The Big Bang Theory Started the DC Superhero Crossover Early

At some point this season, all four of the CW's superhero shows will come together for a crossover event where Green Arrow, the Flash and the Legends of Tomorrow crew will team up to fight the interstellar bad guys the Dominators (it will be "touched on" in Supergirl, but Kara won't join in the fight). And Monday night, The Big Bang Theory got in on the crossover, too, leading up to The Flash's Season 3 premiere tonight.

On Monday's episode, "The Dependence Transcendence," a sleep-deprived Sheldon (Jim Parsons) hallucinated the Flash (guest star Brandon Jones), one of his favorite superheroes. The Flash revealed that the secret ingredient that makes him so fast is caffeine, and he pressured Sheldon into drinking an energy drink to get the energy and brainpower necessary to do math all night to help Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and Howard (Simon Helberg) meet their deadline for shrinking down their quantum gyroscope.

Sheldon was shocked to learn that superheroes take performance-enhancing drugs, and the Flash confirmed that they all do it -- the Hulk's so strong because of steroids, and Batman fights people at night because of scotch. Leonard gives in and drinks the energy drink, sending him into a downward spiral of addiction and withdrawal. The Flash is a pusher!

Okay, so, this isn't an official Arrowverse crossover. But what if? It's not implausible that the Big Bang boys could show up and do some science on The Flash. After all, CBS is one of the CW's parent companies (it's also TVGuide.com's parent company, full disclosure), and Warner Bros., the CW's other parent company, produces The Big Bang Theory. It would be a ratings bonanza. It would irritate some hardcore DC Comics fans, but they get mad at everything, so you can't acquiesce to them.

This wasn't the first time the Flash has shown up on The Big Bang Theory: all four guys dressed up as the speedster for Halloween one year, and Sheldon even turned into the Flash the first time he drank caffeine back in Season 2.

So what do you say? Should we get #TheFlashBangTheory trending?

The Big Bang Theory airs Thursdays at 8/7c on CBS. The Flash Season 3 premieres Tuesday, Oct. 4 at 8/7c on The CW.