In honor of The Big Bang Theory’s return tonight with the first of nine new episodes, in a new timeslot (Mondays, 8 p.m. ET, CBS), we present the return of PopWatch Duel. We asked costars Jim Parsons (Sheldon, pictured left) and Simon Helberg (Wolowitz, right) to each list The Five Geekiest Pieces of Pop Culture I Own. You decide who’s the bigger geek — a term of great affection on this blog — by casting a vote in the comments section below. Their responses…
Jim Parsons:
I’m not entirely sure what makes something geeky (beyond a pocketprotector or some such nonsense). I am not entirely sure whatconstitutes pop culture, either. Or maybe I am. Without furtherexcuses, I allow my very personal list to speak for itself.
1. I submit as geeky item number one my AM/FM portable radio. I donot know if this item, in and of itself, necessarily says "geek," but Ibelieve the life I share with this radio is rather geeky. I purchasedthis Sony item at a Best Buy a little over a year ago and it has beenattached to my hip (via my belt) most waking hours since (when I’m notworking). I jog a lot and I just walk around a lot and it’s always withme. I also tend to clean my house a lot and, here too, I wear the radioand keep it on. Always talk radio. Never music. Typically a politicalbent to the talk, but sometimes straight up news. I THINK that’sgeeky…? Perhaps just odd.
2. Is horticulture geeky, per se? I have a planter I purchased atTarget that included seeds and mulch to grow the ingredients to makeyour own salsa. I have not a clue as to when to plan the party where Iwill serve said salsa (how long do jalapeños take to grow, after all?),but I have started the process, and you will be thrilled to know thatthe first sprouts have sprung.
3. Though technically in storage at my mom’s house, I own most, if not all, of the Star Wars figurines and space ships, land cruisers, etc. created up through Jedi.The figures are stored in a carrying case that is in the shape of DarthVader’s head and while I don’t think these are particularly uniquegeeky things to own, my figures are special: all of their feet havebeen gnawed at by the next door neighbor’s dog. He was older than me(the neighbor, not the dog) and he also collected the Star Warsgoods and when we would play with them together (what the hell were weplaying, anyway?) he would surreptitiously switch ours out. So I guesshe’s got a geeky collection of his own in pristine condition somewhere.Ass.
4. I own several dictionaries, pronouncing dictionaries and now, asan occupational hazard, I guess, even a "physics dictionary." I lovewords. I love their different meanings and (thank God) I love tomemorize them. I guess you could say I "geek out" on them.
5. All the Harry Potter books. All of ‘em. Again, not aunique thing to have on your book shelf and this time I don’t even havean anecdote of something unique I’ve done with them or that happened tothem. I just read them, like a normal human being, and loved everyminute of the experience. Book 4 was my favorite and I cried like ababy towards the end of it. Geeky reading material: $24.95; Stillawaiting your personal invitation to attend Hogwarts: Priceless. Andpsychotic.
Simon Helberg:
1. Tucked away in my childhood desk, I have many a New Kids on the Block centerfold from Teen Beat magazine and such. I was a much younger, scarier person when I ripped these pictures out (sometimes even from magazines that I didn’t buy). It’s a miracle I survived.
2. I own a fart CD. It has, I believe, over 100 fart sounds. A lovely variety, from the up-close and personal to the more experimental and dissonant. Some people prefer to listen to Bach when they go to sleep… not me.
3. I own Superman pajamas. They’re an extra large in a kids size. I got them a couple years ago for nostalgic reasons. But now anytime I wear a suit, I have to have them underneath. You just never know.
4. I still have a guitar pick that I caught at a Nelson concert when I was about eight. I’ve recently learned that Nelson did not consist of two hot blonde chicks. That puts a weird damper on that part of my childhood.
5. Tucked away in the aforementioned childhood desk, is my old ducktail. In a plastic bag. Still braided. About eight inches in length. Again, a miracle that I survived.
Okay, who wins the duel? Jim Parsons or Simon Helberg? Vote now!
Comments (1-30) of 41 Add your comment
HiLARious. I want to hear more!
This is like Sophie’s Choice! Okay, not really, but it’s still hard to choose a winner. They’re both so funny and aDORKable. I’m going with Jim, mainly because of the “Ass.” line.
Fart CD for the win! Simon takes it.
I think that Simon wins hands down.
the explanations by Jim makes him more of a geek, not necessarily the items, although they are geeky i suppose
oh my gosh I want to marry Jim Parsons. SOOOOOOOO pretty.
Hmm… I believe that, according to the laws of physics {:)}, it would be a draw. However, I’d say that Wolowitz is creepier… ducktail? Ick. Plus, I’m giving Jim several galleons for being a Potterphile like myself.
Both pass the geek test with flying colors, but I’m going to throw my vote behind Jim Parsons. Horticulture + Star Wars figurines = super double mega geek.
I’d choose Simon because of the CD and the Superman Pajamas.
Jim loses a point for claiming star wars figures that aren’t a possession. He’d need to have these figures on display in his apartment for them to count. The figures in his mom’s basement don’t count unless he still lives with his mom.
My vote is for Jim: Simon’s NKOTB & Nelson items were weird, but not geeky. (I know girls who have those collected, but not guys.)
Jim Parsons ( I love him ) Simon is just weird not so much geeky just a bit odd I’d say. So glad The Big Bang Theory is back it is so funny! Jim’s character is my favorite on the show.
My vote goes for Jim Parsons based on his explanations. That’s true geek speak. Simon..hmmm…I would say he’s a little more freaky than geeky (and not in the Freaks and Geeks way – just plain freaky!)
Jim Parson-Geek
Simon Helberg-Freak
i don’t know. it’s a tough one. Star Wars figurines vs. Superman pajamas. At first I thought Simon was just weird, but then he topped it off with the pjs, so I’m going to have to go with him. Besides, on the show, his pick up lines are very geeky.
I think it’s awesome that they shared such personal tales of geekery! Now I love them both! HILARIOUS!!
Can’t wait to see the show tonight!!
As FabK said, Jim wins for his explanations, which are total geek-speak. Dictionaries rule!
i’d say its a tie!
Have to go with Jim, the Stars Wars reference won it for me. Plus, he loves Harry Potter and wants to go to Hogwarts. I’m a tad smitten (and obviously bias).
EP Sato – you need to visit my brother’s house – he has an entire room dedicated to all the Star Wars memorabilia of his childhood. Other than that, he’s not much of a geek.
As for these two, I’d say the Superman PJs put Simon over the top.
Haha, that was great. Have to go with Jim though. His explanations were amazing. Plus, I’m rather partial to the fourth Harry Potter book as well, so he more than won me over.
Simon without question
oh yea Anjeliki F u Biotchhh
Jim had the far better explanations, but I think he was trying a little bit too hard…whereas Simon is through and through a geek. But I still have a ridiculous crush on Jim!
This is a tough call. Do I pick the guy who is STILL awaiting his Hogwarts invite or the man who wears Superman underoos under his suits. Even though I do have a slight crush on Jim, I have to vote for Simon. He mentioned NKOTB, Teen Beat, Nelson and the pjs. It all takes the cake.
ummm simon’s items were more than a little bit creepy. (seriously, fart cd???) jim is definitely the biggest geek. his explanations were the geekiest thing of all though.
I want to say Simon because i think he’s awesome, (Superman pj’s under suits? Too core!) But i’m going with Jim because i too am waiting for my Hogwarts letter. Any day now i’m sure.
Jim wins for just saying “per se.” And the “Ass” line was the icing on the cake.
My vote goes to Jim – mostly because I”m not all that different…talk radio, weird horticulture from Target and chewed toys (mine were Strawberry Shortcakes). I agree that Simon is more on the creep side of geeky.
Simon loses for trying too hard…
Simon for his suprman pjs he wears under a suit…just in case