Also: Season 5 Episode 03, The Pulled Groin Extrapolation, Sheldon to Penny:
“I’ve seen pictures of your mother, keep eating.”
Are we to infer that Penny’s mom has drastically lost weight?
Actually, that is fine explanation. They were already married, so they didn’t need someone with any kind of legal standing, so asking a friend works.
Thanks.
It also fits in with their standard practice, established at Howard and Bernadette’s wedding, of doing it themselves rather than hiring officials. At this point, Howard is the only member of the gang who hasn’t gotten to perform a wedding ceremony! Maybe he’ll get to officiate if Sheldon and Amy ever get married. 
As you say, it wasn’t legally binding in any way, so Bernadette probably didn’t even have to bother getting ordained online, like the rest of them did.
Just one more example of how badly they miscast this episode.
Another thing I don’t think has been mentioned. Did Jack McBrayer’s accent sound right for someone from Nebraska? The actor is from Georgia. His accent and personality seemed well-suited to his role in 30 Rock but less so here.
Maybe it’s the meth diet?
Seriously, the producers missed an excellent chance to cast Roseanne in the role. As she’s sparring with Beverly, she could have remarked “I just met Mary Cooper ten minutes ago, and already it’s like she’s my sister.” Cue studio laughter.
Total and absolute crap. I didn’t like anything about it. Sooooo disappointed. That’s two crappy disappointing weddings for Leonard and Penny. They’d better get Shamy’s right. Grrrrr.
Amy needs to move into Penney’s apartment. It’s just sitting there like a middle-class Butler’s pantry waiting for the once-a-year catered party.
I really want air force guy to be the CO coming by to explain the disappearance of Howard’s Dad and why it was all heroic and stuff. BTW, any story at all could work with the “photo in the envelope” or the “High School graduation” versions of the closet letter.
YES! I just watched the show and came to find this thread just so I could say that. Kind of shocked that someone else saw it too.
What was it? Just the amount of forced jokes or something? Can’t put my finger on it but I felt from moment one that it had a “spinoff setup” vibe.
I was thinking that Air Force guy might have news of Howard’s dad’s death. If Howard’s in the will, it could tie up several loose threads for him.
I think there several problems with the Penny’s family parts:
Mis-casting. All are fine actors. Keith Carradine works as the dad, as we knew. But the other two were square pegs in round holes.
Poor writing.
Time squeeze. This should have been a two-parter. If feels rushed and trimmed to fit into a half hour. More time should have been spent introducing and developing the characters. The wedding scene seemed also to have been intended to be longer and felt chopped up.
Perhaps rehearsal and prep time played a role. With so many people spread out into so many different scenes and sets, it’s hard to get a good run through. It’s standard to be rewriting through rehearsal and first takes. They may have not had the time to do this right.
You’re not the first poster to mention this, but I remain flabbergasted. I can’t see a reason for this to be a two-part episode. Hell, most of the episode was 1) re-hashing Howard’s nonsensical anguish about being contacted by the Air Force (he’s worked on numerous projects for them, NASA and is a former astronaut) which was already covered in the season finale and 2) repeatedly mentioning that Penny’s brother was in jail (pretty well covered in the car ride from the airport). And the plot with Howard wasn’t even advanced - he simply scheduled an appointment to meet the Colonel. We may still get another episode of dithering on the subject. And that had to be the longest “previously on” recap I’ve seen for a half hour show, ever.
And Raj has a job and two girlfriends - how’s he got time to hang out at Howard and Bernadette’s house this much?
It was a two part episode! Part 1 being the season ending cliffhanger-- with no payoff in this episode. Still, I agree. It should have been a two parter-- or maybe an hour long episode. They’ve got the pull to do it.
Better yet, dump Penny’s family and that plot line completely and develop the stupid Air Force connection. Penny’s family was miscast, badly written and did absolutely nothing to advance the show in any way.
First episode of a new season, so it’s necessary to bring everyone up to speed after not having watched the show for several months.
I’m not sure it needed to be a two parter, but the show felt incomplete. You know how you’re taught that stories have a beginning, a middle, and an end? This felt like it had no middle. There was a set up, in fact, there was a lot of set up. And it felt like something should have happened or was about to happen -
- and then 22 minutes had passed and so the show was over. I don’t know that it needed 2 episodes for this story, but it did need to be paced differently.