The Big Bang Theory – The Planetarium Collision

By: Sammi Turano

The episode opens with Raj (Kunal Nayyar) giving a lecture. Howard (Simon Helberg) admits he fell asleep and goes to say hi to Raj. Meanwhile, Amy (Mayim Bialik) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) tell Penny (Kaley Cuoco) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki) about their new collaboration. Penny quips you never collaborate more than you do in your first year of marriage.

Raj introduces Howard to Andrea (Alison Martin), the director of the planetarium. He tells her about being an astronaut and she offers him the chance to work with them. Raj says Howard will probably be too busy, but Howard says he would love to do it. Sheldon sees them and says they are going to the gift shop because Amy said he could get one big thing to two little things.

At the lab, Amy is working on a sensory study when Sheldon walks in. Her test subject (Hermie Castillo) tells her he smells baby powder and she says it is just her husband. Sheldon wants to talk about the paper, but Amy says she is busy now. They decide to talk later, but not before Sheldon gets the last word in.

The Wolowitzes are in bed. Howard says he is thinking about Raj and Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) admits to thinking of Chris Hemsworth and wants to get it on. Howard; however, is stuck on the fact that Raj doesn’t want him at the planetarium. Bernie says that maybe he doesn’t want to share the stage with a “sexyass” astronaut. She goes on to discuss how sexy Howard is to make him feel better.

At the apartment, Sheldon is complaining about collaborating with Amy to Leonard and Penny. He is upset that she is too busy with her own work. Penny escapes, much to Leonard’s chagrin.

Howard goes to see Raj at work and they get into it about sharing the spotlight. Raj storms out, but realizes it was for dramatic effect and there is nowhere for him to go.

Sheldon talks to President Seibert (Joshua Malina) and says he thinks Amy is too busy to work on the project with her other work. The talk leads to Amy being taken off the project and being replaced with Dr. Park (Eddie Shin). Amy is upset and yells at Sheldon, asking him how he would feel if the roles were reversed and Leonard pulled such a stunt. Sheldon says that would never happen and this only happened because Amy claimed she was stretched too thin.

Raj goes to Leonard and Penny for advice on Howard. They tell him he shouldn’t care if Howard steals the show and then somehow get into a debate on how many floors are in the building. 

Amy and Sheldon visit President Seibert about the change in the project. Amy demands to be put back on, but Seibert tells her it is not that simple. He tries to explain, but Sheldon interrupts and tells him to quit mansplaining to Amy.

Everyone is back in the planetarium for Raj and Howard’s event. The two just end up bragging about how the other one is better and make up. Bernie is confused and Leonard is crying.

The show ends with Sheldon getting a visit from the ghost of Professor Proton (Bob Newhart). He asks for advice about how to handle the Amy situation. He tells him not to go to bed angry and if he doesn’t recognize the shoes under the bed, they aren’t his shoes.

Sheldon wakes up Amy in order to apologize and not go to bed angry. Amy is annoyed and wants to sleep, but finally admits she is kind of scared to work with him and get lost in the relationship. They make up and Sheldon looks for shoes.