The episode features guest appearances by actors Katee Sackhoff (Battlestar Galactica) and George Takei (Star Trek).
Later, Howard, to the theme music of Francis Lai's score from the 1966 film A Man and a Woman, is having a sexual fantasy with Katee Sackhoff wearing a flight suit from Battlestar Galactica.
Sackhoff and Takei begin discussing their acting careers and the fantasy ends when Howard's mother starts shouting at him.
Bernadette caught him having cybersex with a World of Warcraft player, later revealed to be a male Caltech janitor.
They decide to give the relationship another try, and after a miniature golf date, make out in Bernadette's car.
A scorched and singed Raj walks out of the office with the budgerigar, vowing revenge on Sheldon.
She complimented the cast and the "rare" Raj and Sheldon storyline filled with "mostly funny sight gags".
However, the writers were criticized, as was how the show "rarely takes chances" (perhaps because it is "such a big hit"), and how it is filled with "lazy" and "easy" jokes.
The recurring story arcs were said to "[reward] fans for paying attention" and the guest stars were complimented, George Takei for his "camp" acting and Katee Sackhoff for reappearing after a similar fantasy scene in "The Vengeance Formulation".
However, the Sheldon and Raj plot "did not have time to develop properly" and Howard using his father abandoning him to pressure Penny was described as a "cheap joke".