# The Big Bang Theory, Season 8 Premiere, September 22, 2014 -- "The Locomotion Interruption" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 19, 2014, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953 "2014-09-19T17:50:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953/21 "2014-09-23T02:18:32Z")
Not sure what was more disappointing those two episodes or Penny’s new hair. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953/22 "2014-09-23T03:11:20Z")
Monday night is killing me. This show head to head with _Gotham_, followed by _Sleepy Hollow_ vs _Scorpion_, followed by \*The Blacklist \*all against football. It’s unpossible. ☹ Gotham will be rerun on Friday in my area, but still…:mad: That said, I got few chuckles from the two episodes tonight. Wasn’t great, wasn’t terrible. Still hate Penny’s hair. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953/23 "2014-09-23T03:31:17Z")
I enjoyed seeing Bernie unsheathe her claws. ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953/24 "2014-09-23T03:50:56Z")
I never realized how much my enjoyment of this show depended on Kaley Cuoco having pretty hair. Without the eye candy to serve as a distraction one finds one’s self paying attention to how lazy the writing can be. It is nice to see Stephen Root getting work. He was Penny’s interviewer and voiced Bill and Buck Strickland on King of the Hill. ---
**Author:** ![Mole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mole)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953/25 "2014-09-23T04:32:24Z")
> [@SecretaryofEvil](#): > > … It is nice to see Stephen Root getting work. He was Penny’s interviewer and voiced Bill and Buck Strickland on King of the Hill. Agreed. (also Jimmy James from NewsRadio) ---
**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:** [September 23, 2014, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953/26 "2014-09-23T05:12:29Z")
I hope Stephen Root will be a semi-regular. I love him. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953/27 "2014-09-23T05:20:38Z")
Loved both episodes. Loved Penny’s new hair. Loved the chicks all at each other’s throats. Wish we could get more of Sheldon trying to teach college classes (since that’s what I do for a living). Loved the physicist vs. engineer contest (since I’m an engineer and know that WE RULE!!!). ---
**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953/28 "2014-09-23T05:22:29Z")
I love the new haircut, personally. I thought the episode was fun if not hilarious. I really loved that they’re getting that Bernadette, though tiny and cute, can be terrifying. \ Penny: _Does_ that drug cause rectum bleeding? Bernadette: \ Lawyers say LOTS of things can cause rectum bleeding. (And I remember thinking–they’re saying ‘rectum’ not ‘rectal’. I could totally be wrong. I erased right after b/c there are lots of things taping this week and I’m trying to keep room) ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953/29 "2014-09-23T05:41:08Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I hope Stephen Root will be a semi-regular. I love him. Indeed; although this sitcom has a poor record with semi-regulars. They drift in and then get dropped. Alex, Sheldon’s assistant should have been used a lot more, and hopefully would end up with Leonard, on whom she had an unaccountable crush. Even of the generally around, both Stuart and Bawwie, either of whom could star in a break-out series, together or singly, are criminally under-used. At the start Mr. Root was so sombre I wasn’t sure if it was he for a long while, not having expected him, and then gave in and looked it up to see if I had recognised the right star. The lack of glasses threw me. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2014, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953/30 "2014-09-23T07:46:50Z")
> [@Claverhouse](#): > > although this sitcom has a poor record with semi-regulars. They drift in and then get dropped. Yeah, that’s true. I thought Yvette the Vet was going to become something big, but it wasn’t even one thing. For a second it almost looked like they were going to drop the Stuart / Debbie plot, which would have disappointed me, yet not surprised me. I’m glad it still has legs. Though I haven’t watched the second ep yet… ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953/31 "2014-09-23T11:29:27Z")
i like penny’s haircut. i thought it looked great. it was an okay episode. ---
**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 23, 2014, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953/32 "2014-09-23T11:37:47Z")
Hate Penny’s haircut. > [@GuanoLad](#): > > Yeah, that’s true. I thought Yvette the Vet was going to become something big, but it wasn’t even one thing. Who is Raj’s girlfriend? I thought it was Yvette the vet. ---
**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:** [September 23, 2014, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953/33 "2014-09-23T11:56:02Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Who is Raj’s girlfriend? I thought it was Yvette the vet. It’s a saucy redhead named [Emily](http://bigbangtheory.wikia.com/wiki/Emily_%28season_7%29). She was introduced late last season, played by Laura Spencer. ---
**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 23, 2014, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953/34 "2014-09-23T12:01:59Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > True, but now it’s competing with Monday Night Football on ESPN. Say goodbye to a significant chunk of the male audience. A move to Wednesday night would have been better. Perhaps in the pre-DVR days that might be, but fewer and fewer people are stuck with having to choose between competing shows now. Plus with so much football on TV now, a lot of people are willing to skip part of a game for a show they like. Howard’s challenge to Sheldon reminded me of how long it has been since my fluid mechanics course, I whiffed on the pipe question. We’ll get used to Penny’s hair, hopefully they’ll find a way to distract us with some skimpy attire every now and then. Sheldon did show some development in his caring what Amy thought of him and being afraid to reveal his lack of perfection. The Stuart-Deb situation has some potential for development. I’m not buying Penny as a drug rep, I’d rather see her continue with crappy B-movie roles. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953/35 "2014-09-23T12:03:51Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > I hope Stephen Root will be a semi-regular. I love him. I was disappointed they missed the opportunity to put a red Swingline stapler on his desk. That’s the kind of joke they usually hit for fan service, like “J. Kirby” being the judge when Sheldon was arrested for stalking Stan Lee. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953/36 "2014-09-23T12:35:49Z")
I did like how Sheldon determined that Amy could or could not hear him when she was in the back seat of the car. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953/37 "2014-09-23T12:41:37Z")
Penny’s hair isn’t bad, but with the long hair it was believable that she was in her 20s, with the pixie cut she looks much older, like early 30s. Wiki tells me she’s just 30, so the hair was maybe +/- 3 years depending on how she wears it. I think they’re doing a good job of using Simon Helberg, who is hilarious in everything he touches, but they seem to have downgraded Amy even further into “I wanna be the popular kid I never was in middle school” and “I want a boyfriend even if he treats me worse than crap”. Which is really Sheldon’s problem, in the first few seasons when he was just socially clueless about boundaries it was funny, now that he’s actively not caring about Amy or going out of his way to be a dick professor it’s just mean. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953/38 "2014-09-23T13:05:18Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > Foreshadowing, perhaps; remember the psychic who predicted that she’d get an acting job if she cut her hair? Oh, forgot about that one! I wonder if the writers did too, or maybe that haircut is some actual foreshadowing of what’s to come. Interesting! ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2014, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953/39 "2014-09-23T13:09:21Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > I did like how Sheldon determined that Amy could or could not hear him when she was in the back seat of the car. Yes, that was hilarious! ---
**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 23, 2014, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953/40 "2014-09-23T13:25:16Z")
At first I was thinking that they are really stretching how far Amy will go to keep Sheldon as a boyfriend even though he is the worst boyfriend imaginable. Then I realized she cares more about having a group of friends and that is really why she sticks around. And good call on them easing into the new haircut by having Penny doing yoga when we first see her. Also Bernadette’s line “We’ll see if we can get you a job sitting around wearing yoga pants all day” was funny. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-8-premiere-september-22-2014-the-locomotion-interruption/698953.md?page=3)