# The big Bang Theory, Season 8, Episode 3 (September 29, 2014) -- "The First Pitch Insufficiency" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 29, 2014, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859 "2014-09-29T14:01:28Z")\ **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:** [September 29, 2014, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859/1 "2014-09-29T14:01:28Z")
I’m starting this thread in anticipation of tonight’s episode. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859/2 "2014-09-30T01:04:06Z")
Hey, (patting myself on the back) I got the homage to Ed Norton on the Honeymooners correctly (according to the vanity card) correct. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859/3 "2014-09-30T01:18:52Z")
Penny’s hair is getting worse, if such a thing is possible. She looks like a 70s era porn star. Hoping we aren’t in for a seasons worth of “doubts about the relationship angst” from Penny and Leonard. The Wolowitz story was mediocre. Could have been better if he’d unveiled some slickly engineered gadget to simulate a pitch, and it actually worked… ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859/4 "2014-09-30T01:21:36Z")
This episode had me wondering why the hell Bernadette was with Howard at all, and also convinced me that Leonard and Penny are a terrible couple. The second episode – the repeat from last season – was a stark contrast, where you could actually see why these people don’t loathe each other. More of that, please. > [@notfrommensa](#): > > Hey, (patting myself on the back) I got the homage to Ed Norton on the Honeymooners correctly (according to the vanity card) correct. That was one of the best vanity cards I’ve seen from him. Instead of extreme narcissism, it was an interesting insight into the episode. More of that too, please. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859/5 "2014-09-30T01:31:43Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > This episode had me wondering why the hell Bernadette was with Howard at all. I was waiting for her to yell something like “Oh, for crying out loud!” and then run onto the field, snatch the ball, and pitch it herself, as if they had it all planned that way. Would have been much funnier! ---
**Author:** ![Polerius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d78d45/32.png) [@Polerius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polerius)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859/6 "2014-09-30T04:32:37Z")
Terrible episode. The humor is stale and repetitive, and not really that witty or funny. One more of these and I’m done with the show. It’s had a good run, but it’s time to be put out to pasture. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859/7 "2014-09-30T04:38:27Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > The Wolowitz story was mediocre. Could have been better if he’d unveiled some slickly engineered gadget to simulate a pitch, and it actually worked… That’s what I thought he was going to do, which bugged me because it’s not like pitching machines are anything new. Also, I don’t know why they had to run the rover so slow and have everyone boo him, he could have tweaked it to it ran faster and would have been a better storyline for him and sort of demonstrated the point he was trying to make to the kids (if you’re not good at something (or can’t do it at all), science can help you). ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859/8 "2014-09-30T06:48:30Z")
Penny’s hair is now just terrible. Why did they ever do this? The Howard story was just plain dismal and awful. They couldn’t make this show suck any more if they were trying to make it suck. Is there a possibility they want to make this show just go right down the drain? It seems like they are intentionally wrecking the show - intentionally causing it to lose all its viewers. Is it possible they could have some kind of insurance policy that pays off if their ratings fall beneath some specific number? Kind of like a business owner with fire insurance deliberately setting fire to their business. I know that doesn’t make any sense. But how can the dismal dive in quality be explained? If it wasn’t absurd, I might guess they turned the writing and production of this show over to a group of amateurs and Chuck Lorre and all his staff are busy working on something else. How else would you explain what is going on with this show? I can’t imagine any possible explanation. It doesn’t make any sense. It is no longer funny at all. Not the slightest bit funny. ---
**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:** [September 30, 2014, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859/9 "2014-09-30T12:47:37Z")
Sheldon has gone from being socially clueless to being an out and out asshole. All 3 episodes this season have reinforced that. I can’t deal with another season of Leonard-and-Penny drama/whining/blah-blah. Their storyline should have died out ages ago and they both should have moved on. Agree that Howard should have had a win for this one, and I don’t like the way Bernadette has become so bitchy and mean. So, yeah, I’m about done with the show, too. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859/10 "2014-09-30T12:53:08Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I was waiting for her to yell something like “Oh, for crying out loud!” and then run onto the field, snatch the ball, and pitch it herself, as if they had it all planned that way. > > Would have been much funnier! That’s exactly what I was thinking! ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859/11 "2014-09-30T13:14:31Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > Agree that Howard should have had a win for this one, and I don’t like the way Bernadette has become so bitchy and mean. I think making Bernadette as a shrill harpy is one way to explain why she is in Howard’s league. If her personality was as adorable as her appearance then Howard wouldn’t stand a chance. I liked how everybody else was ragging Penny for her drinking. Hopefully it doesn’t mean a very special intervention episode is coming. ---
**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:** [September 30, 2014, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859/12 "2014-09-30T13:20:18Z")
As soon as I saw Howard doing the gyrations, etc. when in the gym I thought “Ed Norton.” Didn’t need to read the vanity card. The only funny lines were from Amy. And I’m already tired of Bernie being shrill and turning into Howard’s mother. The only decent story line this season is Stuart living in Howard’s mother’s house. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859/13 "2014-09-30T14:21:36Z")
Is it just me or have they stopped making geek-references in the episodes this season? I don’t recall any SF/Superhero/D&D jokes so far. Not that they necessarily need them, but it is one of the things that set the series apart from other sitcoms. ---
**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:** [September 30, 2014, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859/14 "2014-09-30T14:38:36Z")
Let’s not have all the pre-marital angst from Penny. Just let them get married and be done with it. I was thinking Ed Norton, too and that Bernadette made a perfect Kramden. The whole stadium bit was lame. Sheldon was surprised to stay and watch the game? Really? That schtick of bribing him like a little kid got stale a long time ago. Best bit of the whole show was Bernie imitating Howard’s run. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859/15 "2014-09-30T15:23:05Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > The whole stadium bit was lame. Sheldon was surprised to stay and watch the game? Really? That schtick of bribing him like a little kid got stale a long time ago. This is actually really common for friends and family of someone being “honored” at a game. A friend of a friend performed the national anthem at a minor league soccer game last year. My friend (and his family) left before the end of the first half. Basically, enough time to hear the anthem, eat a hot dog, and go. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859/16 "2014-09-30T16:22:11Z")
Maybe the show is just tired now but something seems off this season. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859/17 "2014-09-30T16:28:58Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > Maybe the show is just tired now but something seems off this season. I’m hoping that it will get funnier as the season progresses. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859/18 "2014-09-30T16:33:14Z")
I think that Amy should elaborately plan to get Sheldon drunk and then \*\*\*\*\* ensues and there is a serious discussion of date rape, while Amy gets sent to women’s prison and lives very happily ever after. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859/19 "2014-09-30T16:33:52Z")
I didn’t see this ep. What is this “vanity card” of which you speak? ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859/20 "2014-09-30T16:36:38Z")
> [@terentii](#): > > I was waiting for her to yell something like “Oh, for crying out loud!” and then run onto the field, snatch the ball, and pitch it herself, as if they had it all planned that way. > > Would have been much funnier! I was actually expecting that! Oh hell, I see now I wasn’t the only one! We should be writing this show. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-episode-3-september-29-2014-the-first-pitch-insufficiency/699859.md?page=2)