The Big Bang Theory – Episode 2-11 Review

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“The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis” is a perfect title for the holiday season. The guys are in the lunchroom having a heated discussion. Sheldon swears he knows exactly how Superman cleans his uniform. He flies through the sun. The geeks get into a heated argument about whether Superman can get sweat stains out of his uniform since it’s Kryptonian sweat. David Underhill, a winner of the McArthur Genius Grant, arrives in the room. They’re intimidated. But David approaches their table. He wants Leonard to help him set up lab stuff. Leonard goes nuts giving out every phone number he knows.

How does Superman keep his uniform clean? By now that cloth must stink from all the abuse it gets. I was once accused of wearing the same t-shirt for an entire month, but I really had 20 copies of the same t-shirt. It was a giveaway. Why not live your life like a Japanese TV character. It saved on the laundry bill.

The guys are back at the apartment playing wii bowling. They take their cyber lane action seriously. Leonard shows up late. Sheldon is upset that he’s missing out on team night. Turns out Leonard has been hanging with David. The guys realize their pal is now in a Bro-mance. Penny arrives wondering if the guys were setting up a Christmas tree. Sheldon gives a lecture about the pagan nature of a tree. Penny will leave her gifts back at her tree. Sheldon is horrified at her gift cause now he’s obligated to get her a gift. He has gone completely nuts. Howard and Raj laugh at this because its funny when it doesn’t happen to them.

Leonard gets helped up the stairs by David. Turns out he had a motorcycle accident. It fell over while he was starting it. David meets Penny and she’s turned on by the fact that he owns a motorcycle. She can’t believe he’s a physicist. She calls herself queen of the geeks with her love of science. She wants to see his lab. He offers to take her to a lunch after a ride on his bike. Leonard feels like a tool as she walks away with David.

This always stinks when a woman you want to hook up with falls for someone who is playing your same game. There’s no need to go into too many autobiographical details, but it happens. Oddly enough the other guy had a motorcycle. But remember that he’ll eventually lay that bike done. When’s the last time someone was left with a limp from driving a Ford Taurus? Maybe limping from blue balls. Where is Sara Rue this episode? Shouldn’t Leonard be having lots of sex with her so he can forget thinking about Penny on the back of David’s bike? Or at least Sara could suggest a foursome? Although that wouldn’t work out good since you know both gals would be on the Genius Grant Wonderboy.

Sheldon, Howard and Raj are shopping at one of those soap shops at the mall. Raj suggests they buy her build a bear. Sheldon fears bears. He’d rather go nuts debating the size of the bath item gift basket. Sheldon gets really awkward when he hands a basket to a female clerk and asks what their relationship would be according to that gift. She doesn’t take kindly to the geek’s wisdom.

Penny is in the lab lunch room with David. Sheldon is upset to see her in his space since he’d invited her over before. She’s always had excuses that included yoga classes. David wants to skip his real research to focus on getting tequila shots into Penny. Leonard is a bigger tool on his own turf.

This scene mixes the pathos and comedy in healthy doses. He’s not over the girl and he’s really ticked to see her faking interest in science. That was his fantasy involving Penny. She’s too much. It’s going to kill the little guy.

Leonard looks sad as he pouts on the sofa. Raj and Howard enter carrying massive gift baskets. Sheldon’s plan is to get Penny’s gift, sneak into his bedroom, check its price on the internet and give her the properly priced gift basket. He’ll return the rest of the giftbaskets after Christmas. What a great system.

Penny is spiking her egg nog. Leonard walks into her apartment. He demands to know why she broke up with him. She didn’t want to date him because he was so much smarter than her, but David is 10 times smarter. Penny admits that David isn’t that much smarter since he forgot to remove the nude pictures of his wife from his cellphone before taking nude pictures of Penny. She’s not ready to be the mistress of a geek. Leonard tones down and comforts his heartbroken friend. She offers him egg nog, but he’s lactose intolerant. She mentions it’s been mostly rum in the carton for the last half hour. She gives him a smooch on the cheek. The audience gives the “awwwwww” noise at the semi-sweet moment.

Where the hell is Sara Rue? Why didn’t she even get mentioned as being part of this weirdness? Did they really break up when he told her to move out of his bedroom? She worked well with the boys. Did she get pushed out like Oscar’s doctor girlfriend on The Odd Couple? Does this mean Sheldon’s creepy impending romance with Leonard is being delayed?

Penny comes into the apartment ready to exchange gifts. Sheldon is ready to receive her gift. He’s opens the box. It’s a napkin. But not any napkin. It’s signed by Leonard Nimoy. And was used by Nimoy. Sheldon nearly overloads when he realizes he posseses the DNA of Mr. Spock. Sheldon is ready to clone. Sheldon races off with his gift. Penny’s gift to Leonard is a gift certificate for motorcycle lessons. His return gift is a science experiement kit. Sheldon returns with all the gift baskets. He’s in a panic because it’s not enough. He breaks down and gives her the most uncomfortable hug every filmed.

Jim Parsons was robbed of his glory when he didn’t get a Golden Globe nomination. How could they have given one to Kevin Connolly of Entourage? Parson’s hug is more comedy than anything on that tragic star trip on HBO. Even though he was the “B” story this week, he brought a complete “A” game. You could almost see smoke coming from his ears while plotting to clone Nimoy. How does he tap that much geek joy?

This was a proper geek Christmas special.

Joe Corey is the writer and director of "Danger! Health Films" currently streaming on Night Flight and Amazon Prime. He's the author of "The Seven Secrets of Great Walmart People Greeters." This is the last how to get a job book you'll ever need. He was Associate Producer of the documentary "Moving Midway." He's worked as local crew on several reality shows including Candid Camera, American's Most Wanted, Extreme Makeover Home Edition and ESPN's Gaters. He's been featured on The Today Show and CBS's 48 Hours. Dom DeLuise once said, "Joe, you look like an axe murderer." He was in charge of research and programming at the Moving Image Archive.