Bill Nye The Science Guy Talks The Big Bang Theory Guest Spot and Working With Bob Newhart's Professor Proton

Tonight on CBS' The Big Bang Theory, Bill Nye The Science Guy will guest star alongside Bob Newhart, who returns after last season's Emmy Award-winning guest spot as Professor Proton. And in a recent interview, Nye offered a preview of the science-tastic episode.

Nye told EW.com that he is a fan of the show ("I'm a geek. I'm the audience.") and he watched Newhart's episode last season. He also revealed how he got the guest-starring role on tonight's show:

"Well, I think two ways. First of all, I've been pleading and interacting with those people for a couple of years, suggesting that I might be useful to the show and might fit in somehow. The other thing is I think my Twitter following got high enough where they decided to put me on."

Nye also talked about working with Newhart and offered a few details about the episode.

"It was so fantastic. The guy is very professional. He shows up ready to work, he knows his lines, does the fake smile. There's a part where Sheldon says, 'Look how happy he is!' and Bob Newhart has that timing where Sheldon's looking at him and he's smiling and the moment Sheldon turns away he's ready to blow his brains out. It's very funny. At one point, Prof. Proton is angry at Bill Nye. And when Bob Newhart comes at you as an actor, and he's angry, Whoa! It took me a moment to remember that we are actors acting."

The plot of the episode sees Leonard working with Professor Proton on an experiment, which naturally makes Sheldon jealous. So Dr. Cooper enlists Bill Nye to get even with his roommate and childhood idol. The episode airs at 8 p.m. Eastern on CBS.