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'The Intimacy Acceleration'

Sheldon and Penny put a love theory to the test.

Leave it to The Big Bang Theory to take a psychological love experiment that is sweeping all social media channels and turn it into an entire episode. Testing the love experiment hypothesis on Sheldon and Penny was a brilliant move. Well done, writers. You had me at Gary Con.

Amy shares that she read an article that claims two people can fall in love in a matter of hours if they answer a series of intimate questions, followed by four minutes of staring into each other’s eyes. Naturally, Sheldon disagrees, but his curiosity is peaked when Amy suggests he conduct his own research to refute the theory. When the group refuses Sheldon’s suggestion of capturing and interviewing “street people,” it is agreed that Sheldon and Penny act as test subjects. This is going to be good.

While Sheldon pontificates with Penny in her apartment, Amy, Leonard, Raj, and Emily try out a new interactive theater experience called The Escape Room. Basically, a group must complete a series of puzzles before a zombie eats their brains. Since the foursome all have advanced degrees, they solve the puzzles in a matter of minutes. It’s a shame that this sub-plot wasn’t fleshed out more, because it could have been extremely funny. Instead of investing in the story line, I kept wondering why Raj didn’t recognize the goth girl out front as the same goth girl in the tattoo parlor from season 3. (Did I mention I’m a fan of this show?)

Fortunately, the majority of the episode concentrates on Sheldon and Penny’s budding romance. Their first intimate question is easy: If you could eat dinner with anyone in the world, whom would it be? Sheldon chooses to dine with himself, while Robert Downey Jr. is Penny’s choice. Amen, sister.

Meanwhile, Bernadette and Howard are conducting an experiment of their own. How many airline agents does it take to find a lost suitcase holding the ashes of Mrs. Wolowitz? The answer is one frazzled woman. When Howard begins to feel guilty that he had been too busy to take his mother to the airport the week of her trip to Florida, Mean Bernadette comes out to play. She promises the agent that one way or another, they would be walking out of the airport with a dead woman. Miraculously, the suitcase is located. Mean Bernadette is both awesome and scary.

Things have become a little stickier at Penny’s place. Question: If you could wake up tomorrow and have gained any one quality or ability, what would it be? Sheldon is annoyed when Penny answers that she would turn water into wine. He thinks she’s using humor to avoid answering honestly. Do I detect a bit of vulnerability?

Penny tells Sheldon that she wishes she were smart. Sheldon admits that he would like the ability to read people’s minds. He explains that it’s hard for him to gauge if someone is joking or being sarcastic. He can’t tell the difference between anger or a bad mood. Penny changes her answer, wishing that she could take that burden away from Sheldon. Here comes the first lump in my throat.

Later that night, Penny asks: If you died this evening, with no opportunity to communicate with anyone, what would you most regret not having told someone? A stoic Sheldon considers the fact that he would be dying on his birthday. Penny is shocked that Sheldon admitted a secret that even Amy doesn’t know. Look at them bond!

Once the questions are answered, it’s time to stare into the depths of each other’s souls for four minutes. The silence is so awkward, that even the studio audience is filled with nervous laughter. Penny is the first to break the “no talking” rule by admitting that this exercise is extremely creepy. As the seconds tick by, Sheldon reveals that he thinks of Penny as a sister, and sometimes a mother. Penny reminisces about the day she met Leonard and Sheldon. I get another lump in my throat. What is wrong with me?

Once the staring portion of the experiment is over, Penny reports her findings first. She’s glad she participated, she does feel closer, but she’s not in love with Sheldon. Sheldon agrees, deeming psychology as the doofus of all sciences. Penny walks him across the hall. When he opens the door, Sheldon is greeted with a surprise birthday party. We all know this moment fills him with more dread than “George Lucas director’s cut.”

Penny may not be in love with Sheldon, but it’s clear that she does love him dearly. Happy Birthday, Shelly!

Theoretical Laughter

“You’re not supposed to drink alcohol when you operate heavy machinery.” — Sheldon , turning down a glass of wine as he points to his own head

“After myself and I have dinner, can we meet you two for dessert?”— Sheldon , asking to join Penny and Iron Man for dinner

“I’m warm and soothing, like a human bowl of tomato soup.”— Sheldon , providing an explanation why Penny feels affection for him

Related Articles

The Big Bang Theory Season 8 Episode 16 Recap: The Intimacy Acceleration

By: Author TV Fanatic Staff

• X (Twitter)

Amy tells the group about an experiment to make people fall in love with a few hours. For the sake of science, Sheldon and Penny decide to try the experiment themselves.

Meanwhile, Howard and Bernadette fly out to Howard's mother's funeral. Their baggage has been lost, which includes his mother's ashes.

Leonard and Amy tag along on a date with Raj and his girlfriend.

Penny and Sheldon start their experiment where they ask each other personal questions, including what their perfect day would be. Notably, each of them leave out their significant others in their descriptions.

The conversation between Penny and Sheldon becomes serious, and Penny realizes Sheldon is bothered that he has a hard time understanding people.

The rest of the gang participates in an interactive zombie game that turns out to be a bit too easy.

Howard has an emotional moment in the airport, sad that he didn't spend enough time with her. Luckily, the ashes are finally found.

Penny and Sheldon continue their experiment, which has them staring into each others eyes for four straight minutes. The experiment results in a new found intimacy, but not the kind of love the experiment was aiming for. Instead, they realize the closeness of their friendship. Penny also finally learns when Sheldon's birthday is, and it happens to be today.

She manages to leak that news in order to throw a surprise party for Sheldon in the end of the episode.

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'The Big Bang Theory' Recap: Penny and Sheldon Fall in Love With Each Other?!

Warning: This recap contains storyline and character spoilers for “The Intimacy Acceleration” episode of The Big Bang Theory .

For the most reliably funny characters on The Big Bang Theory , you can’t beat Sheldon and Howard. But when it comes to the most reliable comedy duo on the series, forget Sheldon and Leonard, or even Howard and the dearly departed Mrs. Wolowitz (RIP). Nope, the title belongs to Sheldon and Penny.

Remember the one where Penny procures for Sheldon the DNA of his hero, Leonard Nimoy (who had wiped his mouth on a napkin at the Cheesecake Factory where Penny worked)? And the one where Sheldon helps Penny launch her Penny Blossoms barrette business? Or when Sheldon had to help a naked Penny get dressed when she fell in her bathtub? And, a true gem, when Sheldon bans mooch Penny from the apartment, resulting in a game of one-upmanship that, ultimately, sees Penny one-up her alleged intellectual superior? All great episodes, and all because of the Sheldon/Penny adventures that are front and center.

Likewise in “The Intimacy Acceleration,” in which the gang discusses a new experiment designed to test whether or not two people can be made to fall in love with each other in just a few hours. Sheldon wants to conduct his own version of the experiment by “imprison[ing] two street people.” Wet blanket Amy cuts him off on that one. “Oh, so you can experiment on all the apes you want, but I want to manipulate the emotions of two captive human beings, and suddenly I’m the monster,” he pouts, before he and Penny decide to test the theory themselves.

The two get a stack of cards with questions that are supposed to help them get to know each other. Who would they have dinner with if they could have dinner with anyone? Sheldon chooses himself, but he’s impressed with Penny’s answer of Robert Downey Jr., aka Iron Man. “Maybe after myself and I have dinner, we could meet you two for dessert,” he suggests.

Photos: What a Day in the Life of Mayim Bialik Looks Like

What power or ability would they each choose to have? Penny jokes she’d love to be able to get all Biblical on water by having the ability to turn it into wine, and Sheldon tells her she’s using humor to avoid being vulnerable with honest answers. So she says she’d like to be as smart as him and the rest of their friends, and he admits he’d like her ability to read people, because he can’t and it makes him insecure and stressed.

"Wow, I just felt this wave of affection for you," Penny says.

"You sure it’s not just too much Bible juice?" he says, nodding to her glass of vino.

Penny: “And the wave is gone.”

But the two do continue to bond, with Sheldon revealing a huge secret: Today is his birthday, something he hasn’t even told Amy (he hates presents and people jumping out to yell “Surprise!”). They don’t fall in love, of course, as they admit they see each other as siblings (except when Sheldon thinks of Penny as his mom sometimes).

And Penny once again one-ups her friend and neighbor: She lets the rest of the group know about the Birthday Boy, who’s greeted with balloons and shouts of “Surprise!” when he walks into his apartment.

Related: 'The Big Bang Theory': How the 'Sad but Sweet and Celebratory' Carol Ann Susi Tribute Episode Was Made

Elsewhere, Howard and Bernadette arrive back in Los Angeles after attending his mother’s funeral, and they’re missing something very important: the suitcase containing Mrs. W’s ashes. It’s found, but only after Howie ‘fesses up to his wife that he’s been feeling incredibly guilty about telling his mom he was too busy to drive her to the airport for her Sunshine State trip. Bernadette responds by telling the female airline rep she needs to find the MIA luggage ASAP, because “one way or another, we’re walking out of this airport with a dead woman.”

And in the C-story that serves no other purpose but to give the rest of the crew something to do in the episode, Leonard, Amy, Raj, and Emily (his girlfriend who’s made such a small footprint in the storyline that we keep forgetting she exists) go to a zombie escape room night, and conclude they’re all too smart for the game when they pay $200 for six minutes of fun.

Big Bang Bits:

* Leonard: “You can’t create love in a few hours, right?” Penny: “Careful… you’re poking at the whole foundation of The Bachelor .”

* Penny: “I’m not going to fall in love with Sheldon.” Amy: “That’s what I said. Before I knew it, he pontificated his way right into my heart.”

* Zombie escape room adventures ? Real thing.

* Gary Con , the Wisconsin convention honoring the late Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax, the Con Sheldon wants Penny to promise to drive him to if he is able to make her fall in love with him? Real thing, too.

* Sheldon, responding to Penny agreeing to accompany him to Gary Con if they fall in love: “OK, babe, let’s do this.”

* Sheldon, refusing Penny’s offer of wine: “You’re not supposed to drink alcohol when operating heavy machinery.” Penny: “What heavy machinery?” Sheldon points to his head.

* Sheldon, insisting to Penny that he’s warm and soothing: “I’m like a human bowl of tomato soup.”

* Sheldon on the failure of the experiment to make him fall in love with Penny: “Psychology has once again proved itself the doofus of the sciences.”

* The Sheldon/Penny episodes referenced above: “The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis,” “The Work Song Nanocluster,” “The Adhesive Duck Deficiency,” and “ The Panty Piñata Polarization .”

The Big Bang Theory airs Thursdays at 8 p.m. on CBS.

Big Bang Theory Transcripts

• Series 03 Episode 10 – The Gorilla Experiment

Scene: The apartment

Penny: Hey, Leonard, check this out. (Throws some food in the air and catches it in her mouth)

Sheldon: Leonard, she’s doing it again.

Leonard: I think it upsets Sheldon when you play with the food.

Sheldon: No. It upsets Sheldon when she willy-nilly takes it from the containers without regard for its equitable distribution. This is essentially why you have famine in India.

Penny: You want me to put it back?

Sheldon: Leonard.

Leonard: It upsets Sheldon when you play with the Sheldon.

Howard (arriving) : What’s up, my nerdizzles? Raj, Sheldon, I want you to meet my girlfriend Bernadette.

Sheldon: Hello.

Howard: Leonard, Penny, you know my girlfriend Bernadette.

Leonard: Yeah. Hey.

Howard: Bernadette, say fo’shizzle to my nerdizzles.

Bernadette: I don’t think I can. I don’t have Howard’s street cred.

Howard: I hope it’s all right, I told my girlfriend Bernadette she could join us for dinner.

Leonard: Sure. The more, the merrier.

Sheldon: Wait, no, that’s a false equivalency. More does not equal merry. If there were 2,000 people in this apartment right now, would we be celebrating? No, we’d be suffocating.

Leonard: Sheldon…

Sheldon: Don’t Sheldon me. We ordered for five people, not six.

Penny: Oh, come on, it’s fine. We’ll just put it all on the table, you know, family style.

Sheldon: Oh, sure. And while we’re at it, why don’t we put our hands behind our backs, have an old-fashioned eating contest?

Leonard: Relax, it’ll be fine, sit down, you guys.

Everyone: NO!

Bernadette: What?

Penny: Oh, yeah, you can’t sit there.

Bernadette: Why not?

Leonard: That’s where Sheldon sits.

Bernadette: He can’t sit somewhere else?

Penny: Oh no, no, you see, in the winter, that seat is close enough to the radiator so that he’s warm, yet not so close that he sweats. In the summer, it’s directly in the path of a cross-breeze created by opening windows there and there. It faces the television at an angle that isn’t direct, so he can still talk to everybody, yet not so wide that the picture looks distorted.

Sheldon: Perhaps there’s hope for you after all.

Credits sequence.

Scene: A few moments later.

Bernadette: Ooh, I love your shoes.

Penny: Oh, thanks. They are cute, aren’t they?

Bernadette: Where’d you get them?

Penny: Shoes for Less.

Bernadette: I’ve been meaning to go over there.

Penny: Oh, great selection, great prices.

Sheldon: My mother was right. Hell is real.

Howard: Come on, Sheldon. let the womenfolk chat.

Penny: Womenfolk?

Howard: Gals? Chicks? Utero-Americans?

Penny: Just eat your dinner.

Bernadette: Don’t take him too seriously, a lot of what he says is intended as humour.

Penny: Yeah, well, I don’t think it’s very funny.

Bernadette: Me neither, but he just lights up when I laugh.

Penny: Howard, never let her go.

Bernadette: So, Leonard, Howard says you’re working on fundamental tests of quantum mechanics.

Leonard: I am. Are you interested in physics?

Bernadette: Oh, I find it fascinating. If I hadn’t gone into microbiology, I probably would have gone into physics. Or ice dancing.

Leonard: Actually, my tests of the Aharonov-Bohm quantum interference effect have reached an interesting point. Right now, we’re testing the phase shift due to an electric potential.

Bernadette: That’s amazing.

Sheldon: Yes. Leonard’s work is nearly as amazing as third graders growing lima beans in wet paper towels. (Raj whispers to him) While I appreciate the oh, snap, I’m uncomfortable having your moist breath in my ear.

Bernadette: Are you going to try to set up the voltages using tunnel junctions?

Leonard: Yes, I am. You want to see a simulation on my laptop?

Bernadette: Oh, yeah, show me. In microbiology, the most exciting thing I get to work with is yeast.

Sheldon: Howard?

Howard: Yeah?

Sheldon: Your shoes are delightful. Where did you get them?

Howard: What?

Sheldon: Bazinga. I don’t care.

Scene: The apartment. Sheldon and Raj are playing a racing game on the Wii.

Raj: Ha! Eat my dust, racially stereotypical plumber.

Sheldon: That’s not fair. I got stuck behind a tree.

Raj: And a cow and a penguin. Face it dude, whether it’s a real car or a virtual cartoon car, you can’t drive.

Sheldon: Just need a little more practice.

Raj: What you need is cheat codes, motor skills and a magic genie who grants wishes to little boys who suck at Mario Kart.

Penny (knocking and entering) : Hey, Sheldon, can I talk to you for a second?

Sheldon: It’s not about shoes, is it? I don’t think I could go through that again.

Penny: It’s not about shoes.

Sheldon: Then speak.

Penny: Um, actually, can we do it in private?

Sheldon: All right. (To Raj) Go away. I agree, it’s rude, but she asked for privacy.

Penny: Thanks, Raj. Okay, so here’s the thing, I was wondering if you could maybe teach me a little physics?

Sheldon: A little physics? There’s no such thing. Physics encompasses the entire universe, from quantum particles to supernovas, from spinning electrons to spinning galaxies.

Penny: Yeah, okay, cool. I don’t need the PBS special, I just want to know enough so I can talk to Leonard about his job. You know, like Bernadette does.

Sheldon: Why can’t Leonard teach you?

Penny: ‘Cause I want to surprise him.

Sheldon: Can’t you surprise him in some other way? For example, I’m sure he’d be delightfully taken aback if you cleaned your apartment.

Penny: Come on, Sheldon, this is important to me.

Sheldon: Penny, this would be a massive undertaking, and my time is both limited and valuable.

Penny: You’re sitting here playing video games all day.

Sheldon: Okay, point. What sort of foundation do you have? Did you take any science classes in school?

Penny: Sure. I did the one with the frogs.

Sheldon: The one with the frogs.

Penny: Yeah, actually, it was pretty cool. A lot of the girls threw up, but I gutted that thing like a deer.

Sheldon: I’m sorry, Penny, I don’t think so.

Penny: Oh, come on! A smart guy like you, it’ll be a challenge. You can make it like an experiment.

Sheldon: Interesting. I suppose if someone could teach sign language to KoKo the gorilla, I could teach you some rudimentary physics.

Penny: Great! It’s a little insulting, but great. I’ll be KoKo.

Sheldon: Not likely. KoKo learned to understand over 2,000 words, not one of which had anything to do with shoes.

Scene: The university cafeteria.

Howard: Hey, fellas. This is my girlfriend Bernadette. My girlfriend Bernadette.

Bernadette: Who are all those people?

Howard: Have no idea. Hey, Leonard.

Bernadette: Hi.

Leonard: Hey, look, it’s Howard and his girlfriend Bernadette.

Howard: Thought I’d give the little woman a tour of the old salt mines.

Bernadette: He doesn’t mean salt mines. He means where he works.

Leonard: Yeah, no, I got it.

Bernadette: So, how’s your experiment going?

Leonard: Ah, terrific. We’re getting the electron accelerator set up. We should be ready to go day after tomorrow.

Bernadette: Boy, I’d love to see that.

Leonard: You’re welcome to come.

Bernadette: Really? Oh, that’d be great. How exciting is that?

Howard: Like Hanukkah in July.

Bernadette: Do they have that?

Howard: No.

Bernadette: Oh. You got me again. This isn’t non-fat yogurt, this is fatty fat fat. Excuse me.

Howard: Could you grab me another napkin, sweetie?

Bernadette: Sure.

Howard: Thanks, honey. (She goes) All right, what is your deal?

Leonard: Excuse me?

Howard: Inviting my girlfriend to come see your electron accelerator?

Leonard: Yeah? So?

Howard: Wow! You really are a piece of work. It’s not enough you get the prom queen, you have to get the head of the decorating committee, too?

Leonard: What are you talking about?

Howard: Don’t play innocent with me. I practically invented using fancy lab equipment to seduce women.

Leonard: Has it ever worked?

Howard: Not so far, but that’s not the point!

Leonard: Howard, relax, I’m not interested in your girlfriend.

Howard: I hope not, because you don’t want to mess with me. I’m crazy.

Leonard: I believe you.

Scene: The apartment.

Sheldon: Research journal, entry one. I’m about to embark on one of the great challenges of my scientific career, teaching Penny physics. I’m calling it Project Gorilla.

Penny: Hey, Sheldon.

Sheldon: Come in. Take a seat. Subject has arrived. I’ve extended a friendly casual greeting.

Penny: Ready to get started?

Sheldon: One moment. Subject appears well-rested and enthusiastic. Apparently, ignorance is bliss. All right, let us begin. Where’s your notebook?

Penny: Um, I don’t have one.

Sheldon: How are you going to take notes without a notebook?

Penny: I have to take notes?

Sheldon: How else are you gonna study for the tests?

Penny: There’s gonna be a test?

Sheldon: Tests. Here. It’s college-ruled. I hope that’s not too intimidating.

Penny: Thank you.

Sheldon: You’re welcome. Now, Introduction to Physics. What is physics? Physics comes from the ancient Greek word physika. It’s at this point that you’ll want to start taking notes. Physika means the science of natural things. And it is there, in ancient Greece, that our story begins.

Penny: Ancient Greece?

Sheldon: Hush. If you have questions, raise your hand. It’s a warm summer evening, circa 600 BC, you’ve finished your shopping at the local market, or agora, and you look up at the night sky. There you notice some of the stars seem to move, so you name them planetes, or wanderer. Yes, Penny?

Penny: Um, does this have anything to do with Leonard’s work?

Sheldon: This is the beginning of a twenty six hundred year journey we’re going to take together from the ancient Greeks through Isaac Newton to Niels Bohr to Erwin Schrodinger to the Dutch researchers that Leonard is currently ripping off.

Penny: Twenty six hundred years?

Sheldon: Yeah, give or take. As I was saying, it’s a warm summer evening in ancient Greece… Yes, Penny?

Penny: I have to go to the bathroom.

Sheldon: Can’t you hold it?

Penny: Not for twenty six hundred years.

Sheldon: Project Gorilla, entry two. I am exhausted.

Scene: Howard’s bedroom.

Bernadette: Howard?

Howard: Huh?

Bernadette: It unhooks in the front.

Howard: Oh, that explains a lot.

Howard’s Mother: Howard, I’m home!

Howard: Of course.

Howard’s Mother: Senior fitness was cancelled. It turns out you can forget how to ride a bike. I’m fine, but, oy, did Sam Harpootian eat gravel.

Howard: That’s great, Ma!

Howard’s Mother: What’s great about an 80-year-old Armenian man with half his chin scraped off?

Bernadette: I guess I should go.

Howard: No, no, don’t move. Hey, Ma, can I have lamb stew for dinner?

Howard’s Mother: Lamb stew? I’d have to go to the supermarket.

Howard: Please? I got a real hankering.

Howard’s Mother: Oh, I can’t say no to my little tushy face. I’ll be back soon.

Howard: Thanks, Ma.

Howard’s Mother: Do you want the regular peas or the Le Seur?

Howard: Always Le Seur peas with lamb stew!

Howard’s Mother: You’re right! When you’re right, you’re right! What if they’re out of the Le Seur?

Howard: Then get the regular!

Howard’s Mother: All right! You don’t have to yell!

Howard: Sorry about that.

Bernadette (her phone chimes) : Let me just put that on vibrate.

Howard: I’m already on vibrate.

Bernadette: You know, that one I got. Howard, did you say something to Leonard about me?

Howard: Uh, what do you mean?

Bernadette: He says if I go see his experiment tomorrow it might weird you out.

Howard: Really? He said that?

Bernadette: You’re not jealous of Leonard, are you?

Howard: Me? No. I may have mentioned that it’s a little inappropriate to be asking another man’s girlfriend to his experiment without first discussing it with said man.

Bernadette: Are you saying I need to ask your permission to hang out with Leonard?

Howard: I didn’t say anything like that. I said Leonard has to ask my permission. (Bernadette storms out) Come on, I don’t want to eat lamb stew with my mother. Damn, I was this close on the bra.

Sheldon: Now, remember, Newton realized that Aristotle was wrong and force was not necessary to maintain motion. So let’s plug in our 9.8 meters per second squared as A and we get force, Earth gravity, equals mass times 9.8 meters per second per second. So we can see that MA equals MG and what do we know from this?

Penny: Uh, we know that… Newton was a really smart cookie. Oh! Is that where Fig Newtons come from?

Sheldon: No, Fig Newtons are named after a small town in Massachusetts. Don’t write that down!

Penny: Sorry.

Sheldon: Now, if MA equals MG what does that imply?

Penny: I don’t know.

Sheldon: How can you not know? I just told you. Have you suffered a recent blow to the head?

Penny: Hey! You don’t have to be so mean!

Sheldon: I’m sorry. (Smiling) Have you suffered a recent blow to the head?

Penny: No, you just suck at teaching.

Sheldon: Really? Of those two explanations, which one seems the most likely?

Penny: Oh, God, Sheldon, look I’m trying to understand, but you’re going too fast. Can you just back up a little bit?

Sheldon: All right. It’s a warm summer evening in ancient Greece…

Penny: Not that far back!

Sheldon: Okay! At what point did you begin to feel lost?

Penny: I don’t know. Where were we looking up at the night sky?

Sheldon: Greece.

Penny: Damn it!

Sheldon: There’s no need to get frustrated, people learn at different rates. Unlike objects falling in a vacuum, which…? MA equals MG?

Penny: Squared?

Sheldon: No.

Penny: Aristotle?

Penny: Five?

Sheldon: Oh!

Penny: Then I don’t know.

Sheldon: Why are you crying?

Penny: Because I’m stupid!

Sheldon: That’s no reason to cry. One cries because one is sad. For example, I cry because others are stupid and it makes me sad.

Penny: Okay, look, can we just please forget about all this extra stuff and can you just tell me what Leonard does?

Sheldon: All right. Leonard is attempting to learn why sub-atomic particles move the way they do.

Penny: Really? That’s it? Well, that doesn’t sound so complicated.

Sheldon: It’s not. That’s why Leonard does it.

Penny: Okay, I just have one question. What exactly are sub-atomic particles?

Sheldon: A good question.

Sheldon: And to answer it, we first must ask ourselves, what is physics?

Penny: Oh, balls.

Sheldon: It’s a warm summer evening in ancient Greece…

Scene: Leonard’s lab.

Howard: Okay, I got a bone to pick with you.

Leonard: What did I do now?

Howard: I was in bed with Bernadette, and you text-blocked me.

Leonard: What?

Howard: We were completely naked, about to devour each other when, you text her that I have a problem with her hanging out with you.

Leonard: You do have a problem with her hanging out with me.

Howard: Yeah, but that’s not what you tell her.

Leonard: What was I supposed to tell her?

Howard: I don’t know, something that doesn’t make me come off as a petty, jealous douche.

Leonard: And what would that be?

Howard: Come on, do I have to think of everything?

Bernadette: Hey, Leonard. Am I too late to see the experiment? Oh, hi.

Howard: Hi.

Bernadette: What are you doing here?

Howard: Same thing you’re doing here. I came to see Leonard’s experiment.

Bernadette: No, you didn’t. You said Leonard’s experiment was stupid.

Leonard: You told her my experiment was stupid?

Howard: I was just repeating what Sheldon said. Let’s not get off topic, Bernadette, I need to apologize. I was wrong to tell you who you should be friends with.

Leonard: Should I, um, leave you two alone?

Bernadette: No, Leonard, you should hear this.

Leonard: Okay, good, ’cause I wasn’t really gonna go.

Howard: Look, I know I come off as confident and worldly, but the truth is I’m not.

Leonard: We’re shocked.

Howard: Which is why I tend to feel threatened by other guys.

Leonard: Or loud noises, clowns and nuns.

Howard: But I now realize how foolish that is.

Leonard: He had a panic attack once when he got his head stuck in a sweater.

Howard: It was a full turtleneck. Why aren’t you helping me?

Leonard: I don’t know. Maybe because I’m crazy?

Howard: Bernadette, please, I’m asking you to give me another chance.

Bernadette: What do you think, Leonard? Should I give him another chance?

Leonard: It’s up to you. He didn’t call your experiment stupid.

Bernadette: Come here, tushy face.

Leonard: Tushy face, that is going on Twitter right now.

Bernadette: Raj, you should’ve seen Leonard’s experiment. The interference pattern was so cool when the electron beam was on.

Leonard: I’m glad you enjoyed it. Most people aren’t that interested in what I do.

Penny: Actually, that’s not true, Leonard. In fact, recently I’ve been thinking that given the parameters of your experiment, the transport of electrons through the aperture the nano-fabricated metal rings is qualitatively no different than the experiment already conducted in the Netherlands. Their observed phase shift in the diffusing electrons inside the metal ring already conclusively demonstrated the electric analogue of the Aharonov-Bohm quantum-interference effect. That’s it. That’s all I know. Oh, wait! Fig Newtons were named after a town in Massachusetts, not the scientist.

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• Series 01 Episode 01 – Pilot Episode
• Series 01 Episode 02 – The Big Bran Hypothesis
• Series 01 Episode 03 – The Fuzzy Boots Corollary
• Series 01 Episode 04 – The Luminous Fish Effect
• Series 01 Episode 05 – The Hamburger Postulate
• Series 01 Episode 06 – The Middle Earth Paradigm
• Series 01 Episode 07 – The Dumpling Paradox
• Series 01 Episode 08 – The Grasshopper Experiment
• Series 01 Episode 09 – The Cooper-Hofstadter Polarization
• Series 01 Episode 10 – The Loobenfeld Decay
• Series 01 Episode 11 – The Pancake Batter Anomaly
• Series 01 Episode 12 – The Jerusalem Duality
• Series 01 Episode 13 – The Bat Jar Conjecture
• Series 01 Episode 14 – The Nerdvana Annihilation
• Series 01 Episode 15 – The Porkchop Indeterminacy
• Series 01 Episode 16 – The Peanut Reaction
• Series 01 Episode 17 – The Tangerine Factor
• Series 02 Episode 01 – The Bad Fish Paradigm
• Series 02 Episode 02 – The Codpiece Topology
• Series 02 Episode 03 – The Barbarian Sublimation
• Series 02 Episode 04 – The Griffin Equivalency
• Series 02 Episode 05 – The Euclid Alternative
• Series 02 Episode 06 – The Cooper-Nowitzki Theorem
• Series 02 Episode 07 – The Panty Pinata Polarization
• Series 02 Episode 08 – The Lizard-Spock Expansion
• Series 02 Episode 09 – The White Asparagus Triangulation
• Series 02 Episode 10 – The Vartabedian Conundrum
• Series 02 Episode 11 – The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis
• Series 02 Episode 12 – The Killer Robot Instability
• Series 02 Episode 13 – The Friendship Algorithm
• Series 02 Episode 14 – The Financial Permeability
• Series 02 Episode 15 – The Maternal Capacitance
• Series 02 Episode 16 – The Cushion Saturation
• Series 02 Episode 17 – The Terminator Decoupling
• Series 02 Episode 18 – The Work Song Nanocluster
• Series 02 Episode 19 – The Dead Hooker Juxtaposition
• Series 02 Episode 20 – The Hofstadter Isotope
• Series 02 Episode 21 – The Vegas Renormalization
• Series 02 Episode 22 – The Classified Materials Turbulence
• Series 02 Episode 23 – The Monopolar Expedition
• Series 03 Episode 01 – The Electric Can Opener Fluctuation
• Series 03 Episode 02 – The Jiminy Conjecture
• Series 03 Episode 03 – The Gothowitz Deviation
• Series 03 Episode 04 – The Pirate Solution
• Series 03 Episode 05 – The Creepy Candy Coating Corollary
• Series 03 Episode 06 – The Cornhusker Vortex
• Series 03 Episode 07 – The Guitarist Amplification
• Series 03 Episode 08 – The Adhesive Duck Deficiency
• Series 03 Episode 09 – The Vengeance Formulation
• Series 03 Episode 11 – The Maternal Congruence
• Series 03 Episode 12 – The Psychic Vortex
• Series 03 Episode 13 – The Bozeman Reaction
• Series 03 Episode 14 – The Einstein Approximation
• Series 03 Episode 15 – The Large Hadron Collision
• Series 03 Episode 16 – The Excelsior Acquisition
• Series 03 Episode 17 – The Precious Fragmentation
• Series 03 Episode 18 – The Pants Alternative
• Series 03 Episode 19 – The Wheaton Recurrence
• Series 03 Episode 20 – The Spaghetti Catalyst
• Series 03 Episode 21 – The Plimpton Stimulation
• Series 03 Episode 22 – The Staircase Implementation
• Series 03 Episode 23 – The Lunar Excitation
• Series 04 Episode 01 – The Robotic Manipulation
• Series 04 Episode 02 – The Cruciferous Vegetable Amplification
• Series 04 Episode 03 – The Zazzy Substitution
• Series 04 Episode 04 – The Hot Troll Deviation
• Series 04 Episode 05 – The Desperation Emanation
• Series 04 Episode 06 – The Irish Pub Formulation
• Series 04 Episode 07 – The Apology Insufficiency
• Series 04 Episode 08 – The 21 Second Excitation
• Series 04 Episode 09 – The Boyfriend Complexity
• Series 04 Episode 10 – The Alien Parasite Hypothesis
• Series 04 Episode 11 – The Justice League Recombination
• Series 04 Episode 12 – The Bus Pants Utilization
• Series 04 Episode 13 – The Love Car Displacement
• Series 04 Episode 14 – The Thespian Catalyst
• Series 04 Episode 15 – The Benefactor Factor
• Series 04 Episode 16 – The Cohabitation Formulation
• Series 04 Episode 17 – The Toast Derivation
• Series 04 Episode 18 – The Prestidigitation Approximation
• Series 04 Episode 19 – The Zarnecki Incursion
• Series 04 Episode 20 – The Herb Garden Germination
• Series 04 Episode 21 – The Agreement Dissection
• Series 04 Episode 22 – The Wildebeest Implementation
• Series 04 Episode 23 – The Engagement Reaction
• Series 04 Episode 24 – The Roommate Transmogrification
• Series 05 Episode 01 – The Skank Reflex Analysis
• Series 05 Episode 02 – The Infestation Hypothesis
• Series 05 Episode 03 – The Pulled Groin Extrapolation
• Series 05 Episode 04 – The Wiggly Finger Catalyst
• Series 05 Episode 05 – The Russian Rocket Reaction
• Series 05 Episode 06 – The Rhinitis Revelation
• Series 05 Episode 07 – The Good Guy Fluctuation
• Series 05 Episode 08 – The Isolation Permutation
• Series 05 Episode 09 – The Ornithophobia Diffusion
• Series 05 Episode 10 – The Flaming Spittoon Acquisition
• Series 05 Episode 11 – The Speckerman Recurrence
• Series 05 Episode 12 – The Shiny Trinket Maneouvre
• Series 05 Episode 13 – The Recombination Hypothesis
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• Series 05 Episode 15 – The Friendship Contraction
• Series 05 Episode 16 – The Vacation Solution
• Series 05 Episode 17 – The Rothman Disintegration
• Series 05 Episode 18 – The Werewolf Transformation
• Series 05 Episode 19 – The Weekend Vortex
• Series 05 Episode 20 – The Transporter Malfunction
• Series 05 Episode 21 – The Hawking Excitation
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• Series 05 Episode 23 – The Launch Acceleration
• Series 05 Episode 24 – The Countdown Reflection
• Series 06 Episode 01 – The Date Night Variable
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• Series 06 Episode 13 – The Bakersfield Expedition
• Series 06 Episode 14 – The Cooper/Kripke Inversion
• Series 06 Episode 15 – The Spoiler Alert Segmentation
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• Series 06 Episode 19 – The Closet Reconfiguration
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• Series 06 Episode 22 – The Proton Resurgence
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• Series 07 Episode 01 – The Hofstadter Insufficiency
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• Series 07 Episode 15 – The Locomotive Manipulation
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• Series 07 Episode 19 – The Indecision Amalgamation
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• Series 07 Episode 23 – The Gorilla Dissolution
• Series 07 Episode 24 – The Status Quo Combustion
• Series 08 Episode 01 – The Locomotion Interruption
• Series 08 Episode 02 – The Junior Professor Solution
• Series 08 Episode 03 – The First Pitch Insufficiency
• Series 08 Episode 04 – The Hook-Up Reverbration
• Series 08 Episode 05 – The Focus Attenuation
• Series 08 Episode 06 – The Expedition Approximation
• Series 08 Episode 07 – The Misinterpretation Agitation
• Series 08 Episode 08 – The Prom Equivalency
• Series 08 Episode 09 – The Septum Deviation
• Series 08 Episode 10 – The Champagne Reflection
• Series 08 Episode 11 – The Clean Room Infiltration
• Series 08 Episode 12 – The Space Probe Disintegration
• Series 08 Episode 13 – The Anxiety Optimisation
• Series 08 Episode 14 – The Troll Manifestation
• Series 08 Episode 15 – The Comic Book Store Regeneration
• Series 08 Episode 16 – The Intimacy Acceleration
• Series 08 Episode 17 – The Colonization Application
• Series 08 Episode 18 – The Leftover Thermalization
• Series 08 Episode 19 – The Skywalker Incursion
• Series 08 Episode 20 – The Fortification Implementation
• Series 08 Episode 21 – The Communication Deterioration
• Series 08 Episode 22 – The Graduation Transmission
• Series 08 Episode 23 – The Maternal Combustion
• Series 08 Episode 24 – The Commitment Determination
• Series 09 Episode 01 – The Matrimonial Momentum
• Series 09 Episode 02 – The Separation Oscillation
• Series 09 Episode 03 – The Batchelor Party Corrosion
• Series 09 Episode 04 – The 2003 Approximation
• Series 09 Episode 05 – The Perspiration Implementation
• Series 09 Episode 06 – The Helium Insufficiency
• Series 09 Episode 07 – The Spock Resonance
• Series 09 Episode 08 – The Mystery Date Observation
• Series 09 Episode 09 – The Platonic Permutation
• Series 09 Episode 10 – The Earworm Reverberation
• Series 09 Episode 11 – The Opening Night Excitation
• Series 09 Episode 12 – The Sales Call Sublimation
• Series 09 Episode 13 – The Empathy Optimisation
• Series 09 Episode 14 – The Meemaw Materialisation
• Series 09 Episode 15 – The Valentino Submergence
• Series 09 Episode 16 – The Positive Negative Reaction
• Series 09 Episode 17 – The Celebration Experimentation
• Series 09 Episode 18 – The Application Deterioration
• Series 09 Episode 19 – The Solder Excursion Diversion
• Series 09 Episode 20 – The Big Bear Precipitation
• Series 09 Episode 21 – The Viewing Party Combustion
• Series 09 Episode 22 – The Fermentation Bifurcation
• Series 09 Episode 23 – The Line Substitution Solution
• Series 09 Episode 24 – The Convergence Convergence
• Series 10 Episode 01 – The Conjugal Conjecture
• Series 10 Episode 02 – The Military Miniturization
• Series 10 Episode 03 -The Dependence Transcendence
• Series 10 Episode 04 – The Cohabitation Experimentation
• Series 10 Episode 05 – The Hot Tub Contamination
• Series 10 Episode 06 – The Foetal Kick Catalyst
• Series 10 Episode 07 – The Veracity Elasticity
• Series 10 Episode 08 – The Brain Bowl Incubation
• Series 10 Episode 09 – The Geology Elevation
• Series 10 Episode 10 – The Property Division Collision
• Series 10 Episode 11 – The Birthday Synchronicity
• Series 10 Episode 12 – The Holiday Summation
• Series 10 Episode 13 – The Romance Recalibration
• Series 10 Episode 14 – The Emotion Detection Automation
• Series 10 Episode 15 – The Locomotion Reverberation
• Series 10 Episode 16 – The Allowance Evaporation
• Series 10 Episode 17 – The Comic-Con Conundrum
• Series 10 Episode 18 – The Escape Hatch Identification
• Series 10 Episode 19 – The Collaboration Fluctuation
• Series 10 Episode 20 – The Recollection Dissipation
• Series 10 Episode 21 – The Separation Agitation
• Series 10 Episode 22 – The Cognition Regeneration
• Series 10 Episode 23 – The Gyroscopic Collapse
• Series 10 Episode 24 – The Long Distance Dissonance

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The Big Bang Theory | You're in my spot

S08E16-The Intimacy Acceleration

An experiment designed to make participants fall in love piques Penny and Leonard's interest, so they decide to put it to the test. Meanwhile, Leonard, Amy, Raj and Emily have an encounter with a "zombie" and Howard and Bernadette run into trouble at the airport.

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The Big Bang Theory Tests “The Intimacy Acceleration” Procedure

March 23, 2015 By Dr. Cheryl Harasymchuk

In a recent episode of Big Bang Theory called “The Intimacy Acceleration”, the gang came across a technique that “makes people fall in love”. Sheldon, the perpetual skeptic, agreed to test the technique out with his best friend’s fiancé, Penny. Though this doesn’t sound like something a friend would typically do, given Sheldon’s “unique” people skills, no one– including Penny and Sheldon’s respective romantic partners– were concerned about this arrangement. So, what was the technique? It involved Sheldon and Penny asking each other a set of increasingly in-depth and personal questions capped off with four minutes of staring directly into each other’s eyes.

Spoiler alert…Penny and Sheldon don’t fall in love (good thing for their partners Amy and Leonard); however, they did feel closer to each other. Does relationship science help explain why they felt closer to each other? Sort of…There are two things at play here that have not been empirically assessed together in the context of falling in love: 1) the question and answer period, and 2) the staring into each other’s eyes. The question and answer activity is sometimes referred to as the Fast Friends task or the Interpersonal Closeness Procedure and was developed by a prominent relationship scientist, Arthur Aron, and his colleagues in the late 1990s to create closeness in the lab between strangers. 1

The activity was initially designed to assess whether two strangers with differing viewpoints and personalities could feel temporarily closer to one another, in a relatively short amount of time. To try to get a sense of the task, imagine being in a room with a stranger for 45 minutes with a stack of increasingly personal question-cards. The researchers instruct you to take turns reading the questions to your partner and listening to their answers. The first question is “ Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest? ”– seems easy enough. Fast forward 40 minutes, however, and now you are asking the stranger “ When did you last cry in front of another person? ”.

The researchers found that, on average, people in the “fast friends” condition  tended to feel closer to the person with whom they were interacting after just 45 minutes (vs. a control group of pairs that engaged in small talk for the same 45 minutes). The task was designed as a tool to assess questions related to relationship development in the lab and, indeed, this procedure has been popularly used in many contexts (e.g., interracial interactions, “couple dates” in established relationships). 2,3 However, it was not designed and nor has it been assessed as a means to fall in love within an hour. What about the eye staring part?

In a 1989 study, researchers reported that people who stared into the eyes of an opposite-sex stranger reported increased feelings of passionate love for one another. 4 The thinking behind this idea is that if a person engages in behaviors associated with being in love, that this will influence their attitudes (in this case, perceptions of passionate love; e.g., “people stare into each others’ eyes only when they’re in love, so I must be falling for you!”). But there are a couple reasons why it might not be fruitful to find a clever way to make your unaware crush at work stare into your eyes: 1) there is limited evidence that it works; many relationship scientists would not feel confident labelling it as a sure fire way to fall in love, and 2) the research that has been done shows that it temporarily changes your evaluations but it does not necessarily promote long-lasting love.

Verdict: A one-hour technique for falling in love still remains elusive. Penny and Sheldon’s skepticism for “love in an hour” was well-founded. As for their friendship intimacy– well, that was accelerated.

Interested in learning more about relationships? Click here for  other topics  on  Science of Relationships.  Like us on  Facebook  or follow us on  Twitter  to get our articles delivered directly to your NewsFeed.  Learn more about our book  and  download it here.

1 Aron, A., Melinat, E., Aron, E. N., Vallone, R., & Bator, R. (1997). The experimental generation of interpersonal closeness: A procedure and some preliminary findings. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin,23, 363–377.

2 Page-Gould, E., Mendoza-Denton, R., & Tropp, L. R. (2008). With a little help from my cross-group friend:   Reducing anxiety in intergroup contexts through cross-group friendship. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 95 (5), 1080-1094.

3 Welker, K. M., Baker, L., Padilla, A., Holmes, H., Aron, A., & Slatcher, R. B. (2014). Effects of self‐disclosure and responsiveness between couples on passionate love within couples. Personal Relationships, 21(4), 692-708.

4 Kellerman, J., Lewis, J., & Laird, J. D. (1989). Looking and loving: The effects of mutual gaze on feelings of romantic love. Journal of Research in Personality, 23(2), 145-161.

Dr. Cheryl Harasymchuk  –  Science of Relationships  articles  |  Website

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'The Big Bang Theory’ recap: Penny’s in love...with Sheldon?

Image features "The Big Bang Theory" stars Jim Parsons and Kaley Cuoco (�©2014 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved)

‘The Big Bang Theory’ returned with plenty of laughs following last week’s heart-wrenching episode.

Penny, Sheldon and their unique relationship came into focus when the duo tried out an experiment designed to make people fall in love. They spend the evening in Penny’s apartment asking one another a series of questions designed to deepen their relationship before staring into one another’s eyes for four full minutes.

It starts out amusing enough at first, but pretty soon they both let their guards down. Penny acknowledges that she uses humor as a defense mechanism and Sheldon admits that he envies her and how at ease she is around people. It’s not the only big revelation; she even gets him to admit that it is his birthday! Once she expresses surprise that he’s a Pisces, he shuts her right down.

In the end, the two find themselves staring into one another’s eyes. Although they aren’t supposed to talk, they both acknowledge how creepy it is and begin to reminisce about the day they met eight years earlier.

Penny admits she does love him, which doesn’t surprise Sheldon, who refers to himself as warm and fuzzy. However, she’s quick to clear up that it’s the kind of love she’d feel for a younger brother and the two walk away with a deeper understanding of each other.

That’s far from the only surprise of the night.

Amy and Leonard spend the night with Raj and his girlfriend Emily, who has remained largely absent this season. Emily suggests they go to a dinner theater where they will be locked in a room with a zombie and given two hours to escape. Of course, the room of brainiacs solves the puzzle in just under six minutes, giving them plenty of time to plan a big surprise birthday party for Sheldon after his experiment wraps up.

Gone but not forgotten, Howard and Bernadette are still reeling from the loss of Mrs. Wolowitz. They spend the episode in the airport attempting to track down the luggage that holds the ashes of Mrs. Wolowitz. They struggle with an airline employee who does her best to track down the bags. Howard insists it’s important as those are the ashes of the only woman who ever loved him! After being met with an eye roll, he swears to his wife he meant first woman, not only.

Things take a serious turn after Howard confesses he told his mother he had been too busy to drive her to the airport before her trip. She’d asked him one favor before she died and he denied her. This prompts sweet and meek Bernadette to pop right out of her shell and tell the airline employee that she better find the ashes because one way or another, she and Howard won’t be leaving the airport without a dead woman.

As it turns out, that threat was just what the airline needed. Howard is reunited with his mother's ashes and he promises to never leave her again, prompting Bernadette to acknowledge that those ashes will definitely be making their way into her bedroom.

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The Big Bang Theory Penny Spinoff is Only Possible With Kaley Cuoco if One Core Character’s Death is Canon

A Big Bang Theory spinoff with Kaley Cuoco as Penny might happen if Leonard’s death is canon. Cuoco and Galecki’s secret romance adds intrigue.

• A Big Bang Theory spinoff featuring Penny depends on Leonard’s death to clear the way for a fresh storyline.
• Johnny Galecki's unofficial retirement makes his character's death crucial for the spinoff, avoiding messy backstory complications.
• Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki’s secret romance added intrigue behind the scenes, keeping their off-screen relationship hush-hush.

Ever dreamed of a The Big Bang Theory Penny spinoff? Hold onto your comic books because it could be closer than you think! But here’s the twist: Kaley Cuoco, aka Penny, is the key to making it happen. Yup, you read that right. If the show’s going to branch out, it’s got to hinge on one major plot point: the death of a core character. 

Intrigued? It’s a wild ride combining sitcom nostalgia with some serious dramatic stakes. With Cuoco’s return, the spin-off could not only pay homage to the beloved original but also take storytelling to a new level. Buckle up, because this is going to be a nerd-tastic adventure!

Leonard’s Absence: The Key to Penny’s Big Bang Theory Spinoff 

The potential spinoff with Kaley Cuoco ’s Penny might hinge on one major detail: Leonard’s death (via Screenrant ). Johnny Galecki , aka Leonard’s hit pause on his acting career and is in unofficial retirement, soaking up family time. This means he’s been MIA from The Conners, and any return to the Big Bang universe is pretty much off the table.

So, why are we talking about Leonard’s death? With Young Sheldon opening a can of plot worms, the spinoff needs a clean slate. If Leonard’s out of the picture, Penny can make her comeback without the messy backstory. Leonard’s health quirks and allergy gags on the show hinted at a possible tragic exit, making this storyline feel right.

Sure, Leonard’s death sounds heavy, but it’s actually the slickest way to bring Penny back. It sidesteps awkward breakups or solo parenting and keeps the emotional punch intact. If Leonard’s departure’s framed as a heart-wrenching loss rather than a breakup, it’ll give fans a touching nod to the beloved couple.

“It had a tone that felt very comfortable to me”: Kaley Cuoco’s Reasoning Behind Joining ‘Based on a True Story’ is Extremely Disturbing That Many Fans Can Relate With

As The Big Bang Theory ’s original trio starts to fade into the background, a spin off centered around Penny might be the key to capturing the essence of the show’s golden years. Keep your eyes peeled, because this spinoff could either resurrect old magic or forge a new path for the Big Bang legacy.

Behind the Scenes: Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki’s Secret Romance

Leonard and Penny’s rollercoaster romance on The Big Bang Theory was filled with drama, but behind the scenes, the sparks were flying for real. Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki were secretly dating while filming the hit sitcom. Their real-life romance was so hush-hush that even their castmates were kept in the dark.

The couple made their debut at San Diego Comic-Con right after they started dating, but they were determined to keep their relationship low-key. To maintain the secrecy, they stayed in separate hotel rooms—within the same complex, of course. Cuoco playfully described their covert operations, saying, “We were like little mice in the night,” sneaking between rooms to spend time together.

“How’d you do it?”: The Best Ever, Most Slept Upon The Big Bang Theory Episode Proves Kaley Cuoco as Penny is Smarter Than Sheldon

This undercover romance felt straight out of a movie scene, adding an extra layer of excitement to their already thrilling off-screen connection.

The Big Bang Theory is available to watch on Max and Apple TV. 

Johnny Galecki Kaley Cuoco

Written by Heena Singh

Heena Singh is a writer at FandomWire, spent the last two years making waves in entertainment journalism. With a knack for digging up blockbuster celebrity scoops and an uncanny nose for the latest buzz, Heena’s articles bring a fresh and fun perspective to life. When she’s not conquering writing challenges, you’ll find her curled up in bed, peacefully sleeping.

Copyright © 2024 FandomWire, LLC. All rights reserved.

• Relationships

These Are The Real-Life Partners Of The Big Bang Theory Cast

"The Big Bang Theory" was a wildly popular CBS sitcom running for 12 seasons. The show followed a group of socially awkward scientists, including the roommates at the core of the show: Sheldon Cooper (played by Jim Parsons) and Leonard Hofstadter (played by Johnny Galecki). The gang of misfits drew in lifelong fans who came back episode after episode to see the shenanigans the group would get into as they tried to navigate dating and social situations. 

Now the series has ended,  "The Big Bang Theory" cast has gone on to pursue many other projects . But the show still has a special place in the hearts of its viewers. For many, the awkwardly adorable relationships like the stories between Leonard and Penny (played by Kaley Cuoco), Sheldon and Amy (played by Mayim Bialik), and Howard and Bernadette (played by Simon Helberg and Melissa Rauch) were one of the best parts of the series. But, you may not be familiar with the actors' relationships. Many of your favorite "Big Bang Theory" cast members have their own love stories in their real lives. 

Jim Parsons married his husband in 2017

His famous character, Sheldon Cooper, married Amy Farrah Fowler, played by Mayim Bialik, and even kissed Kaley Cuoco in the series . But in real life, Jim Parsons married Todd Spiewak. Parsons' relationship wasn't widely publicized while the early seasons of the hit CBS show were airing. But he and Spiewak were together the entire time. On "Late Night with Seth Meyers"  in 2022, Parsons said that he met his husband on a blind date set up by Spiewak's boss and one of Parsons' old classmates. The actor also told People that they met in New York in November 2002. "I'll never forget that late fall into the holidays when we spent so much time together just falling more in love. Every time there's that smell when the air gets cold in New York, it always reminds me," Parsons said. 

After years of dating, the pair married in 2017. Parson's actual wedding day came days after his on-screen proposal to Bialik's character in "The Big Bang Theory." His costar and fictional fiancée spoke about attending the wedding, telling KTLA 5 , "It was gorgeous. It was a very intimate, beautiful event."

In addition to their romantic relationship, Spiewak and Parsons have worked together. Spiewak is an executive producer and has signed on to many of his husband's projects, including "Young Sheldon" and "Spoiler Alert."

Kaley Cuoco was set up by her manager

Kaley Cuoco made a name for herself playing Penny in "The Big Bang Theory" and has since gone on to star in "The Flight Attendant" and "Meet Cute." After her divorce from Karl Cook, the actress didn't believe marriage was for her. She told Glamour , "I will never get married again. I would love to have a long-lasting relationship or a partnership. But I will never get married again." But it only took meeting the right person to change her mind. 

During an interview with USA Today , she described her life-changing meeting with "Ozark" alum Tom Pelphrey. The actors share the same manager, who thought they would be a cute couple and set them up. Speaking about their first interaction, the actress said, "I heard his voice, and I turned around, and it was like my life was over, or just starting. It hit me. It was love at first sight. We were immediately connected."

Tom Pelphrey admitted he didn't know about Kaley Cuoco's role on "The Big Bang Theory" when they met , but their connection was undeniable. The pair have since had a baby together, and Cuoco announced their engagement in an Instagram story on August 14, 2024. A few days later, she shared a series of photos with her new fiancé, their daughter, and friends on her Instagram . She captioned the post, "There is my heart, and then there is you, and I'm not sure there is a difference." 

Johnny Galecki has a private relationship with his wife

His starring role as Leonard in "The Big Bang Theory" may have made him instantly recognizable to the millions of fans of the hit sitcom. But despite this, Johnny Galecki has done his best to keep his family life private. Galecki is married and a father of two, but you won't see his children's faces on his Instagram, as he's always careful to cover them for the sake of their privacy, and he rarely shares personal information about his relationship or family life.

We got a closer look at the actor's life than usual when Architectural Digest offered a glimpse inside Johnny and his wife Morgan's Gothic Nashville mansion in February 2024. At the time of the interview, he revealed that he and Morgan are married, but their wedding was a quiet ceremony that the pair didn't publicize. Speaking with the outlet, the actor shared that he feels much more at home now that he and his family have moved away from Los Angeles. "I never felt like much of an Angeleno," he explained. "And I did try. I say that with sadness, not with snobbery. Thirty years is just a very long time to live in a city that you're not all that comfortable in."

Simon Helberg has been with his wife since 2007

Before anyone had heard of "The Big Bang Theory" or the strange but lovable aerospace engineer Howard Wolowitz, Simon Helberg, who would become known by many for playing the fictional scientist, met Jocelyn Towne. The two actors started dating, and then they married in July 2007, just months before Helberg's life-changing sitcom debuted. During the run of the show, the pair had two children, one in 2012 and a second in 2014. During a Reddit Q&A, Helberg joked, "[We] made 2 babies and 2 films in the last 2 years" (via  Glamour ).

As two creatives working in the film industry, Helberg and Towne have collaborated on a few occasions. Helberg acted in his wife's directorial debut "I am I." Speaking about the experience of working with her to Daily Actor , Helberg said, "It was great ... I felt like I was in tremendous hands, good hands ... I was just so proud and in awe to watch her do this." The pair went on to co-direct "We'll Never Have Paris," a 2015 film, in which Helberg also starred. Things may have changed a lot since they met, but after over a decade of marriage, a popular series, two kids, and multiple shared projects, Towne and Helberg still seem happy together. 

Melissa Rauch married a producer and writer

Most of us got to know Melissa Rauch because of her role as Bernadette Rostenkowski in "The Big Bang Theory." While her on-screen romance was with Simon Helberg's Howard, her real-life love story is with writer and producer Winston Rauch. The two of them share a passion for comedy and started writing sketches together when they met at Marymount Manhattan College. As they grew closer, they started dating and fell in love. They married in 2007 and have continued writing together throughout their relationship. 

Speaking to New Jersey Monthly , Melissa said, "Writing has always been something that has brought me great joy. When I am not working on 'Big Bang,' Winston and I spend all our free time writing new projects. It's so rewarding to see those passion projects come to life." She and her husband recently partnered on "Night Court." Melissa starred in the 2023 reboot and was listed as executive producer with her husband. 

Along with their shared creative endeavors, Melissa and Winston share a family together. They have two children, Sadie and Brooks. Their second child was born in 2020 during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. "Words can't describe how grateful I am to have this baby boy join our family, but to say that it is a surreal time to be bringing life into the world is an understatement," she wrote in the caption of an Instagram  post announcing their son's birth.

Kunal Nayyar thought his wife was out of his league

Kunal Nayyar met his wife Neha Kapur Nayyar in 2009 . Despite his acting career taking off, playing  Rajesh "Raj" Koothrappali on CBS's "The Big Bang Theory," he told Glamour  that he didn't think Neha would give him a chance, but he was still instantly smitten. "My first thought was, 'This is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen,'" he said. "My second thought was, 'She's way out of my league.'" Fashion designer Neha didn't recognize Kunal or watch his show. She recalled being amused by his out-of-the-box clothing choices, saying, "The first time I saw Kunal, he was wearing a trucker hat, cutoff gloves, hipster glasses, and a scarf ... It took me a while to find him among all that." Fortunately, poor fashion choices didn't stop their love story from taking off. After dating for two years, the couple got married in New Delhi, India.

On December 22, 2021, Kunal made an Instagram  post with a video of Neha to celebrate their 10-year anniversary. "We may be unconventional, but I remembered how we promised to not live our lives according to someone else's version of it," he wrote to his wife in the caption. "Cheers to you, champion, partner, best friend. Whatever is to come, I am lucky we have tomorrow."

Mayim Bialik works with her boyfriend

Along with her acclaimed role in "The Big Bang Theory," Dr. Mayim Bialik is known for playing Blossom in the '90s sitcom "Blossom." Beyond acting, she's an author, game show host, and PhD. To say she's multifaceted seems like an understatement, but fans may know less about her personal life. Before dating her current partner, Bialik had a 10-year marriage with Michael Stone, whom she met in calculus class while they attended UCLA together. They married in 2003 and had two sons before divorcing. Despite the eventual end of their marriage, Bialik has a good outlook on their time together. In a YouTube  video discussing her divorce, Bialik said, "Although divorce is difficult and sad, my ex-husband and I have found that it doesn't necessarily have to be tragic or hostile."

Mayim Bialik met her boyfriend, Jonathan Cohen , at a toddler's birthday party they were both attending. The pair had a lot in common and quickly bonded. After her divorce, they eventually started a relationship, though little is known about their early dating years. Fans have gotten a closer look at the pair of them through their shared podcast, "Mayim Bialik's Breakdown." The podcast focuses on mental health, a passion that they share, and Cohen executive produces and cohosts episodes along with Bialik. 

Kevin Sussman remarried in 2023

Kevin Sussman joined the cast of "The Big Bang Theory" in 2009, playing the comic bookstore owner Stuart Bloom. You may also recognize the actor from roles in many other beloved shows and films like "The Dropout," "Almost Famous," and "Killers." While these projects have made him recognizable, you may not know a lot about Sussman's life beyond his work; fortunately, he shares a lot of news on his social media. 

Before his time on "The Big Bang Theory," Sussman married Alessandra Young in 2006 and then split in 2012. But since then, Sussman has found love again. In April 2023, the actor posted a photo on Instagram of himself and his now-wife on their wedding day with the caption, "Did I mention I got married this weekend?" Many "Big Bang" fans were excited to see the beloved actor happy and commented on the post to share their congratulations. "Finally, Stuart finds his mate of life," one user wrote. Another commented, "Was always rooting for Stuart."

His wife, Addie Hall is also an actor known for her role as Faye Miller in "The Adventures of the Adventures 2: Denver Rocks." And she is frequently seen in photos on Sussman's Instagram where he shares life moments with his fans.  

John Ross Bowie married comedian Jamie Denbo

John Ross Bowie is known for his TV show "Speechless" and other projects, as well as his recurring role on "The Big Bang Theory" as Barry Kripke. While Bowie's character Kripke may not have been romantically successful, in his real life, the actor and writer has had a successful marriage with fellow comedian Jamie Denbo for decades. Denbo and Bowie met in the '90s while studying improv at the Upright Citizens Brigade. Although they aren't exactly movie stars, the two of them have been working as both writers and actors in the film and TV industry for years and consider themselves "Hollywood's middle class."

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about their life together, the couple said they both try to have multiple projects going on simultaneously and rely heavily on each other for feedback. "We collaborate a lot, actually. We met improvising together and occasionally, when we were starting out as actors, we wound up doing a couple of commercials together," Denbo said, adding later that they love it when they can do TV show guest spots together, even though it makes coordinating childcare quite complicated. They also come to each other with writing ideas and value each others insight. "We have often tried writing together. It sometimes works, sometimes we abandon projects, but we are each other's first stop on the 'Will you look at this for me please?' train," Denbo said. 

Laura Spencer married her boyfriend in 2019

Laura Spencer is a TV actress best known for her recurring roles on "The Big Bang Theory" and "Bones." She joined "The Big Bang Theory" ensemble in Season 7 as Dr. Emily Sweeney, who dated Kunal Nayyar's character Raj. Speaking about her on-screen relationship with After Buzz TV , Spencer said, "It seems like they're thrilled with one another constantly, and that's what makes me happy like I love that they're making our relationship so sweet." Although Raj and Emily eventually broke up on the show, she had a significant role in the series for several seasons and is still remembered by many fans. 

Spencer's personal life is quite private. She rarely posts on  Instagram , but in 2017, she shared a video on X , formerly Twitter, of her boyfriend sweetly scratching the back of their neighbor's dog. In 2019, the actress responded to her own post by  tweeting , "Update: I married him," accompanied by a photo of herself and her husband smiling hand-in-hand on their wedding day. Spencer looked beautiful in her gown with a deep v-neck and lace detailing.

Wil Wheaton has been with actress Anne Wheaton for decades

Wil Wheaton has had an active career as an actor and writer. He even narrated an audiobook . He's best known for starring in "Stand by Me" and "Star Trek: The Next Generation." He joined the cast of "The Big Bang Theory" in 2009 with a recurring role playing himself. Although he was playing himself, Wheaton appeared in several episodes playing a pivotal role in beloved episodes of the show.

Outside of the sitcom, Wheaton is married to Anne Wheaton, aka Anne Prince. Anne is a fellow actor who appeared in "Neverland" and "Tabletop." She's also worked as a cosmetologist. The pair married in 1999 and have two children together. 

The couple seem to have a very happy relationship. Wil often posts selfies on social media from their date nights together attending hockey games, comedy shows, and other events. He captions all their photos with what they're up to and refers to Anne as his "favorite human." In 2023, he shared a photo on  Instagram of himself and his wife in a "Doctor Who" cosplay for spouse day. He wrote in the caption, "I'll happily seize the excuse to share this #tbt picture of me with my favorite human, who I am so lucky to call my spouse."

Recommended

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

The Celebration Experimentation

• Episode aired Feb 25, 2016

The gang convinces Sheldon to celebrate his birthday and throw him a party. The gang convinces Sheldon to celebrate his birthday and throw him a party. The gang convinces Sheldon to celebrate his birthday and throw him a party.

• Mark Cendrowski
• Chuck Lorre
• Steven Molaro
• Johnny Galecki
• Jim Parsons
• Kaley Cuoco
• 6 User reviews
• 1 Critic review

Top cast 14

• Leonard Hofstadter

• Sheldon Cooper

• Penny Hofstadter

• Howard Wolowitz

• Raj Koothrappali

• Amy Farrah Fowler

• Bernadette Rostenkowski

• Stuart Bloom

• Dr. Beverly Hofstadter

• Leslie Winkle

• Wil Wheaton

• Stephen Hawking

• Barry Kripke
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Did you know

• Trivia Leslie Winkle returns and makes a special guest appearance. She was never mentioned between her previous appearance, season 3's The Lunar Excitation (2010) , and this episode.
• Goofs Howard mentions Bale personified the words "I am Batman". These words were ad-libbed by Micheal Keaton who was supposed to say "I am the night". Tim Burton kept the sentence as he liked it more than the scripted one, meaning Bale just reused it.

Leslie Winkle : In the past I would have said something obnoxious, like "Happy birthday, dumbass," but I'm not going to do it. You and I have both grown a lot, and it's just so nice to see you all again. So... Happy birthday, Sheldon.

Sheldon Cooper : Oh now, you know I hate change. Say it.

Leslie Winkle : Happy birthday, dumbass!

• Crazy credits CHUCK LORRE PRODUCTIONS, #520 Nine years. Two hundred episodes. There are no words to express our gratitude for your support. Oh wait! Maybe there is. Bazinga.
• Connections References Batman (1966)
• Soundtracks History of Everything (uncredited) Written by Barenaked Ladies Performed by Barenaked Ladies [Series theme song played during the opening titles]

User reviews 6

• Oct 3, 2019
• February 25, 2016 (United States)
• United States
• Stage 25, Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA (Studio)
• Chuck Lorre Productions
• Warner Bros. Television
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 19 minutes

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The Big Bang Theory: Every Main Character, Ranked By Likability

A show doesn't necessarily have to feature "likable" characters in order to qualify as a "good" show. The characters on "Succession" are all varying degrees of reprehensible . Every single member of "the gang" on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" is extremely horrible (on purpose). If you actively rooted for Walter White by the end of "Breaking Bad," you should give that a second thought. All of this is to say that likability isn't a  required trait for fictional characters, but some shows do want you to relate to their characters somehow.

"The Big Bang Theory" doesn't have the venom or acidity of either "Succession" or "Always Sunny," and it seems to want you to identify with at least one of its main characters (and you have several to choose from, considering that there are eight leads by the end of the series). Still, Chuck Lorre's show wants to have it both ways and paint these same characters as larger-than-life to the point where some of them are incredibly off-putting ... so much so, it would be hard to imagine spending time around some of them in real life. Here are the main characters from "The Big Bang Theory" ranked by how likable they are.

8. Sheldon Cooper

Why does anyone even  talk to Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) , much less live with him or  marry him?! I know that sounds extreme, but I seriously can't figure out why anyone in Sheldon's orbit sticks around for as long as they do. Right from the start of "The Big Bang Theory," Sheldon is dismissive, irritating, and downright mean to his friends — and when he and Leonard (Johnny Galecki) first meet their new neighbor, Penny (Kaley Cuoco), Sheldon finds a target for his ire. Penny is outgoing, social, and not a scientist, so Sheldon doesn't consider her to be "smart," and this is a trend with him. In Sheldon's view, anyone who isn't on his intellectual level — which is  everyone except for, like, Stephen Hawking — is inferior and beneath him. It's not cute, and it stops being fun to watch at a certain point!

Yes, Sheldon does mellow a bit as the show continues; he and Penny form an unexpectedly close friendship, and he opens himself up to the point where he marries Amy Farrah Fowler (Mayim Bialik). He's still pretty rotten to everyone around him, though, and he's not even all that nice to Amy, who he frequently belittles. Sheldon gets a "heartwarming" moment in the series finale where, during his Nobel Prize acceptance speech, he offers his genuine thanks to his friends ... but it's hard to understand why any of them put themselves through their friendships and relationships with Sheldon in the first place.

7. Leonard Hofstadter

Leonard might not be  quite as bad as his bestie Sheldon, but he still definitely sucks. Throughout "The Big Bang Theory," Leonard is positioned as a certain type of "nice guy" you often see in pop culture, meaning that while he thinks he's just a misunderstood guy that women overlook because he's a "nerd," it's actually that he's a jerk to women whenever they  do deign to date him. Leonard dates a handful of women during twelve seasons of "The Big Bang Theory," but his most important and long-running relationship is with Penny ... and he treats her extremely poorly.

The fact is that Leonard sees Penny as an object to be won rather than a full human being, and he treats her that way — when he's not insulting her intelligence. A few examples: When Penny takes classes at community college, Leonard rewrites her essay without saying anything because he's confident he can do a better job. He pushes her into relationship milestones she's just not ready for (like saying "I love you" or having children). While he's away on a research expedition, Leonard kisses someone else and doesn't tell Penny until  they're about to get married . It's not just Penny, either; Leonard is selfish and dismissive to pretty much all of his friends, and he's also  constantly whining about everything. He stinks. (Also, Galecki is really bad at fake eating and it makes me feel absolutely insane.)

6. Howard Wolowitz

Out of all the characters on "The Big Bang Theory," Howard Wolowitz, played by Simon Helberg, probably changes the most across all twelve seasons, especially when you compare him to how much other characters change. In this context, what that means  specifically is that he settles down with microbiologist Bernadette Rostenkowski (Melissa Rauch), has two children, and loses his beloved mother during the course of the show. (The actress who voiced Howard's mother offscreen, Carol Ann Susi, passed away in 2014.) Still, Howard begins the show as an absolute creep who spends all of his time being really, really weird to women, and when he does get married, he still expects Bernadette to baby him just like his mother once did.

Howard often tries to manipulate technology to spy on women, whether he's flying a drone over the "America's Next Top Model" house in hopes of seeing nude sunbathing or he's driving a remote-controlled car with a camera on it under Penny's legs while she's wearing a skirt. (He even gives Penny a teddy bear with a camera in it at one point!) In his marriage to Bernadette, Howard acts like a spoiled brat all the time, expecting her to do all the housework despite the fact that he's perfectly capable of pitching in. Howard isn't as bad as his two friends Leonard and Sheldon, but he's no prince.

5. Amy Farrah Fowler

Amy Farrah Fowler ( played by Mayim Bialik ) officially joins "The Big Bang Theory" in the show's third season, and I wouldn't say she makes a great impression at first if you consider that she's basically supposed to be the female version of Sheldon. As the show keeps going, it's clear that the writers figure out more interesting things for Amy to do, and the best move they make it probably giving her two close friends in Penny and Bernadette, but Amy is also ... pretty grating.

It's clear in her dealings with Penny and Bernadette that Amy isn't used to having friends, which means that she comes on  very strong pretty much all the time (who can forget the time she had a portrait painted of her and Penny and insisted that her "bestie" prominently display it in her home?). She can also be dismissive, particularly of Penny, but the reason that Amy falls smack in the middle of the pack on this list is that she's treated  so  badly by Sheldon that it's actually embarrassing. During their relationship, Amy wants the two to be more physically intimate, and instead of just explaining to Amy that he's uncomfortable with that, Sheldon just treats her like a sex-crazed maniac. (She's not.) Amy can be a lot, but she also gets the short end of the stick a lot of the time.

4. Raj Koothrappali

Raj Koothrappali, played by Kunal Nayyar — who was almost fired from "The Big Bang Theory" and then officially rehired — is definitely the sweetest member of the main group of guys, and he's much more likable than Sheldon, Leonard, and Howard. A hopeless romantic who's terrified of women, Raj spends an inordinate amount of time on the series experiencing selective mutism around women ... and the bizarre twist here is that he can only interact with women if he's extremely drunk. (This character trait is very strange, but it's not Raj's fault; the writers saddled both the character and actor with this problem.) Beyond that, though, Raj is kind, bonds with Penny over activities that his friends view as too "girly," and loves animals, especially his dog Cinnamon.

In a frustrating twist, Raj ends the series completely alone — despite an arranged engagement to hotel concierge Anu (Rati Gupta) that ends when Howard talks Raj out of following her to London — which feels like a huge letdown when you consider how much Raj hoped to find love throughout the show's entire run. Still, it's hard not to like Raj, from his fondness for movies like "Bridget Jones' Diary" to his inherent sweetness.

3. Stuart Bloom

Poor Stuart. Played by Kevin Sussman, Stuart Bloom starts out as the friendly neighborhood comic book shop proprietor, but as the show continues, his role grows — and he basically ends up joining Howard and Bernadette's family (between living with Howard's unseen mother and helping to take care of the couple's children). After making his first appearance in season 2 of "The Big Bang Theory," Stuart keeps showing up, and even though he's not really an official member of the main gang, he's typically in their periphery; ultimately, Sussman appeared in over 80 episodes of the show.

Stuart is, at his core, extremely kind and generous, but his professional struggles — namely, the fact that the comic book store doesn't really keep him afloat financially — often bog him down to the point where he's just really sad. The fact that a lot of the other characters spend time dunking on him doesn't help, and Sheldon  really starts hating Stuart after he dares to go on a date with Amy before she and Sheldon are even official. Stuart is a genuinely nice guy (unlike some of the show's proclaimed "nice guys" like Leonard) who doesn't have a particularly easy go of things, but at least as the show ends, he finds love with Denise (Lauren Lapkus), a fellow artist who works with him at the comic book store.

2. Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz

Bernadette Rostenkowski-Wolowitz is smart, hardworking, is a loving and supporting wife to Howard, and does her best to be there for her closest friends (Amy and Penny, specifically). Nobody takes her particularly seriously within the framework of the show at first due to her diminutive stature and high-pitched voice — which is a deliberate affectation crafted by Rauch — but after she's able to leave her serving job at the Cheesecake Factory behind after getting her Ph.D. in microbiology, she gets a high-paying job at the fictional pharmaceutical company ZanGen. Armed with an advanced degree and a better job than Howard, people  quickly  stop underestimating Bernadette.

There's no denying that Bernadette can be a bit harsh sometimes, even with those she loves, and when Penny joins her at ZanGen, it's revealed that most of the people who work there are absolutely terrified of her. Still, Bernadette is incredibly likable (thanks in no small part to Rauch's performance). She's a devoted mother to her children Halley and Neil, supports Howard even when he's being a total pain in the ass, and is fiercely protective of her loved ones. Bernadette is actually more than likable — she's lovable. Unfortunately, she can't possibly top the list — that honor goes to one of the show's other prominent female characters.

1. Penny Hofstadter

Penny doesn't even get a last name at the beginning of "The Big Bang Theory" — she only gets one when she marries Leonard Hofstadter — but that weird omission from the writers doesn't change that Penny is the most important and most likable character on the series. Penny is the proxy character for viewers in that she's often positioned as the "normal" human amongst all the "nerds." Penny can definitely be shallow, selfish, and difficult at times, but she's also the person on the show who feels least like a caricature and most like a human being who actually  evolves across its twelve seasons. She settles down with Leonard (who does  not deserve her), begins a new career as a pharmaceutical sales representative with Bernadette's help, and becomes more self-assured while building real bonds and friendships with every other main character, including Sheldon. 

Penny blossoms on "The Big Bang Theory" in a way most of the major characters don't, and throughout, you can't possibly help but like her. She's driven, funny, calls the guys out on their nonsense, and becomes the best version of herself after years of struggling to figure out just what that might look like. Sorry to the rest of the main characters, but Penny is the most likable by a long shot. Hell, even Sheldon likes her, and that guy sucks .

"The Big Bang Theory" is streaming on Netflix now.

• The Cheesecake Factory
• Leonard Hofstadter
• Sheldon Cooper
• Rajesh Koothrappali
• Transcripts
• Howard Wolowitz
• Season 1 episodes

The Grasshopper Experiment

• 2 Extended Plot
• 6 Costume Notes
• 7 Set Notes

Summary [ ]

Raj 's parents set him up on a blind date and he fears he won't be able to talk to her. Penny needs to practice her bartender skills for work and once Raj drinks alcohol, he finds that he can talk to girls.

Extended Plot [ ]

Raj's parents are introduced.

Raj 's parents, Dr. V. M. Koothrappali and Mrs. Koothrappali , have just got broadband and are checking up on their son via Video Chat. They then announce that they have set up Raj and Lalita Gupta on a date. Raj is outraged at their meddling.

The next day, Raj barges in and announces he is screwed and explains that Lalita has left him a message and is interested in meeting him. Since Raj can't talk to women, Howard "helps" him set up a date with her, though Raj told him not to. Penny comes in and announces that the Cheesecake Factory has given her a barkeeper shift and she would like to practice mixing cocktails with them. The gang goes to Penny's and all have a drink, except for Sheldon who asks for a "rum and Coke" without the rum. After sipping his drink, Raj speaks to Penny to everyone's surprise including Raj.

Soon they figure out he is able to surpass his selective mutism by consuming alcohol. On the date Raj is drunk, acts extremely obnoxious and his actions are putting off Lalita. Sheldon arrives and upon seeing Lalita, he gets excited as she deeply resembles Princess Panchali from an Indian folktale book (" The Princess & the Monkey ") which his mother used to read for him when he was sick. Raj introduces Lalita to the gang and Sheldon starts reciting the lines from "The Princess & the Monkey" book, which Lalita finds flattering. Raj gets defensive and orders Sheldon to stay away from his future wife. It's then that Lalita reveals that despite what both their parents wanted, she has no intention of marrying Raj and just came on the date to get them off her case. She then invites Sheldon to dinner, leaving everyone dumbfounded. Sheldon has no idea that he just stole Raj's date.

The Princess is flattered by Sheldon.

Later, Raj informs his parents he struck out with Lalita because of Sheldon. This statement ultimately backfires when Sheldon reveals to them that Raj was drunk and obnoxious on his date. When Leonard later asks Sheldon if he was going to see Lalita again, he asks why since he already has a dentist.

Later Sheldon is singing "To Life" ( L'Chaim ) from "Fiddler on the Roof" at The Cheesecake Factory . Leonard is surprised and Penny explains she put alcohol into his rum and Coke (which Sheldon specifically asked to be alcohol free or virgin). Penny explained that the guys do their experiments and she does hers.

Credits [ ]

• Sarayu Rao as Lalita Gupta
• Brian George as Dr. V.M. Koothrappali
• Alice Amter as Mrs. Koothrappali
• Teleplay: Robert Cohen & Lee Aronsohn
• Story: David Goetsch & Steven Molaro

Critics [ ]

• "I don’t think the major problem here is the racial humor. The problem is that the episode doesn't develop Rajesh’s character well. He gets drunk and ruins a date which he didn't really want to be on. It doesn't say much about him and isn't funny enough to compensate for the lack of progress in the plot." - The TV Critic's Review
• IMDb user reviews
• Title Reference : Penny practices mixing cocktails and mixes a Grasshopper for Raj which has unique effects.
• With 9.32 million viewers, The Grasshopper Experiment was the third most watched episode in the first season.
• Chuck Lorre 's vanity card [1]
• This episode was watched by 9.32 million people with a rating of 3.8 (adults 18–49).
• Episode transcript [2] .

Costume Notes [ ]

Sheldon wears four t-shirts this episode, starting with "Aquaman Rising" on a grey tee. At Penny's, he's seen in an aqua striped tee (discontinued at Urban Outfitters). As Sheldon is making the call to cancel his memberships, he's seen again in the Rainbow Bolts tee, sometimes found at RedBubble.com Finally, as Sheldon visits the Cheesecake Factory and sings, he can be seen in his Flag Jersey tree.

Leonard wears a red periodic table shirt, the "Fly Lower" shirt from Urban Outfitters (looks like a tree with root system - it's discontinued) and at the end the black "Out of This World" galaxy shirt. Howard wears a Superman belt buckle and a Batman belt buckle.

Set Notes [ ]

RoboSapien figurine

• 3-D Space Navigator wireless mouse for notebooks on Sheldon's desk
• Silver Mesh Pencil Cube by Design Ideas, on Sheldon's desk
• Mini-Robosapien, on the bookshelf by the front door.
• McCormick Spice Rack with spices in the kitchen to the left of the stove
• Parasaurolophus dinosaur figure by YTC, on top of the card file
• City of Heroes game, on the table by the alcove (by the Halo helmet).
• This is the first time Raj speaks to a woman with the aid of alcohol, 1 of many Running Gags in the series,
• This is the first time Raj speaks to Penny .
• This is the first appearance of Raj's parents, Dr. V. M. Koothrappali and Mrs. Koothrappali in the series.
• This is the first time Sheldon is drunk in the series.
• Regarding Raj, Howard says to Leonard , "No, no, let’s see how long it takes him." In " The Jiminy Conjecture " (S3E2), in reference to Sheldon, Howard similarly states to Raj, "Uh, no, no, no, don’t tell him, let’s see if he can figure it out."
• This is the first appearance of Penny as bartender at The Cheesecake Factory which are in frequent.
• Grasshoppers would become Raj's signature drink, as seen in “ The Griffin Equivalency " (S2E4), " The Herb Garden Germination " (S4E22) and " The Stag Convergence " (S5E20). He almost orders one in " The Hofstadter Isotope " (S2E20), but Howard stops him from doing so because it's not a "manly" drink.
• The final Big Bang Theory episode to air before the 2007-2008 Writers Guild of America strike, which put a hiatus on television production for three to four months.
• Howard mentions that at Disneyland people can hire Snow White to come to their house. In " The Contractual Obligation Implementation " (S6E18), Amy goes to Disneyland with Penny and Bernadette and dresses up as Snow White.
• This could also be because he was referencing Raj's earlier line to Sheldon, "Tell my parents why they won't have any grandchildren!"
• As another retcon, Leonard may not be aware that George Sr. and Mary already have a grandchild, Constance "CeeCee" Cooper , who was born in Season 6 of the prequel series " Young Sheldon ".
• According to the now defunct website Bubblews.com, the episode was originally titled "The Slippery-Nipple Effect".

Gallery [ ]

• 1 George Cooper Jr.
• 2 Missy Cooper
• 3 Sheldon Cooper

Screen Rant

Leonard & penny's 5 the big bang theory engagements explained.

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I'm Sorry That Leonard May Be Dead But At Least It Allows Penny's Big Bang Theory Spinoff Return

4 big bang theory storylines that never got resolved, the big bang theory’s worst character change wasn’t sheldon or leonard’s arc.

• Penny and Leonard's relationship in The Big Bang Theory was always destined for marriage, but it took them a while to get there due to various obstacles and issues.
• The couple had multiple failed engagement attempts, but in retrospect, it was for the better as their initial reasons for wanting to marry were problematic.
• Their eventual engagement was a result of Penny's career struggles, but it also showcased the growth and deep connection in their relationship. Leonard had secretly been carrying a ring, indicating his long-term commitment to Penny.

Penny and Leonard actually got engaged multiple times in The Big Bang Theory before they finally decided to tie the knot. From the get-go, it was clear that the CBS nerd-centric sitcom was setting up the pair to be a couple. While the producers claim that they were open to them not ending up with each other, it was difficult to get any other love stories for them to progress because the public was immediately invested in their romance. This was the reason why Aarti Mann's Priya and Sara Gilbert's Leslie Winkle gradually disappeared from The Big Bang Theory .

That being said, even when Penny and Leonard finally got together, things between them weren't exactly smooth sailing. Throughout the early years of their dating, they encountered many issues — most of them were due to their circumstances and not because they had doubts about their commitment to each other. So despite many failed attempts to get engaged to be married, there was never uncertainty that one day, they would eventually tie the knot. Still, in retrospect, it was for the better that it took Penny and Leonard so long to be engaged because their initial reasons for wanting to get married were problematic.

Related: What Happens To Every Big Bang Theory Character After It Ends

5 The Launch Acceleration

While Leonard had always been in love with Penny, it took her a while to notice him. Even after they first started dating, there was a lot of apprehension in their relationship that they ended up separating. In The Big Bang Theory season 5, episode 23, "The Launch Acceleration," however, Penny and Leonard have already dating for quite a while, that she started thinking about taking things to the next level, which resulted in them getting intimate. The Big Bang Theory actually did this proposal quite creatively, as viewers were only shown the aftermath of it.

Apparently, in the heat of the moment, Leonard got carried away and proposed while they were in bed. This surprised Penny, and not in a good way, causing her to storm out of the bedroom. Leonard profusely apologized and asked for a second chance, but Penny was quite irked about it, and understandably so, considering that they were working hard to take things slow in rebuilding their relationship.

4 The Tangible Attention Proof

In The Big Bang Theory season 6, episode 16, "The Tangible Affection Proof," Leonard and Penny joined Howard and Bernadette for a double date during Valentine's Day dinner. However, what was supposed to be a romantic night out, progressively turned bad after Penny noticed that her ex-boyfriend was proposing to his now-girlfriend. Visibly pissed, Leonard attempted to smooth things over by trying to get down on one knee himself, even though he didn't have a ring with him. Before he could even start with his speech, Penny sternly told him to get up.

This was arguably one of the worst moments for Penny and Leonard because it highlighted just how imbalanced their relationship was (at least at this point). Penny was getting fixated on her ex getting engaged without knowing that she was insulting her current boyfriend. Seeing Leonard call her out on her behavior was satisfying, however. In the end, they eventually patched things up, with Penny admitting that she was self-sabotaging because of her commitment issues. This was also where they decided that Penny would need to be the one to propose.

Related: Why The Big Bang Theory Was Banned In China

3 The Hesitation Ramification

True to their pact, Leonard started becoming more careful about proposing, knowing that doing so freaked out her girlfriend. However, after Penny's career hit a major snag, she became convinced that the best way to fix her life was to get married. So in The Big Bang Theory season 7, episode 12, The Hesitation Ramification," Penny haphazardly proposed to Leonard while she was reeling about being cut from NCIS . It should have been the perfect opportunity to lock her into a life-long commitment, but Leonard knew better than to take advantage of her situation and said no.

Just because Leonard said no didn't mean that he didn't want Penny. However, it would have been a disaster if said yes to his drunken girlfriend's proposal. Perhaps Penny would have eventually taken it back once he sobered up. In any case, she eventually realized the error of her ways and Leonard's decision the next day. Penny admitted that she was a mess and that motivated her unexpected desire to get married.

2 The Proton Transmogrification

Just a few episodes after Penny's botched proposal, the pair once again had an engagement conversation, oddly during Professor Proton's funeral in The Big Bang Theory season 7, episode 22, "The Proton Transmogrification." At this point, both of them were already fairly comfortable in their relationship, to the point that they could even talk about deeper topics such as life and death. Leonard opened up about his fears of having regrets before he passed away, and he cited turning down Penny's proposal as one of them. For her part, she pointed out that it was just the wrong time.

Professor Proton's death was one of the saddest moments in The Big Bang Theory , but the pair's conversation about botched engagements brought levity to the outing. Ultimately, Penny proposed again, albeit in the most nonchalant way, after Leonard pointed out that she had turned him down twice, while he only had to decline her once. The whole scene was hilarious, but it had some significance to their relationship. It was further proof that they were at such a great stage in their romance because they could laugh about these things.

1 The Gorilla Dissolution

As it turned out, Penny and Leonard's fake proposal during Professor Proton's funeral was setting up their eventual engagement. Just after one episode in The Big Bang Theory season 7, episode 23," The Gorilla Dissolution," the pair finally get engaged for real. The circumstance surrounding the engagement was familiar. Similar to when Penny's cameo was cut from NCIS, she was distraught over how her career was shaping up when she suddenly brought up the idea of getting engaged.

The difference this time was that Penny was able to properly justify why she wanted to marry Leonard in The Big Bang Theory episode. She explained that she didn't really need external validation, she only needed her boyfriend. This warmed Leonard's heart and ultimately convinced him to take the idea seriously. What Penny didn't know was that Leonard had been secretly carrying a ring in his wallet, indicating that he had long been set on marrying her.

• The Big Bang Theory