"The Big Bang Theory"
The Tangerine Factor (2008)

Director:

Mark Cendrowski

Writers:

Chuck Lorre (creator) &
Bill Prady (creator) ...
(more)

TV Series:

"The Big Bang Theory" (2007)

Original Air Date:

19 May 2008 (Season 1, Episode 17)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

After Penny breaks up with her new guy, she agrees to go out on a date with Leonard. However, both of them have reservations about the date soon after agreeing to it. |

Plot Keywords:

Apartment | Lack Of Sex | Love | TV Series Pilot | Indian

US TV Schedule:

Mon. Sept. 15

8:00 PM

CBS

The Tangerine Factor

#1.17

Cast

Johnny Galecki	...	Leonard Hofstadter
Jim Parsons	...	Sheldon Cooper
Kaley Cuoco	...	Penny
Simon Helberg	...	Howard Wolowitz
Kunal Nayyar	...	Rajnesh Koothrappali
James Hong	...	Chen
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
William Ngo	...	Chinese International Grad Student (uncredited)

Directed by
Mark Cendrowski

Writing credits
Chuck Lorre		(creator) &
Bill Prady		(creator)
Lee Aronsohn		(teleplay) &
Steven Molaro		(teleplay)
Chuck Lorre		(story) &
Bill Prady		(story)

Produced by
Lee Aronsohn	....	consulting producer
Kristy Cecil	....	associate producer
Peter Chakos	....	producer
Robert Cohen	....	co-executive producer
Stephen Engel	....	consulting producer
Jennifer Glickman	....	consulting producer
David Goetsch	....	co-executive producer (as Dave Goetsch)
Chuck Lorre	....	executive producer
Steven Molaro	....	producer
Faye Oshima Belyeu	....	producer
Bill Prady	....	executive producer
Mary T. Quigley	....	co-producer

Cinematography by
Steven V. Silver		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Peter Chakos

Casting by
Ken Miller
Nikki Valko

Production Design by
John Shaffner

Set Decoration by
Ann Shea

Costume Design by
Mary T. Quigley

Makeup Department
Peggy Nichols	....	makeup artist
Faye Woods	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Kelly Lee	....	unit production manager (as Kelly-Anne Lee)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chris Klausen	....	second assistant director
Howard Murray	....	associate director
Anthony Joseph Rich	....	first assistant director (as Anthony Rich)

Art Department
Francoise Cherry-Cohen	....	set designer (as Francoise Cherry)
Justin Hetzel	....	art department production assistant
Scott L. London	....	property master

Sound Department
Bob La Masney	....	sound re-recording mixer
Charlie McDaniel	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bruce Peters	....	production sound mixer

Casting Department
Peter Pappas	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Pamela Broussard	....	set costumer
Nicole Felts	....	costumer
Nicole Felts	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Ryan Berdan	....	post-production coordinator
Tony D'Amore	....	final colorist

Other crew
Julie Fleischer	....	script supervisor
Don Foster	....	executive consultant
Brian George	....	production coordinator
Eddie Gorodetsky	....	executive consultant
Mark Roberts	....	executive consultant
David Saltzberg	....	science consultant (as David Saltzberg Ph.D.)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Chuck Lorre		creator
Bill Prady		creator

Language:

Italian

Trivia:

The book Sheldon is reading to learn Chinese is for Mandarin, but most of what he speaks during the episode is Cantonese. The only Mandarin he speaks in the episode is when Penny surprises him at the mailbox and he says, "You scared me to death!".

Goofs:

Continuity: While Penny is pouring chocolate syrup into her ice cream container, some spills down the side. In the next shot, there is no evidence of the spill. A few moments later, the spill is back having run down the whole side of the container.

Quotes:

Penny: [scares the hell out of Sheldon after touching him in the back] Do you have a second?
Sheldon: A second what? Pair of underwear?

The Tangerine Factor is a funny and touching first season finale of "The Big Bang Theory"

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

Howard is teaching Sheldon Mandarin Chinese because Sheldon wants to complain to the head of a Chinese restaurant about their switching tangerine chicken for orange chicken. At this point, Penny storms in, yells at her boyfriend outside below while throwing his ipod out the window, and storms back out. Leonard tries to check in on her but is told to go away. What Penny was shouting about was her ex blogging about their sex lives. Howard quickly tries to find it online but is unsuccessful. When Leonard tries to reach Penny again she motions him in and allows Leonard to see what's on the web. It tells of all the places she and her guy made out including the Subway sandwich shop. Leonard tells Penny the guy was just expressing his love for her publicly so she goes back out to apologize. Moments later, Penny storms back in Leonard's apartment as she faults him for her witnessing her ex with another woman. Says Raj to Leonard: "Incredible. You screwed up the screw up." When Leonard confronts her again, Penny says she's through with men with perfect bodies, good hair, and money and just wants someone who cares for her. Leonard volunteers himself as a date which Penny accepts. Except the two are now having doubts about the night so they both go to Sheldon for advice. Sheldon proposes the Schrodinger's Cat theory which confuses Penny but makes sense for Leonard. When Leonard meets Penny at her apartment, they kiss and rush off to a Chinese restaurant but abruptly leave when they find Sheldon there complaining about mucus to the owner...What a way to end the first season of "The Big Bang Theory" with Leonard and Penny's first kiss! Loved hearing the audience clap approvingly at that and their acceptance of a first date earlier on. Great funny stuff with Sheldon's Mandarin confusing many Asians in the cast and his explanations of Schrodinger's Cat to both Penny and Leonard. Howard and Raj also provide fine support as usual. Before I end this comment, I'd like to give kudos to both the animation team responsible for the opening credit sequence and Barenaked Ladies for singing the theme song during that sequence. It's one of the best I've seen in the history of my watching television. And congrats, as always, to co-creator/executive producer Chuck Lorre for making one of the best shows of the season. I hope and think he'll win the Emmy this year. Hope to comment again in the fall. Until then...