The Werewolf Transformation Season 5, Episode 18 -  Aired February 23, 2012

The Werewolf Transformation

Sheldon is thrown for a loop when his usual barber gets sick. No longer able to follow his routine, Sheldon embraces the chaos of an unregimented lifestyle. Meanwhile, Wolowitz struggles with his astronaut training and reconsiders his desire to go to space.

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Guest Stars: Vernee Watson as Althea, Peter Onorati as Angelo, Carol Ann Susi as Mrs. Wolowitz

Writers: Chuck Lorre (Story), Todd Craig (Story), Gary Torvinen (Story), Bill Prady (Teleplay), Steven Molaro (Teleplay), Jim Reynolds (Teleplay), Maria Ferrari (Teleplay)

Director: Mark Cendrowski

Viewers: 16.2 million Households Rating: 9.7/16 Adults 18-49 Rating: 5.3/16

Available on iTunes

Episode Notes

  • The title references Sheldon's inability to get his hair cut, leading to a stark change in his life as he abandons his strict regiment.

> Soft Kitty

As Penny tries to convince Sheldon to let her cut his hair, she points out all the things she does for him, including singing "Soft Kitty".

Episode Quotes

Sheldon: Gotta run. (Looks down at scissors) But not with scissors, that would be unsafe.

Sheldon: Bongo solo!

Leonard: It's 3 in the morning!
Sheldon: 3 in the morning is a good time for bongos.
Leonard: I was sleeping!
Sheldon: Leonard sleep while I play bongos.
Leonard: No, I don't.
Sheldon: Leonard no sleep while I play bongos.

Penny: Where are you going?
Sheldon: Wherever the music takes me, kitten.

Sheldon: I play bongos while walking down the stairs.
*Sheldon falls*
Sheldon: Never play bongos while walking down the stairs

News Stories

Title Date Posted
Episode 5.18 Ratings: 'Bang' beats Idol outright February 24, 2012

The February 23, 2012 episode of The Big Bang Theory topped its time slot, beat American Idol outright for the first time and ranked as the night's most popular program.  Full story

CBS Announces Episode 5.18 February 9, 2012

CBS has announced the February 23, 2012 episode of The Big Bang Theory.  Full story

Recap

When Sheldon goes to the barber to get his hair cut, he's perturbed to find his usual barber isn't there as he has been hospitalized. Sheldon is concerned his regular barber's nephew won't know how he likes his hair as he doesn't have access to Sheldon's hair cut records. Leonard talks Sheldon into letting the nephew cut his hair, but Sheldon bolts out of the room as soon as the barber begins to recount a tale. The next day, Sheldon is irritated by his hair now being in his eyes. Penny offers to cut Sheldon's hair for him, but he is not onboard with a lay person cutting his hair. Meanwhile, Howard receives his orders from NASA for his astronaut training.

At Amy's apartment, Sheldon is growing increasingly obsessed with getting his hair cut. Amy suggests he tries Supercuts, but Sheldon is unhappy with an establishment that cuts men's and women's hair in the same room. Elsewhere, Bernadette is video chatting with Howard, who's just finished his first day of astronaut training. Howard tells her how he threw up in the zero-gravity environment. Later, Sheldon arrives at a hospital ward with a pair of scissors, looking for his barber. A nurse is concerned Sheldon escaped from the psychiatric wards and calls security.

Back at the apartment, Penny beats Leonard at chess. Sheldon arrives home and, for once, is not bothered that Penny is sitting in his spot. Sheldon explains it's been six days since he was supposed to get his hair cut and nothing terrible has happened as a result of the disorder. Sheldon wonders whether he's been wasting his time regimenting his life to such a degree. Leonard and Penny suggest it might be good for Sheldon to try shake things up. Meanwhile, Howard video chats with Bernadette to tell her about the overnight survival training he endured in the wilderness. An armadillo crawled into his hole and spooned him, he ate a butterfly, and his pee is now like toothpaste as a result of dehydration.

Leonard wakes up in the middle of the night to the sound of bongos. Having also been woken up by Sheldon's late night bongo session, Penny comes across to find out what all the noise is. Leonard tries to reason Sheldon into not playing the bongos by pointing out the terms of the roommate agreement, but the new chaotic Sheldon has no interest in the agreement. Sheldon leaves the apartment with his bongos, but is unable to play them while walking down the stairs without falling. Elsewhere, Bernadette shows up at Howard's hotel room to take care of him through his training, although she's not the only woman in his life to have made the trip.

Penny and Leonard are at Amy's apartment to pick up Sheldon, who showed up there with his bongos in the middle of the night. Penny begs Sheldon to let her cut his hair and end this madness. Sheldon doesn't want an unlicensed, untrained novice cutting his hair without access to his haircut records. Amy, who admits there isn't a hair on her body she wouldn't let Penny cut, convinces Sheldon to let Penny cut his hair. Later, Sheldon is impressed with the hair cut Penny gave him. As she goes to clean up his neck with the razor, Penny accidentally shaves a strip out of the back of his head. Penny lets Sheldon go without telling him.