The Misinterpretation Agitation Season 8, Episode 7 -  Aired October 30, 2014

The Misinterpretation Agitation

A doctor misconstrues Penny's workplace flirting and falls for her. When Dr. Lorvis turns up at her apartment, it is the guys who find themselves interested in him and his impressive memorabilia collection. Meanwhile, Bernadette is going to be featured in an article about hot female scientists, but Amy disapproves of the article and its sexualisation of women.

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Guest Stars: Billy Bob Thornton as Dr. Oliver Lorvis, Annie O'Donnell as Mrs. Lorvis (O.S.)

Writers: Chuck Lorre (Story), Eric Kaplan (Story), Jim Reynolds (Story), Steven Molaro (Teleplay), Steve Holland (Teleplay), Maria Ferrari (Teleplay)

Director: Mark Cendrowski

Viewers: 16.25 million Households Rating: 11/18 Adults 18-49 Rating: 4.1/14

Available on iTunesAvailable on iTunes

Episode Notes

  • This episode was recorded as the eighth episode of the season but will air as the seventh.
  • The title refers to Dr. Lorvis's misinterpretation of Penny flirting with him as a pharmaceutical rep.
  • Billy Bob Thornton had previously mentioned in an interview how he was a fan of The Big Bang Theory.

> Sheldon's Beverage Protocols

When Leonard breaks the news to Dr. Lorvis that Penny is engaged and is not romantically interested in him, Sheldon thinks they should invite him in for a hot beverage.

"Sheldon: Hold on, Doctor. Leonard, where are your social skills? This man is clearly upset. We should invite him in for a hot beverage.
Leonard: He tried to score with Penny.
Sheldon: So have these two, and they’re having dinner with us."

Later, when Penny asked Leonard why Dr. Lorvis was in their apartment, Leonard explained that Sheldon had invited him in for a hot beverage.

"Penny: You were okay with that?
Leonard: No. I got upset. And Sheldon made me a beverage, too.

Episode Quotes

Penny: You locked them in your basement?
Dr. Lorvis: Well, they're not locked in. The door just sticks.
Penny: Okay, so how do they unstick it?
Dr. Lorvis: They'd need the key.

Penny: Okay, you can't just go chasing after every girl who's nice to you.
Dr. Lorvis: Well, that's not what Sheldon says, and he seems to know his way around the ladies.

Leonard: Wow, Donkey Kong. This was my game when I was a kid.
Sheldon: Because it's a story of a pretty blonde girl tirelessly pursued by a small oddly-shaped man?

Sheldon: Leonard, I was wrong. Heaven does exist. And it's in the basement of a urologist's house in Sherman Oaks.

Raj: Maybe he's playing bingo with his mommy?
Howard: Sad how some guys just can't cut the apron strings.
Raj: Okay, now you're messing with me.

News Stories

Title Date Posted
807 'The Misinterpretation Agitation' Ratings October 31, 2014

Last night's episode of The Big Bang Theory, the first showing back in its regular Thursday night time period, was the night's most-watched and highest-rated broadcast.  Full story

807 'The Misinterpretation Agitation' Pictures October 29, 2014

Pictures from the next episode of The Big Bang Theory, "The Misinterpretation Agitation", have been added to our gallery. The episode airs tomorrow at 8/7c on CBS. The show has now finished its Monday night run and returns to its regular Thursday time period.  Full story

807 'The Misinterpretation Agitation' Press Release October 27, 2014

CBS has issued the press release for the next episode of The Big Bang Theory, "The Misinterpretation Agitation", which will air this Thursday, October 30. The show has now left Mondays and returns to its regular Thursday night slot.  Full story

Recap

While the girls are having tea in Penny's apartment, Bernadette mentions that she's been picked as one of the fifty sexiest scientists in California for a magazine article. Amy thinks the article is degrading to women and that Bernadette should be celebrated for her achievements, not her looks. Penny disagrees and thinks flirting is a natural part of many job, including hers as a pharmaceutical sales rep.

As Sheldon collects his mail, he runs into a man attempting to get into the apartment building. Sheldon lets the man in, thinking he's a delivery man. The guy explains he's actually a doctor and is there to give flowers to one of the pharma reps he thinks flirted with him. Sheldon is surprised when Dr. Lorvis knocks on Penny's door. Sheldon's first words for Leonard are about his dinner but, after that, he tells Leonard there's a male suitor at Penny's door. Leonard goes over to ask the what he's doing. When Dr. Lorvis explains how Penny winked at him and touched his arm for "two Mississippis", Leonard tells him he must be mistaken as he's Penny's fiancée. The guys are surprised to hear Dr. Lorvis say that Penny doesn't wear an engagement ring at work. When Dr. Lorvis realizes Penny was just flirting with him to make a sale, he walks away dejected. Sheldon stops him and invites him to come into the apartment for a hot beverage.

Amy and Bernadette are having drinks at a bar when Bernadette reveals her article has been scrapped. Bernadette doesn't seem bothered by this, so Amy admits that she made a call to the editor to get them to cancel the article. Bernadette snaps at Amy and accuses her of not wanting anybody to express their sexuality because nobody wants Amy to express hers. Amy leaves the bar offended.

The guys get to know Dr. Lorvis after Sheldon makes him a beverage. He reveals he's the urologist to the stars and has gathered all sorts of movie memorabilia through treating famous people. When Penny arrives, she is surprised to see Dr. Lorvis there. After he explains he was there to see her, Penny apologizes to him for leading him on. Leonard and Penny talk about her flirting at work and not wearing a ring. Penny only does it to make sales and says she did the same thing as a waitress. Leonard and the guys decide to go to Dr. Lorvis's house to checkout his prop collection. At Dr. Lorvis's house, the guys are impressed by his collection of movie props and vintage video games.

When Sheldon mentions to Dr. Lorvis that he thinks Leonard & Penny's relationship is doomed to failure, Dr. Lorvis excuses himself. At the apartment building, Dr. Lorvis arrives just as Amy is entering the building. As Amy and the doctor climb the stairs to Penny's apartment, her compassionate touch after hearing his story of unrequited love leads him to forget about Penny and try give the flowers to Amy instead. Penny and Amy are having tea with the doctor and telling him that he is being creepy and shouldn't get so obsessed over every woman who's nice to him. When Penny receives a call from Leonard, they find out Dr. Lorvis locked the guys in his basement. The girls go to free the guys from Dr. Lorvis's basement, where they find them happily playing video games.