Bazinga

BazingaBazinga is Sheldon's interjection of choice for sarcastic comments and his "classic pranks". The word was first mentioned in the Season 2 finale, "The Monopolar Expedition", when Sheldon used it three times. The last time Sheldon used the word was in "The Stag Convergence".

Jim Parsons and the show's writers have said that Bazinga was something a former The Big Bang Theory writer, Stephen Engel, used to say in the show's writers' room.

Bazinga was said by Sheldon in one episode of Season 2, eight in Season 3, two in Season 4, and another two episodes in Season 5. Sheldon did not use Bazinga in the context of a joke after the fifth season, although he did mention it once in Season 8 in the context of an email address.

Since the the fifth season, Penny has mentioned or alluded to Sheldon's use of the word Bazinga twice. Penny referenced his catchphrase in "The First Pitch Insufficiency" when she said "Isn't this when he says 'Bazooka' or something?". Penny again mentioned the word in "The Opening Night Excitation", where she sarcastically said she was waiting for the "Bazinga" after Sheldon described one of his ideas for Amy's birthday present.

The origins of Bazinga were revealed in a Season 2 episode of Young Sheldon, "A Stunted Childhood and a Can of Fancy Mixed Nuts". Sheldon went to his local comic bookstore to buy practical joke paraphernalia and was directed to a stand displaying products from the Bazinga! Novelty Company. Sheldon returned home to play pranks on his family, he would say "Bazinga!" after each gag. In a later Season 2 episode, "A Political Campaign and a Candy Land Cheater", Principal Petersen asks Sheldon if he's joking with his letter of complaint to the school board, prompting Sheldon to respond, "Did you see the word 'bazinga' anywhere in that letter?"

In the real world, Brazilian biologists discovered that a species of bee had been misidentified as Euglossa ignita, and was in fact a distinct species. They named this species Euglossa bazinga as a nod to Sheldon's catchphrase because the bee had tricked them into believing it was not a distinct species.

Bazinga has been registered as a trademark by Warner Bros., the studio behind the show, and is featured on officially licensed Bazinga t-shirts and merchandise.

Bazinga - Featured in these episodes:

  • Season 2, Episode 23 - The Monopolar Expedition

    This episode features the first mention of Bazinga. Sheldon first uses it when he tricks Leonard into believing there was something wrong with his equations. Sheldon then pulls another of his "classic pranks" on Leonard by telling him that Penny secretly wants Leonard in her life in a "very intimate and carnal fashion". Finally, in the Arctic, Sheldon tricks Leonard into believing he forget to bring the flash-frozen brown rice.

  • Season 3, Episode 3 - The Gothowitz Deviation

    Sheldon says Bazinga three times in this episode. First, Sheldon says it after telling Howard he's always wanted to go to a goth nightclub. Secondly, Sheldon says the Bazinga was implied when he suggested that with positive reinforcement he could have Penny "jumping out of a pool, balancing a beach ball on her nose".  Finally, when Leonard wonders what Penny has been talking about on the phone for such a long time, Sheldon says waitressing at the Cheescake Factory is obviously a "complex socioeconomic activity that requires a great deal of analysis and planning", followed by a Bazinga.

  • Season 3, Episode 4 - The Pirate Solution

    Sheldon says Bazinga after another one of his classic pranks when he tricks Raj into believing he would to interview for a job working with Sheldon.

  • Season 3, Episode 10 - The Gorilla Experiment

    After telling Howard that his shoes are delightful and asking where he got them, Sheldon says "Bazinga. I don't care."

  • Season 3, Episode 14 - The Einstein Approximation

    Sheldon says Bazinga multiple times as he tries to escape from Leonard in a ball pit.

  • Season 3, Episode 18 - The Pants Alternative

    While under the influence of alcohol as he gives his acceptance speech, Sheldon tells a science joke: "Why did the chicken cross the Mobius strip? To get to the same side, Bazinga!"

  • Season 3, Episode 20 - The Spaghetti Catalyst

    When Penny asks Sheldon how he's been, he tells her "Well, my existence is a continuum, so I've been what I am at each point in the implied time period". After Penny asks him if he's just "coitusing" with her, Sheldon says Bazinga.

  • Season 3, Episode 21 - The Plimpton Stimulation

    When the guys are surprised to hear Sheldon will be having a female companion stay in his bedroom, they wonder whether he's kiding them. Sheldon tells Howard "A, I rarely kid. And B, when I do kid, you will know it by my use of the word Bazinga". When Howard asks if the two of them will be sleeping in the same bed, Sheldon tells him "Yes. Bazinga."

  • Season 3, Episode 23 - The Lunar Excitation

    As the guys get ready to perform a laser experiment on the roof of the apartment, Sheldon tells Howard that he regrets not bringing an umbrella as, with skin as fair as his, moon burn is a real possibility. When Howard asks him if that's "a Bazinga", Sheldon says it's "one of my best, don't you think?"

  • Season 4, Episode 2 - The Cruciferous Vegetable Amplification

    After Leonard turned Sheldon's virtual presence device off as he rode to work, Sheldon remotely turned the device back on and said "Bazinga", causing Leonard to swerve into traffic.

  • Season 4, Episode 5 - The Desperation Emanation

    After Sheldon and Amy webcam with her mother and deceive her into thinking they are in a sexual relationship, Sheldon tells Amy "I find myself wondering if we should actually engage in coitus at least one time in our relationship. Bazinga!"

  • Season 5, Episode 7 - The Good Guy Fluctuation

    After finally getting his own back on Leonard with a prank involving him jumping out of a couch cushion dressed as a zombie, Sheldon exclaims "Bazinga, punk. Now we're even."

  • Season 5, Episode 22 - The Stag Convergence

    During his toast to Howard on his stag night, Sheldon first says "Okay, kidding aside, Howard, you are a good friend. And I wish you nothing but happiness. Bazinga, I don't!". After Leonard chides Sheldon, he says "Double-bazinga, I do!". Later, when Raj mentions that Howard lost his virginity to his cousin and Howard points out it was his second cousin, Sheldon says she was also "the first woman [he] ever disappointed sexually. Ba-da-zinga!"

  • Season 8, Episode 3 - The First Pitch Insufficiency

    When Sheldon tells Amy that Leonard and Penny are "just jealous because they'll never have a relationship as good as ours", Penny says "Isn't this when he says 'bazooka' or something?"

  • Season 8, Episode 15 - The Comic Book Store Regeneration

    As Sheldon listens to Barry thank Amy for her help on a paper he wrote, Sheldon suggests Barry e-mail it to him at "[email protected]"

    "Sheldon: Why .biz? Because I just gave you the business. And also bazinga.com was taken."

  • Season 9, Episode 11 - The Opening Night Excitation

    When Sheldon describes one of his ideas for Amy's birthday present - an all-expense-paid trip to the "Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival" - Penny pauses and says, "Sorry, I was waiting for the Bazinga."

  • Season 12, Episode 4 - The Tam Turbulence

    When Sheldon imagined how his life would have been different if Tam had moved to California with him, we saw Tam chasing Sheldon in the ballpit as he said "Bazinga!" as Leonard did in "The Einstein Approximation".