"The Geology Elevation" is an episode of The Big Bang Theory that first aired on November 17, 2016. Directed by Mark Cendrowski. Teleplay by Steve Holland, Jim Reynolds and Jeremy Howe, based on a story by Chuck Lorre, Eric Kaplan and Maria Ferrari.
Bert (Brian Posehn) wins the MacArthur Fellowship, colloquially known as "the genius grant", a no-strings-attached $625,000 prize. Predictably, Sheldon becomes very jealous, and in a stupid rage injures himself. Later he tries to attack Bert but Bert barely notices, and invites Sheldon to a taping of Ellen.
Meanwhile, Howard discovers an old remote control figurine of Stephen Hawking he had made. Except for Kripke (John Ross Bowie), everyone thinks it's in bad taste.
To cheer Sheldon up, his friends arrange a call with Stephen Hawking, who as of 2016 had yet to win a Nobel Prize.note
Tropes
- Agony of the Feet: Sheldon hurts his foot with a rock when it drops while he was trying to throw it. He then hurts his other foot kicking said rock in frustration.
- Amusing Injuries: Sheldon goes through a series of them throughout this episode. First, he drops a rock on his foot while trying to throw it. After this, he hurts his other foot by kicking it. Then, he falls and hits his head on a water fountain while trying to punch it, but slipping on the wet floor. And, finally, he hurts his hand by punching (or rather, karate-chopping a la Captain Kirk) Burt for insulting Amy.
- As Himself:
- Stephen Hawking appears via video chat.
- Sheldon and Bert go to see Ellen DeGeneres in her talk show.
- Green-Eyed Monster: Sheldon is envious of Burt the geologist for winning the MacArthur Fellowship award.
- Brick Joke: In the cafeteria, Bert tells his colleagues the story of how when they called him and told him he'd won, he didn't believe them, but when they said they were actually serious he did. When walking up the stairs with Amy, Sheldon, and Leonard, Penny tells it again, because she heard it on the radio.
- Let Us Never Speak of This Again: The guys promise not to let Howard know that Stephen Hawking would have liked a remote control toy of himself.
- Shout-Out: As consolation for not winning the Nobel Prize, Hawking reminds himself he's been on The Simpsons and Star Trek: The Next Generation (specifically "Descent").
- Your Approval Fills Me with Shame: Howard shops around a Stephen Hawking remote control toy to see if others consider it offensive. Bernadette, Raj, Amy and Leonard all think it is, but it's Barry Kripke (who also wants to drive it into the women's restroom) thinking it's hilarious that convinces Howard that it is offensive.
