The Big Bang Theory

The Big Bang Theory (2007)

48 mistakes since 16 Aug '19, 00:00

(13 votes)

The Platonic Permutation - S9-E9

Continuity mistake: In episode 16 of season 1, Penny is talking about making a cake for Leonard's birthday and states she knows his birthday because she was checking a horoscope for him. But in this episode she does not know when his birthday is, which leads to Leonard revealing he was secretly reading Penny's diary. (00:40:00)

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Suggested correction: It's certainly possible to forget something you knew eight years ago.

LorgSkyegon

This is perhaps true for two people who rarely have contact, but I would list this as a character mistake. Penny and Leonard are in a serious relationship and are married at this point.

Bishop73

This is also a couple who BOTH forgot it was their anniversary.

LorgSkyegon

I forgot my wife's birthday on a number of occasions. It's one of the reasons she is now my ex-wife.

There's a difference between forgetting and not knowing.

Bishop73

I've been married for seven years and my husband still doesn't know my birthday. It's the 24th but sometimes he thinks it's the 24th or the 4th or the 20th etc. And especially since Leonard doesn't celebrate his birthday, it's not something that's going to remain in the forefront of Penny's mind.

immortal eskimo

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Suggested correction: Sheldon doesn't develop this trait until S2 E18.

Ssiscool

That I beleive is the first episode with the triple knock.

Ssiscool

First time he knocks 3 times is in Episode 2 of Season 1. First time knocking 3 times followed by saying the name is episode 10 of Season 1. The ritual of 3 knocks and 3 times saying the name and then stopping is Episode 5 of season 2.

lionhead

My mistake. It's been several years since I've seen the early seasons. I was going off memory.

Ssiscool

Sheldon knocks three times because he once walked into his parents bedroom and saw his father with another woman. He's been doing the triple knock since he was a teenager.

MovieFan612

Yet, he didn't in the show till Season 2. Funny ain't it?

lionhead

Suggested correction: A one-time lapse in someone's usual behavior does not count as a "character mistake", even in the case of someone given to ritualistic behavior as Sheldon is.

zendaddy621

Ah, but in an episode he explains he had developed this particular ritual at age 13 after walking into his parent's bedroom without knocking and seeing his father having sex with another woman. He says he started knocking 3 times since then and would never forget. So its not consistent and a mistake as this is not the only example one can name.

lionhead

The Proton Regeneration - S11-E6

Character mistake: While bedridden after his vasectomy, Howard asks Bernadette to grill up a couple steaks instead of picking up Chinese for dinner. She gives him a disapproving look and he says "Kung Pao Chicken, please." A major ingredient of Kung Pao Chicken is peanuts. A major allergy for Howard is peanuts. (00:09:04)

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Suggested correction: Since they are both quite well aware of it, they likely have either found a Chinese restaurant that doesn't use them, or they get it without peanuts.

LorgSkyegon

Yup. My friend is allergic to peanuts and our local Chinese restaurant makes hers with almond instead of peanut.

immortal eskimo

The Dumpling Paradox - S1-E7

Character mistake: Raj cannot talk with a woman around, but when Leonard claims they'd have to cut him in half to play teams, he blatantly argues back, and Penny is present with them. Regardless of if he was facing her or not, he shouldn't have said anything.

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Suggested correction: That type of sling is the best for preventing movement of the shoulder joint. It is the proper one.

LorgSkyegon

Show generally

Factual error: Characters sometimes talk to one another on video calls, and a character (A) often watches these from an angle rather than face on, allowing the viewer to see both character A and the character on the call (B). When this happens, character B is shown turned a little to one side, to give the impression that they are looking directly at character A (as they would be if they were present in the same room). In reality, this means that character B is looking off to one side of their monitor and not at the image of character A, something that it makes no sense to do. No matter what angle the laptop is shown from, provided character B is visible, they should appear to be facing the viewer.

paolog

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

Suggested correction: Since we almost always see these video calls using full-screen, people sitting side-by-side would be on different sides of the screen. You wouldn't look into the webcam itself to see them. You would look at the screen, and move your head slightly to look at the left part versus the right.

LorgSkyegon

The Clean Room Infiltration - S8-E11

Other mistake: When Howard, Leonard, and Raj are arguing in the clean room, Howard says that Leonard is jealous because Howard and Leonard used to be "best friends until Koothrapali came along." Yet, in the earlier seasons, we know that Howard and Raj already knew each other when Leonard met them for the first time and brought them back to the apartment to play video games. Meaning they couldn't have been best friends before Raj came along.

The Hamburger Postulate - S1-E5

Continuity mistake: Leonard and Leslie are rehearsing the violin and cello in the guys' living room, and when they leave the room to go to Leonard's room, Leonard's cello and stand are still in front of the comfy chair. When Sheldon gets home, the cello and stand are gone, and only Leslie's closed violin case is left on the sofa. And she picks it up and leaves with it. How did the violin get back in the case.

MovieFan612

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Show generally

Question: How come Raj has no problem speaking to his mother, but, when around other women, such as Penny, he immediately stops talking? Also, why does he have to whisper in someone's ear if he wants to ask Penny something?

Answer: Because Raj's selective mutism seems to be caused by women that Raj sees (on some sort of conscious or subconscious level) as a potential sexual partner. An attribute that wouldn't apply to either his sister or mother.

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