The Positive Negative Reaction Season 9, Episode 16 -  Aired February 18, 2016

The Positive Negative Reaction

When the gang finds out about Bernadette's pregnancy, they celebrate by singing karaoke. Also, Bernadette is concerned when Wolowitz freaks out over her pregnancy announcement, and Wolowitz is convinced he must make more money to provide for the baby.

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Writers: Eric Kaplan (Story), Jim Reynolds (Story), Saladin K. Patterson (Story), Steven Molaro (Teleplay), Steve Holland (Teleplay), Maria Ferrari (Teleplay)

Director: Mark Cendrowski

Viewers: 15.24 million Households Rating: 3.8/14 Adults 18-49 Rating: 10.2/16

Available on iTunes

Episode Lists

  • Howard & Bernadette: Key Episodes Howard & Bernadette: Key Episodes

    The key moments from Howard and Bernadette's relationship including their first date, Howard's proposal, their wedding, and the births of their two children.

Episode Notes

  • The title refers to Howard's negative reaction to the news of Bernadette's positive pregnancy test.
  • Former Federal Reserve chair Ben Bernanke and his wife, who are fans of the show, were sitting at a table in the background at the tiki bar.

Episode Quotes

Penny: Oh, it's Leonard. He says Sheldon's drunk and they're gonna do karaoke if we want to join them.
Penny: That sounds fun.
Amy: Oh, no. Sheldon's drunk texting me.
Bernadette: What's it say?
Amy: "Would you like to sing karaoke with us."
Bernadette: How is that a drunk text?
Amy: He used a period instead of a question mark. He's so wasted.

Raj: Look at that. You've known you're gonna be a father for less than a day and you're already stepping up.
Leonard: I'm telling you, you got this.
Howard: Maybe you're right.
Sheldon: Of course he's right. You and I both know how hard it is growing up without a father. That's why I'm confident you're gonna be the best dad you can be.
Howard: Thank you, Sheldon.
Sheldon: You're welcome. And if he has twins, we can do all kinds of neat experiments on them.

Howard: I love you. And I'm not just saying that because your breasts are gonna get bigger.

Amy: Are you hungry? How about that sushi place you love?
Bernadette: Doctor said I can't have sushi.
Penny: Okay, look, we don't have to go anywhere. We can just, you know, stay here and hang out in the hot tub.
Bernadette: Doctor said I can't go in the hot tub.
Amy: Maybe you should get a new doctor. What, he said you can't laugh either?

Sheldon: You're kidding! What kind of maniacs have coitus in someone else's bedroom?!
Howard: Thank you, Pasadena! Good night!

News Stories

Title Date Posted
916 'The Positive Negative Reaction' Pictures February 18, 2016

We have added pictures from tonight's new episode of The Big Bang Theory, "The Positive Negative Reaction", to our gallery. In the episode, the gang celebrates the news that Bernadette is pregnant with a round of karaoke. Meanwhile, Bernadette is concerned when Howard freaks out about the pregnancy after realizing he must make more money to take care of a family.  Full story

916 'The Positive Negative Reaction' Press Release February 15, 2016

CBS has issued the press release for the next episode of The Big Bang Theory, "The Positive Negative Reaction", which airs this Thursday on CBS.  Full story

Recap

When Howard gets up and goes into the kitchen, Bernadette is eating breakfast at the table. Howard notices a Post-it note attached to a mug, which reads “We.” The back of the note directs Howard to the milk, where the second note says “are”. After he is sent to the spoons for more information, Howard is stunned to see the word “pregnant” on the final note. After Howard asks if she’s sure, Bernadette shows him the positive pregnancy test. Howard hugs Bernadette and says the news is incredible, but he quickly starts to freak out about the difficulties of raising a child. Bernadette tells him to calm down, but Howard thinks he’s a mess and so their baby will be half a mess.

As Sheldon, Leonard and Raj set up a board game in the apartment, Howard arrives and says he has something to tell them. After Howard says he’s going to be a father, Leonard and Raj congratulate him, but Sheldon is unhappy at how the change will affect him.

When Penny and Amy join Bernadette on her deck, she says there’s something she wants to share with them. Bernadette’s big reveal is ruined as Penny receives a text from Leonard with the news that Bernadette is pregnant. Amy and Penny are happy for her, but they wonder why Bernadette isn’t more enthusiastic. Bernadette explains she was excited to break the news to Howard, who has talked about having kids for years, but he is freaking out and now this feels like a bad idea. They tell Bernadette not to read too much into Howard reactively negatively, as it was probably just the initial shock.

Back in the apartment, Howard tells the guys he shouldn’t be raising a kid. Leonard thinks he may be overreacting, but Howard asks if they have any idea how much it costs to raise a child in Los Angeles. Howard realizes he has to start earning more money right now. After Raj tells Howard this is great news and he knows it, Howard concedes he’s just overwhelmed right now. Leonard tells the guys they should all go out and celebrate. Elsewhere, Penny tells Bernadette they should go out and celebrate, Bernadette points out she can’t do a lot of things now she’s pregnant. Her doctor says no alcohol, no sushi, and no hot tub.

At a tiki bar, Raj proposes a toast to Howard. Looking at his cocktail, Howard wonders how much money the inventor of the little umbrellas made. Howard says if he is to have any chance of raising this kid, he needs to come up with a big idea to make some money. Leonard tells him there’s no reason he can’t, but Howard thinks that’s easy for him to say as he and Sheldon have the superfluid helium model. Leonard insists it’s just research and they’ll never make any money from it. As Sheldon’s mood lightens up, Leonard warns him to take it easy with the cocktails.

Howard runs an idea for an invention by the guys: slightly bigger umbrellas for drinks. When an inebriated Sheldon wonders why they’ve never been to this bar before, Leonard says it’s the same reason they don’t do a lot of fun stuff, him. Having downed another cocktail, Sheldon rushes off in search of the bathroom, only to run into the kitchen. Howard asks whether Leonard whether he and Sheldon have created quantum vortices in their supercooled helium experiments. Hearing they have, Howard proposes using the vortices in a gyroscope which could maintain an infinite persistence.

On Bernadette’s deck, Amy and Penny tell Bernadette about all the fun things she’ll get to do as a parent. When Amy asks when they decided to get pregnant, Bernadette admits they didn’t really decide. Bernadette explains they were out one night and got a little spontaneous. After Bernadette mentions that it was the night Sheldon was rambling on about railroads and train schedules, Penny realizes Howard and Bernadette did it at their place. Amy is shocked when Bernadette reveals it was on Sheldon’s bed.

Back at the bar, the guys are searching the Internet and are happy to find that noone has used quantum vortices like this. After Leonard asks Sheldon to focus on what they’re talking about, he manages to brilliantly validate their theory even while inebriated. Howard argues they could get a patent and license this to companies to make guidance systems. The guys are proud of Howard for stepping up after knowing he was going to be a father for less than a day. As someone who also grew up without a father, Sheldon tells Howard he is confident that he is going to the best dad he can be.

As the girls sit with their feet dipped in the hottub, Penny gets a text from Leonard, who says Sheldon is drunk and they’re going to do karaoke. After Penny mentions that Leonard invited them to join the guys, Bernadette says that sounds fun.

Back at the bar, Leonard and Raj are doing a duet of “Bust a Move”. After the girls arrive, Howard tells Bernadette he’s glad she’s there and asks to talk privately. Howard apologizes for freaking out earlier. After he says he wants her to know he’s done being scared, Bernadette says it’s okay to be nervous and that she is too. Howard tells her he is really excited and he means it.

With Bernadette sitting in a chair between them, Penny and Amy serenade her with Justin Bieber’s song “Baby”. Howard then sings “Baby I Need Your Loving” to her. Later, Bernadette sits uncomfortably as Leonard and Raj sing an intense “Push It” by Salt-N-Pepa. With one hand on his chest and another on Bernadette’s shoulder, Sheldon sings the patriotic song “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee”.

Howard tells the audience he would like to dedicate his last song of the evening to his wife and the mother of his child. Howard tells Bernadette he loves her before he sings “(You’re) Having My Baby”. Howard’s touching performance is interrupted by Sheldon, who just learned that Howard and Bernadette had coitus in his bedroom. Howard thanks the audience, drops the mic and rushes out of the bar.

The next morning, as Leonard and Penny make tea, they both say they are happy for Howard and Bernadette. When Leonard asks Penny if she ever thinks about having a baby, she says she isn’t in a rush, but someday in the future sure. Leonard thinks they would make amazing parents. A hungover Sheldon, who has magic marker all over his face, asks them to keep it down as he tries to sleep on the couch. Penny concedes they might lack a certain maturity to be parents.