"The Cornhusker Vortex" is an episode of The Big Bang Theory that first aired on November 23, 2009. Directed by Mark Cendrowski. Teleplay by David Goetsch and Richard Rosenstock, based on a story by Bill Prady and Steven Molaro.
Leonard is excited to go kite fighting with Howard, Raj and Sheldon, until he learns that Penny's watching a football game with her "non-genius" friends.
At the kite fight, Howard is distracted by a beautiful woman he has no chance with. And so, Raj loses his authentic Patang kite to Sheldon. Raj is so angry about this he no longer considers Howard a friend.
Leonard tries to study football by reading Football for Dummies and watching a game. It turns out that Sheldon has an encyclopedic knowledge of football, on account of his upbringing in Texas. Sheldon's father forced the boy genius to watch several football games.note
Sheldon agrees to tutor Leonard in football even though Sheldon knows it's just so that Leonard can maintain his "continuing mating privileges with her [Penny]", because Leonard makes it "a Tier 1 friendship request."
Leonard attends the next game watch party at Penny's apartment, and makes an ass out of himself with technically valid but verbose commentary on the game. Penny tells Leonard it's okay for him to go flying kites with Sheldon. But Leonard says he should make it all the way through, since there are only three minutes left in the game. Penny explains that that's three minutes to halftime. Leonard leaves immediately.
Howard goes to Raj's apartment to apologize. Howard takes Raj to a park, they have fun. Another beautiful woman passes by, and Raj gives Howard permission to go chase after her. Howard and Raj are friends again, but Raj still thinks Howard is a douche.
Tropes
- Brick Joke: The word "ho."
- Distracted by the Sexy: Howard sees a woman running in the park and passes off his kite to Raj, because he thinks he has a chance.Raj: You were chasing her through the park. That's not a shot, that's a felony.
- Height Angst: Sheldon makes fun of Leonard's jersey being too long for him. It's the smallest one they had, except the one for dogs.
- Hidden Depths: Sheldon's knowledge of football, despite his lack of general sports ability. As he notes, he did grow up in Texas.Sheldon: If you're interested, I also know all about frying meat that isn't chicken, as if it were chicken.
- Insistent Terminology: Sheldon calls out the guys for crying out "Kites ho!", since "ho" is for calling attention to a destination, not an object. They naturally ignore him.
- Like an Old Married Couple: Raj and Howard, as per usual.
- Masculine Girl, Feminine Boy: Penny to Leonard.
- Well-Intentioned Replacement: Howard buys a new kite to replace the one Raj lost. Raj is not happy with it.Raj: The kite you made me lose was an authentic Patang. An Indian fighting kite that my brother sent to me from New Delhi. It took me a day to put together and two days to paint. This is Hello Kitty!
