Why doesn't Howard Wolowitz get a PhD in The Big Bang Theory?

Last Modified Dec 1, 2022 10:10 GMT
Source: Facebook

As opposed to physicists, engineers do not require doctorates, so Howard has no real reason to pursue higher studies such as a PhD.

Howard, a graduate of MIT, joined the Department of Applied Physics at Caltech as an aerospace engineer after earning a Master's degree there. In contrast to other characters in the show, he is the only one without a PhD.

Nevertheless, Sheldon constantly makes fun of Howard because he doesn't have a PhD and is less qualified in comparison. As an engineer, Howard frequently notes that he gets to create the devices that his buddies can only imagine. In season 5, his engineering knowledge even enables him to travel to the International Space Station as a payload specialist.

Even so, Howard eventually becomes frustrated with being teased for not having a PhD, and in the season 8 episode "The Junior Professor Solution," he enrolls in a graduate course with Sheldon to begin working toward one but later drops out due to Sheldon's humiliative teaching manner. Notably, Howard is already intelligent enough to accurately respond to questions at the PhD level and probably just desires a PhD because he feels insecure around individuals who have doctorates, including his wife and friends.

Who is Simon Helberg?

American actor and comedian Simon Maxwell Helberg was born on December 9, 1980. He is well-known for portraying Howard Wolowitz in the CBS series The Big Bang Theory, for which he received the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, and for starring as Cosmé McMoon in the 2016 movie Florence Foster Jenkins, for which he received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture.

Helberg has performed in movies like Old School (2003), Good Night and Good Luck (2005), Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007), A Serious Man (2009), and Annette (2021). Helberg has also made appearances on the sketch comedy series MADtv.

He was ranked third on Forbes' list of the highest-paid TV actors in the world in 2018, when his earnings reached $23.5 million. His net worth until November 2022 is estimated to be about $50 million.

Source: Facebook

How did Howard become such a devoted father and husband?

Howard's journey on The Big Bang Theory is possibly the most intense of all the character arcs. In season 1, Howard is introduced to the audience as a womanizer who terrifies girls. However, at the conclusion of the series, he is married to Bernadette and a loving father to two kids.

Although it could appear that Howard has undergone a full transformation, a number of episodes serve to illuminate the reasons behind this development. In season 5, Howard states that he wants to have children and give them the upbringing he was unable to enjoy because his father abandoned him when he was a small child.

This ambition may have motivated his obsessive efforts to meet women, but in the absence of a positive male role model, he came out as too assertive and thus was unsuccessful in numerous of his early relationships.

Source: Facebook

In the episode "The Stag Convergence" from season 5, Howard admits that he is disgusted by his previous actions and has changed for the better as a result of his relationship with Bernadette. Despite his continued pranks, he behaves more responsibly, suggesting that Bernadette gives him the motivation he needs, to be the husband and father he wants to be.

Was Howard’s marriage to Bernadette inspired by Simon’s real life?

When discussing Howard's relationship with Bernadette, Simon Helberg is often gushing about his favorite memories from The Big Bang Theory. Given their connection on television, it was extremely clear that the two got along.

In the episode in which the couple got married and had kids, it turned out that this was rather close to what actually happened. Helberg wed Jocelyn Towne in 2007, and the pair has two kids: Adeline and Wilder. In The Big Bang Theory, Howard and Bernadette were the first to get married and have children as a tribute to the cast members' actual life experiences.

FAQs

Q. What is the net worth of Simon Helberg?

A. The net worth of Simon Helberg is estimated to be about $50 million as of November 2022.

Q. Did Howard's lack of a PhD make him less intelligent in comparison?

A. No, Howard was able to handle and give responses to doctorate level issues, but he didn’t need a PhD to prove his worth. He was equally privileged as any other character in the show, but engineering doesn’t require a doctorate.

Q. How many languages did Howard speak?

A. English, Russian, French, Arabic, Latin, Persian, and Mandarin. Additionally, Howard is proficient in Klingon, ASL, and has a limited vocabulary in Sindarin, the language of the elves.

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