The Big Bang Theory (TV Series) The Loobenfeld Decay (2008) User Reviews

The Loobenfeld Decay was a mostly amusing episode of "The Big Bang Theory"

[tavm · 7/10 · 16 April 2008]

Sheldon and Leonard are arguing the logic of the Terminator movies and TV series when they hear some awful singing. It's Penny who tells them she's performing in a local production of "Rent" for one night only and invites them to see her on stage. Leonard mentions that he and Sheldon are going to a symposium that night though Sheldon almost ruins that lie by nearly mentioning the real night of that. After she's gone, Leonard mentions to his roommate why he lied to Penny and the necessities of doing so for social purposes. Sheldon decides to replace that fib for a more complicated one about a cousin who's in rehab. That "cousin" later appears in the form of a fellow colleague/aspiring actor who argues about characterization with Sheldon. Hardly matters since Penny taped her performance and gets Leonard to watch while he leaves Sheldon and the "actor" alone with their bickering...Pretty funny, if not hilarious episode of "The Big Bang Theory". As usual, Sheldon has much of the best lines though D. J. Qualls as the fake cousin steals the few scenes he's in with his constant embellishments. Penny herself has her moments when trying to explain to Howard and Raj the story that Sheldon told about his "cousin". Oh, and as a Filipino born in this country, I was not offended by Qualls "childhood abuse" from a chaplain from that Asian country. Though according to Chuck Lorre's censored vanity card, it was originally supposed to be a Catholic priest! (Again, while Catholic, not offended.) Very glad this show is back.

Intervention

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 30 September 2021]

The writing in this episode was as good as it gets. When Leonard lies as to why he can't see Penny audition for Rent, Sheldon can't be a part of it and sets in motion a phenomenal set of circumstances, culminating in an alcoholic/drug addicted cousin named Looobenfeld. The actor who plays him is awesome. But the best part is Sheldon trying to explain the layers involved once the lie gets going. Of course, there's no stopping his creativity in piling it up. One of the best things i've seen.

The Best Episode ....?

[MotoMike · 10/10 · 17 March 2016]

Well, to start with, imagine these lines (delivered at 120 mph by Sheldon, Leonard and Howard: Sheldon: Well, uh, Penny is on her way to perform in a one night showcase production of Rent, which we are unable to attend because we are going to a symposium on molecular positronium, given by Dr Emile Farminfarmian.

Howard: Wait a minute, Farminfarmian is speaking and you're Bogarding the symposium.

Leonard: Howard, I'm sorry… we're… we're

Howard: No, no, you're quark-blocking us.

Leonard: I don't know what to say.

Howard: Wow.

Leonard: Howard, listen…

Howard: No, it's okay, it's your Millennium Falcon, you and Chewbacca do whatever you want to do. Me and Princess Leia here will find some other way to spend the evening.

This is all part of one of those things that start as a cover-up for a little white lie and ends up with an enormous production to keep a whole fictional situation intact. But it's so well done that, watching it, you start to get one of those feelings you usually only get in a horror movie: "I can't see how this is going to end well", while waiting for the house of cards to come tumbling down. I won't (because I can't!) summarize the plot of this maze that poor Leonard gets into - all in an effort to avoid hurting Penny's feelings with his opinion of her horrible singing. I'll just skip to the end to note that when "Toby" goes off-script ("Toby: Damn you, Chaplain Horrigan! ") in the final deception, it's one of the best moments of the episode. I've seen a lot of TBBT episodes; many are good, all are funny, but this has my vote as the best episode ever.

Definitely a favourite

[adriennedaly · 10/10 · 10 April 2023]

DJ Qualls steals this episode! I've just finished a binge of all 12 seasons and it confirmed that this would be one of my favourite episodes. Always makes me laugh. As Toby/Leo, Qualls is sensational. Jim Parsons' Sheldon is also at his best. Leonard watching helplessly as the chaos errupts around him is hysterical. So we'll written and performed, not many episodes can top it. To be fair, I can't even think of another episode that makes me laugh quite as much as this one. Watching early TBBT reminds me just how good the show was when it started. I don't mind later episodes, but early ones like this are comedy gold.

The Loobenfeld Decay (#1.10)

[ComedyFan2010 · 10/10 · 13 June 2019]

Really love this episode. After an innocent lie Leonard told Penny to not go and see her perform Sheldon makes it more and more complicated so they don't get caught. And it is absolutely hilarious through the whole episode. I am sure at the end Leonard was deeply regretting it. The story of drug addicted cousin was fun enough but it got even better when that cousin actually came over to make sure Penny doesn't get suspicious. Howard and Raj have only a very small scene in this episode but it is also one where one can't stop laughing with Howard having one of the best lines of the episode.

Now that's how to take over a scene!

[geomisc · 10/10 · 29 June 2022]

DJ Qualls absolutely kills as Toby, a colleague of Sheldon's helping to conduct a fairly innocent ruse on Penny. The Toby/Penny scene is over-the-top perfection and Qualls' "young boy on the cusp of manhood" performance is Guest Actor Award-worthy.

The Loobenfeld Decay

[studioAT · 10/10 · 7 April 2021]

This was an excellent episode of the show, very cleverly written and expertly performed by the cast who are clearly finding their feet in the roles now.

A joy.