"The Proton Resurgence" is an episode of The Big Bang Theory that first aired on May 2, 2013. Directed by Mark Cendrowski. Teleplay by Steven Molaro, Eric Kaplan and Maria Ferrari, based on a story by Chuck Lorre, Jim Reynolds and Steve Holland.
When Sheldon was growing up, Arthur Jeffries (Bob Newhart) was famous on TV as Professor Proton. Every weekday at 4:00 p.m., Sheldon would tune in to Channel 68 to watch Jeffries explain various scientific concepts in experiments with readily available household items like potatoes.
Professor Proton was an inspiration to future scientists like Leonard and Sheldon. But current scientists did not respect Arthur Jeffries much, regarding him as an entertainer rather than a genuine scientist. To add insult to injury, one of the puppeteers on the show had an extramarital affair with Arthur's wife.
And now Arthur is a washed-up former TV star who makes a living with appearances at children's parties. Leonard and Sheldon hire him, Sheldon is extremely excited. Sheldon invites Howard but Howard declines, as he's not interested in "a lame kids' show."
The next day, Arthur shows up late because the elevator in the apartment building is broken and Arthur is very slow going up the stairs with his props. Arthur has misgivings about Sheldon, but continues because he finds Penny attractive.
The assignment turns into a painful reminder for Arthur that his life has not turned out how he'd hoped. Arthur feels a pain in his heart, and thinks there might be a problem with his pacemaker. Paramedics come and say Arthur seems alright but will take him to the hospital for observation.
Sheldon accompanies Arthur to the hospital, and agrees to pinch hit as Professor Proton, Jr. at a birthday party for a Korean family that Arthur was supposed to go to.
Meanwhile, since Raj is going to spend the weekend monitoring a radio telescope, Bernadette and Howard watch Cinnamon, Raj's dog, only for her to get lost.
Arthur recurs in next season's "The Proton Displacement".
Tropes
- Blame Game: Howard, Bernadette and Raj engage in one when Cinnamon (Raj's dog) goes missing.
- Failed a Spot Check: Neither Bernadette nor Howard inspects their baby carrier that they put Cinnamon in at the park until they're all the way back in their home.
- Fallen-on-Hard-Times Job: Arthur used to be a star with a nationally syndicated show back in the 1980s and 1990s; now he's reduced to playing children's parties.
- Mad Scientist: Referenced by Arthur Jeffries regarding Sheldon.Arthur: Is uh, is he dangerous?
Leonard: Actually he's a genius.
Sheldon: I am.
Arthur: That uh, that doesn't answer my question. - Never My Fault: Raj chews out Bernadette and Howard for Cinnamon getting lost in the park. But he admits that he found Cinnamon on his own hours ago, and Bernadette chews him out harder for neglecting to tell them much earlier as they were running around the entire city of Pasadena worried sick the tiny dog might have been captured or died.
- Tropey, Come Home: Bernadette and Howard lose Cinnamon at the park. Fortunately, it turns out Raj managed to find her.
