episodes 1118 'The Gates Excitation' (March 29)

[Tripper]

'The Gates Excitation' - Season 11, Episode 18 
Airs Thursday, March 29 at 8/7c on CBS.

Penny gets the opportunity to host Bill Gates at work when his company wants to partner with her pharmaceutical company. Also, Leonard, Koothrappali and Wolowitz do everything in their power to meet him, while Sheldon thinks he is the victim of an April Fools prank.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates guest stars as himself.

[MTBigBangTheoryFan]

This sounds like a good one. Can't believe we have to wit another 3 weeks. 

[chucky]

I agree that it sounds like a good one. Let hope it lives up to it's billing. They can mess up in the editing room.

[Chrismo]

On March 9, 2018 at 8:42 PM, chucky said:

I agree that it sounds like a good one. Let hope it lives up to it's billing. They can mess up in the editing room.

It lived up to the billing.

[SRAM]

Interesting Penny mentioned that she is trying to get a new position in her company in PR, maybe the writers are leading up to her doing commercials or producing commercials for her company to link her back to show business again.  I liked the episode, the interaction between Leonard and Pennywas nice, though Leonard screwed the pooch by going to see Gates behind her back, which was funny.  The guys sending Sheldon on a wild goose chase to find Gates was hilarious too.

[Chrismo]

2 minutes ago, SRAM said:

Interesting Penny mentioned that she is trying to get a new position in her company in PR, maybe the writers are leading up to her doing commercials or producing commercials for her company to link her back to show business again.  I liked the episode, the interaction between Leonard and Pennywas nice, though Leonard screwed the pooch by going to see Gates behind her back, which was funny.  The guys sending Sheldon on a wild goose chase to find Gates was hilarious too.

I think the finale is going to have a cliffhanger. Penny could be it.

[SRAM]

13 minutes ago, Chrismo said:

I think the finale is going to have a cliffhanger. Penny could be it.

A baby scare would make the perfect cliffhanger, Penny coming to Leonard with a positive pregnancy stick.

[Chrismo]

45 minutes ago, SRAM said:

A baby scare would make the perfect cliffhanger, Penny coming to Leonard with a positive pregnancy stick.

I don't think so since nobody at thispoint wold buy it.  Getting a temporary promotion to another part of the country?

[Mario D.]

56 minutes ago, SRAM said:

A baby scare would make the perfect cliffhanger, Penny coming to Leonard with a positive pregnancy stick.

True  A  promotion to a PR position does not necessarily mean a relocation.  Also, wouldn't it be a conundrum if Penny is offered and accepts the new position and then senses she might be pregnant.  Now that would be a cliffhanger !

Also, did not really like how Leonard was shown as wimpy again. Thought Penny had brought him out of this emotion.  And then the tag scene with Stuart...completely unnecessary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Chrismo]

5 minutes ago, Mario D. said:

True  A  promotion to a PR position does not necessarily mean a relocation.  Also, wouldn't it be a conundrum if Penny is offered and accepts the new position and then senses she might be pregnant.  Now that would be a cliffhanger !

Also, did not really like how Leonard was shown as wimpy again. Thought Penny had brought him out of this emotion.  And then the tag scene with Stuart...completely unnecessary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I don't think people are going to buy a pregnancy scare after the last two season of Bernie having a  baby. A scare woul mean a possible pregnancy. Just not believable IMO. I do think the show really needs a cliffhanger finale. Penny going away like Leonard at the North Sea is possible. I gust don't see a cliffhanger with anyone else at this point.

[Capt. Hilts]

The Bill Gates story could have been used more.  

Seriously, we didn't need THREE plots: Gates, Stewart, Bernadette/Amy.  They should have dropped the Stewart plot thread to make more of Gates.  It would be okay if we didn't see every character [especially a supporting one like Stewart] every week.

 

[Chiany]

What a boring waste of an episode, hope we go back to the Shamy wedding (preparations) soon.

[Chrismo]

1 hour ago, Capt. Hilts said:

The Bill Gates story could have been used more.  

Seriously, we didn't need THREE plots: Gates, Stewart, Bernadette/Amy.  They should have dropped the Stewart plot thread to make more of Gates.  It would be okay if we didn't see every character [especially a supporting one like Stewart] every week.

 

I get what you are saying but I don't totally agree. In prior seasons the Gates story would of been longer and would of ended in a fight. To me it was fine how it ended. In regards to Stuart I wouldn't of had him in the tag. It was too much. They did need him in the episode to show Bernadette going out without the kids. The tag could of been Bernadette and the kids watching Bob the Builder.

[joyceraye]

3 hours ago, SRAM said:

Interesting Penny mentioned that she is trying to get a new position in her company in PR, maybe the writers are leading up to her doing commercials or producing commercials for her company to link her back to show business again.  I liked the episode, the interaction between Leonard and Pennywas nice, though Leonard screwed the pooch by going to see Gates behind her back, which was funny.  The guys sending Sheldon on a wild goose chase to find Gates was hilarious too.

I caught that too. If it's true some of us here will have nailed it ! Evidence that somebody reads what we write.

[veejay]

That was a very funny episode for me. As frequently I would like to refer to a summary by Jessica R. (Glamour), whose opinion I appreciate very much and also share on this episode.
Glamour

"Penny drops a low-key update about her professional life that deserves more than the one line that made the final script…
…It's about time that we see Penny find a career that fulfills her creatively, so note to the Big Bang writers: Please don't abandon this story."

"…Back over at the Wolowitz's remarkably clean house (seriously, did anyone tell the set decorator that there's a toddler and a newborn who live there?)…"

Seriously, I really like Jessica’s detailed attention.

"…Leonard doesn't correct Sheldon before the episode ends, which means one thing: If we don't pick up next week with the aftermath of this dinner, then it'll be a lost opportunity for everyone."

Yeah, you tell them, lady!

 

[Swedish Chef]

3 hours ago, SRAM said:

Interesting Penny mentioned that she is trying to get a new position in her company in PR, maybe the writers are leading up to her doing commercials or producing commercials for her company to link her back to show business again.  I liked the episode, the interaction between Leonard and Pennywas nice, though Leonard screwed the pooch by going to see Gates behind her back, which was funny.  The guys sending Sheldon on a wild goose chase to find Gates was hilarious too.

The writers has mentioned Penny's job situation  for several seasons and nothing has happened so far,my guess is that the writers will forget about this as well, but I like the idea that she could work in PR. 

[bfm]

I really liked this episode! One of the rare ones in which they make use of Johnny's and Kaley's talents!

Leonard messed up, that's for sure, but it was not a big OOC messing up like they had him doing in previous seasons. At least he was trying to make up for it. 

I really liked Lenny's interactions, cute and smooth overall. They seem to be in a good place.

Penny finally having something going on is great, I hope she does get the PR position! I believe this will have a continuation, otherwise they wouldn't have written that line.

Sheldon was funny and in good doses. If he were on more it would be too much, I'm glad they restrained themselves there. His scenes both with Penny and Leonard worked great, showing their great ability to play off each other.

Bernadette and Amy - light and funny. Melissa was missed. I liked the kids shows, although there were some parts I found not that believable, maybe Melissa was trying not to break. 

[veejay]

6 minutes ago, bfm said:

Sheldon was funny and in good doses. If he were on more it would be too much, I'm glad they restrained themselves there. His scenes both with Penny and Leonard worked great, showing their great ability to play off each other.

Exactly. That's what came also to my mind at the end of this story.

[KripkeRules]

Okay episode, nothing great.

 

2 hours ago, Capt. Hilts said:

The Bill Gates story could have been used more.  

Seriously, we didn't need THREE plots: Gates, Stewart, Bernadette/Amy.  They should have dropped the Stewart plot thread to make more of Gates.  It would be okay if we didn't see every character [especially a supporting one like Stewart] every week.

 

AMEN to that, brother!!!

[bfm]

56 minutes ago, joyceraye said:

I caught that too. If it's true some of us here will have nailed it ! Evidence that somebody reads what we write.

This could also be the writers' own idea, getting to the same conclusions. I suggested the name Neil for Armstrong, Diamond and Sedaka before they used it, but it seems that they got to it in a long discussion in the writers room. They also had Penny reject the suggestion she'd leave Leonard foe Gates, but it could be that they got the complaints on "He wore her down/She settled/She'd leave him" jokes via mail.

[joyceraye]

6 minutes ago, bfm said:

This could also be the writers' own idea, getting to the same conclusions. I suggested the name Neil for Armstrong, Diamond and Sedaka before they used it, but it seems that they got to it in a long discussion in the writers room. They also had Penny reject the suggestion she'd leave Leonard foe Gates, but it could be that they got the complaints on "He wore her down/She settled/She'd leave him" jokes via mail.

Good points. I suppose after all, we're only coming up with ideas based on what the writers have written in the first place.

 

 

[ajond]

2 hours ago, Chiany said:

What a boring waste of an episode, hope we go back to the Shamy wedding (preparations) soon.

The cure (Shamy wedding)  is worse than the disease (boring ep).

[Jonny]

I wonder which was a bigger mess up, Penny buying dinner for her and and husband but eating it instead with her close friend. Or her Husband ignoring her request to not get involved in her work because she was going for a new role (to get away from the one she hates) which he ignored potentially embarrassing her and jeopardizing her chances of getting the position?

We will have to see and obviously the writers may have no intention to have Penny change job, that the job angle was created purely because of the Gates story and to make it work storyline wise.

But if Penny doesn't change job is that because of her husband's antics? Can one make an assumption he ruined her chances if we hear nothing about this again?

Edited March 30, 2018 by Jonny

[SRAM]

7 hours ago, Mario D. said:

True  A  promotion to a PR position does not necessarily mean a relocation.  Also, wouldn't it be a conundrum if Penny is offered and accepts the new position and then senses she might be pregnant.  Now that would be a cliffhanger !

Also, did not really like how Leonard was shown as wimpy again. Thought Penny had brought him out of this emotion.  And then the tag scene with Stuart...completely unnecessary.

A tag scene with Leonard sleeping on the couch that night might have been better than another Stuart being perceived as a creep scene.

[bfm]

2 hours ago, Jonny said:

I wonder which was a bigger mess up, Penny buying dinner for her and and husband but eating it instead with her close friend. Or her Husband ignoring her request to not get involved in her work because she was going for a new role (to get away from the one she hates) which he ignored potentially embarrassing her and jeopardizing her chances of getting the position?

We will have to see and obviously the writers may have no intention to have Penny change job, that the job angle was created purely because of the Gates story and to make it work storyline wise.

But if Penny doesn't change job is that because of her husband's antics? Can one make an assumption he ruined her chances if we hear nothing about this again?

Well the latter at least was recognized as a mess up and he apologized, the first just went unnoted by everyone.

I don't think it would mess up her chances, and to be fair Leonard did not expect that Penny would introduce him to Gates so he probably thought it would not have any consequences for her. It was a mess up that's for sure, but I wouldn't go so far as to suggest ot would ruin things for Penny.

 

If you ask Radloff though, only the latter is a mess up and Leonard is an awful jerk. Seriously, I always feel like she's anti-Leonard. Penny makes a mistake - no word, Leonard - oh he's a total jerk!#!@! Same goes with Sheldon, nothing about all of Sheldon's blows toward Leonard but when Leonard messes with him he's a terrible friend. Ugh.