LOS ANGELES — We now know that octopuses are very intelligent.
The proof involves one of them, named Heidi: Her favorite TV show was “The Big Bang Theory
Admittedly, this is a small sample – one now-dead octopus. But we cite it because we happen to agree that “Big Bang” (now rerunning its final season) is the best.
Heidi spent a year in the living room of David Scheel, an Alaska Pacific University marine biology professor, and his daughter Laurel. The result will be shown this fall, in the “Nature” season-opener.
“It grew into a close relationship with her, because I was around a whole lot and I was doing all the work around the tank,” said Laurel, 17. “So … I would also interact with her and play with her.”
Laurel noticed that when the TV was on, Heidi would sometimes move to that end of the tank to watch. “I think one of the reasons she liked comedies more than other shows was that they have more color.”
Scientists debate whether an octopus can see color, but Laurel knows which show drew the most interest from Heidi: “’Big Bang Theory’ … has all the colors at the beginning and lots of colors splattered throughout all the episodes.”
Her dad jokingly suggests Heidi liked it because it’s about scientists: “The major characters here are physicists, and I think Heidi was more interested in the minor characters, some of whom are biologists.”
— “The Big Bang Theory” reruns, CBS on Mondays, including 9 p.m. Aug. 5, 8:30 and 9 p.m. Aug. 12
— Also on local stations and on cable’s TBS: 7-10:30 p.m. Tuesdays; 8-10:30 p.m. Wednesdays; 8-11 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1 (7-11 p.m. Aug. 8); 10-11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3 (9-11 p.m. Aug. 10); 6-9 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4 (7-10 p.m. Aug. 11)
— “Octopus: Making Contact,” season-opener of “Nature,” Oct. 2, PBS.