Big Bang Theory - Episode 1.1 - "Pilot"

This is a great start to a series which just keeps getting better and better with time. Even on repeated viewings, it stands out as one of the funniest episodes.

In the pilot episode to CBS' The Big Bang Theory, we meet the main characters of Sheldon, Leonard, Howard, and Raj ... and they meet Sheldon and Leonard's new neighbor, the attractive neurotypical Penny. She convinces Leonard (with Sheldon accompanying him) to visit her ex-boyfriend in an effort to get her television back.

Physics in This Episode

• The Double Slit Experiment - At the beginning, Sheldon is describing the double slit experiment, a rather involved concept. Leonard asks what his point is, to which Sheldon replies there was no point, he just thought it would make a good t-shirt. (Quote shown below)
• Extra Dimensions - In response to Sheldon's criticism of his scientific work, Leonard lashes out by criticizing the presence of extra dimensions in string theory. (Quote shown below.)
• Wave Particle Duality - Leonard attempts to soothe Penny's frustration at hating and still loving her ex-boyfriend by describing it as a paradox, using the scientific concept of wave particle duality as an analogy.

Notable Quotes

Sheldon: So, if a photon is directed through a plane with two slits in it and either slid is observed, it will not go through both slits. If it's unobserved, it will. However, if it's observed after it's left the plane, but before it hits its target, it will not have gone through both slits.
Leonard: Agreed. What's your point?
Sheldon: No point. I just think it's a good idea for a t-shirt.

Sheldon: If some poor woman is going to pin her hopes on my sperm, what if she winds up with a toddler who doesn't know whether to use an integral or a differential to solve for the area under a curve.
Leonard: I'm sure she'll still love him.
Sheldon: I wouldn't.

Leonard: At least I didn’t have to invent 26 dimensions just to make the math come out.
Sheldon: I didn’t have to invent them. They’re there.
Leonard: In what universe?
Sheldon: In all of them. That’s the point.

Leonard: Our children will be smart and beautiful.
Sheldon: Not to mention imaginary.