The Big Bang Theory

The Big Bang Theory (2007)

32 mistakes in season 3

(13 votes)

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.

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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.

The Pirate Solution - S3-E4

Factual error: Sheldon says the movie Gremlins "baffles" him in regards to the instructions being very clear."Don't feed the gremlins after midnight." However, this instruction is only for caring of a Mogwai, not gremlins (the gremlins are formed by Mogwais eating after midnight). Sheldon, of all characters, would not mistake Mogwais for Gremlins and he would know the exact wording of the instructions.

The Vengeance Formulation - S3-E9

Factual error: Sheldon's voice becomes squeaky when helium is pumped into his office. But if the room contained enough helium to make his voice squeaky just by breathing, Sheldon would actually be suffocating due to lack of oxygen, the lighter helium having displaced the heavier oxygen. You can do it with a balloon because you can breathe normal air between huffs, but if you're in a room full of helium, you won't last long before passing out and asphyxiating.

DavidK93

The Vengeance Formulation - S3-E9

Factual error: In order to get vengeance on Kripke, Sheldon mixes a solution of hydrogen peroxide, saturated potassium iodide and liquid soap, creating a large foam blob. This is easy to replicate, and what you will get (and look carefully, it is what Sheldon gets) is a huge, aerated foam mass consisting almost completely of bubbles. It is barely heavier than air, and if dropped from a ceiling as we see later in the episode it would float harmlessly about the place. Whatever it is that drops on Kripke and his visitors later, it isn't the foam mixture we see earlier - it looks like some sort of custard mix.

The Excelsior Acquisition - S3-E16

Character mistake: When Howard finds the stack of paychecks in Sheldon's drawer and wonders why Sheldon hasn't cashed them, Sheldon explains that he's saving them to purchase items that have yet to be invented and he doesn't trust banks. But just keeping them in his drawer doesn't do anything, because checks are voided after a set period of time and they would eventually become worthless.

Cubs Fan

The Gothowitz Deviation - S3-E3

Character mistake: Sheldon refers to using the spray bottle as negative reinforcement when it is in fact positive punishment. Reinforcement involves encouraging a behaviour by either adding or removing a stimulus whereas punishment involves discouraging a behaviour by adding or removing a stimulus. Sheldon would know the difference.

kristenlouise3

The Large Hadron Collision - S3-E15

Factual error: At the very end of the show, Leonard and Raj arrive at the hotel, which is supposed to be in Geneva, Switzerland, to visit CERN. If you look out the "hotel" window, it looks like they're half way up Matterhorn, but in Geneva there are no big/rocky mountains anywhere near the city itself.

Boarderin

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Suggested correction: Leonard tells Penny they'll be going skiing which would suggest the resort they're staying in IS near mountains. There is no mention that the hotel is in Geneva itself.

The Einstein Approximation - S3-E14

Character mistake: When working in the Cheesecake Factory, Sheldon says "Bonne appétite," with a hard T at the end. He should know that this is incorrect and would be the first to remind others that the correct phrase is "Bon appétit" (pronounced "appéti" - it is masculine and the t at the end is not pronounced).

saxbend

The Vengeance Formulation - S3-E9

Continuity mistake: When Howard is proposing to Bernadette she is holding a tray with two glasses on it. The glasses are next to each other, side by side for two shots of her. Then in the third shot the glasses move so one is behind the other. Then in the fourth shot they are side by side again.

The Gothowitz Deviation - S3-E3

Continuity mistake: When Penny is making French toast and Sheldon walks into shot, the edges of the toast are not covered in egg whilst the rest of the toast is. About 30 seconds later, Penny asks Sheldon if he wants French toast and the edges are still not covered in egg. The shot cuts to Sheldon. In this shot we can see Penny's hands to the far edge of screen and fully raised showing us that she hasn't dipped the edges of the toast in egg yet. But in the next shot, we can see the whole of the toast is covered in egg, including the edges of the toast that were clear a moment earlier. (00:00:20 - 00:00:50)

Casual Person

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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

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The Euclid Alternative - S2-E5

Question: Though it comes up in other episodes as well, this one is focused on Sheldon needing a ride everywhere he goes because he can't drive, not to mention his not being welcome on the bus. Of course, this story element would be nonexistent if there was a simple answer, but it does beg the question: Does Pasadena not have taxicabs?

MFWills

Chosen answer: It does. The variable cleanliness of the cab and the habit of taxi drivers to engage customers in small talk would be too much for Sheldon to handle, and not an option for him.

Captain Defenestrator

Answer: Sheldon DID finally use a taxi when going to the airport to see and propose to Amy in New Jersey.

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