# The Big Bang Theory, Season 9, Episode 4 (October 12, 2015) -- "The 2003 Approximation" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 12, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459 "2015-10-12T18:31:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/101 "2015-10-17T14:53:35Z")
One good thing about Penny and Leonard getting married that occurred to me: now we know Penny’s last name. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/102 "2015-10-17T18:05:25Z")
> [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](#): > > Wait, is _Mystic Warlords of Ka’a_ a real game? I just assumed they made it up for the show. No it’s not real and yes, they made it up. Mind you, someone has likely made a version of it from the show by now… Quimby- unless she kept her maiden name… ---
**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:** [October 17, 2015, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/103 "2015-10-17T19:27:58Z")
[They have.](http://www.gamezebo.com/2011/08/11/big-bang-theory-mystic-warlords-kaa-review/) ---
**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:** [October 17, 2015, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/104 "2015-10-17T20:00:24Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > No it’s not real and yes, they made it up. Mind you, someone has likely made a version of it from the show by now… They gave away the basic game at GenCon the first year the show mentioned it, but it never went anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/105 "2015-10-17T20:21:58Z")
Leonard did address her as Penny Hoffsteder in last week 's episode. ---
**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:** [October 17, 2015, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/106 "2015-10-17T20:42:12Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > One good thing about Penny and Leonard getting married that occurred to me: now we know Penny’s last name. > [@DrDeth](#): > > Quimby- unless she kept her maiden name… You’ll have to scroll down some, but according to [IMBD](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0898266/trivia?ref_=tt_ql_2), “_Chuck Lorre stated in an interview that Penny’s surname is Barrington, the reason is yet to be revealed_” ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2015, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/107 "2015-10-17T21:11:02Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > You’ll have to scroll down some, but according to [IMBD](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0898266/trivia?ref_=tt_ql_2), “_Chuck Lorre stated in an interview that Penny’s surname is Barrington, the reason is yet to be revealed_” That’s unsourced and I can’t find any basis for it in a search, although lots of places repeat it. ---
**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:** [October 18, 2015, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/108 "2015-10-18T03:56:58Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > That’s unsourced and I can’t find any basis for it in a search, although lots of places repeat it. It seems Moviepilot first referred to an interview where Lorre mentioned it and all others give Moviepilot as their source. ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2015, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/109 "2015-10-19T15:03:50Z")
For all that she’s taught the nerds, Penny’s last name must be _Whise_. Unless they’ve all been mispronouncing her name and it’s really _Peony_, then her last name is _Flower_. ---
**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:** [October 24, 2015, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/110 "2015-10-24T21:57:20Z")
The sadness of watching the decay of this show means we get around to watching a new episode … whenever. Not the worst episode ever (there’s no Zarnecki), but close to it. The B plot seems to have been dragged in from somewhere else. Why is Emily back??? Howard has shown real musical talent. Due to the Rule Of Funny, this was dropped. The A plot seems to be a poor way of trying to avoid real change in the show despite P&L being married. (Note: they _do_ live together, just not in one place all the time.) Amy was only on as a video chatter. That was too much. Fix her or send her away. The hope that the show can turn it around, just a little bit, is fading. ---
**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:** [October 25, 2015, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459/111 "2015-10-25T12:21:06Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > The B plot seems to have been dragged in from somewhere else. Why is Emily back??? Howard has shown real musical talent. Due to the Rule Of Funny, this was dropped. Howard does have real musical talent. But even talented people can create a dud when they only give themselves an afternoon to write a song. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-big-bang-theory-season-9-episode-4-october-12-2015-the-2003-approximation/734459.md?page=5)