SHELDON WORRIES HIS COMFORTABLE LIFESTYLE IS PREVENTING HIM FROM ACHIEVING SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS, SO HE ASKS HIS FRIENDS TO MAKE HIM MISERABLE, ON "THE BIG BANG THEORY," THURSDAY, JAN. 29

"The Anxiety Optimization" - In the hopes of achieving a scientific breakthrough, Sheldon invites his friends to challenge him. Meanwhile, Wolowitz invents an embarrassing game about Raj, on THE BIG BANG THEORY, Thursday, Jan. 29 (8:00-8:31, ET/PT), on the CBS Television Network.

REGULAR CAST:

Johnny Galecki (Leonard)
Jim Parsons (Sheldon)
Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting (Penny)
Simon Helberg (Wolowitz)
Kunal Nayyar (Koothrappali)
Mayim Bialik (Amy)
Melissa Rauch (Bernadette)

GUEST CAST:

Laura Spencer (Emily)
Ed Lieberman (Man)

WRITTEN BY: Eric Kaplan, Maria Ferrari and Adam Faberman

TELEPLAY BY: Jim Reynolds, Steve Holland and Tara Hernandez

DIRECTED BY: Mark Cendrowski