# The Big Bang Theory, Season 8, Episode 20 (April 9, 2015) -- "The Fortification Implementation" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 9, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-20-april-9-2015-the-fortification-implementation/717246 "2015-04-09T18:55:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-20-april-9-2015-the-fortification-implementation/717246/1 "2015-04-09T18:55:21Z")
I am starting this thread in anticipation of tonight’s episode. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-20-april-9-2015-the-fortification-implementation/717246/2 "2015-04-10T01:12:45Z")
OK, I’ll say it. Great episode, best of the season. Ran 3 story lines and all 3 delivered laughs. Love the 3 guest appearances. Especially the Kevin Smith joking around. Loved the _Stand by Me_ Line. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-20-april-9-2015-the-fortification-implementation/717246/3 "2015-04-10T01:21:17Z")
each story had a few laughs. each story ran on with some longstanding elements a bit long. more funny than not. ---
**Author:** ![Tinker\_Grey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tinker_grey/32/8136_2.png) [@Tinker\_Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tinker_Grey)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-20-april-9-2015-the-fortification-implementation/717246/4 "2015-04-10T01:27:00Z")
I always like it when Sheldon treats Amy warmly. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-20-april-9-2015-the-fortification-implementation/717246/5 "2015-04-10T02:31:24Z")
I hope they bring Howard’s brother back. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-20-april-9-2015-the-fortification-implementation/717246/6 "2015-04-10T11:20:33Z")
Once again, I just wanted the whole Penny-Leonard relationship to go away. Apart from never finding it believable, Leonard is just being too much of a jerk about her wanting to act. Does he really expect her to throw that dream away now that she has a real job? And how is it that he has no idea how much money his fiancee makes? Totally beyond the realm of credibility, as far as I’m concerned. I loved Amy pulling out her overnight bag - that cracked me up! And I liked Howard’s story line - I wouldn’t mind seeing more of his brother, but I hope his father remains as invisible as his mother was. Overall, I enjoyed the episode. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-20-april-9-2015-the-fortification-implementation/717246/7 "2015-04-10T12:25:32Z")
The Howard arc was pretty dull, in my opinion. Bernadette phoned it in and wasn’t given much to work with. How is it the Wolowitz boys never knew of each other? Where is Stuart living? The Penny-Leonard arc is getting a bit stale. I mean jeez, Leonard. You’re going to marry a hottie that makes more than you do. What about that needs improvement? But I do find her lucrative salary a bit on the unbelievable side. Shamy was cute this time. But really, Sheldon, a load bearing blanket? A material with no compressive strength is load bearing? And why did you have clotheslines handy? If this is the best of the season, it’s been a pitiful season. ---
**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:** [April 10, 2015, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-20-april-9-2015-the-fortification-implementation/717246/8 "2015-04-10T12:34:45Z")
That was the best acting I have ever seen from Wil Wheaton, ever. Including when he does his own [real podcast](http://www.radiofreeburrito.com/). ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-20-april-9-2015-the-fortification-implementation/717246/9 "2015-04-10T12:40:29Z")
Can someone recap the money conversation for me? The dvr happily recorded a tornado watch interruption instead. ---
**Author:** ![tikhung01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@tikhung01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tikhung01)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-20-april-9-2015-the-fortification-implementation/717246/10 "2015-04-10T12:59:58Z")
Best episode I’ve ever seen in a while. Season 8’s sucked so far IMO. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-20-april-9-2015-the-fortification-implementation/717246/11 "2015-04-10T13:05:04Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > I hope they bring Howard’s brother back. Yeah, me too! ---
**Author:** ![Algernon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a183cd/32.png) [@Algernon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Algernon)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-20-april-9-2015-the-fortification-implementation/717246/12 "2015-04-10T13:20:58Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > But I do find her lucrative salary a bit on the unbelievable side. Big Pharma Sales Rep vs Grad Student? (or Postdoc, not sure). Totally believable. ---
**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:** [April 10, 2015, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-20-april-9-2015-the-fortification-implementation/717246/13 "2015-04-10T13:25:35Z")
Wil Wheaton was good, but I liked “evil” Wil better. Howard’s finding out his father had a second family is hardly unbelievable–by pure coincidence, I’m reading Reeve Lindberg’s book Forward from Here were she found out her father, Charles Lindberg, had THREE other families and she had five half-brothers and two half-sister she didn’t know about for over 30 years!!! The Shamy story was the best of the three. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-20-april-9-2015-the-fortification-implementation/717246/14 "2015-04-10T13:25:53Z")
> [@Algernon](#): > > Big Pharma Sales Rep vs Grad Student? (or Postdoc, not sure). Totally believable. He’s a PhD and she’s in the first year as a sales rep. Maybe they move up in salary really quick, but I’m not buying it. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-20-april-9-2015-the-fortification-implementation/717246/15 "2015-04-10T13:27:56Z")
Were Howard’s parents divorced? I figured he just took a powder. Whatever. The Leonard-Penny money dispute was redonk. Leonard makes decent money as does Sheldon. Remember the $50 bill in Green Lantern’s ass? ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-20-april-9-2015-the-fortification-implementation/717246/16 "2015-04-10T13:31:21Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > That was the best acting I have ever seen from Wil Wheaton, ever. Including when he does his own [real podcast](http://www.radiofreeburrito.com/). Yeah, that was hilarious! It does make sense that there would be a cult-following for Penny’s “Serial Apist” movies… ---
**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:** [April 10, 2015, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-20-april-9-2015-the-fortification-implementation/717246/17 "2015-04-10T13:34:47Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > He’s a PhD and she’s in the first year as a sales rep. Maybe they move up in salary really quick, but I’m not buying it. Bernie got her the job, and her boss is scared shitless of her. I believe it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-20-april-9-2015-the-fortification-implementation/717246/18 "2015-04-10T13:41:00Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Can someone recap the money conversation for me? The dvr happily recorded a tornado watch interruption instead. Kevin Smith called into the podcast to praise the movie and Penny’s performance, and to offer her a possible acting job. Leonard discouraged her, and it came up that she’s making twice his salary. This was news to him. He whined that he’d spent half his life in school and was still paying off student loans (implying, perhaps, that she didn’t deserve to make as much as she did). She offered to help him with paying off the loans, but that only made it worse for him. As for the plausibility of Penny making that much; remember that it’s a commissioned sales jobs, and presumably she’s effective at it. It’s completely believable that she might make that much. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-20-april-9-2015-the-fortification-implementation/717246/19 "2015-04-10T13:51:39Z")
Penny has all the necessary attributes to make a killing in commissioned sales: a pretty face, decent boobs and the ability to turn off her conscience at will. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-20-april-9-2015-the-fortification-implementation/717246/20 "2015-04-10T13:52:51Z")
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