List of The Big Bang Theory episodes (season 4)
Encyclopedia
This is a list of episodes for the fourth season of the American sitcom The Big Bang Theory
, which began airing on CBS
on September 23, 2010. During the season, actress Kaley Cuoco
was absent from some episodes after she broke her leg in a horse-riding accident. When she returned to the series she was shown working as a bartender
instead of waitressing
at her usual workplace, The Cheesecake Factory
, to hide her injury.
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The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory is an American sitcom created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, both of whom serve as executive producers on the show, along with Steven Molaro. All three also serve as head writers...
, which began airing on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
on September 23, 2010. During the season, actress Kaley Cuoco
Kaley Cuoco
Kaley Christine Cuoco is an American film and television actress. She first came to attention for her role as Bridget Hennessy on the Emmy Award-winning sitcom 8 Simple Rules. She later starred as Billie Jenkins on the final season of the supernatural drama series Charmed...
was absent from some episodes after she broke her leg in a horse-riding accident. When she returned to the series she was shown working as a bartender
Bartender
A bartender is a person who serves beverages behind a counter in a bar, pub, tavern, or similar establishment. A bartender, in short, "tends the bar". The term barkeeper may carry a connotation of being the bar's owner...
instead of waitressing
Waiter
Waiting staff, wait staff, or waitstaff are those who work at a restaurant or a bar attending customers — supplying them with food and drink as requested. Traditionally, a male waiting tables is called a "waiter" and a female a "waitress" with the gender-neutral version being a "server"...
at her usual workplace, The Cheesecake Factory
The Cheesecake Factory
The Cheesecake Factory, Inc. is a restaurant company in the United States. The company operates 165 upscale, casual, full-service dining restaurants: 151 under The Cheesecake Factory mark, 13 under the Grand Lux Cafe mark and one under the RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen mark...
, to hide her injury.
Cast
- Leonard HofstadterLeonard HofstadterLeonard Leakey Hofstadter, Ph.D., is a fictional character on the CBS television series The Big Bang Theory, portrayed by actor Johnny Galecki. Leonard is an experimental physicist from New Jersey who shares an apartment with colleague and best friend Sheldon Cooper...
PhD, portrayed by Johnny GaleckiJohnny GaleckiJohn Mark "Johnny" Galecki is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as David Healy in the ABC sitcom Roseanne, Rusty Griswold in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and as Leonard Hofstadter in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory.-Early life:Galecki was born in Bree, Belgium, of...
, is an experimental physicist with an IQ of 173 who received his PhD when he was 24 years old. He shares an apartment with colleague and friend, Sheldon Cooper. He and Penny dated at one point during the series, but they have since broken up. He has been dating Raj's sister, Priya. - Sheldon CooperSheldon CooperSheldon Lee Cooper, B.S., M.S., M.A., Ph.D., Sc.D. is a fictional character from Texas on the CBS television series The Big Bang Theory, portrayed by actor Jim Parsons...
, PhD, portrayed by Jim ParsonsJim ParsonsJames Joseph "Jim" Parsons is an American television and film actor. He is best known for playing Sheldon Cooper on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory, with his performance often cited as a significant reason for the program's success...
, is a theoretical physicist. Originally from East TexasEast TexasEast Texas is a distinct geographic and ecological area in the U.S. state of Texas.According to the Handbook of Texas, the East Texas area "may be separated from the rest of Texas roughly by a line extending from the Red River in north central Lamar County southwestward to east central Limestone...
, he was a child prodigyChild prodigyA child prodigy is someone who, at an early age, masters one or more skills far beyond his or her level of maturity. One criterion for classifying prodigies is: a prodigy is a child, typically younger than 18 years old, who is performing at the level of a highly trained adult in a very demanding...
, starting college at the age of 11, right after completing the fifth gradeFifth gradeFifth grade is a year of education in the United States and many other nations. The fifth grade is the fifth school year after kindergarten. Students are usually 10 – 11 years old, and are preteens...
. He has an IQ of 187 and exhibits a strict adherence to routine; a lack of understanding of irony, sarcasm, and humor; and a complete lack of humility or basic empathy. - PennyPenny (The Big Bang Theory)Penny is a fictional character on the CBS television series The Big Bang Theory, portrayed by American actress Kaley Cuoco.Penny is the main female character on the show. She is Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper's neighbor across the hallway, and the main love interest of Leonard...
, portrayed by Kaley CuocoKaley CuocoKaley Christine Cuoco is an American film and television actress. She first came to attention for her role as Bridget Hennessy on the Emmy Award-winning sitcom 8 Simple Rules. She later starred as Billie Jenkins on the final season of the supernatural drama series Charmed...
, is the attractive, blonde neighbor who lives across the hall from Sheldon and Leonard. She has aspirations to a career in show business, and has been to casting calls and auditions but has not been successful thus far. To pay the bills, she works as a waitress at The Cheesecake Factory. Her last name has never been revealed. She and Leonard dated at one point during the series, but they have since broken up. - Howard WolowitzHoward WolowitzHoward Joel Wolowitz, M.Eng is a fictional character on the CBS television series The Big Bang Theory, portrayed by actor Simon Helberg.Among the main male characters in the show, Howard is distinguished for lacking a doctoral degree, for still living with his mother, and for believing himself to...
, M.Eng., portrayed by Simon HelbergSimon HelbergSimon Maxwell Helberg is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his role as Howard Wolowitz in the sitcom The Big Bang Theory. In its fourth season, he also appeared on the sketch comedy series MADtv for five episodes...
, works as an aerospace engineerAerospace engineeringAerospace engineering is the primary branch of engineering concerned with the design, construction and science of aircraft and spacecraft. It is divided into two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering...
. He is Jewish, and lives with his mother. Unlike Sheldon, Leonard, and Raj, Howard lacks a PhD He defends this by pointing out that he has a master's degree in Engineering from MIT and the apparatusApparatusApparatus may refer to:*Technical term for body of the Soviet and post-Soviet governments *Machine*Equipment*Critical apparatus, the critical and primary source material that accompanies an edition of a text-See also:*Fire apparatus...
he designs are actually built and launched into space, unlike the purely abstract work of his friends. He provides outrageous pick-up linePick-up lineA pick-up line is a conversation opener with the intent of engaging an unfamiliar person for romance, or dating. Overt and sometimes humorous displays of romantic interest, pick-up lines advertise the wit of their speakers to their target listeners....
s and fancies himself a ladies man with suitably unimpressed reactions from Penny. Though he finds that he has limited success with other women at first, he begins dating Bernadette in season 3, but they break up; they get back together in the Season 4 episode "The Hot Troll Deviation", and become engaged in the episode "The Herb Garden Germination". - Rajesh KoothrappaliRajesh KoothrappaliRajesh Ramayan "Raj" Koothrappali, Ph.D. is a fictional character on the CBS television series The Big Bang Theory, portrayed by actor Kunal Nayyar....
, PhD, portrayed by Kunal NayyarKunal NayyarKunal Nayyar is an Indian actor born in London, England, and raised in New Delhi, India. He is known for his role as Rajesh Koothrappali on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory.-Education:...
, originally comes from New Delhi, India. He is an astrophysicist. Known commonly as "Raj", he works alongside Sheldon exploring the string theory implications of gamma rays from dark matter annihilations. He is very shy around women and is physically unable to talk to them unless he drinks alcohol (or thinks he has). However, he has much better luck with women as opposed to his overly confident best friend Howard. His sister, Priya, has been dating Leonard. - Bernadette Rostenkowski, portrayed by Melissa RauchMelissa RauchMelissa Ivy Rauch is an American actress and comedian. She is best known for her role as Bernadette Rostenkowski on the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory.-Early life and education:...
, is a waitress and co-worker of Penny paying her way through graduate school microbiology studies. Bernadette is introduced to Howard by Penny. At first she and Howard do not get along, as they appear to have nothing in common. When they find out that they both have overbearing mothers, they feel a connection. She was upgraded to main cast status in the episode "The Hot Troll Deviation", in which she and Howard revisit their previously unsuccessful relationship. - Amy Farrah Fowler, PhD, portrayed by Mayim BialikMayim BialikMayim Hoya Bialik is an American actress who also holds a PhD in neuroscience.Her most notable TV roles have been as Blossom Russo on NBC's Blossom and as Amy Farrah Fowler on CBS's The Big Bang Theory.-Early life:...
, is a woman Raj and Howard meet on an online dating site using a faux account for Sheldon. She is essentially a female duplicate of Sheldon and she and Sheldon become friends although, as Sheldon claims she is a girl and is his friend, but she is not his girlfriend. She was upgraded to main cast status in the episode "The 21-Second Excitation".
Kaley Cuoco's broken leg
During this season, Kaley Cuoco broke her leg in a riding accident and missed two episodes, "The Desperation Emanation" and "The Irish Pub Formulation". When she returned, she was shown working as a bartender, instead of in her normal employment as a waitress at The Cheesecake Factory. Her cast was concealed, and no mention of the unseen broken leg was made. A body double was used in scenes where Cuoco's character, Penny, walks, such as near the end of the season's eighth episode, "The 21-Second Excitation".Episodes
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U.S. Nielsen Ratings
| Episode # | Title | Air Date | Rating | Share | 18–49 | Viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Robotic Manipulation | 8.4 | 14 | 4.9/16 | 14.04 | |
| 2 | The Cruciferous Vegetable Amplification | 7.6 | 13 | April 4, 2014 | 13.06 | |
| 3 | The Zazzy Substitution | 7.6 | 13 | 4.1/13 | 12.59 | |
| 4 | The Hot Troll Deviation | 7.6 | 13 | 4.3/14 | 12.57 | |
| 5 | The Desperation Emanation | 7.9 | 13 | 4.1/13 | 13.05 | |
| 6 | The Irish Pub Formulation | 7.8 | 13 | 4.2/13 | 13.04 | |
| 7 | The Apology Insufficiency | 8.4 | 14 | 4.7/14 | 14.00 | |
| 8 | The 21-Second Excitation | 7.7 | 13 | 4.2/12 | 13.11 | |
| 9 | The Boyfriend Complexity | 7.7 | 13 | 4.3/13 | 13.02 | |
| 10 | The Alien Parasite Hypothesis | 7.2 | 12 | 3.9/12 | 12.03 | |
| 11 | The Justice League Recombination | 7.9 | 13 | 4.0/13 | 13.24 | |
| 12 | The Bus Pants Utilization | 8.2 | 14 | April 4, 2013 | 13.98 | |
| 13 | The Love Car Displacement | 8.1 | 13 | 4.2/12 | 13.63 | |
| 14 | The Thespian Catalyst | 8.0 | 13 | 4.3/12 | 13.83 | |
| 15 | The Benefactor Factor | 7.6 | 12 | 3.9/11 | 12.79 | |
| 16 | The Cohabitation Formulation | 7.4 | 12 | 3.7/11 | 12.41 | |
| 17 | The Toast Derivation | 7.4 | 12 | 3.8/11 | 12.35 | |
| 18 | The Prestidigitation Approximation | 7.3 | 12 | 3.8/11 | 12.06 | |
| 19 | The Zarnecki Incursion | 7.2 | 12 | 3.7/12 | 11.92 | |
| 20 | The Herb Garden Germination | 6.9 | 12 | 3.7/12 | 11.40 | |
| 21 | The Agreement Dissection | 6.4 | 11 | March 3, 2010 | 10.71 | |
| 22 | The Wildebeest Implementation | 6.5 | 11 | 3.2/11 | 10.50 | |
| 23 | The Engagement Reaction | 6.5 | 11 | 3.4/11 | 10.78 | |
| 24 | The Roommate Transmogrification | TBA | TBA | 3.6/12 | 11.30 |
Canadian ratings
| Order | Episode | Viewers (millions) |
Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Robotic Manipulation" | 3.112 | #1 |
| 2 | "The Cruciferous Vegetable Amplification" | 2.964 | #1 |
| 3 | "The Zazzy Substitution" | 2.692 | #1 |
| 4 | "The Hot Troll Deviation" | 2.837 | #2 |
| 5 | "The Desperation Emanation" | 3.028 | #1 |
| 6 | "The Irish Pub Formulation" | 3.204 | #1 |
| 7 | "The Apology Insufficiency" | 3.408 | #1 |
| 8 | "The 21-Second Excitation" | 3.304 | #1 |
| 9 | "The Boyfriend Complexity" | 3.247 | #1 |
| 10 | "The Alien Parasite Hypothesis" | 2.659 | #3 |
| 11 | "The Justice League Recombination" | 3.021 | #1 |
| 12 | "The Bus Pants Utilization" | 3.334 | #3 |
| 13 | "The Love Car Displacement" | 3.189 | #1 |
| 14 | "The Thespian Catalyst" | 3.192 | #3 |
| 15 | "The Benefactor Factor" | 3.123 | #2 |
| 16 | "The Cohabitation Formulation" | 3.462 | #1 |
| 17 | "The Toast Derivation" | 3.447 | #2 |
| 18 | "The Prestidigitation Approximation" | 3.132 | #1 |
| 19 | "The Zarnecki Incursion" | 3.216 | #1 |
| 20 | "The Herb Garden Germination" | 3.219 | #1 |
| 21 | "The Agreement Dissection" | 2.624 | #4 |
| 22 | "The Wildebeest Implementation" | 3.028 | #1 |
| 23 | "The Engagement Reaction" | 2.936 | #2 |
| 24 | "The Roommate Transmogrification" | 3.448 | #1 |
UK ratings
The series is currently airing Thursday nights at 9 pm on E4. All viewing figures and ranks are sourced from BARBBarb
Barb may refer to:* A backward-facing point on a fish hook or similar implement, rendering extraction from the victim's flesh more difficult* Wind barbs for each station on a map of reported weather conditions...
. Viewers are in 000's.
| Order | Episode | Airdate | E4 ViewersViewers in thousands |
E4 RankRank for individual channels only |
E4 +1 Viewers |
E4 +1 Rank |
Total viewers (000s) |
Rank (cable) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Robotic Manipulation" | 877 | #1 | 256 | #6 | 1,143 | No. 19 | |
| 2 | "The Cruciferous Vegetable Amplification" | 812 | #2 | 219 | #3 | 1,061 | No. 19 | |
| 3 | "The Zazzy Substitution" | 718 | #2 | 252 | #1 | 970 | No. 27 | |
| 4 | "The Hot Troll Deviation" | 720 | #2 | 258 | #3 | 978 | ||
| 5 | "The Desperation Emanation" | 715 | #3 | 333 | #4 | 1,048 | ||
| 6 | "The Irish Pub Formulation" | 786 | #3 | 786 | #2 | |||
| 7 | "The Apology Insufficiency" | 832 | #4 | 832 | No. 13 | |||
| 8 | "The 21-Second Excitation" | 749 | #3 | 749 | ||||
| 9 | "The Boyfriend Complexity" | 764 | #1 | 302 | #2 | 1,066 | ||
| 10 | "The Alien Parasite Hypothesis" | 944 | #1 | 248 | #4 | 1,192 | No. 17 | |
| 11 | "The Justice League Recombination" | 825 | #2 | 213 | #7 | 1,038 | No. 19 | |
| 12 | "The Bus Pants Utilization" | 870 | #2 | 232 | #7 | 1,172 | No. 15 | |
| 13 | "The Love Car Displacement" | 944 | #1 | 339 | #1 | 1,283 | #7 | |
| 14 | "The Thespian Catalyst" | 853 | #1 | 209 | #9 | 1,062 | No. 12 | |
| 15 | "The Benefactor Factor" | 1,007 | #1 | 272 | #1 | 1,279 | #6 | |
| 16 | "The Cohabitation Formulation" | 1,091 | #1 | 312 | #1 | 1,403 | #4 | |
| 17 | "The Toast Derivation" | 937 | {#1 | 371 | #1 | 1,308 | #11 | |
| 18 | "The Prestidigitation Approximation" | 923 | #1 | 393 | #1 | 1,316 | No. 11 | |
| 19 | "The Zarnecki Incursion" | 963 | #1 | 368 | #1 | 1,431 | No. 16 | |
| 20 | "The Herb Garden Germination" | 899 | #1 | 338 | #1 | 1,237 | No. 15 | |
| 21 | "The Agreement Dissection" | 959 | #1 | 342 | #1 | 1,301 | No. 13 | |
| 22 | "The Wildebeest Implementation" | 972 | #1 | 307 | #1 | 1,279 | #4 | |
| 23 | "The Engagement Reaction"The final two episodes of the season were broadcast at the earlier time of 8 pm. | 1,005 | #1 | 307 | #1 | 1,312 | #4 | |
| 24 | "The Roommate Transmogrification" | 885 | #1 | 251 | #3 | 1,136 | #14 | |
Australian ratings
| Order | Episode | Original airdate | Timeslot | Viewers (millions) |
Nightly rank |
Weekly rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Robotic Manipulation" | Wednesday – | 1.179 | 15 | ||
| 2 | "The Cruciferous Vegetable Amplification" | Wednesday – | 1.146 | 20 | ||
| 3 | "The Zazzy Substitution" | Wednesday – | 1.151 | 21 | ||
| 4 | "The Hot Troll Deviation" | Tuesday – | 0.922 | 11 | Unknown | |
| 5 | "The Desperation Emanation" | Wednesday – | 0.884 | 11 | Unknown | |
| 6 | "The Irish Pub Formulation" | Tuesday – | 0.958 | TBA | ||
| 7 | "The Apology Insufficiency" | Wednesday – | 0.964 | TBA | ||
| 8 | "The 21-Second Excitation" | Wednesday – | 0.852 | 9 | 44 |