The Griffin Equivalency (13 Oct. 2008)

After being featured in a People magazine article, Raj becomes full of himself and alienates his friends. However, his newfound fame does get him a date with Penny.

Director:

Mark Cendrowski

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
Charlie Sheen	...	Charlie Sheen
Mark Harelik	...	Dr. Eric Gablehauser
Brian George	...	Dr. V. M. Koothrappali
Alice Amter	...	Mrs. Koothrappali

Storyline

Because of his finding and reporting of a previously unknown planetary object, Raj has been named one of People magazine's "30 Under 30 to Watch". In his usual manner, Sheldon mocks this achievement, which hurts Raj's feelings. Regardless, Raj becomes Gablehauser's new star because of the notoriety of the article and the associated money coming into the department. Along with Gablehauser's gushing comes some perks available only to Raj. Raj's fifteen minutes of fame starts to go to his head. He starts to alienate Leonard, Sheldon and Howard. Penny doesn't understand why his friends aren't providing Raj with the support he deserves, especially in attending the magazine's reception on the article. She's the only one of the four attending the function with Raj, hence she'll be his "date", which silently gnaws at Leonard. But Sheldon sees Raj's absence from the group as a potential opportunity.

---

Plot Keywords:

magazine | people magazine | reference to ellen page | sarcasm taken literally | reference to abraham lincoln | 

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 October 2008 (USA)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

21 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

When contemplating replacing Raj in their group of friends, the other three guys realize their ideal friend (someone they could trust, someone who always has their back, has money, live in a cool house by the beach for throwing parties, loves technology, and knows a lot of women), is Tony Stark.

---

Goofs

In 'The Griffin Equivalency', just after Wolowitz makes the 'Apu from the Kwik-E-Mart' joke, Leonard walks to the kitchen and starts unpacking the takeaway. He firstly takes out 2 portion cups, then in the next shot he takes out 2 again. However, there are only 3 portion cups on the table.

---

Quotes

[Raj has been named one of People magazine's "30 Under 30 to Watch"]
Howard Wolowitz: Do I get an honorable mention for designing the telescope camera mounting bracket you used?
Raj Koothrappali: Sorry; it's not part of my heart-warming and personal narrative, in which a humble boy from New Delhi overcame poverty and prejudice and journeyed to America to reach for the stars.
Howard Wolowitz: Poverty? Your father's a gynecologist. He drives a Bentley.
Raj Koothrappali: It's a lease!

---

Crazy Credits

CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #221 We have once again arrived at a moment in history where the truth can be defined as "that which you can make other people believe." The methodology for creating that belief is repetition. Say something enough times and it becomes, for millions of people, the truth. I am endowed like a stallion. This is why control of the media equals control of the populace. I am endowed like a stallion. And also why a state run television news channel is so very dangerous. I am endowed like a stallion. Now there are those who would argue this has already happened and that a certain cable news channel is actually a covert extension of our government. I am endowed like a stallion. The fact that the channel is run by a high-ranking party official, an anchor person from the channel became a White House spokesman, and another top-ranking party official became an on-air news commentator is often used to make this argument. I am endowed like a stallion. Of course, this fact would be entirely inconsequential if the oft-repeated falsehoods they attempt to imbed into the Zeitgeist were simply amusing, or at worst, inane. I am endowed like a stallion. But, unfortunately, that is not the case. I am endowed like a stallion. The heavy repetition of lies and smears for political gain are by no means inconsequential. I am endowed like a stallion. Which is why each and every one of us must use whatever resources we have at our disposal to disseminate the actual truth. I am endowed like a pony.

---

Connections

References Juno (2007)

---

Soundtracks

"Get the Party Started"
(uncredited)
Written by Linda Perry
Performed by Kunal Nayyar

User Reviews