History TheBigBangTheory / TropesTToZ

** This is both played straight and averted with Raj in "The Romance Recalibration" where he invites his ex-girlfriends Emily Sweeney, Claire, Lucy and the other Emily over to give him dating advice. Each woman gave valid reasons for why they left him. He would often try to get Lucy to do things she was uncomfortable with (such as the discussion), and he attempted to date Claire and Emily at the same time. Ultimately they conclude he is too needy, too pushy, a Mama's boy and they wonder why he didn't get together with Howard. However there was never any mention of the fact that the other Emily was a GoldDigger who broke up with him after his parents cut him off. With Lucy, it also come across as pulling a NeverMyFault, because she said herself that she was trying to do things that made her uncomfortable to try and get over her social anxiety, yet she just kept running away and completely disregarding Raj's feelings, and when she tried to get back together with him, he had already met Emily.

** This is both played straight and averted with Raj in "The Romance Recalibration" where he invites his ex-girlfriends Emily Sweeney, Claire, Lucy and the other Emily over to give him dating advice. Each woman gave valid reasons for why they left him. He would often try to get Lucy to do things she was uncomfortable with (such as the discussion), and he attempted to date Claire and Emily at the same time. Ultimately they conclude he is too needy, too pushy, a Mama's boy and they wonder why he didn't get together with Howard. However there was never any mention of the fact that the other Emily was a GoldDigger who broke up with him after his parents cut him off. With Lucy, it also come across as pulling a NeverMyFault, because she said herself that she was trying to do things that made her uncomfortable to try and get over her social anxiety, yet she just kept running away and completely disregarding Raj's feelings.

* UnintentionallyUnsympathetic: Raj's former girlfriend Lucy. While her social anxiety and constantly running away from Raj's well meaning (if not overbearing and obnoxious) attempts to help with her awkwardness is meant to be {{Adorkable}}, the fact that she constantly tramples Raj's feelings to dust andstands him up at Leonard's going away party and breaks up with him via a text message makes her look like a {{Jerkass}} DirtyCoward.

** This is both played straight and averted with Raj in "The Romance Recalibration" where he invites his ex-girlfriends Emily Sweeney, Claire, Lucy and the other Emily over to give him dating advice. Each woman gave valid reasons for why they left him. He would often force Lucy to do things she was uncomfortable with (such as the discussion), and he attempted to date Claire and Emily at the same time. Ultimately they conclude he is too needy, too pushy, a Mama's boy and they wonder why he didn't get together with Howard. However there was never any mention of the fact that the other Emily was a GoldDigger who broke up with him after his parents cut him off

* ThereAreNoGirlsOnTheInternet: Sort of. When Penny walks into a comic book shop, all the guys - and there are only guys - stop and stare. A far more [[UnfortunateImplications egregious]] example: a RunningGag to the effect that, while female scientists exist, [[DoubleStandard few if any are "doable", so they don't really count as women.]] Of course, the latter was said by ''Howard''.
** Odd given that of all the female scientists on the show (main characters and guest stars) are at least reasonably attractive.
** Lampshaded by Stuart: "Blink twice if you are here against your will."
** Also inverted as that was the only reason Amy Farrah Fowler was found as match to Sheldon.

** In "The Psychic Vortex" Raj and Sheldon managed to acquire dates with intelligent and slightly geeky girls (one being played by [[TheWonderYears Danica McKeller]]) named Abby and Martha, and even got a second date shortly after. What made these girls really unique was that the ice-breaker was Sheldon carrying Franchise/GreenLantern's power battery at a party and ''they [[GeekyTurnOn fully knew what it was]];'' they ended up playing ''VideoGame/RockBand'' back at Sheldon's apartment. Not to mention that Sheldon even appeared to enjoy talking with Martha (discussing ''Literature/{{Flatland}}'' among other things) with Raj and Abby making out on the chair. It can be assumed that Sheldon's {{asexual}} nature really disappointed Martha, and that took Abby away from Raj. But these were girls who could relate to them in interests, intelligence and were attracted to them ''because'' of it (not even Penny can really claim that with Leonard), so with no follow up episode it almost seems to be a waste.

** Sheldon would often say {{Double Entendre}}s and not recognize what he was saying as sounding weird or odd, with everyone explaining why. When the group offered to help Sheldon overcome his stage fright, they suggested that they name them after the ComicBook/{{X-Men}}. Sheldon appreciated the sentiment but suggested that since the X-Men were named after Charles Xavier, his team should be named after Sheldon Cooper and be called the C-Men.

* YouLookFamiliar: In ''The Intimacy Application'', the hostess who shows Emily, Raj, Amy and Leonard into the "[[TheCrystalMaze escape room]]" (where they have to solve a puzzle to get out) appeared in an earlier series[[note]] Series three episode three, ''The Gothowitz Deviation''[[/note]] as one of two Goth girls picked up by Raj and Howard.[[note]] For real TBBT nerds: She was Bethany, played by Molly Morgan[[/note]]

* {{Trigger}}: in the (fictional) BMovie ''Serial Ape-ist 2: Monkey See, Monkey Kill'', Penny's character is a HalfHumanHybrid with both human and gorilla DNA. She has killer urges, triggered when she sees bananas.

'''Sheldon:''' What does that stand for?
'''Penny:''' Oh, I see?
'''Sheldon:''' Yes, but what does it stand for?

** Despite the fact that Raj's friends feel sorry to his face over his inability to keep ([[{{Flanderization}} or nowadays, even get]]) a girlfriend, they constantly run him down as being a pathetic loser for the same reason as soon as he's out of sight. Particularly Howard and Bernadette, who are ''supposed to be his best friends'', and Bernadette even refuses to set up or even mention Raj to any of her female friends because she's so embarrassed and disgusted by him. It's apparent that Howard has changed and moved on with his life and hardly cares about Raj anymore (while Raj is still stuck in the same place he was ten years ago, if not worse), and Bernadette only puts up with Raj for Howard's sake. Again, why are these people even supposed to be friends?

* TakeOurWordForIt: Sheldon running a red light while driving Penny to the hospital in "Rubber Duck Deficiency", as revealed in "The Excelsior Acquisition". [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtRcuBJBWKc The scene]] of him driving her ends with him stopping at a red light, without taking Penny's advice to even go the speed limit.

** In "The Psychic Vortex" Raj and Sheldon managed to acquire dates with intelligent and slightly geeky girls (one being played by [[TheWonderYears Danica McKeller]]) named Abby and Martha, and even got a second date shortly after. What made these girls really unique was that the ice-breaker was Sheldon carrying Franchise/GreenLantern's power battery at a party and ''they [[GeekyTurnOn fully knew what it was]];'' they ended up playing ''RockBand'' back at Sheldon's apartment. Not to mention that Sheldon even appeared to enjoy talking with Martha (discussing ''Literature/{{Flatland}}'' among other things) with Raj and Abby making out on the chair. It can be assumed that Sheldon's {{asexual}} nature really disappointed Martha, and that took Abby away from Raj. But these were girls who could relate to them in interests, intelligence and were attracted to them ''because'' of it (not even Penny can really claim that with Leonard), so with no follow up episode it almost seems to be a waste.

* YoureNotMyType: In "The Cooper Extraction", several WhatIf scenarios are depicted. In one of them, Penny tries to seduce Sheldon. It doesn't work even when she strips off most of her clothings. Sheldon is simply not attracted to her, and says that he is saving himself for someone special. He suggests his type is "a cute bespectacled neuroscientist with hair the color of mud." In other words Amy, who he doesn't know in this scenario. Naturally this entire scenario is narrated by Amy.

-->'''Bernadette''': I'm going home and I'm going to have SEX with my husband! Maybe I'll even let him do it to me in a parking spot! ''(beat while she realizes what she said)'' ...which sounds dirty but I didn't mean it that way!

*** However the trope is played straight in ''The Habitation Configuration''. Amy is directing a special episode of 'Fun with Flags', with Wil Wheaton appearing as a guest star. She's incredibly rude and condescending to him, calling him out on faults that ''don't even exist'' and generally being extremely difficult. Wheaton takes her jibes good naturedly, but eventually bites back. Sheldon, quite rightly, sides with Wheaton, but is later informed by Leonard that he should have sided with Amy, no matter what. Amy is never called out on her awful behaviour, and goes on to repeat it with LeVar Burton at the end of the episode.
** In Priya and Leonard's relationship, she slowly started twisting his life to what she wanted including not being friends with Penny anymore and [[IWantMyBelovedToBeFashionable changing his wardrobe]]. He went along with it, even [[LongDistanceRelationship sticking with her]] as she moved back to India, but in confessing a minor infidelity she admitted to sleeping with an ex-boyfriend, trying to pass it off as the same thing and he had none of it.
* TheUnfavorite: In "The Itchy Brain Simulation" Leonard reveals he was this to his aunt as well. When he went to college, he got an itchy sweater that made him breakout. His brother got a car.
* UngratefulBastard: Downplayed. Amy's TimeTravelRomance character, Cooper, never says "thank you" to his love interest Amelia, no matter how hard she works to please him. The story in set in a 19th century prairie house and there is no indoor plumbing. To prepare a bath for him, Amelia has to do hard work.

* UnsympatheticComedyProtagonist: Sheldon's self-centered egotism and condescending behavior of him the source of conflict for any given episode, even just by being sick and asking for help (his obnoxious neediness at that stage is dreaded by everyone). Howard's CasanovaWannabe and outright pervy behavior of the earlier seasons were also not meant to be endearing, although he gradually grew out of it. That said the show is based on every character being unfairly humiliated at some point, which has occasionally made them [[DracoInLeatherPants more sympathetic than intended]].

* UnwantedAssistance: In the second episode Leonard and Sheldon got a spare key to Penny's apartment, which Sheldon used to ''clean'' her apartment in the middle of the night (with Leonard begrudgingly helping), [[TooDumbToLive leaving a note confessing to the act and offering advice on further organization]]. When she understandably freaks out, Leonard demands Sheldon apologize, to which he tells Penny, "I would like to apologize for what happened and I take full responsibility... [[ComicallyMissingThePoint and I hope this doesn't color your perception of Leonard... who I hear is a gentle and thorough lover."]]

* VocalDissonance: Bernadette normally has a fairly high pitched, squeaky voice. But there are times when she yells and sounds ''exactly'' like Howards mom. Which he finds to be ''[[OedipusComplex hot]].''

** VoiceForTheVoiceless: Howard, who usually just relays what Raj whispers into his ear (though sometimes Howard's annoyed comebacks imply what Raj said well enough). There are also times when Howard will lie about Raj said in order to deflect blame on to Raj. Since Raj can't talk to them, he has no way of refuting the comments.

** There are several examples of "geeky" movies and series taking a slam too

* WholesomeCrossdresser: Louie/Louise, the previous occupant of Penny's apartment, was a tranvestite. Mentioned in the Pilot and "The Big Bran Hypothesis" (Season 1, episode 2), seen in The episode "The Staircase Implementation" , a WholeEpisodeFlashback. He/she was a physically imposing African American, presented in a neutral way. Sheldon at least appreaciated his/her orderliness: "Because it was immaculate, I mean, you open that man’s closet, it was left to right, evening gowns, cocktail dresses, then his police uniforms."
* WhosOnFirst: D"The Alien Parasite Hypothesis" with Amy telling Sheldon about her reaction to Penny's ex, Zack. "Hoo."

* WorthlessForeignDegree: The episode "The Bat Jar Conjecture" features Dmitri, a physicist from the former Soiet Union. His degree is worthless in the United States, forcing him to work as a janitor. He is still more knowledgeable in quantum electrodynamics than both Sheldon and Leslie Winkle.

*** At the end of the episode(which featured a lot of relationship turmoil between Sheldon and Amy), Amy tells Sheldon via Skype that she wants a break. After ending the conversation, Shelton turns to his Gollum action figure...

** Also the time Sheldon and Barry played one-on-one basketball for a vacant office. (They chose sports so that they would have a level playing field, since it's they're both equally bad at.) They go forty shots without sinking a single basket.

* UsefulNotes/TheWestCountry: Stephen Merchant, as Amy Farrah Fowler's English admirer, brings a slightly surreal note when he speaks in his native Bristolian accent. British viewers, used to seeing [[Series/''{{Frasier}}'' British people in American TV shows played by actors who put on unconvincing accents]], were pleasantly surprised.

* UsefulNotes/TheWestCountry: Stephen Merchant, as Amy Farrah Fowler's English admirer, brings a slightly surreal note when he speaks in his native Bristolian accent. British viewers, used to seeing British people in American TV shows played by actors who put on unconvincing accents, were pleasantly surprised.