I hate to admit this. If you remember, I’m the one who came up with “Five Ways to Off Kripke” early this year. I don’t like the character. He’s way over the top in a show which tends to already have over the top kind of characters. The speech impediment is my main turn-off. Oh, nothing against speech impediments, mind you. I just don’t like them overly silly. That’s Kripke. But what do I hate to admit?
I hate to admit that this episode, featuring the Bawwy Kwipke character, was a hoot! Don’t get me wrong … the fake impediment annoyed me to no end. But, similar to last week, the show had me outright laughing at my television set. Loudly, I might add.
When Kwipke pranked Sheldon’s NPR interview with the helium, I was laughing so much that I didn’t really hear a word that Sheldon was saying. Yeah, like last week, this sort of thing has been on other sitcoms over the years. However, with these characters, it seemed all fresh, new, and wondrous once again. That’s not to mention the hilarity factor.
The Wolowitz storyline was done nicely tonight, too. I briefly wasn’t creeped out by Howard as he tried to win back the favor of Bernadette with a song at the Cheesecake Factory. It was almost endearing. His bathtub scene with Katee Sackhoff was more along the lines I expect of Wolowitz. Alas, he’s probably crooning Bernadette just for the sex. I must be losing touch with the in crowd. Third date, eh? I did not know that.
All in all, we have had two very different yet very funny episodes in a row. Let’s hope the momentum continues! Now Kripke can be offed. He’s served his purpose. He finally got a laugh out of me.
Clacked by Jackie Schnoop 
on Nov 24, 2009 @ 00:05 EST5EDT
I have to agree with you whole-heartedly. Another part I LOL’d at was the part where Howard and Penny are talking about Leonard and he looks over to Sheldon and says something to the effect: “I am here right, you DO see me.”
I think this season is amazing compared to last.
It’s odd that in Princess Bride I still crack up when Peter Cook as “The Impressive Clergyman” goes: mawwiage and twue wuv… but I immediately bristle as soon as I hear Kripke’s voice. Did not derive as much pleasure as I would have liked from the pranking because it involved Kripke– but all the mocking lines Raj had after were gold! Plus, Sheldon’s facial expressions throughout the whole helium prank were priceless. Parsons is amazing.
I also agree with you about Howard’s serenade at the end, and gotta say some nice piano playing there!
Penny loudly telling Raj to talk to her made me giggle.
Odd moment of the night for me: Raj asking Howard if he was also a “caramel hottie” (paraphrased as I can’t remember the exact term Wolowitz used to describe Halle Berry).
Also, how did Leonard and Raj not recognize a pretty commonly demonstrated chemical reaction in grade school— ELEPHANT TOOTHPASTE!!
“Yo, Raj, talk to me!”
The practical joke episode came close to being the shark jump for TBBT. After the helium stunt and the goo on the professors stunt, in any normal institution Sheldon and Kripke would have been out on their asses very quickly, but whatever happened was completely forgotten by the next episode. Exactly what the place is they all work at has never really been explained in the show. I actually like Kripke as a character.
They all work at California Institute of Technology…
I don’t like Kripke, but i don’t think one is supposed to.
The video after the prank…hilarious!