Big Bang: All the Guys have Problems with HR

by Amy K. Bredemeyer

Not much Bernadette or Amy in this episode, but I'm okay with that. While I am happy that the characters are maturing with their relationships, I do like the episodes that focus mainly on the four boys. I must admit, however, that I was expecting Raj to vent to Stuart, not his dog. Speaking of Raj, his point about there being no female cereal mascots was a bit disturbing. As someone whose cereal preferences since childhood have been plain Cheerios or wheat puffs (in college I expanded to Crispix and Chex), I never noticed before. I did a little internet searching of my own, and, aside from the gimmicky cereals based on Powerpuff Girls or Disney Princesses, there really is a lack of feminine mascots. I'm not sure why, but it certainly gives you something to think about! Now, back to the main storylines... 

The Big Bang Theory "The Egg Salad Equivalency" (S06E12): [big fan of Giant Jenga, guys!] Alex comes over to Sheldon and Leonard's apartment to pick up the latest recordings of Sheldon sleeping - he's afraid that his dream musings may be brilliant. [ha!] Alex asks Leonard to dinner, catching him by surprise. [he should have seen it coming.] He tells Raj and Howard, upsetting Raj (he has a thing for Alex) so much he tells Sheldon. Once again misunderstanding social conventions, Sheldon decides to talk to Penny, Bernadette, and Amy about the scenario. [hahaha: "Sheldon Cooper's Council of Ladies"] Penny and Amy see through it and tell him to talk to Alex. But when he confronts his assistant, he demeans her for being female, so she takes the issue to HR. He doesn't see that he did anything wrong and proceeds to insult the HR rep, then gives examples of things Howard, Leonard, and Raj have said or done inappropriately. [one of the annoying things about Sheldon! but, I'm wondering... if Howard really was in that office quite often, how is he still at the university? also, I laughed that Raj had to drink so he'd be able to talk in the meeting. It makes me wonder if he always had male teachers...] The end result? Sheldon has to take a sexual harassment seminar and apologize to Alex, but he asks her to take the seminar for him, as his time is too valuable. [even I saw that one coming!]

Meanwhile, Penny confronts Leonard about Alex, and he apologizes with a little cello ditty.

Photo: Michael Yarish/Warner Bros.

She thinks about taking a science class to "be smarter," but decides to just buy a pair of fake glasses instead.