Pilot Season 1, Episode 1 -  Aired September 24, 2007

Pilot

Leonard and Sheldon meet their new neighbor Penny. Leonard is instantly smitten with her, but Sheldon feels he's chasing an impossible dream. Leonard talks Sheldon into helping Penny out by retrieving her television from her ex-boyfriend Kurt.

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Guest Stars: Brian Patrick Wade as Kurt, Vernee Watson as Althea

Writers: Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady

Director: James Burrows

Viewers: 9.52 million Households Rating: 6/9 Adults 18-49 Rating: 3.7/9

Available on iTunes

Episode Lists

  • Leonard & Penny: Key Episodes Leonard & Penny: Key Episodes

    The key moments in Leonard and Penny's relationship including the first time they saw each other across the hall, their first kiss, their first date, breaking up and getting back together, the first time Penny says "I love you", a couple of proposals, their engagement, two wedding ceremonies, and finally Penny getting pregnant.

Episode Notes

  • As is customary for TV series' premiere episodes, this episode is titled "Pilot". So far it is the only The Big Bang Theory episode not to have a scientific title.

> Sheldon's Spot

Sheldon tells Penny why he chose his spot on the couch: "In the winter that seat is close enough to the radiator to remain warm, and yet not so close as to cause perspiration. In the summer it's directly in the path of a cross breeze created by open windows there and there. It faces the television at an angle that is neither direct, thus discouraging conversation, nor so far wide as to create a parallax distortion."

Episode Quotes

Leonard: Our babies will be smart and beautiful.
Sheldon: Not to mention imaginary.

Penny: So, what do you guys do for fun around here?
Sheldon: Well, today we tried masturbating for money.

Sheldon: Do you want to hear an interesting thing about stairs?
Leonard: Not really!
Sheldon: If the height of a step is off by as little as two millimeters, most people will trip.
Leonard: I don't care. 2 millime--? That doesn't seem right.
Sheldon: It's true. I did a series of experiments when I was 12. My father broke his clavicle.
Leonard: Is that why they sent you to boarding school?
Sheldon: No. That was the result of my work with lasers.

Sheldon: Um, Penny, that's where I sit.
Penny: So, sit next to me.
Sheldon: No, I sit there.
Penny: What's the difference?
Sheldon: "What's the difference"?
Leonard: Here we go.
Sheldon: In the winter that seat is close enough to the radiator to remain warm, and yet not so close as to cause perspiration. In the summer it's directly in the path of a cross breeze created by open windows, there and there. It faces the television at an angle that is neither direct, thus discouraging conversation, nor so far wide to create a parallax distortion. I could go on, but I think I've made my point.

Leonard: Come on! We have a combined IQ of 360 we should be able to figure out how to get into a stupid building.
*Two girls selling cookies ring every bell, the door opens*
Sheldon: What do you think their combined IQ is ?

Recap

Leonard and Sheldon visit a high IQ sperm bank in a bid to raise a bit of money for fractional T1 bandwidth. They back out after Sheldon is concerned by the inherent deception of promising high-IQ offspring.

When they return to their apartment, Leonard and Sheldon discover a new neighbor, Penny, has moved in across the hall. After exchanging a round of "Hi"s, Leonard invites Penny to join them for lunch. Penny comes over to the apartment and is instantly impressed by Sheldon and Leonard's work. Sheldon first explains the reasons behind his spot on the couch when Penny inadvertently sits there.

While Penny goes to use the guys' shower as hers is broken, Howard and Raj come to the apartment with a video of Stephen Hawking from 1973. As Howard is setting up the video, Penny emerges in a bath towel and meets Howard for the first time. As Leonard helps Penny operate the shower, she asks him for favor regarding her ex-boyfriend Kurt.

Sheldon and Leonard head to Kurt's apartment to retrieve Penny's television. Penny's huge ex boyfriend refuses to give the TV back and "pantses" Leonard and Sheldon, so they return to their apartment without the TV and without their pants. Penny is is grateful for their effort and upset at what Kurt did to them, so offers to take Sheldon and Leonard out for dinner.