The Big Bang Theory – The Geology Elevation

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

Bert (Brian Posehn), one of Amy’s co-workers, has been given a MacArthur Genius Grant in the amount of $500,000 for his work with microbes and rocks. As Leonard (Johnny Galecki), Howard (Simon Helberg) and Raj (Kunal Nayyar) are excited for Bert’s accomplishments, Sheldon is upset that Bert’s research has brought him more notoriety than Sheldon (Jim Parsons) has received. Later on that day, Leonard, Amy (Mayim Bialik) and Penny (Kaley Cuoco) are subject to more of Sheldon’s jealousy.

At the insistence of the group, Sheldon is forced to read Bert’s paper, which he realizes is genius. His facial expressions become amusing to Penny as she comments it’s like scrolling through the emojis on her phone while Amy compares it to faces made in coitus. Sheldon becomes even more distressed realizing that Bert’s work has merit, pushing him further into depression. In an effort to calm him, Leonard accompanies Sheldon to a local park and attempts to assure him that he understands this feeling, as he has struggled with similar feelings within his own family. Picking up a rock, Sheldon decides to throw his negative feelings away only to result in him throwing the rock on his foot and Leonard laughing so hard that his nose bleeds.

Meanwhile at the Wolowitz residence, Howard shows Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) his latest find: a remote-controlled Stephen Hawking figure. Bernadette believes that this purchase was in poor taste, encouraging Howard to contact Hawking himself and ask him. Instead of going straight to the source, Howard approaches his friends and surveys them on their thoughts. As each person says that it is wrong, Kripke (John Ross Bowie) is the only one to agree with Howard, going so far as to dub it “hiwarious.”

As Amy tends to Sheldon’s injury, she reminds him to stop fixating on Bert’s accomplishments and focus on all the good things he has in his life. When that fails, Penny uses her own brute verbal force to coax Sheldon out of his funk. The next day Sheldon approaches Bert and congratulates him properly, but not without storming off again after learning that Bert considers nominating Howard for next year’s MacArthur grant. This time, Sheldon suffers an injury to his head courtesy of a water fountain.

With the final straw being a plaque placed outside of Bert’s office, Sheldon decides it is time to confront his issue. Bert, who has been quite surprised at the influx of reactions to his accomplishment, reminds Sheldon that he has a lot to be happy about. He also tries to coax Sheldon into attending a taping of The Ellen Show with him. Knowing how Bert has felt about Amy, Sheldon tries to make Bert jealous which results in yet one more injury; this time to Sheldon’s hand.

Leonard eventually contacts Stephen Hawking, who advises Sheldon that even though Hawking has never received a Nobel Prize every scientific discovery is a victory. Hawking also quips that he would love to see a motorized figurine of himself, proving that Howard was right. In the final scene, Sheldon and Bert are seen in the audience of The Ellen Show, Sheldon commenting how delightful she is.

With this week being Thanksgiving, I will see you all in December. By then, we get to witness Sheldon and Leonard finally taking the bigger steps to divvy up their belongings. And will Bernadette finally have Baby Wolowitz? Stay tuned and have a Happy Thanksgiving!