The Big Bang Theory: 10 Moments When Sheldon Cooper Was Wrong

8. Great, Another Fainter

Episode: The Hawking Excitation

There are few people Sheldon worships more than Stephen Hawking. He dressed up as the scientist for Halloween when he was a child, and considers him his intellectual equal (though not his superior, obviously). When Howard is allocated the task of maintaining Hawking's wheelchair during a series of lectures at CalTech, Sheldon is absolutely dying to make his hero's acquaintance. And Howard is happy to assist; until Sheldon blows it by suggesting Howard knows nothing about physics. Again. Sheldon must complete a series of demeaning tasks before Howard will consider introducing the two, including polishing his many belt buckles and walking around in a French maid outfit. But it's the final task that is the hardest for Sheldon: giving Howard a compliment on his work. Characteristically, he delivers some half-hearted, back-handed praise, but Howard considers it adequate - and reveals that Hawking was so impressed by Sheldon's paper that he wants to meet him anyway. A jittery Sheldon is introduced to his idol, who tells him that although his work was interesting €“ gasp €“ Sheldon has made an arithmetical error on page two, which is, according to Hawking, 'quite a boner.' Mortified by his mistake, Sheldon passes out. Don't meet your heroes. Or at least make sure your math is correct before you do.