Professor Proton

Professor Proton is a fictional TV show within the Big Bang universe. The original series, created by Arthur Jeffries, aired on Channel 68. After Arthur passed away in 2014,^[1] the show was rebooted in 2017, featuring Wil Wheaton as the new Professor Proton.

Professor Proton

Arthur Jeffries

Professor Proton was a beloved television character created by Arthur Jeffries, who also took on the role of portraying him on screen. The show, which aired on Channel 68, was designed to be both entertaining and educational, introducing young audiences to the wonders of science through simple experiments and engaging demonstrations. Within the Young Sheldon series, Professor Proton holds a special place as one of Sheldon Cooper’s earliest inspirations, symbolizing his fascination with scientific discovery and intellectual curiosity. The first appearance of the show within the Young Sheldon timeline occurs in the pilot episode where a young Sheldon eagerly watches and learns from Professor Proton’s lessons. Over time, the program becomes a recurring element in Sheldon’s life, influencing his academic ambitions and personal growth. The final reference to the show comes in the episode titled “Graduation,” marking the end of a significant chapter in Sheldon’s journey and serving as a heartfelt reminder of the character’s lasting impact on both Sheldon and generations of aspiring scientists.

Wil Wheaton

The revival of Professor Proton was developed by an unidentified television studio and featured actor Wil Wheaton stepping into the titular role. This modern take on the beloved children’s science show sought to balance entertainment and education, maintaining the spirit of the original series while infusing it with a more humorous and contemporary tone. Wil Wheaton’s portrayal of Professor Proton was seen as both fun and informative, appealing to a new generation of viewers while also serving as a nostalgic nod to longtime fans of the character originally created by Arthur Jeffries. The revival made its first and only on-screen appearance in The Big Bang Theory episode “The Novelization Correlation,” where the characters react to the reboot with mixed emotions—particularly Sheldon Cooper, who struggles to accept someone else taking over his childhood hero’s role. This episode captures both the humor and sentimentality surrounding the legacy of Professor Proton, highlighting the lasting impact of science education in popular culture.

Gino the Neutrino

Gino the Neutrino is a puppet used by Professor Proton, appearing only in The Big Bang Theory episode “The Proton Resurgence.” Despite his brief appearance, a rebooted version of Gino never appears on-screen again. Even though in Young Sheldon we can see Sheldon watching old episodes of Professor Proton. Behind the scenes (of Professor Proton), it’s revealed that the original puppeteer had an affair with Arthur Jeffries’ (Professor Proton’s) wife—an amusing bit of trivia that adds unexpected drama to the puppet’s history. Fans can even own a model of the puppet for $20, including the shipping.^[2]

Slogans

The show featured an intro theme with the same lyrics but a different tune between the original and the reboot.^[3] The lyrics say, "Grab your goggles, put your lab coat on. Here comes Professor Proton."^[2] Professor Proton also has a catchphrase: "There's no problem you can't solve if you use your noggin'."

Original Run

Intro

The intro theme had a less upbeat and pop type of song for the intro. It hasn't changed and goes "Grab your goggles, put your lab coat on. Here comes Professor Proton."^[2] Professor Proton stepped in front of the table where the main setting takes place.

Rivalries

During its original run, Professor Proton developed an unexpected rivalry with science communicator Bill Nye. Arthur Jeffries, the creator and star of the show, became convinced that his program’s cancellation was partly due to Nye drawing inspiration from Professor Proton and creating a more modern, energetic version aimed at younger audiences. This belief led to lingering tension and frustration for Jeffries, who felt his educational efforts had been overshadowed by Nye’s growing popularity. Despite this rivalry, both figures played influential roles in bringing science to television in an engaging and accessible way.

Reboot

Intro

Following the already well-known intro from the 20th century, this has the same lyrics but is more upbeat than the original. The title card is also in a more retro font than the original. Professor Proton walks down winding, white stairs in a much larger lab than the original, and walks towards a desk which is the cameras main view.^[4]

Rivalries

For a temporary amount of time, Sheldon was a rival to Wil Wheaton for being the face of Professor Proton, which also made him a rival to the show. The rivalry ended quickly once Sheldon watched the first episode and instantly got hooked

Known Episodes

Owls - "This, uh, this is something interesting, boys and girls. After an owl eats, he spits up part of his meal, uh, that he can't digest, in the form of a pellet. Is-Isn't that a hoot? (laughter trails off) We'll be right back, after I fire my writers. (owl hoots) Oh, shut up."^[1]

Appearances

The Big Bang Theory

Young Sheldon

Trivia

1. Gino the Neutrino only made appearances behind the scenes of the show.
2. Sheldon tried to become the face of the reboot.
3. When Sheldon discovered that Wheaton had been cast as the rebooted Professor Proton, he briefly turned against him.
4. The modern version is more upbeat in every way possible

References