The White Asparagus Triangulation Season 2, Episode 9 - Aired November 24, 2008
Leonard has a new girlfriend and, best of all, she meets Sheldon's exacting standards. When Sheldon gets worried that Leonard will ruin this relationship like he did with his previous ones, he sets out to firm up his buddy's relationship.
Rate this episode
Cast: Johnny Galecki as Leonard Hofstadter, Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper, Kaley Cuoco as Penny, Simon Helberg as Howard Wolowitz, Kunal Nayyar as Raj Koothrappali
Guest Stars: Sara Rue as Stephanie
Writers: Stephen Engel (Teleplay), Richard Rosenstock (Teleplay), Dave Goetsch (Story), Steven Molaro (Story)
Director: Mark Cendrowski
Viewers: 10.1 million Households Rating: 6.2/10 Adults 18-49 Rating: 3.9/10
Episode Notes
- Episode Title:
- The
- White 1
- Asparagus 1
- Triangulation 2
- The title references the jar of asparagus that Leonard tried to open for Sheldon and ultimately cut his hand on, while triangulation refers to Sheldon's intrusion into Leonard and Stephanie's relationship.
Sheldon knocks on Leonard's bedroom in the middle of the night to show him Stephanie's Facebook page, where it says she is single and earlier threw a digital sheep at another guy.
Official Podcast
#27. The White Asparagus Triangulation with Anthony Rich
September 15, 2025
Director Anthony Rich returns to the podcast to discuss the episode "The White Asparagus Triangulation", which features a lot of Sheldon-Penny interaction. Anthony and host Jessica Radloff talk about why "Shenny" scenes are among their favorites. Anthony also shares how he learned about Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco's real-life relationship, and notes how backstage ping-pong games helped the cast bond.
Episode Quotes
Sheldon: *knock knock knock* Leonard? *knock knock knock* Leonard? *knock knock knock* Leonard?
Leonard: What, Sheldon!? What, Sheldon!? What, Sheldon!?
Sheldon: Tell me what you see here.
Leonard: The blunt instrument that will be the focus of my murder trial?
Sheldon: I would ask you to find some way to suppress your libido.
Penny: I could think about you.
Sheldon: Whatever works.
Sheldon: Well, this is very pleasant.
Leonard: I'm glad you're enjoying yourself.
Sheldon: And you said there would never be enough pasta for the three of us.
Raj: Ooo.
Penny: What's the matter, Lassie? Did Timmy fall down the well?
Sheldon: This is banana bread.
Penny: This is a door knob.
Recap
Sheldon tells Penny he is happy with Leonard's new mate, Dr. Stephanie Barnett, and feels she is the only girlfriend Leonard's had who has met his exacting standards. He is concerned Leonard will screw up the relationship.
Leonard and Stephanie are having a meal when Sheldon joins them to try "help" their relationship along. Sheldon confesses his plan to Leonard, explaining he sees Stephanie as the medical officer their "landing party" has always needed. On another one of their dates, Sheldon tracks Leonard and Stephanie down at the cinema. Later that night, Sheldon wakes Leonard up to tell him "they're" losing her. Sheldon tries to assume control of the relationship under Starfleet General Order 104.
Concerned Leonard will ruin the relationship, Sheldon's seeks Penny's advice on what doomed her relationship with Leonard. Sheldon finds the advice of Wolowitz, Koothrappali and Penny unhelpful, so he hatches his own plan. Sheldon interrupts another one of their dates under the pretense he can't open a glass of white asparagus. He hands it to Leonard to open, to prove his masculine strength in the eyes of Stephanie. The plan backfires when Leonard cuts himself on the glass and needs stitches.
Sheldon's interfering continues when he changes Leonard's Facebook status to "In a relationship". Leonard initially fears Sheldon will wreck his relationship, but is pleasantly surprised when Stephanie updates her status to match Leonard's.