S08E17 - The Colonization Application

No: 176  |  Season: 8   Episode: 17  |  Air Date: 2015-03-05  |  Runtime: mins

Summary

A trip to the pet store ends in a fight after Amy learns Sheldon has applied for a one-way mission to colonize Mars. Meanwhile, Leonard surprises Penny with a very "adult" purchase, and Raj gets into trouble when he snoops around Emily's apartment.

Director and Writers

Director: Mark Cendrowski
Writers: Story by: Dave Goetsch & Jim Reynolds & Tara Hernandez / Teleplay by: Steven Molaro & Eric Kaplan & Maria Ferrari

Script

Script: S08E17 - The Colonization Application

Quotes

Sheldon: During the seven month trip to Mars, I can keep up morale with my wacky sense of humor. Leonard, could you check to see if there is still peanut brittle in that can?
Leonard: You mean this suspicious looking can over here?
Sheldon: Yes. Open it and check.
(Leonard opens can)
Leonard: I don't get it. There actually is peanut brittle in here.
(Sheldon throws a pie in Leonard's face)
Leonard: Please go to Mars.

Sheldon: I can't believe you almost let me bring a wild animal into my house.
Amy: No one told you to stick your finger in the turtle's face.
Sheldon: I was playing got your nose. That's how you get kids to like you.

Amy: Getting a joint pet is a big step in our relationship.
Sheldon: It's true. It means we love each other so much we have enough left over for an eight ounce reptile.

Bernadette: What's wrong?
Howard: Koothrappali was snooping in Emily's apartment and broke one of her drawers.
Bernadette: Aw. I'm gonna miss her.

Amy: Let's pick a turtle. How about that one, on the log?
Sheldon: I don't know. He looks like a jerk. How about this one?
Amy: That one? He's hardly moving, he looks half dead.
Sheldon: I know. I like him too.

Sheldon: In fact, animals don't trust me because I smell like nothing.

Sheldon: We could be the first to say, "Good Lord, what on Mars are you talking about?"

Amy: Let's say it together.
Amy, Sheldon: We're getting a turtle!
Penny: See, this is why I've been saying we should keep champagne on ice.
Sheldon: Sarcasm?
Amy: Yes.
Sheldon: That was tricky because when it comes to alcohol, she generally means business.

Sheldon: I know that life on Mars will be difficult. But life here on Earth is no picnic. Also, picnics are no picnic.

Emily: Don't worry. She's in Palm Springs.
Raj: Oh good.
Emily: Well, her torso is.

Howard: (listening to Raj and Emily) We should hang up.
Bernadette: Yeah, we should.
Howard: But we're not going to, are we?
Bernadette: Not a chance.

Leonard: Why a turtle?
Sheldon: After much deliberation, we've determined that a turtle is the ideal pet. They don't shed fur. They don't make noise.
Amy: For Halloween, we can dress him as a cobble stone.
Sheldon: And, if he ever goes beserk, I know I can out run him. Coincidentally that's also why I chose you as a roommate.

Sheldon: Amy, I've already had one new hole torn in my body today. I don't need another one.

Howard: How are the taxes going?
Bernadette: Okay, but you got a lot of receipts for the Lego store in here.
Howard: Those are business expenses. You can write those off.
Bernadette: A $200 R2-D2 was a business expense?
Howard: Oh Bernie, you're gonna have to sound a lot more confident when we get audited.

Sheldon: I'm exceedingly smart. I graduated college at fourteen. While my brother was getting an STD, I was getting a Ph.D. Penicillin can't take this away.

Howard: (Inspecting the broken drawer through Raj's phone) I think you broke the dowels. You're not going to have time to glue it back on, you'll have to nail it.
Raj: With what?
Howard: Does she have any pillows or wine glasses?
Raj: (Excited) She does!
Howard: Great! Neither of those, TRY A HAMMER!

Notes and Trivia

Instead of Mr. Lorre's usual vanity card, the credits end with a tribute to Leonard Nimoy, who died on 27 February, 2015. The tribute reads: "The impact you had on our show and on our lives is everlasting."

One of the rare occasions where we see the wall that the computers and TV sit against. We see it during Sheldon's Mars application video when he throws the pie in Leonard's face.

There actually is a not for profit organization called Mars One. It accepted open applications to anyone in the world interested in being part of a manned expedition to Mars. Their plan is to send an unmanned space craft in 2020 and a manned crew in 2026.

This is the first time we see Leonard wearing glasses with actual lenses in them (when Sheldon throws a pie at him). Previously in every episode he just wore the frames. So did Bernadette and Amy.

Title Reference: The title refers to the application Sheldon is making to become one of the first colonists on Mars.

Goofs

None

Cast

Johnny GaleckiLeonard Hofstadter
Jim ParsonsSheldon Cooper
Kaley CuocoPenny
Simon HelbergHoward Wolowitz
Kunal NayyarRaj Koothrappali
Mayim BialikAmy Farrah Fowler
Melissa RauchBernadette Rostenkowski
Laura SpencerEmily Sweeney