Episodes 6.12 The Egg Salad Equivalency (Jan. 3)

[BangerMain]

For those who read my comparison of the percentage of network viewers in the ratings thread, last night (4 Jan. 2013) TBBT had 66.5% of network viewers. Two of every three network viewers were watching TBBT.

Tensor, this season's ratings are now in surreal mode. I know that the last episode was pretty much unopposed on network TV. But that means the TBBT is the second option for non-regular viewers. Rather than go to cable or look at a rerun of their favorite show, they elected to watch TBBT.

 

Have you ever seen a phenomenon like this for a show this late in it's run? I'm a viewer of TV since the 50's and I can't think of anything like this.

[BangerMain]

The only thing about this episode is that Sheldon's character has seemed to regress a little. During episode 6.08 he seemed to understand relationships and sex more, but in this episode he is so clueless on what he is doing. Also he sold out his friends again like he did before with the female FBI agent. He gets upset and tries to transfer blame to others, like a child. Sometimes, especially after the Amy character was developed, I think Amy is too good for him. I like all the characters, but Sheldon's reactions in an episode vary from episode to episode lately.

 

As they have been slowly changing Sheldon's character, TPTB seem to make him become what ever is convenient to the episode or for that matter the scene,

[Kadesha]

The best LOL moment for me was Leonard serenading Penny using his cello skills! It was really geeky and cute! The fact that Howard has been to the HR office in the past was hilarious and very in his character. Of course, Sheldon being clueless about his faults was him being Sheldon. I still love him.

[SRAM]

As they have been slowly changing Sheldon's character, TPTB seem to make him become what ever is convenient to the episode or for that matter the scene,

That is exactly the way I'm seeing it, too.

[idrive65]

She does this so often it's becoming her trademark

 

I wonder what people in the business think about this, though.

 

 

I'd assume that if Lorre had a problem with it, he make her stop, or reshoot, or use a different camera angle.  I think TPTB like the Lucy Carmichael vibe.

[SRAM]

To tell you the truth I don't notice her looking at the camera, so I bet a lot of fans are like me and don't notice.

[Doug]

So I'll go for a little less hostile response here and say that even though I do particularly enjoy the Lenny ship I think you are right... they really didn't close the Alex story.  It would have been nice to at least see Leonard deny the invitation or something along those lines, because in her eyes she is basically seeing what you've stated.  Some might be exaggerated a little but on the whole its a valid point.

 

Now thus far I think we've seen the Alex character play at least part of her role.  In terms of the story she was set to both 1) make Penny jealous (episode 3) and now get her to admit her insecurities to Leonard which has happened.  At this point the question does become what happens next for her? since her story wasn't exactly concluded.  

 

Sure it would be easy for them to pull a Priya situation and give us one line of dialogue next episode that says Sheldon fired her or something but I don't see that happening.  My only hope is that this love triangle crap is over, they've given L/P enough drama already, move on to another couple!!! haha

 

Thanks I added the line:

Note these are from Alex’s point of view not necessarily the truth.

For that very reason.

I probably should have bolded it and upped the font as well.

Did they give Dr Stephanie or Leslie Winkle even that much of a mention when they disappeared?

I really hope they do not do that to Alex but can see it as very possible.

[Lissie]

I felt disappointed with Leonard´s cello performance. I thought he will play little bit good melody, but he didn´t . He is good playing but this time they showed him in a funny way and nothing more

[Slicknickshady]

Did they give Dr Stephanie or Leslie Winkle even that much of a mention when they disappeared?

 

I know Stephanie basically just dissapeared. As much as i love Margo Harshman. and I do think Alex is adorable. I see this happening with her character, sadly.

 

And people think it's just cause i'm a Lenny, why i say that Alex isnt a threat. It's not. I like the Character of Alex a lot. But i don't see them keeping her on for the long haul even though i wish they found a way to do so.

Edited January 5, 2013 by Slicknickshady

[DPK]

This was a pretty episode. Nobody has foot in their mouth disease like Sheldon does, thankfully it's funny most of the time.

 

The writers have done a lot to put Leonard and Penny on even footing. This episode see's Penny admit to Leonard that she's afraid of losing him to another women who's not only pretty but smart as well. Both have said "ILY" to one another. Both have admitted that have insecurities of losing the other to somebody else. The couch scene was awkward but that was due to the very poor blocking of the scene. Kind of surprises me because the director of most episodes Mark Cendrowski usually does a much better job with the over all blocking of the scenery. I could just as well chalk it up to editors choice camera shot as well.

 

 

Then let’s look at what Alex came away with from the flirting session with Leonard:
Note these are from Alex’s point of view not necessarily the truth.

Leonard finds interesting the same things as her.
Leonard was willing to spend time with her.
Leonard made spending time with his girlfriend sound more like a chore.
Leonard’s girlfriend does not share his interests and sounds dull.
Leonard’s response to being asked out was largely positive.
Leonard at no point and time discouraged her.
It is also likely she will find out Leonard was very happy about her flirting with him.

Not exactly the recipe for Alex to stop.

 

 

For me writers having characters say someone would not do something over several episodes always makes me suspicious.

 

 

Who knows, Alex might be back, she might not. The writers of this program do have a history of dropping a storyline without much notice after a few episodes. Leonard didn't discourage her but he also didn't encourage her either. This episode marks the first time he even became aware of Alex being genuinely into him so he hasn't actually had the chance discourage her from anything. The scene cuts away before we can find out how Leonard actually responded or what he said to her after he realized that she was asking him out on date. The writers have been very consistent with Leonard when it comes to him being with Penny. He's never strayed when he's been with her so it's highly unlikely that Leonard is going to cheat on Penny or that the writers are going in that direction.

Edited January 5, 2013 by DPK

[mjc45]

evey good episode

 

it was sweet to see leonard sing to penny with his cello.

you could see penny was vulnerabe where he walk in.

she talk about alex being smart, pretty, did not have

to look up words when it talk to her.

 

did look hot in the glasses,how she moved her hands

and said molecules, who would not jump in bed with her.

 

I like alex --could be back, it was said sheldon did not

let her go. how would girls react to her?

[vasu]

Then let’s look at what Alex came away with from the flirting session with Leonard:

Note these are from Alex’s point of view not necessarily the truth.

Leonard finds interesting the same things as her.

Leonard was willing to spend time with her.

Leonard made spending time with his girlfriend sound more like a chore.

Leonard’s girlfriend does not share his interests and sounds dull.

Leonard’s response to being asked out was largely positive.

Leonard at no point and time discouraged her.

It is also likely she will find out Leonard was very happy about her flirting with him.

Not exactly the recipe for Alex to stop.

 

Lets say  Alex makes an appearance again.Then this is what she will come to know

 

 

Leonard finds interesting the same things as her. ------------------------------------------------       Leonard Loves Penny

Leonard was willing to spend time with her.          -----------------------------------------------        Leonard Loves Penny

Leonard made spending time with his girlfriend sound more like a chore. --------------        Leonard Loves Penny

Leonard’s girlfriend does not share his interests and sounds dull. ------------------------         Leonard Loves Penny

Leonard’s response to being asked out was largely positive.       --------------------------        Leonard Loves Penny

Leonard at no point and time discouraged her.  --------------------------------------------------         Leonard Loves Penny

It is also likely she will find out Leonard was very happy about her flirting with him. ---      Leonard Loves Penny

Not exactly the recipe for Alex to stop. ------------------------------------------------------------     The Exact Recipe for Alex to stop

 

I would like to see her back and close all the loose ends properly and also interact with the girls especially Amy(and also that she's pretty cute )

Edited January 5, 2013 by vasu

[Martian Girl]

Spook: you're right, Sheldon respects Amy and Beverly (I think Bernadette's scientific aspect is not visible enough to let us decide whether it includes her or not) as well as the female guest professor (AFAIR Prof. Plimpton?) from one of the past seasons. On the other hand, he really has had attitude toward Alex and Ramona Nowitzki, but this can be seen as an example of his usual self-importance. Maybe I should've said he has a problem with women and intellect rather than with women intellectuals. Proofs:

 

1. In the first season he told Leslie women's place is at home and not in the lab more than once.

 

2. He often remarks that women are somehow less rational, more emotional and more focused on sex (he even said this to Amy, though I can't recall the occasion). Isn't "Your ovaries are squirting so much goofy juice into your brains you don't even know which way is up" a perfect example?

[djvang]

As they have been slowly changing Sheldon's character, TPTB seem to make him become what ever is convenient to the episode or for that matter the scene,

I agree. It was an OK episode but something about Sheldon just isn't "right" this season. It's hard to put my finger on it but he seems to be a little too animated and a little too loud. A bit of overacting perhaps?

 

I liked the Leonard /Penny scenes except for the cello bit. It felt like a soppy bit just to get a reaction from the studio audience.

Edited January 5, 2013 by djvang

[koops]

Spook: you're right, Sheldon respects Amy and Beverly (I think Bernadette's scientific aspect is not visible enough to let us decide whether it includes her or not) as well as the female guest professor (AFAIR Prof. Plimpton?) from one of the past seasons. On the other hand, he really has had attitude toward Alex and Ramona Nowitzki, but this can be seen as an example of his usual self-importance. Maybe I should've said he has a problem with women and intellect rather than with women intellectuals. Proofs:

 

1. In the first season he told Leslie women's place is at home and not in the lab more than once.

 

2. He often remarks that women are somehow less rational, more emotional and more focused on sex (he even said this to Amy, though I can't recall the occasion). Isn't "Your ovaries are squirting so much goofy juice into your brains you don't even know which way is up" a perfect example?

 

I never thought he had an attitude towards Alex before this ep, and I haven't watched the Ramona ep in ages so I forget, but could it have something to do with the fact that they were grad students? (I can't remember if Ramona was, off the top of my head). And wasn't he impressed with Bernadette when she got her doctorate, and made sure to rub it in Howard's face, something about her making the big money now etc?

 

Re: his other comments, I'm not saying he doesn't say sexist stuff, but as I said I think he loves himself so much that when women react badly to something he does he always tends to resort to these comments because it's an easy way to dismiss them, and it's obviously been pounded in his head by his dad. Something that he can't do with men because there are no stereotypes about PMS and hormones etc. But he makes these comments regardless of whether intellect is on the plate or not.

[Convict13]

Was struggling a little with this episode. Was one of those take it or leave it "filler" eps for me. Raj's comment to his dog seemed a little out of place too. (from a writing pov)

 

 

I felt it was an ad lib that they kept in.  

[Convict13]

I really liked this episode.  I liked Amy's offer to use some of her cocaine addicted monkies on Alex.

 

I believe that this is the final episode where Alex appears on the show.....good.  Frankly I thought it was pretty low of her in the first place to ask Leonard out knowing that he was dating Penny.  That's a real sleazy move.  In addition, after working for Sheldon for even a brief period of time, Alex should have some idea what Sheldon is like, and although what he was talking about was inappropriate, it was not sexual on his part.  It would have been much better if she had simply told him that what he was saying was inappropriate and explain to him why.  If that hadn't worked, then go to Human Resources.  Frankly her actions during this episode will make me happy to see her go.

 

Penny told Leonard that she was insecure in their relationship and told him that she was afraid that he would grow bored with her and dump her.  This after on several occasions she had told him that there was no way that he would ever break up with her or do something to hurt her.  I think that this both shocked him, the thought that SHE thought that HE might leave her, and it also pleased him, not because of her discomfort, but because of the idea that in their relationship they are equals and that it shows that Penny values him.  In that past he had to feel that Penny was with him because she felt sorry for him or because she thought he was safe. 

It follows on with the ILY, the tides a changing.  Get Amy to ask her again if she worries about Leonard leaving her.  I bet the reply would be "mm, yeah!"

[Martian Girl]

OK, it's better to say Sheldon behaves sexist at times, towards ALL women without any specific focus on any, with or without PhD - which sometimes has unfortunate intellectual implications. I agree it's a result of his upbringing (Texas being strongly associated with conservatism in the series) mixed with his biological/medical knowledge. Still, I don't like it, even though I can see the comic power of it.

[tmp]

I agree. It was an OK episode but something about Sheldon just isn't "right" this season. It's hard to put my finger on it but he seems to be a little too animated and a little too loud. A bit of overacting perhaps?

 

Blasphemy!  Jim has won two Emmys and tons of other awards for this role.  His acting is always spot-on.

[rickfromillinois]

Due to no competition programming. 

Or due to a good show. 

[Razberrypie]

I agree. It was an OK episode but something about Sheldon just isn't "right" this season. It's hard to put my finger on it but he seems to be a little too animated and a little too loud. A bit of overacting perhaps?

 

I thought I was going mad but I noticed something a little 'off' about Sheldon too. I'm not denying that Jim is a brilliant actor but he's just different, I don't know if it's necessarily worse than it was...

[carl1970]

Lets say  Alex makes an appearance again.Then this is what she will come to know     Leonard finds interesting the same things as her. ------------------------------------------------       Leonard Loves Penny Leonard was willing to spend time with her.          -----------------------------------------------        Leonard Loves Penny Leonard made spending time with his girlfriend sound more like a chore. --------------        Leonard Loves Penny Leonard’s girlfriend does not share his interests and sounds dull. ------------------------         Leonard Loves Penny Leonard’s response to being asked out was largely positive.       --------------------------        Leonard Loves Penny Leonard at no point and time discouraged her.  --------------------------------------------------         Leonard Loves Penny It is also likely she will find out Leonard was very happy about her flirting with him. ---      Leonard Loves Penny Not exactly the recipe for Alex to stop. ------------------------------------------------------------     The Exact Recipe for Alex to stop   I would like to see her back and close all the loose ends properly and also interact with the girls especially Amy(and also that she's pretty cute )

Agree Vasu plus we know that Penny loves Leonard. It's funny how people try to spin stuff.

[idrive65]

What I liked about Leonard's cello serenade was his self-acknowledgement that he's cute, and Penny's agreement.  I get the feeling Penny doesn't ever tell him that, and we know he has self-esteem issues about his height and looks.  

 

I also believe that the couch scene was meant to look awkward.  She's annoyed, he's trying to smooth her over while by stroking the closest part of her arm/shoulder and making jokes.  I've totally been there!  Add in Capt Kirk-style line delivery - Awkward works!

 

I also liked Leonard dragging Penny off to the bedroom with her stumbling after him.  I don't think I've ever seen that before - usually she initiates or he waits for permission or something.

[idrive65]

Oh and another thought - Leonard bumbling when Alex asked him to dinner was silly.  He's not 12 and he's had plenty of women on the show.  

[Kiru Breezy]

Or due to a good show. 

 

No argument its one of the best shows on TV. On a normal Thursday we get 40-45% of viewership, so when there is virtually no competition programming its unsurprising we get 19 million or 66%. Given that L+3 ratings are 19 million normally. Next week we wont get 19 million but I hope we stay in the 18 million range cause when we hit 17 we didnt turn back.