# The Big Bang Theory 5/12--The Engagement Reaction **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 12, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-5-12-the-engagement-reaction/581655 "2011-05-12T15:20:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-5-12-the-engagement-reaction/581655/21 "2011-05-13T17:48:51Z")
It’s just typical continuity errors. One thing I learned by watching _the Simpsons_ DVD commentaries, was how little the people working on the show know about it. If I knew that little about any job I ever had, I never would have gotten it to begin with. But the show was pretty good. I just dislike the Penny wanting Leonard dynamic. As I’ve said, this has been done to death, from _Cheers_ to _The Nanny_ to all sorts of other sitcoms. Penny just seems to be sitting around dateless waiting for Leonard. It doesn’t seem to realistic that Penny wouldn’t be at least getting asked out a lot I don’t care for Howard being engaged, because he was much funnier as a “pervert” trying to get sex. Bernadette is fine, and I like her but she keeps Howard from being his old perverted self. Raj seems to be comfortable with both Penny and Bernadette, and it’s about time. Raj and his friends are highly educated and while having a social phobia is fine, they are intelligent to help their friend. I wish they’d bring back Leslie Winkle for an episode and also that MD that Leonard dated for an episode. (I believe she’s lost a lot of weight). It’d be fun to see them, not as regulars but as guest shots. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-5-12-the-engagement-reaction/581655/22 "2011-05-13T22:20:01Z")
Did anybody notice all the family pictures on the wall behind Howard? It makes me wonder if they’re planning to show his mom in the future. If they do my guess is Roseanne Barr, who the woman in the pictures resembles, can have a strident voice, and has worked with Chuck Lorre/Leonard Galecki/Sarah Gilbert/Laurie Metcalf before ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-5-12-the-engagement-reaction/581655/23 "2011-05-14T01:38:23Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Did anybody notice all the family pictures on the wall behind Howard? It makes me wonder if they’re planning to show his mom in the future. If they do my guess is Roseanne Barr, who the woman in the pictures resembles, can have a strident voice, and has worked with Chuck Lorre/Leonard Galecki/Sarah Gilbert/Laurie Metcalf before Extremely doubtful because the person you’re thinking of had [this to say](http://www.movieline.com/2011/03/roseanne-diagnoses-charlie-sheen-rightly-accuses-chuck-lorre-of-writing-shtty-soul-crushing-comedy.php)about Chuck Lorre. > [@](#): > > …those sh_t chuck lorre lines could choke a f_cking horse, and render any actor who recites them stone cold soul dead. Of course, that was back in March, so who knows. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-5-12-the-engagement-reaction/581655/24 "2011-05-14T02:32:15Z")
Money talks, so if they want her, they’ll get her. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-5-12-the-engagement-reaction/581655/25 "2011-05-14T03:07:31Z")
I personally think the actress who plays Bernadette is the voice of Mrs. Wolowitz as well. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-5-12-the-engagement-reaction/581655/26 "2011-05-14T03:08:32Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > Extremely doubtful because the person you’re thinking of had [this to say](http://www.movieline.com/2011/03/roseanne-diagnoses-charlie-sheen-rightly-accuses-chuck-lorre-of-writing-shtty-soul-crushing-comedy.php)about Chuck Lorre. > Of course, that was back in March, so who knows. Damn, that’s harsh. And is TaaHM really a Tea Party audience? Okay, scratch that theory. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-5-12-the-engagement-reaction/581655/27 "2011-05-14T03:29:22Z")
> [@DSeid](#): > > I personally think the actress who plays Bernadette is the voice of Mrs. Wolowitz as well. The actress who plays Mrs Wolowitz isn’t really [a secret](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0839836/). ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-5-12-the-engagement-reaction/581655/28 "2011-05-14T03:39:43Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > The actress who plays Mrs Wolowitz isn’t really [a secret](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0839836/). I think it actually was [her](http://www.google.com/search?q=Carol+Ann+Susi&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wi&biw=1407&bih=697) in some of the pictures on the wall. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-5-12-the-engagement-reaction/581655/29 "2011-05-15T17:17:41Z")
Does this looked like [Mrs. Wolowitz](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.movieprop.com/tvandmovie/reviews/secretofmysuccessecretary.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.movieprop.com/tvandmovie/reviews/secretofmycharacters.htm&usg=__A6WSWx3RnzZGfu-nSpomTTdsqhI=&h=164&w=233&sz=5&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=k4-Be2pdQr87FM:&tbnh=125&tbnw=140&ei=dArQTe-tB8v3gAeL4624DA&prev=/search%3Fq%3DCarol%2BAnn%2BSusi%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26sa%3DN%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26biw%3D1407%26bih%3D697%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=370&vpy=110&dur=47&hovh=131&hovw=186&tx=76&ty=72&page=1&ndsp=8&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0)? ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-5-12-the-engagement-reaction/581655/30 "2011-05-15T18:27:27Z")
[The real Mrs. Wolowitz](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcvr8Sp3rXk) ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-5-12-the-engagement-reaction/581655/31 "2011-05-15T20:16:25Z")
I envision Mimi Bobeck (Kathy Kinney) as Mrs Wolowitz. ---
**Author:** ![Pashnish\_Ewing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8797f3/32.png) [@Pashnish\_Ewing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pashnish_Ewing)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-5-12-the-engagement-reaction/581655/32 "2011-05-15T23:07:06Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > [The real Mrs. Wolowitz](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcvr8Sp3rXk) She also went on a date with Costanza in the JFK episode of Seinfeld. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-5-12-the-engagement-reaction/581655/33 "2011-05-16T17:56:35Z")
This is who I envision as Mrs. Wolowitz - [Estelle Harris as Estelle Costanza](http://www.voote.com/images/00012/Reg.1236.6.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-5-12-the-engagement-reaction/581655/34 "2011-05-17T16:04:34Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > It’s just typical continuity errors. One thing I learned by watching _the Simpsons_ DVD commentaries, was how little the people working on the show know about it. > > If I knew that little about any job I ever had, I never would have gotten it to begin with. > > But the show was pretty good. I just dislike the Penny wanting Leonard dynamic. As I’ve said, this has been done to death, from _Cheers_ to _The Nanny_ to all sorts of other sitcoms. > > Penny just seems to be sitting around dateless waiting for Leonard. It doesn’t seem to realistic that Penny wouldn’t be at least getting asked out a lot > > I don’t care for Howard being engaged, because he was much funnier as a “pervert” trying to get sex. Bernadette is fine, and I like her but she keeps Howard from being his old perverted self. > > Raj seems to be comfortable with both Penny and Bernadette, and it’s about time. Raj and his friends are highly educated and while having a social phobia is fine, they are intelligent to help their friend. > > I wish they’d bring back Leslie Winkle for an episode and also that MD that Leonard dated for an episode. (I believe she’s lost a lot of weight). It’d be fun to see them, not as regulars but as guest shots. I miss Howard being portrayed as a sex-starved pervert, as well. But I do enjoy seeing Bernadette – she’s cute as a button, and also very funny! And you’re right about Penny – she should be getting plenty of offers for dates! They are playing the “moping around, waiting for Leonard to mess up with Priya” angle a bit much. She should be getting on with her life! ---
**Author:** ![Iggins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Iggins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggins)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-5-12-the-engagement-reaction/581655/35 "2011-05-17T20:58:47Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > I liked Raj being a bit more interesting, and capable, a character – he’s been the punching bag of the show for too long, to see him actually getting some punches of his own in was rather satisfying. > > But, I’m going to need some explanation of the vanity card again – is it still about the Sheen thing? Was that really that much of a life changing event? My wife noticed the same thing - she wondered why was he acting so differently than usual. We both really liked the improved Raj. Hope he sticks around for a while. And, yep, I read card that as being about Mr. Sheen. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-5-12-the-engagement-reaction/581655/36 "2011-05-17T21:57:34Z")
I do like the fact that Mrs W does like Bernadette (despite not being Jewish) Penny has had some dates, but yes she could have more. Brian ---
**Author:** ![sawgrass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@sawgrass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sawgrass)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-5-12-the-engagement-reaction/581655/37 "2013-12-06T18:58:33Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Wait a freaking minute…Didn’t Sheldon take Penny to the emergency room with no anguish the time she slipped in the shower and dislocated her sholder? If the writers cannot remember that, then they are each and every one of them a putz. > > That complete and utter major inconsistancy spoiled the entire episode for me. Though I did love Bernadette at the end. > [@Diz](#): > > When Leonard was dating that doctor, Sheldon also showed up at the hospital to have all sorts of tests run on him. Though I suppose it’s hard to say if that’s an inconsistency or just a different manifestation of the same germ phobia… So, please forgive me for digging up a 2.5 year-old thread, but I just saw this episode yesterday (not sure how I ever missed it), and I agree with Annie-Xmas - the hospital inconsistency spoiled the episode for me. It was a major plot hole, as I see it. Even if we accept the explanation that Sheldon was experiencing a germ-phobia compulsion that he was not experiencing during his previous trips to the hospital, that doesn’t explain the deficiencies of the laundry room scene. While trying to convince Sheldon to come to the hospital, why wouldn’t Penny have reminded Sheldon that he took her to the hospital without incident or concern? And why wouldn’t Leonard have called him out on the fact that he went with his mother to get a cat-scan of his head without complaint? As worried as he was about being exposed to illness from Leonard and Raj’s germs, shouldn’t Sheldon have WANTED to go the hospital so that he could try to have tests run on him, as he did in Diz’s example of the Vartabedian Conundrum, where he not only went to the hospital voluntarily, but by himself? The writers dropped the ball here. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2013, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-5-12-the-engagement-reaction/581655/38 "2013-12-06T19:58:19Z")
The inter-episode continuity problems with this show are legion. Sheldon is either allergic or not allergic to cats as need be. Penny’s father has two different names. The geography of their street address and it’s relation to Colorado Blvd. makes no sense. And so on. This was a little one. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-5-12-the-engagement-reaction/581655/39 "2013-12-07T16:40:33Z")
Turns out I had this sitting on my DVR, so I watched it last night. I agree with **Dex** that the run-up to this with Sheldon drinking out of Leonard’s glass and using his napkin, and thinking he was drinking from Raj’s water bottle made Sheldon particularly germophobic at this particular time. We had a recent thread where examples of Sheldon drinking were mentioned. He also drinks in this episode: vodka to sterilize his mouth. He intended to only rinse his mouth but accidentally swallowed enough to affect him. I didn’t see any pictures on the wall near the bathroom that might have meant to be Howard’s mom. Kids and old people. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-5-12-the-engagement-reaction/581655.md?page=1)