- Title: The Big Bang Theory – The Hesitation Ramification
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What should have been a happy night to watch and enjoy Penny‘s (Kaley Cuoco) big break with a small role in an episode of NCIS ends in misery for both Penny, when she discovers her only scene was cut from the episode, and for Leonard (Johnny Galecki), who manages to stick both feet in his mouth while attempting to offer his girlfriend support. His hesitation later when his drunken girlfriend proposes to him doesn’t earn him any points either.
“The Hesitation Ramification” includes a pair of (mostly phoned-in) B-stories. In the first, Sheldon (Jim Parsons) attempts to work on a definitive theory of comedy after learning none of his friends find him funny. And in the second, Raj (Kunal Nayyar) and Stuart (Kevin Sussman) hit the mall in a poorly-thought-out attempt to try and help Raj talk to strangers.
Despite the fact that neither back-up story is more than filler, I’m going to give The Big Bang Theory credit for choosing not to have Penny “make it” (at least so far) as an actress (especially given the number of times the show has joked about her actual prowess). As Leonard comments the percentage of working actresses that actually make it is amazingly small and I hope (but have serious doubts about the writers’ intentions) that the show ends without Penny ever achieving her big break. As to her drunken proposal, the show makes an interesting choice to focus not on whether or not a drunken Penny really knew what she was doing but Leonard’s introspection on what prevented him from saying yes.
