The Novelization Correlation Season 11, Episode 15 -  Aired February 1, 2018

The Novelization Correlation

Sheldon is disappointed when he appeals to Wil Wheaton to appear on the new Professor Proton show, only for Wil to choose Amy instead. Meanwhile, Leonard is writing a novel and manages to upset Penny, who thinks a character is based on her.

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Guest Stars: Kevin Sussman as Stuart, Christine Baranski as Beverly Hofstadter, Wil Wheaton as Himself

Writers: Steve Holland (Story), Andy Gordon (Story), Adam Faberman (Story), Eric Kaplan (Teleplay), Maria Ferrari (Teleplay), Jeremy Howe (Teleplay)

Director: Mark Cendrowski

Viewers: 14.69 million Households Rating: 9.5/16 Adults 18-49 Rating: 2.9/12

Available on iTunes

Episode Notes

  • The title refers to Leonard's novel and the resemblance between its characters and his friends.

Episode Quotes

Amy: So, you're just gonna sit here by yourself and do nothing?
Sheldon: Of course not. I'm going to write mean comments about Wil's show online.
Amy: Well, you can't criticize something you haven't seen.
Sheldon: I'm sorry, are you familiar with the Internet?

Sheldon: Oh, Amy. Good, you're here.
Amy: Hi. What's up?
Sheldon: How would you like to be on television?
Amy: Is it gonna be a news story where I have to say you were quiet and kept to yourself and I'm as shocked as anyone?

Raj: I thought you were boycotting Wil's show.
Sheldon: I was, but I decided to give it a shot, and I actually enjoyed it. Just out of curiosity, how did you come to be on the show? Did he ask you? Did you ask him? Did you just show up on the set and ring that doorbell?
Howard: Sheldon, if you want to be on the show, you're gonna have to apologize to Wil.
Sheldon: That would be the mature thing to do. Let's put a pin in that and keep thinking.

Wil Wheaton: [on TV] It's time for Professor Proton's science joke of the day. Why can you not trust atoms?
Sheldon: Hmm.
Wil Wheaton: [on TV] Because they make up everything.
Sheldon: Oh, that's funny! Yeah, because they do. They make up everything.

Leonard: Maybe it is a little like Penny. Any chance she'll be flattered?
Bernadette: I don't know. She's pretty mean.
Leonard: Ilsa or Penny?
Bernadette: Exactly.

News Stories

Title Date Posted
1115 'The Novelization Correlation' Press Release January 27, 2018

CBS has issued the press release for the next episode of The Big Bang Theory, "The Novelization Correlation", which airs Thursday, February 1. Christine Baranski and Wil Wheaton guest star in the episode.  Full story

Recap

When Amy comes out of the bedroom, she is surprised to see Sheldon making a sandwich as she thought they were eating dinner at Leonard and Penny’s. Sheldon explains he doesn’t want to join them in watching the new Professor Proton show, so he’s just going to stay at home and complain about it on the Internet. After Amy convinces him to at least try watching the show with her, Wil Wheaton as Professor Proton says he’s going to teach them how to make a real hovercraft. Sheldon is excited at the prospect, especially when he realizes he has all the household items necessary to follow along.

When Penny arrives home, she finds Leonard typing on a keyboard he bought for his laptop that makes noises just like a typewriter. After Penny asks how his book is coming along, Leonard says he just wrote the part where his main character arrives at CERN. Penny is excited to read the story when it’s ready.

Back in their apartment, Sheldon is playing with the hovercraft he and Amy made while watching the new Professor Proton show. When Amy asks Sheldon if he feels bad for telling Wil he’d be his enemy if he did this show, Sheldon does not even though he is clearly enjoying the show. Sheldon’s excitement turns to shock when Professor Proton welcomes a guest, real-life astronaut Howard Wolowitz, to the show. Sheldon can not believe Wil invited Howard to be a guest on his show and not him.

In the university cafeteria, Leonard is telling Howard and Raj about the plot of his book but admits he still has a lot to figure out. Howard suggests he talks to Bernadette, who’s been binge-watching detective shows while on bed rest. When Sheldon sits down at the table, he tells Howard he forgives him for going on Wil’s show and not telling him. After Sheldon asks Howard how he got involved with the new Professor Proton, Howard points out he will have to apologize to Wil first if he wants to appear on the show.

After Leonard takes his story for Bernadette to read, she asks him if Penny is okay with him basing a character on her. Bernadette thinks Ilsa, a confident, ball-busting beauty who's always rolling her eyes at Logan, is clearly based on Penny, although Leonard didn’t see that. In a fantasy scene, Penny as Ilsa is snarky to Leonard’s Logan, while Raj, Howard and Stuart are characters in the murder mystery at CERN. Leonard starts to see it maybe the character is inspired by Penny.

When Wil Wheaton opens his door, Howard apologizes as Sheldon steps forward to tels Wil he is no longer on his enemy list and he’s sorry. Sheldon says being on the Professor Proton show has been a dream of his since childhood and he hopes Wil will keep him in mind for a future guest. Sheldon is excited when Wil starts to pose a question, but he actually wants to know if Amy would be interested in appearing on the show as he wishes to feature more female scientists.

In the apartment, Leonard is waiting for Penny’s opinion as she reads through what he’s written so far. In a fantasy scene, Bernadette as Ilsa is rude to Logan. After Penny says Ilsa is based on Bernadette, Leonard sheepishly agrees with her. Elsewhere, Sheldon returns to the apartment to ask Amy if she’d like to be on television, but she says she’s not really interested in being on Wil’s show. When Sheldon questions her lack of interest, Amy admits she doesn’t want to do it because it might upset Sheldon.

When Penny joins bedridden Bernadette to read magazines, Bernadette mentions that Leonard came by with his book the day before. After Penny asks if the character of Ilsa didn’t bother her, Bernadette says that Leonard was exaggerating and she doesn’t think Penny is really like that. Penny is surprised as Leonard told her it was based on Bernadette, but she realizes he was being very squirrely when they talked about the book.

In the cafeteria, Sheldon tells Howard and Raj he just found out that Amy sometimes doesn’t what she wants because she worries about how he’ll react. When they reveal everybody tries not to upset hi,, Sheldon vows to change but they don’t take him seriously.

In the apartment, Penny is looking over Leonard’s story on his laptop, upset by how mean the character Leonard supposedly based on her is. In a fantasy scene, Penny as Ilsa is mean to Logan even as he’s bleeding in a critical condition. When Leonard returns home, Penny confronts him over the negative opinion he must have of her. Leonard denies Ilsa is based on her, but Penny doesn’t want to hear it.

As they play chess in their apartment, Sheldon makes a move that lets Amy win but she sees through his ruse. Sheldon tells her he’s trying to show he can change and doesn’t want her to miss out on things because of him. He argues her being on Wil’s show could help more young girls get into science.

In the apartment, Leonard has a video chat with his mother to tell her about Penny’s problem with his story, insisting he didn’t mean to write about Penny. When his mother criticizes him for trying to write a novel, he realizes Ilsa is actually based on her. After cutting off the call, Leonard rushes to tell Penny the character is based on his mother. After they realize that is quite disturbing, Leonard questions why he’s writing a book.

After Sheldon and Amy watch her appearance on Professor Proton’s show, Sheldon tells Amy he is proud of her. Amy says he’s proud of him for trying so hard to hide his feelings of jealousy. When Amy goes to bed, Sheldon goes to scream on the roof.