Is it ok for scientists to be sexy? When Bernadette is chosen to
appear in a sexy magazine spread honoring California’s sexiest female
scientists, Amy disapproves. She believes women in their profession work
hard enough to be taken seriously as it is and posing for pictures in
their lingerie won’t help their cause. Bernadette argues that women
should be able to be thought of as both smart and sexy. She gets some
support from Penny who acknowledges that she uses her sexuality to get
ahead at her pharmaceuticals sales job all the time.
Bernadette doesn’t get a chance to pose however, as the shoot gets
cancelled. Amy later confesses that she’s the reason behind it. She sent
an angry email to the company accusing them of sexism for not featuring
male scientists as well. The two argue and some harsh words are
exchanged which leads to Amy storming out.
Later on we see the downside of relying on your sexuality at the
workplace. Sheldon runs into a sad sack doctor (played brilliantly by
guest star Billy Bob Thorton) in the hallway who has a bouquet of
flowers for Penny, who he believes has feelings for him. His reasoning?
She winked at him seductively and touched his arm for “two
Mississippi’s”. When Leonard explains to Dr. Lorvis that Penny is his
fiance, Sheldon invites the disappointed doctor into their apartment for
hot beverages.
Penny is not pleased with this development, but does admit to Leonard
that she doesn’t wear her engagement ring at work. Leonard takes this
admission in stride, which speaks to how strong their relationship has
become. He agrees to get Dr. Lorvis out of the apartment, which ends up
being a breeze after the doctor, a self proclaimed “urologist to the
stars”, invites all the guys to his place to check out his ‘Star Trek’
memorabilia.
Once they arrive, the guys are blown away. His basement is full of
arcade games, robots and set pieces from all of their favorite movies.
Recognizing their similarities, the doc asks how Leonard ever managed to
land a girl like Penny.
“Implacable and relentless badgering,” Sheldon deadpans.
Dr. Lorvis takes this as a sign he has a shot with Penny too and
leaves the guys in his basement, locking the door behind him. When he
gets to the apartment he runs into Amy who is touched by his confession
that he arrived to seek out love. Unfortunately she makes the mistake of
touching his arm, causing him to trade his affections. Penny finds the
two in the hallway and sets the doc straight, but the girls are alarmed
to learn their boyfriends have been locked in the doctors basement.
At episode’s end Penny, Amy and Bernadette burst into the basement to
rescue their men. It would have been a nice display of female
empowerment, had the guys actually looked up from their intense game of
'Donkey Kong' and taken notice.
