The Bus Pants Utilization (6 Jan. 2011)

Leonard has an idea for a new smartphone app and asks the guys for help. However, Sheldon tries to take over the project, and Leonard fires him.

Director:

Mark Cendrowski

Writers:

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

Stars:

Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco

Cast

Episode credited cast:
Johnny Galecki	...	Leonard Hofstadter
Jim Parsons	...	Sheldon Cooper
Kaley Cuoco	...	Penny
Simon Helberg	...	Howard Wolowitz
Kunal Nayyar	...	Raj Koothrappali
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mayim Bialik	...	Amy Farrah Fowler

Storyline

Leonard comes up with an idea to develop a smart phone app that would use handwriting recognition software to help in solving their differential equations problems. Although the app's use would be limited to about a hundred people worldwide, he wants to go ahead, and asks Sheldon, Howard and Raj to join him in the project. They all agree. Leonard, as the one who came up with the idea, has a relatively clear vision of how he wants to proceed. However, Sheldon believes his way is best and wants to be among things CEO and CFO of the project, and to have it named after him. When Sheldon's controlling ways become too much for Leonard to handle, Leonard fires him from the project team. Sheldon tries whatever he can to make life difficult for the other three to complete the project, and even believes he may have lost Leonard as a friend for good. Penny takes pity on a moping Sheldon, but comes to regret it. She has to figure out a way to foist Sheldon back onto Leonard.

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Plot Keywords:

app | woman's shoe | theremin | iphone app | white board

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 January 2011 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chuck Lorre Productions, Warner Bros. Television

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title refer to Sheldon's extra pair of pants he wears for sanitary reasons when he rides the public bus.

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Goofs

As Sheldon erases the white board toward the end of the episode nothing happens, even though he's vigorously moving the eraser. It would appear this a prop that is not erasable; and is saved, and used in other episodes.

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Quotes

Leonard Hofstadter: You know how we're always having to stop and solve differential equations, like when you're doing Fourier analysis or using the Schrödinger equation?
Sheldon Cooper: Howard doesn't, he's only an engineer.

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Connections

References Star Trek (1966)

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Soundtracks

"Theme from Star Trek"
(uncredited)
Composed by Alexander Courage

User Reviews

"The Bus Pants Utilization" isn't as funny as other eps of "The Big Bang Theory" though there are still some moments

In this last season ep of "The Big Bang Theory": Leonard has an idea for an app. All the guys are enthused especially Sheldon who assumes he's the leader but since it's Leonard's idea, he wants to be in charge. So Sheldon condescends to him until Leonard has enough and fires him. Sheldon then tries to get Howard and Raj on his side for an independent project to no avail. So Sheldon annoys them with his theremin playing the "Star Trek" (The original series, of course) theme. When he's thrown out of his own apartment, Shel is on the stairs playing "Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen" as Penny arrives from work. After a few minutes with him, Penny tries to get Sheldon to apologize to his former roommate...Since there are no guest stars and no Bernadette or Amy and Sheldon is more annoying than usual, this isn't a very funny ep of "The Big Bang Theory" though there are still worthy moments that make "The Bus Pants Utilization" worth a look. Oh, and I also wasn't too crazy about the final scene. I know the next ep is better so I'm going to review that now...