The Classified Materials Turbulence Season 2, Episode 22 -  Aired May 4, 2009

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After Howard designs a special toilet for the International Space Station, the guys rush to develop a fix to stop the toilet malfunctioning in space. Meanwhile, Penny goes out on a second date with Stuart from the comic book store. When Leonard gets the impression things went awry on Penny and Stuart's date, he is thrilled to learn the reason why.

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Guest Stars: Kevin Sussman as Stuart

Writers: Chuck Lorre (Story), Lee Aronsohn (Story), Bill Prady (Teleplay), Steven Molaro (Teleplay)

Director: Mark Cendrowski

Viewers: 9.25 million Households Rating: 5.8/9 Adults 18-49 Rating: 3.4/10

Available on iTunes

Episode Notes

  • The title references the classified toilet Howard developed which was likely to malfunction and lead to an unpleasant situation on the International Space Station.

Episode Quotes

Howard: Hey, you want to make sure he gets nowhere with Penny without jeopardizing your friendship with either of them?
Leonard: I'm listening.
Howard: Just tell him to do everything you've done with her for the last two years.

Howard: Okay make your little jokes, but out of the four of us, I'm the only one who's making real world contribution to science and technology.
Rajesh: He's right, this is an important achievement for two reasons. Number one and of course number two!

Sheldon: Why does Leonard get to go?
Wolowitz: Because he's upset over his situation with Penny, and if I have to hear about it again, I'm gonna kick him in his ovaries!
Leonard: Thanks for understanding.
Howard: I've got your back, sister!

Sheldon: For what it's worth, my mother says that when we deceive for personal gain, we make Jesus cry.

Howard: Ok, now, this is an exact duplicate of The Wolowitz Solid Waste Disposal System, as deployed on the International Space Station.
Raj: Don't you mean the Wolowitz Solid Waste Distribution System?

Recap

At the comic book store, Howard is celebrating his invention, the Wolowitz Zero Gravity Waste Disposal system, being used on the Space Station. Meanwhile, Stuart asks Leonard's advice for his next date with Penny. Leonard dodges Stuart's request and says he'll think about it.

Later, Penny talks to Leonard about Stuart and asks him whether he has a problem with her dating him. Leonard denies this is the case, but the advice he gives her about dating Stuart is less than helpful. Leonard ignores Stuart's phone calls for help. Meanwhile, Howard is distressed to find out there's a fatal flaw in his invention.

Howard brings a copy of the waste disposal system to Sheldon & Leonard's apartment so they can find a solution for the problem, before the $&!# truly hits the fan on the space station. Stuart knocks on the apartment asking for Leonard, trying to finally get his advice for dating Penny. Leonard purposefully gives Stuart bad advice. The next morning, in the guise of doing a coffee run for the guys, Leonard stops by Penny's to ask her about her date with Stuart. Penny refuses to talk about it and eventually slams the door in Leonard's face. Meanwhile, Howard has an idea of how to fix his invention.

Leonard goes to the comic book store to see whether Stuart will fill him on the date. When Leonard asks him about the date, Stuart reveals that it was going fine until they started kissing and Penny accidentally said Leonard's name. Leaving the story, Leonard jumps with happiness at the revelation. Back at the apartment, Howard thinks he's fixed the problem and sends his plans to NASA to implement. In the tag scene, it's clear Howard's solution did not fix the problem as the astronauts take an "unscheduled spacewalk" after the toilet malfunctions.