The Fetal Kick Catalyst Season 10, Episode 6 -  Aired October 27, 2016

The Fetal Kick Catalyst

When Penny is invited to sign autographs at the Van Nuys Comic Con, she is surprised to find there are fans of "Serial Ape-ist". Amy convinces Sheldon to host friends in their new apartment, but Sheldon's comments to the assembled guests cause offense.

Meanwhile, Howard starts to freak out about being ready for the arrival of their baby, he makes a few impulse purchases without consulting Bernadette.

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Guest Stars: Kevin Sussman as Stuart, Brian Posehn as Bert, Michelle Arthur as Mrs. Petrescu, Joshua Banday as Nolan, Bryan Safi as Daniel, Tucker Albrizzi as Christopher, Jareb Dauplaise as Jeff

Writers: Steve Holland (Story), Tara Hernandez (Story), Jeremy Howe (Story), Steven Molaro (Teleplay), Saladin K. Patterson (Teleplay), Anthony Del Broccolo (Teleplay)

Director: Mark Cendrowski

Viewers: 14.31 million Households Rating: 9.6/16 Adults 18-49 Rating: 3.4/13

Available on iTunes

Episode Notes

  • The title refers to Howard's impulsive purchases after he feels his and Bernadette's baby kick for the first time.

> Serial Ape-ist

When Penny appears at the Van Nuys Comic-Con to sign autographs for fans of Serial Ape-ist 2: Monkey See, Monkey Kill, her fans mainly seem to remember her shower scene. Even more interesting to many of Penny's male admirers is Leonard's story of how he came to marry her.

Episode Quotes

Sheldon: Stuart, wait. I do know what it feels like to be left out.
Bert: I know how it feels, too.
Sheldon: All right, this is about me and him; you're not part of it.

Stuart: I also love how you never use swear words.
Sheldon: You know, it turns out, you can hurt people just as well without 'em.

Amy: There's nothing to be afraid of, Sheldon.
Sheldon: The average cork speed is 25 miles per hour. If that is too fast around a school, it is certainly too fast around a kitchen.
Amy: Been 15 minutes. Just sayin'.
Sheldon: Okay, I can do this. Just give me a moment. (Cork pops and Sheldon shrieks) Oh! Mimosas coming up.

Sheldon: So until Amy's apartment is fixed, she and I are living here together.
Bert: I lived with my old girlfriend. She was a geologist, too.
Amy: Things didn't work out?
Bert: I came home from work one day and she had taken everything. I'm warning you, hide your good rocks.

Penny: Hey, have you ever heard of the Van Nuys Comic-Con?
Leonard: Yeah, it's a dinky little convention where they sell collectibles and get sad D-list celebrities to appear. Why?
Penny: I got asked to sign autographs there.
Leonard: That's awesome! Is this for Serial Ape-ist?
Penny: Well, it could be for the monkey movie. It could be my hemorrhoid commercial. The list does not go on.

News Stories

Title Date Posted
1006 'The Fetal Kick Catalyst' Press Release October 21, 2016

CBS has issued the press release for the next episode of The Big Bang Theory, "The Fetal Kick Catalyst", which marks the show's return to Thursday nights. The episode airs next Thursday, October 27 at 8/7c. Brian Posehn reprises his role as Amy's colleague, Bert, in the episode.  Full story

Recap

As Leonard makes a sandwich in the apartment, Penny tells him she’s been asked to sign autographs at the Van Nuys Comic Con. When Penny says she isn’t going to attend, Leonard tells her that that it would be fun to go. Penny comes around to the idea idea of meeting fans and making some extra money. 

While Sheldon and Amy eat dinner over in Apartment 4B, Amy wants them to consider having people over. Sheldon is unsure about the idea of entertaining people and what type of gathering Amy has in mind. Later, at Howard and Bernadette’s house, Howard feels a kick as Bernadette sleeps. Howard is excited to have felt the presence of his child for the very first time, although Bernadette’s too tired to pay much attention. Howard’s excitement turns to panic as he realizes their house is not ready for a baby. 

In the apartment, Leonard is readying supplies for Penny’s autograph session at the convention, although she thinks it will be a miracle if even one person shows up. When Amy arrives back at her and Sheldon’s apartment, Sheldon is dressed in formal wear and preparing a meal. There’s even a dining table set out with a spread, much to Amy’s surprise. Sheldon explains that he was too dismissive of her desire to have people over, so he took matters into his own hands and invited a few people over: Stuart, Bert and Mrs Petrescu from downstairs. Sheldon considers it a trial run for their first time hosting guests. 

When Howard arrives home with Raj, he explains to Bernadette that they’ve been out shopping for baby supplies. They even bought a crib for the baby without consulting. Even though it’s expensive, as the safest one on the market, Bernadette is reluctantly okay with the purchase. Howard then admits he’s also got a minivan - on a twenty-four hour trial, at least. Bernadette says she is uncomfortable driving such a “mom car”. 

At the convention, Leonard is excited to be with Penny on the other side of the table. When a guy comes over saying he loves Penny’s movie because it’s one of the worst things he’s ever seen in his life, she is confused by his appreciation. Back in Apartment 4B, Mrs. Petrescu, Bert and Amy are watching as a skittish Sheldon tries to uncork a bottle of champagne right before Stuart arrives. 

After Penny signs a picture for some creepy fan who has pictures of the shower scene, he’s followed by an even creepier guy who wants a photograph with Penny kissing him, angering Leonard who rants at the guy. When Leonard explains that he’s Penny’s husband, the fan doesn’t believe him. 

In their driveway, Howard shows Bernadette the minivan with Raj. When Howard tries to get the crib out so Bernadette can take the van out for a test drive, Howard hurts his back and needs to go the emergency room. Back in the apartment, when Stuart wonders if anyone else is coming to the party, Sheldon blurts out that they are the “practice round”. Stuart is very offended. 

Back at the convention, the guy wants to know how Leonard got Penny to go out with her. Meanwhile, Bernadette and Raj are driving Howard to the hospital. He’s in the backseat of the minivan, riving in pain. When Raj manages to calm Howard down by putting Batman on the car’s built-in DVD player, Bernadette agrees to buy the “stupid van”.

Elsewhere, everybody is uncomfortable at the party after Sheldon’s blunt admission. A still upset Stuart decides to leave, but before he does Sheldon says he knows what it feels like to be left out. Sheldon apologizes to Stuart and tells him he’s a valuable member of their social group and then proposes a toast to Stuart. 

Back at the convention, Leonard finishes telling five guys the story of how he got Penny to marry him. Meanwhile, an inebriated Sheldon and Stuart sing each other’s praises, leaving Amy to tidy up after the party by herself.