The Big Bang Theory season 11 spoilers: Bob Newhart’s Professor Proton returning

For anyone out there hoping that Bob Newhart would return as Professor Proton on The Big Bang Theory season 11, great news! The upcoming Thursday, November 2 episode of the show — the first one for the CBS sitcom back in its Thursday night timeslot — is going to mark the character making his big return to the show that first introduced him back during season 6. He’s made a few appearances since then, even if the character died back during season 7, as a ghostly Obi-Wan Kenobi like figure who appears to Dr. Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) during a time of great need. That is going to be apparently what happens here, as well.

It doesn’t take a whole lot of effort to figure out why Sheldon could use a little more guidance at the moment, given that he recently got engaged to Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik) and is in the process of trying to pinpoint what he wants the remainder of his life to be. Does he want to have a family with her, and can he learn to actually let her have some time in the spotlight before him? Both are worthy questions and we hope that the CBS show offers up some answers.

Logistically, the timing feels right for a Bob Newhart reappearance given that Professor Proton was referenced numerous times during the prequel series Young Sheldon on Thursday night — as a matter of fact, we even had a chance to see a younger version of him teaching Sheldon (Iain Armitage) a thing or two as a kid. This was one of the only acceptable reasons, at least to a young Sheldon, to watch television — he didn’t want to do it strictly for the sake of frying one’s brain.

While Newhart may only have a handful of appearances on The Big Bang Theory over the years, it’s not all that hard to figure out that the man is a television icon and a legend. He’s done two classic sitcoms full-time, and yet he somehow didn’t win an Emmy until earlier on in his run as Professor Proton. How that happened is a complete mystery, but we are glad that he has it now. He’s an incredibly funny guy who really excels tackling dry material. This show is as lucky to have him as they’ve always been.

The next new episode of The Big Bang Theory is going to air Monday night at 8:00 p.m. on CBS. Want to premiere that installment more? Then head over here, since that should give you a good sense of some of what’s coming up. Here’s a hint — it has to do with Leonard and Penny as Leonard finds a new way to put his foot in his mouth.

Are you happy Professor Proton is returning to The Big Bang Theory?

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