The Empathy Optimization
- Episode aired Jan 14, 2016
- TV-PG
- 19m
After being forced to deal with a sick Sheldon, the rest of the gang try to treat themselves to a Sheldon-free weekend.After being forced to deal with a sick Sheldon, the rest of the gang try to treat themselves to a Sheldon-free weekend.After being forced to deal with a sick Sheldon, the rest of the gang try to treat themselves to a Sheldon-free weekend.
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaAmy is still away at a convention and only shows up in a few brief scenes on a monitor in this episode and the previous one, so that Mayim Bialik could take some time off from the show.
- GoofsEmily's hand is holding a different part of her glass of champagne in the forward and reverse shots.
- Quotes
[first lines]
Penny Hofstadter: Hey, so I saw a movie trailer the other day. How could Batman possibly fight Superman? Isn't that dumb!
Bernadette Rostenkowski: Maybe he uses kryptonite.
Emily Sweeney: Well, Batman's got a lot of money; maybe he builds a suit that can do everything Superman can do.
Penny Hofstadter: No no no no no, I've seen that movie. It's called "Iron Man".
[the guys are stupefied]
Leonard Hofstadter: What is happening?
Howard Wolowitz: I don't know.
Raj Koothrappali: But it's beautiful.
Penny Hofstadter: Now Ben Affleck as Batman.
Emily Sweeney: Oh, he was great in "Shakespeare in Love".
Penny Hofstadter: Ooh, we should watch that next girls' night.
Bernadette Rostenkowski: We could do a double feature with the Leonardo DiCaprio "Romeo and Juliet".
Penny Hofstadter: Oh, I love me some Leo.
Leonard Hofstadter: And it's gone.
- Crazy creditsCHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #516
President Roosevelt famously said, "...the only thing we have to fear, is fear itself." Now, let's take a moment and ask ourselves, which presidential candidates and cable news networks are actively promoting fear? Which one of these people and corporate entities are determined to scare your pants off, in the hope that you'll either vote for them or stay tuned? Or let's approach this from a different angle. After millions of years of evolution, or six days of divine creation, it doesn't really matter which, our brains are wired to seek out danger and respond accordingly. Fight or flight or, if it's not trying to eat you, negotiate. It makes sense then, that presenting a threat to our survival is a time-tested way to get the brain's attention. And let's be clear about one thing; attention is the most valuable commodity in the world. Once you have someone's attention you can sell them something, or, if you're the kind of person who is frightened of self-determined people, control them - while reassuring them that your only concern is their right to be self-determined. (This is not to say that there aren't people who have ample reason to be afraid. I'm just gonna go out on a limb and say you're probably not one of them.) So the real question to ask yourself is not who or what should you be afraid of, it's how are you doing right now. Go ahead. Ask yourself. Are you in jeopardy right now? Of course not. You're squinting at this vanity card and perhaps wondering if there's a clever joke at the end of it. (Spoiler alert: there is not.) This means that whatever you're afraid of, or being encouraged to be afraid of, is in your mind. It is not in your living room, or just outside your door. You're thinking it. Which is good news. That's the one thing you have control over. At any moment, you can take a break from thinking scary thoughts, or, if you're like me and have a mind run amuck, you can choose to ignore them. Even better news, once you're free of self-imposed fear, you're much less likely to seek out an old, white guy to protect you. (Well, maybe there is.)
- ConnectionsReferences Saturday Night Fever (1977)
- SoundtracksHistory of Everything
(uncredited)
Written by Barenaked Ladies
Performed by Barenaked Ladies
[Series theme song played during the opening titles]
- aans-92844
- May 3, 2021
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- See more company credits at IMDbPro