Pilot (The Big Bang Theory episode)

Infobox Television episode
Title = Pilot
Series = The Big Bang Theory


Caption = "The Big Bang Theory" Title Card
Season = 1
Episode = 1
Writer = Chuck Lorre
Bill Prady
Director = James Burrows
Guests = Vernee Watson-Johnson
Brian Patrick Wade
Airdate = September 24, 2007
Production = 101
Episode list = List of The Big Bang Theory episodes
Prev = N/A
Next = The Big Bran Hypothesis"Pilot" is the first episode of the first season of the situation comedy series The Big Bang Theory. Originally aired on September 24, 2007, it was written by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, and directed by James Burrows. It marks the first appearance of all five main characters in the series, and also guest stars Vernee Watson-Johnson as Althea and Brian Patrick Wade as Kurt.

This is the only episode whose title is not written in the style of a scientific theory. Also, in this episode, Koothrappali wears a baseball cap with 42 on it. In The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 42 is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything.

Plot Summary

Two brilliant young physicists, Leonard and Sheldon, are the kind of "beautiful minds" that understand how the universe works (this episode reveals that Sheldon and Leonard have a combined IQ of 360 with Leonard having 173 and Sheldon having 187). But their PhDs don't help them interact with people, especially women. All this begins to change when a free-spirited newly single beauty named Penny moves in next door. When Leonard and Sheldon meet Penny, Leonard is immediately interested in her (saying their babies will be smart and beautiful), but Sheldon feels his friend is chasing a dream he'll never catch (adding 'imaginary').

Sheldon is quite content spending his nights playing Klingon Boggle with their socially dysfunctional friends, fellow 'geeky' graduate students Howard Wolowitz (a wannabe ladies man) and Rajesh Koothrappali (who is so shy he cannot speak to women). However, Leonard sees in Penny a whole new universe of possibilities, including love. Leonard is so infatuated with Penny that after letting her use their shower (hers was broken) he agrees to try and retrieve her TV from her ex boyfriend, Kurt's, place. However the boyfriend depants both Sheldon and Leonard and they are unable to retrieve the TV. Feeling bad Penny offers to buy them and their friends dinner.