The Work Song Nanocluster (16 Mar. 2009)

Sheldon's assistance with Penny's home-based business leads to disaster.

Director:

Peter Chakos

Writers:

Chuck Lorre (creator), Bill Prady (creator),

Stars:

Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Johnny Galecki	...	Leonard Hofstadter
Jim Parsons	...	Sheldon Cooper
Kaley Cuoco	...	Penny
Simon Helberg	...	Howard Wolowitz
Kunal Nayyar	...	Raj Koothrappali

Storyline

Based on a some products that she made previously and sold to friends at a nominal profit, Penny is contemplating starting a home-based business called Penny Blossoms, in which she would make and sell flower shaped hair barrettes. Penny asks Sheldon for advice on the business aspects so that she can possibly turn this venture into a full time job. Sheldon agrees if only on the stipulation that she must listen to everything he says and not to make any sarcastic remarks. She agrees. But when Leonard, Howard and Raj get wind of what Sheldon and Penny are up to, the four guys collectively can't help but provide more than their two-cents worth of advice about every aspect of the business. The advice turns to total control. Problems arise because they forgot internal communication between departments of the business is key to success.

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Plot Keywords:

hair barrette | pizza | playing chess | down blouse | singing while working | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 March 2009 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Stage 25, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chuck Lorre Productions, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

20 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Howard mentions that some type of cyanoacrylate would make a better adhesive. Cyanoacrylate adhesives are more commonly known as super glue or crazy glue as small amounts dry quickly to create powerful bonds.

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Goofs

Sheldon at first declines coffee telling Penny "Coffee's out of the question. When I moved to California, I promised my mother I'd stay away from drugs." In The Big Bran Hypothesis (#1.02), Sheldon is seen pouring himself a cup of coffee and adding milk to it.

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Quotes

Leonard Hofstadter: I'm sorry guys, but secret agent laser obstacle lunch is just stupid.

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Crazy Credits

CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #245 More of "Not Funny Then" I decide getting on staff at Roseanne would be a great opportunity for me, even though every writer who had ever worked on the show had been fired. Four weeks into the job I deliver my first script and I'm almost fired. Not funny then, funny now. I create Grace Under Fire, realize what I'm in for and try to quit after pilot is picked up to series. I try to quit again during Christmas. A few weeks later the Northridge earthquake hits. During a large aftershock I drop to my knees and pray for the sound stage to collapse and kill me. Not funny then, funny now. I think developing a new series starring Cybill Shepherd is a swell idea. The show is an instant hit. Cybill wants me to fire Lee Aronsohn because he's a misogynist. She's not wrong, but I jokingly tell her, "Why do you care? You're not a woman." She fires us both. I get the call not to come back to work on Yom Kippur from a Carsey-Werner exec named Dirk Van De Bunt. Not funny then, still not funny.

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Connections

References Pinocchio (1940)

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Soundtracks

"Sixteen Tons"
(uncredited)
Performed by Jim Parsons

User Reviews

See Penny and Sheldon sing in "The Work Song Nanocluster" episode of "The Big Bang Theory"

As the episode begins, Leonard, Howard, and Raj are playing chess. Well, actually it's chess combined with a spy game involving laser beams and Leonard loses by crossing one. Sheldon declines because it's now 11 am which means he can knock on Penny's door without getting punched in the throat. As he makes Penny sign the form for her package, Penny tells Sheldon about her plan for a barrette business. Sheldon then sees the potential for mass production and offers his services. So do the other boys after seeing Sheldon and Penny sing "Blow the Man Down" while working. But after Leonard puts up a "pennyblossoms" website that has a 1 day rush order which comes with a 1000 demand from a gay, lesbian, and transgender organization in New Jersey, Penny wants to quit until Sheldon reminds her how much profit she stands to make. I'll stop right there and just say this was another hilarious episode of "The Big Bang Theory" especially with the singing (Good pipes, Kaley and Jim!), Howard's comments about strippers (Of course!), Raj's about staying in India (Is this related to Slumdog Millionaire?), and Sheldon appearing in a Flash costume (Trust me, watch the episode if you want to know). Oh, and check the Chuck Lorre Productions vanity card at the end where the producer mentions his previous experiences at The Carsey-Werner Company...