Talk:List of The Big Bang Theory episodes

Guidelines for summaries

I don't know if there is a specific guideline for summaries, other than the general WP:FILMPLOT. I give here some guidelines that I try to follow to write or refactor the summaries.

• Short summaries consisting of two paragraphs, each of maximum four lines of text.
• The first paragraph mentions the beginning of the episode, and establishes the plot. In many cases, there are two plots per episode, in which the characters divide in groups. Both plots are mentioned and described in parallel.
• The second paragraph provides a conclusion to the plots.
• I prefer to give a good introduction and a good conclusion, while removing events from the middle of the episode. This way, the entire episode is summarized, but details are left for the viewer to discover by watching the show.
• I do not try to avoid WP:SPOILERs, specially at the conclusion. However, I try to remove extremely detailed information and direct quotes from the characters.

An example of the two paragraphs in a single-plot episode, The Jerusalem Duality:

Sheldon is overcome with envy when he meets 15-year-old child prodigy Dennis Kim (Austin Lee). Deciding his work in physics is useless, Sheldon decides to aim for the Nobel Peace Prize instead.

The guys, getting tired of Sheldon's behavior, decide get Dennis distracted with girls of his own age. Their plan works out and Dennis leaves with a blonde 15 year old for the shopping mall, while Sheldon declares his intention to resume his research.

An example of the two paragraphs in a two-plot episode, The Peanut Reaction:

Penny learns Leonard has never had a birthday party and decides to throw him a surprise party. When the day of the party arrives, Penny finds Sheldon did not buy a birthday gift, so she has to drive him to a store to pick up a present. Meanwhile, Howard needs to keep Leonard out of his apartment until the party.

Howard pretends to eat a peanut bar so Leonard must drive him to the emergency room. However, due to Sheldon's absent-mindedness in the store, Howard has to keep Leonard distracted even longer, and he is forced to actually eat the peanut bar. After being at the hospital for several hours, Howard and Leonard arrive back at the apartment to find the party has ended.

Note the use of "meanwhile" to denote concurrent events or plots.

Some people say that the "Title reference" included in each episode is WP:TRIVIA and needs to be removed. However, I think the title reference can be used to give just a little bit more of detail, without polluting the main text of the summary. Examples:

• The Grasshopper Experiment. The name of the drink is not mentioned in the text, only in the title reference.
• The Pancake Batter Anomaly. The measuring cup is not mentioned in the text, only in the title reference.
• The Bat Jar Conjecture. The cookie jar is not mentioned in the text, only in the title reference.

Template issue

I added a ratings graph template toward the end of the article for the show's viewership, but it seems to have affected the templates used below it. Can anyone help? 2001:BB6:A288:A758:31C0:63FE:37A3:AFA3 (talk) 18:22, 22 February 2021 (UTC)