The Big Bang Theory Episode That Left Simon Helberg Dumbfounded

Whether he's spying on women or just being generally inappropriate, Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg) is at the center of many moments that have aged poorly on "The Big Bang Theory." To put it mildly, he's a ridiculous character, and his escapades typically end in disaster. With that in mind, it's easy to imagine Helberg filming his scenes at the time and wondering what he had gotten himself into. Indeed, one episode in particular stands out to him when it comes to bringing Howard's more questionable moments to life.

Long before his multiple engagements to Penny (Kaley Cuoco), Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki) finds himself trying to spice up his long-distance relationship with Priya Koothrappali (Aarti Mann) through naughty webcam antics in season 2's "The Infestation Hypothesis." Unfortunately, his internet connection isn't strong enough to handle the heat, and his laptop keeps buffering during the moments of truth. As such, Leonard turns to Howard for a solution. And what does the latter come up with? An interface that simulates a human mouth, which will allow Leonard and his significant other to make out with each other from opposite sides of the world.

Leonard ultimately passes on trying the device, so Howard and Raj Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar) give it a go instead, essentially making out with each other through a metallic substitute for human lips. So, what is it about this moment that left Helberg feeling baffled?

Simon Helberg played Howard Wolowitz for all 12 seasons of "The Big Bang Theory," meaning that he got to be part of many outlandish moments. However, the aforementioned smooching scene caused the actor to lose all decorum on the set, briefly making him forget that he was supposed to act like a professional. As he told The Paley Center for Media in 2014:

"I transcended even trying to keep a straight face. I think in the run-through, I started crying [...] It was so violating, and I lost track of what my job was and why people wanted to watch that. There was a prop guy just like, you know, spraying [the device] with disinfectant. 'I don't want these lips to be too...' I'm like, 'Well, this is disgusting at its core. You can clean the lips all you want.'"

Helberg's willingness to bring the scene to fruition proves that he isn't as much of a germaphobe as Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), but it sounds like the scene pushed him to the edge behind the scenes. That said, many "Big Bang Theory" fans will be grateful to him for going that extra mile for their entertainment, and the scene in question sums up his character in a nutshell.

"The Big Bang Theory" is currently streaming in its entirety on HBO Max.