The Transporter Malfunction

The Transporter Malfunction is the twentieth episode of the fifth season of the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory. The episode is set to air on March 29, 2012.

Summary
Penny bought Leonard and Sheldon each a mint-conditioned vintage Star Trek transporter from 1975. Neither of them wants to open theirs to preserve the toy's value, however, Sheldon starts to dream of his Spock figure which leads him to opening the package and breaking his transporter. Meanwhile, Howard and Bernadette push Raj to send back his RSVP which he has not done due to him not having a date yet to the wedding. Desperate, Raj tells his parents to set him up with someone.

Title Reference
The title is derived from Sheldon playing with and accidentally breaking his vintage Star Trek transporter given by Penny.

Quotes
Sheldon: ''Quantum Physics makes me so happy. It's like looking at the universe naked.''

Sheldon: I thought where you come from they don't have emotions.

Spock: I come from a factory in Taiwan.

Penny: Tada!

Sheldon: (Gasp) A vintage, mint in box 1975 Mego Star Trek Transporter, with real transporter action, Hotdarn!

Leonard:'' Where did you get that? ''

Penny: That's from Stuart at the comic book store.

Leonard: You went to the comic book store by yourself?

Penny: ''Yeah! It was fun. I walked in and two different guys got asthma attacks. Felt pretty good.''

Sheldon: This calls for an expression of gratitude.

Penny: Ooo, am I about to get a rare, Sheldon Cooper hug?

Sheldon: No, not this time, then it wouldn't be special. (makes a finger-gun gesture) Thanks, Penny!

Penny:'' You're welcome. (to Leonard) Don't worry, I didn't forget about you. Leonard, I got you... (takes something out from her shopping bag) a label maker! ''

Leonard: (looks stunned)'' Wow...oh, it's great. Also... in mint in box.''

Penny: (takes something from her shopping bag) And I got you a transporter too!

Leonard: (throws away the label maker) Awesome!

Spock:'' Dr. Cooper! Dr. Cooper!''

Sheldon: (looks around) Is someone there?

Spock: Down here, on your desk.

Sheldon: Spock?

Spock: I need to speak with you.

Sheldon:'' Fascinating! The only logical epxlanation is that, this is a dream.''

Spock:'' It is not the only logical explanation. For example, you could be hallucinating after being hit on the head by say, a coconut. ''

Sheldon: Was I hit on the head by a coconut?

Spock:'' I'm not going to dignify that with a response. Now, to the matter at hand, you need to play with the transporter toy.''

Sheldon: Yes, but it's mint in box.

Spock:'' Yes, and to open it would destroy its value. But remember like me, you also have a human-half.''

Sheldon:'' Well I'm not going to dignify that with a response. ''

Spock:'' Consider this. What is the purpose of a toy?''

Sheldon: To be played with.

Spock: Therefore, to not play with it would be?

Sheldon:'' Illogical. Oh, damnit Spock your'e right! I'll do it!''

Spock: Sheldon, wait.You have to wake up first.

Sheldon: ''Oh, of course. Set phasers to dumb, right? ''

Trivia

 * Leonard Nimoy makes his guest star debut on this episode. Nimoy joins the other Star Trek actors who have guest-starred on the show: LeVar Burton, Wil Wheaton, George Takei, and Brent Spiner.
 * The vintage Spock action figure is by Mego (1975-1977, 1979), as is the transporter room.
 * Amy will not appear in this episode because Mayim Bialik is away to promote her new book Beyond the Sling: A Real-Life Guide to Raising Confident, Loving Children the Attachment Parenting Way.
 * Raj's parents, Dr. V.M. Koothrappali and Mrs. Koothrappali, will appear via Skype in this episode. They were last seen in The Wiggly Finger Catalyst.
 * Lakshmi was mentioned in The Guitarist Amplification in the context of a date for Raj at his cousin Sanjay's wedding. Mrs. Koothrappali: "Sheldon, ask our son what we’re supposed to say to Mr. and Mrs. Choudhry, whose daughter, Lakshmi is flying in from London, for the sole purpose of meeting him." Dr. Koothrappali: "Yes, Lakshmi just got her stomach stapled. You have an opportunity to get in good with her before she loses weight, and her self-esteem goes up."

Video
350px|left|The Transporter Malfunction Sneak Peek 1 350px|left|The Transporter Malfunction Sneak Peek 2

350px|left|The Transporter Malfunction promo

Reference

 * Taping report provided by Roxanne.
 * Press release from spoilertv.com