'The Big Bang Theory's' Sheldon Meets His Idol: Stephen Hawking (Photos)

CBS

"The Big Bang Theory's" Stephen Hawking and Jim Parsons

CBS' The Big Bang Theory follows one epic guest star with another this week when Stephen Hawking arrives at the university.

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With the theoretical physicist and cosmologist's brought in to work with Howard (Simon Helberg), Sheldon (Jim Parsons) is going to go to great lengths to meet his hero during "The Hawking Excitation."

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Hawking has been a frequent subject of conversation on the CBS hit about four lovable science geeks, with the Chuck Lorre/Bill Prady series first mentioning the renowned brainiac in the pilot, with Sheldon most recently tricked into going to the airport in the middle of the night to meet him during an episode in the show's fourth season.

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"When people would ask us who a 'dream guest star' for the show would be, we would always joke and say Stephen Hawking -- knowing that it was a long shot of astronomical proportions," Prady said in a statement earlier this month when the casting was announced. "In fact, we’re not exactly sure how we got him. It’s the kind of mystery that could only be understood by, say, a Stephen Hawking."

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Hawking's appearance comes a week after Big Bang Theory featured Star Trek legend Leonard Nimoy guest voicing a tiny Spock action figure. The series has also welcomed astronaut Mike Massimino in a cameo as himself earlier this season.

Check out an additional photo of Hawking's appearance below. How do you think Howard will torment Sheldon?

The Big Bang Theory airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on CBS.

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