By Kofi Outlaw
It was sex, burgers and Violins this week on THE BIG BANG THEORY. No the dynamic-dork-duo did not visit the Playboy Club, but rather helped the show live up to its name, by having sensitive nerd Leonard (Johnny Galecki) enjoy some action in the bedroom.
The episode kicked off with Leonard and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) “taking a walk on the wild side” by venturing outside their usual Tuesday routine of a Bob’s Big Boy dinner, in order to dine at the restaurant where hot neighbor Penny (Kaley Cuoco) was a waitress. (Note to set designers, Penny was supposed to be working at the Cheescake Factory. The quaint restaurant on last night’s ep. was definitely not TCF.) While talking with Penny, Leonard and Sheldon were greeted by fellow physicist Leslie (Sara Gilbert, Galecki’s on-screen flame from ROSANNE,) who happened to be dining there as well. Penny quickly picked up on the sexual tension between Leonard and Leslie (aided by Sheldon’s blabber mouth) and made the off-handed comment that Leslie and Leonard “would’ve been a cute couple,” a remark which sends Leonard into neurotic tailspin, wondering whether Penny was being genuine or subconsciously reveling in the fact that Leonard was still available.
When Leslie comes over to Leonard and Sheldon’s apartment for string-quartet practice, she confesses to Leonard (after a furious bout of dueling strings) that despite thwarting his past advances, she wanted some loving from him then and there. Sheldon comes home to find his best friend’s door locked and a tie hung over the knob. Confused, he solicited Penny’s help to decipher the mysterious totem, which Penny gladly explained, simultaneously realizing that Leonard may be more desirable than she’d originally thought.
With the deed done, Leslie left Leonard feeling like he no longer had to chase the pipe-dream of Penny, since he had a good catch already in his lap. Literally. Leslie, however, had a different opinion, telling Leonard (in full nerd-speak) that she was simply satisfying a bio-chemical prerogative by sleeping with him, and that she is not interested in any intimate relationship (words that the average guy would’ve been more than happy to hear.)
The episode ended with Leonard and Sheldon once again running into Penny, who conveyed mock pity (laced with relief) upon hearing that things between Leonard and Leslie were not going to work out. Is there hope for Leonard and Penny becoming an item perhaps? Leonard was left spiraling into his own neurosis, pondering that very question.
I don’t have much to comment on this week’s TBBT, only to say that I was happy to see my boy Leonard finally get some action, proving to Penny that she wasn’t the only desirable POA in the equation. Hopefully that development will kick-start the transition of Penny’s character from unattainable hot-girl, to a very real prospect in Leonard’s future. I would grab a front seat just to see the episode where Leonard and Penny finally brave the awkward mechanics of trying to sleep together.