He redefined physics, but he was never too serious to poke fun at himself, and have a blast.
RIP, you magnificent genius.
#3: “The Big Bang Theoryâ€
Considering this long-running sitcom follows a group of friends consisting of 2 physicists, an astrophysicist and an aerospace engineer, it’s probably not surprising that Hawking’s been mentioned several times. But it was only in season 5 that he made the first of multiple appearances. “The Hawking Excitation†is all about the build-up to Sheldon meeting one of his heroes – and when the moment finally comes, Hawking brings him down a notch in a way the nerdy theoretical physicist won’t soon forget. Though the episode featuring Howard’s remote-controlled toy also had its highlights, as did Hawking’s other “Big Bang Theory†moments, his first cameo was arguably his most memorable.
#2: “Star Trek: The Next Generationâ€
#1: “The Simpsonsâ€
Stephen Hawking called “The Simpsons†“the best thing on American television,†and his appearances on the show not only earned him a cult following; they also bridged the gap between intellectualism and pop culture. Hawking’s flying, yellow-skinned counterpart first showed up in Springfield in season 10, when he tried to save the town from some rogue Mensa members and shared a beer with Homer. This ‘friend of the show’ reappeared a few more times over the years, and whether he was solving mysteries, cheating his way out of a corn maze or… rapping . . . he always proved he had a healthy sense of humor to match his more-than-healthy IQ.
Are there any other Stephen Hawking cameos you loved? Let us know! We’ll miss this great man.