Episode 2 – The Cruciferous Vegetable Amplification (402)
Sheldon’s estimate for his life expectancy leads him to the conclusion that he will miss by only a few years “the singularity … when man will be able to transfer his consciousness into machines, and achieve immortality”. He therefore changes his diet to eat cruciferous vegetables and starts to exercise in hopes of extending his life expectancy. Since the diet of brussels sprout gives him a bad case of flatulence, and he tumbles on the stairs going down for a jog, Sheldon decides on an alternate plan to extend his life expectancy. Sheldon builds a robotic replication of himself which he calls a “Mobile Virtual Presence Device” (the telepresence robot by Willow Garage ) that would go through all the hazards of life that Sheldon would otherwise have to endure, while he stays behind in a “secure, undisclosed location” (his bedroom). The MVPD has a monitor showing Sheldon’s face in real time (or any other image that Sheldon wants to display at that moment), speakers so Sheldon’s voice can be heard, and a microphone and camera to allow Sheldon to “see” and “hear” what is happening at the MVPD’s location while he stays in the “secure, undisclosed location”. Sheldon can then react to the situation as if he was present (to the point of enforcing the rule that nobody sits on “his spot” on the sofa). The monitor sits on top of a fixture covered with the exact same clothing that Sheldon is wearing that day. The MVPD has wheels which give it mobility and is equipped with an override switch so if anybody turns the MVPD off (because they don’t want to hear Sheldon talking), Sheldon can override and turn the MVPD back on.
The guys dismiss the MVPD as a stunt (Penny calls it “Shelbot”) and try to convince Sheldon to drop the idea, but Sheldon persists and proceeds to cite a section of the roommate agreement requiring Leonard to assist him (by providing him transportation) “in the event one of [the roommates] becomes a robot”. Leonard therefore takes the MVPD to work, and later to Penny’s restaurant for dinner. At the restaurant, Sheldon, via his MVPD, spots Steve Wozniak at a nearby table so he sends the MVPD so that he can talk to Wozniak. He tells Wozniak that he has a vintage Apple II to which Wozniak says that if he had the Apple II there he would have signed it. Sheldon then takes his Apple II and rushes out of the apartment, but trips and falls down the stairs as he rushes to the restaurant, breaking the Apple II.
Title reference: The cruciferous vegetables that Sheldon adds to his diet which give him a major case of flatulence.
Directed by Mark Cendrowski.
Written by Steven Molaro, Chuck Lorre & Jim Reynolds based on a story by Bill Prady, Lee Aronsohn & Steve Holland.
Originally aired on September 30, 2010.
