Pilot

Episode aired Sep 24, 2007
TV-PG
23m

IMDb RATING

8.1/10

7.6K

YOUR RATING

Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg, Jim Parsons, and Kunal Nayyar in Pilot (2007)

Comedy Romance

A pair of socially awkward theoretical physicists meet their new neighbor Penny, who is their polar opposite.A pair of socially awkward theoretical physicists meet their new neighbor Penny, who is their polar opposite.A pair of socially awkward theoretical physicists meet their new neighbor Penny, who is their polar opposite.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

8.1/10

7.6K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Trivia
Leonard (Johnny Galecki) states that the combined IQ of Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and himself is 360. In a later episode of season 1 Sheldon states his IQ as 187 meaning that Leonard's IQ is 173.

Goofs
The experiment discussed by Sheldon (Jim Parsons) at the very beginning of the episode is a quantum version of the well-known "experiment," but incompatible with the work presented on the whiteboard. His dialogue was meant to accompany the whiteboard seen in the unaired episode Unaired Pilot (2006).

Quotes
Sheldon: Uhm, Penny, that's where I sit.
Penny: So sit next to me.
Sheldon: No, I sit there.
Penny: What's the difference?
Sheldon: What's the difference?
Leonard: Here we go.
Sheldon: In the winter, that seat is close enough to the radiator to remain warm, and yet not so close as to cause perspiration. In the summer, it's directly in the path of a cross-breeze created by opening windows there and there. It faces the television at an angle that is neither direct, thus discouraging conversation, nor so far wide as to create a parallax distortion. I could go on.

Crazy credits
CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #182 Back when I was writing and producing Dharma and Greg, the only way to read my cards was to record each episode on a VCR and hit the "pause" button. This was not an easy task. The image wobbled like crazy making the tiny words of my weekly tomes very hard to see. Then it hit me. What about building a device that records video images digitally? Wouldn't this allow for a much more precise "pause" function? I took my little notion to an impoverished computer whiz by the name of Schlomo Tivowitz. At the time of our meeting Schlomo was feverishly trying to invent an improved version of the George Foreman Grill. Schlomo's grill would contain a hard drive that remembered all the details of your last barbecue, as well as an address book. I didn't really see the point of it, but, not being a tech guy, I held my tongue and presented him with my idea. I will never forget his reaction. With hamburger-flecked spittle flying from his blubbery lips, he laughed, called me some very unkind names and demanded that I leave his mother's basement immediately. My hopes dashed, I went back to work on Dharma and forgot about my silly idea. Well, I'm sure you can figure out what happened next. The fact that you're reading this card right now should tell you. Thankfully, it's not in my nature to be bitter. But there are times when I feel a little used -- usually when I've forgotten how to effectively grill a fatty piece of chicken.

Alternate versions
The syndicated version of the episode cuts out the entire sperm bank storyline at Chuck Lorre's insistence because it does not fit later established facts about the character of Sheldon Cooper.

Connections
Referenced in Swingers (2022)

Soundtracks
History of Everything
(uncredited)
Written by Barenaked Ladies
Performed by Barenaked Ladies
[Series theme song played during the opening titles]

User reviews12

Review

Featured review

9/10

A Flying Start

There are many aspects of the pilot show which serve excellently to comically drive the narrative and introduce the characters. Leonard and Sheldon are shown to dress awkwardly, their apartment is decorated with models of atoms and flip-boards and this fits them perfectly. Penny's colourful character and juxtaposition to their world works excellently. The topics and lexis of the physicist's conversation is shown as obviously abnormal through Penny's reactions and humour at their quirky ways, which we can relate to. Through the editing and use of cutting scenes with atoms, the beginning of their new, different story has a fantastic start.