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"The First Pitch Insufficiency" is the third episode of the eighth season of the American sitcom The Big Bang Theory. The episode aired September 29, 2014.
Summary
Howard has been asked by NASA to throw out the first pitch at a Los Angeles Angels baseball game. Sheldon, Amy, Penny and Leonard get into an argument over which couple has the best relationship.
Extended Plot
At Leonard's place Howard is practicing throwing a baseball in front of the TV. NASA has asked him to throw out the first pitch at a Los Angeles Angels baseball game. Raj is throwing insults at him to simulate the fans. Sheldon claims to be the best athlete of the group while Penny mentions how sad it was watching her boyfriend play Quidditch in Griffith Park.
Sheldon and Amy are returning from a dinner date where Sheldon lectured the waiter on the history of Cornwall England because they were having Cornish game hen. They are planning another date together the next night because Sheldon missed some dates on his train trip during the summer. Leonard and Penny get invited to come.
Bernadette massages Howard's arm after his virtual baseball practice which amuses Bernadette as does the way that Howard runs. She wants him to practice running out to the mound.
Penny is getting ready and is surprised that Sheldon wants to go to a pub. He did not like Amy's idea of a picnic, but he knows that they serve Yorkshire pudding at the pub and can't wait to lecture the waiter about Yorkshire England. Amy and Sheldon voted on the idea of the pub date and it passed unanimously. After Leonard jokes about it, Sheldon feels that they are just jealous with how great the Shamy relationship is. Leonard and Penny are surprised as Sheldon rates the quality of the relationships in their social group: Sheldon/Amy, Howard/Bernadette, Raj and Emily,Penny/Chardonnay, Penny/Leonard. Leonard argues that you can't rank relationships and that Lenny would not be at the bottom.
At the Caltech gym, Raj and Bernadette are setting up a 60 foot distance to help Howard practice throwing. Bernadette is coaching him while Raj tries to encourage him this time. After Howard takes too much time getting ready psyching himself up, Bernadette gets exasperated and yells at him to just throw it. Driving the pub, Leonard wants to know how the Shamy is a better couple since they spend hours doing separate things when they spend time together. Sheldon calls this parallel play and they do it much better than toddlers do. Leonard also reminds them that they can't do anything without consulting their Relationship Agreement. Sheldon has no problem with contracts and that their relationship is still very hot.
At the pub, Amy gets to have one of Sheldon's fries, but not a bite of Sheldon's burger. The burger has avocado on it and Amy is allergic. Sheldon wants to know if Leonard wants Amy to risk death just to prove their relationship argument. Leonard still insists you can't quantify the quality of a relationship. Sheldon again disagrees and announces that according to the Berscheid, Snyder, and Omoto scale, the Shamy ranks an 8.2 out of 10. Leonard wants to take the test with Penny who disagrees and leaves to get a drink at the bar. Amy decides to credit Sheldon with two dates since the other couple is a lot of work. Back at the gym, Bernadette wonders if Howard is getting better. Howard screams to watch out as the ball just rolls to their feet. Leonard goes over to the bar and asks Penny if she is mad. She isn't, but tells him to not be stupid. Penny doesn't want to take the test to get a score that will make her worried since she is already worried about their relationship. They are engaged and she is worried that they have nothing in common. Leonard admits to having similar feelings. Penny tells him that his blind infatuation with her is the rock that their relationship is built on. That is something they have in common, jokes Leonard. Another fact is that neither of them find him funny. Sheldon and Amy are sitting at the table just eating and not interacting. Howard seeks some advice from fellow astronaut Mike Massimino. He tells him to not do it since he couldn't even throw a pen while weightless in the space station. Howard thanks him for the pep talk. Mike also wonders how he got a wife that is as cute as Bernadette.
As Penny and Leonard return to the table, they apologize and admit they should have never compared their relationships. It doesn't bother Sheldon because he feels he won. Leonard tells him to go up against Raj and Cinnamon for a real challenge. Penny decides she wants to take the test. Leonard doesn't care what the score is. Marriage is scary, but that doesn't mean he doesn't want to do it. He wants to do it with Penny facing all their problems together. Amy is enchanted by Leonard's affection and wishes Sheldon would say things like that. Sheldon retorts that they have a 8.2 together and she should trust him that they ARE happy.
At the baseball game, the gang is in the bleachers, while Bernadette and Howard are on the pitcher's mound. While the others are planning on enjoying the game, Sheldon wants to watch the pitch and then head to Disneyland. Amy tells him that if he stays, she'll get him some cotton candy and a bobble-head doll. On the mound, Howard decided to have the Mars rover throw the ball, but it takes so long that the fans start booing. Sheldon wants to leave, go to Disneyland and come back later to see the end of the pitch.
Notes
- Title Reference: The title refers to the inability of Howard to execute the ceremonial first pitch at a Los Angeles Angels baseball game.
- Taping date: September 3, 2014.
- Chuck Lorre's vanity card. TBA
- This episode was watched by xx.xx million people with a rating of x.x (adults 18-49).
- Total viewers including DVR users xx.xx million.
- The Big Bang Theory was ranked #x for the week ending 27 September, 2014.
- This episode aired in Canada on September 29, 2014 with xx million viewers with a weekly ranking of #X.
- In the United Kingdom, this episode aired on {date} with xx million viewers and a weekly ranking of #X.
- In Australia, it aired on {date} with x million viewers.
Critics
To be entered.
Trivia
- This episode involves baseball.
- According to a tweet by Bill Prady, this is one of the few BBT episodes filmed outdoors away from the WB Studos.
- Filmed first pitch at LA Angels baseball game.
- The title sounds like Penny is presenting her first sales pitch, but it is really a Howard Wolowitz episode.
Quotes
Gallery
References
- [1] Taping Report by MichyGeary
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