ask Howard to sign one. She's gossiping because she likes to gossip.

Greg Dwyer

Chosen answer: She figured it out from what he did say. Since their engagement is a relatively recent development, it's an easy deduction that the shock of such a huge step in their relationship is what knocked his mother for a loop.

Cubs Fan

Chosen answer: It's probably nothing personal, but with the combination of his IQ and his superiority complex, along with the fact that they study in the same field, Sheldon just feels that Kripke is beneath him as a scientist.

Cubs Fan

Chosen answer: She's having a Leonard moment and not fully grasping the situation. She doesn't see her ex boyfriend and his new girlfriend having a romantic dinner, but two of her friends having a meal. Whether it was conscious or unconsciously is anyone's guess.

Chosen answer: It's unlikely that they ever met, which would mean Mary visited. However, the show seems to imply Leonard has had to call her in the past to help out with Sheldon, and he has her number. Plus, Mary seems to be more motherly (then say Beverly) and one can assume she's called Sheldon a number of times to check in on him and it's likely Leonard answered the phone some of those times and spoke to her. Given that Leonard often shares personal stories with the gang, it's also likely he's told the gang something about Mary.

Bishop73

Chosen answer: Penny and Amy became friends simply because their significant others (Leonard and Sheldon, respectively) happened to be friends as well as roommates. While it may have been simply a matter of convenience at first, Penny and Amy genuinely grew to enjoy each other's company as time progressed despite their obvious differences.

zendaddy621

Chosen answer: They may be behind or built into the counters where we can't see via the Fourth Wall. Not all apartment buildings offer a dishwasher as a standard feature, though.

Captain Defenestrator

The Excelsior Acquisition - S3-E16

Plot hole: In Series 1, Episode 7, "The Dumpling Paradox, " Sheldon makes an oblique reference to his financial status: "Frankly, if I could afford the rent, I'd ask you [Leonard] to leave, " meaning he cannot pay the rent on his two bedroom apartment by himself - not that he doesn't want to, he can't. However, in "The Execlsior Acquisition, " we find that he does not even cash his pay cheques. He doesn't even deposit them into a bank account - he leaves them in a drawer in his desk. In Series 2 Episode 14 "The Financial Permeability", he lends Penny a large amount of money from a huge bankroll he just happens to have lying about - again, without cashing his pay cheques! He is obviously independently wealthy. Either he doesn't have enough money to afford the rent or he has enough to work without being paid while practically giving large amounts of cash away. Can't be both.

Upvote valid corrections to help move entries into the corrections section.

Suggested correction: Not being able to afford doesn't necessarily mean he doesn't have the money, especially a man like Sheldon. He works with a budget and he sticks to it. In his budget he has a certain amount set aside for rent, anything more than that and he can't afford it alone.

Nonsense. If he was sticking to a "rigid budget" he wouldn't have even thought of lending a hopeless credit risk like Penny a single cent. Instead he throws a huge bankroll at her without even discussing a repayment plan.

Rubbish, I stick to a strict budget but still have the money to lend to close friends. Like Penny is to him.

He might have different budgets for different things. People could get a higher margin because they could be of more use to the scientific mind of Sheldon.

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The Holographic Excitation - S6-E5

Trivia: In this episode, Sheldon and Amy are trying to decide on couples' themed Halloween costumes. Sheldon is standing in front of the dry erase board. There are 2 columns written on the board. One named "Couples I Like" and the other "Couples You Like." Under the "Couples You Like" column, one of the couples is Blossom and Joey. Blossom is the name of the television character played by Mayim Bialik in the 90s and Joey was one of her brothers.

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