Legendary television star Bob Newhart will guest star as a seminal figure from Sheldon’s past in an upcoming episode of The Big Bang Theory. Minor spoilers ahead.
TVLine reports that The Big Bang Theory has booked the venerable comedian Bob Newhart to guest star on an episode of the hit CBS sitcom. Newhart will reportedly play “Professor Proton,” the host of an educational children’s show which had a strong impact on Sheldon and Leonard as kids. When Sheldon learns that Professor Proton now does party gigs for extra cash, he (naturally) books him to visit his apartment and – we assume – science-y shenanigans will ensue.
The episode, which will air on May 2, will be the 83-year-old Newhart’s first sitcom appearance in several years. He is best known, of course, for his leading roles on The Bob Newhart Show and later Newhart, important half-hour comedies of the 70s and 80s. The casting is quite a coup for The Big Bang Theory, executive producer Bill Prady teased his excitement in an earlier tweet:
Excited for the guest star at this morning’s table read (not from the world of scifi or science).Been a fan of this man all my life.
— Bill Prady (@billprady) March 20, 2013
Prady later added:
I’m about to walk down and watch a #BigBangTheory rehearsal featuring Bob Newhart. Just awesome.
— Bill Prady (@billprady) March 21, 2013
In other casting news, E!Online recently shared the news that the role of a paramedic is being cast for an upcoming episode of The Big Bang Theory. Details are scarce, but the site did admit that “Sheldon and Leonard are both involved with what we shall call “the incident.” Could this paramedic be called in to assist Professor Proton, or is this “incident” an unrelated excitement?
The Big Bang Theory will return on April 2 with “The Tenure Turbulence” at 8 p.m. on CBS.
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