The Proposal Proposal Season 11, Episode 1 -  Aired September 25, 2017

The Proposal Proposal

Amy's answer to Sheldon's proposal is overshadowed by his need to be the center of attention. Meanwhile, Howard and Bernadette get some unexpected news.

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Guest Stars: Kevin Sussman as Stuart, Laurie Metcalf as Mary Cooper, Riki Lindhome as Ramona Nowitzki, Stephen Hawking as Himself (V.O.), George Wyer as Dr. Zhang, Susan Chuang as Dr. Harris

Writers: Chuck Lorre (Story), Eric Kaplan (Story), Jeremy Howe (Story), Steve Holland (Teleplay), Maria Ferrari (Teleplay), Tara Hernandez (Teleplay)

Director: Mark Cendrowski

Viewers: 17.65 million Households Rating: 11.4/18 Adults 18-49 Rating: 4.1/16

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 Sheldon's proposal to Amy.

> Sheldon's Knock

Sheldon knocks on Amy's apartment door in Princeton, New Jersey after flying cross country to propose to her.

Episode Quotes

Sheldon: I've thought about it, and I really want to spend the rest of my life with Amy. Do I have your blessing?
Stephen Hawking: Well, Sheldon, I think you should make her finger like Saturn and put a ring on it.

Mary Cooper: Lord, thank You. Even though You can do anything, that was mighty impressive.

Sheldon: Wait, oh, and I just I want to let you know right now that we are not getting married in a church.
Mary Cooper: That's all right, Sheldon. Anywhere Jesus is is a church.
Sheldon: Well, he won't be at our wedding.
Mary Cooper: He's in my heart, so if I'm there, he'll be there.
Sheldon: Okay, well, then, he's your plus-one. You don't get to bring anyone else.

Mary Cooper: I am so happy for you two, but I'm not surprised. I've been praying for this.
Sheldon: Well, God had nothing to do with it. It happened because I was kissing another woman, and it made me realize I wanted to be with Amy.
Mary Cooper: More than one woman was interested in you? I might have prayed a little too hard.

Raj: It's for Sheldon and Amy.
Stuart: No way! They're engaged?
Raj: Yeah.
Stuart: Well, that's exciting news. Who would've thought Sheldon and Amy would be the next two to tie the knot?
Raj: Tell me about it. I'm the one who caught the bouquet at Leonard and Penny's wedding.

News Stories

Title Date Posted
Young Sheldon is top comedy premiere in four years September 26, 2017

The series debut of Young Sheldon was the most-watched comedy premiere in six years, since the 2011 premiere of 2 Broke Girls, and was the highest-rated premiere since 2013's The Crazy Ones.  Full story

1101 'The Proposal Proposal' Press Release August 31, 2017

CBS has issued the press release for the eleventh season premiere of The Big Bang Theory, "The Proposal Proposal", which airs Monday, September 25. Laurie Metcalf returns as Mary Cooper and Riki Lindhome reprises her role as Dr. Ramona Nowitzki. Stephen Hawking guest stars as himself in the episode.  Full story

Recap

After Sheldon arrives at Amy’s apartment in New Jersey, she is surprised by his familiar knock. When Amy answers the door in her dressing gown, Sheldon is down on one knee and proposes to her. Sheldon’s phone then rings and he answers the call from Leonard, who is wondering where Sheldon is because he’s been trying to phone him for hours. Sheldon explains to Leonard and Penny that he went to Princeton to see Amy and ended up proposing, after he first called Stephen Hawking for his blessing. When they start to congratulate him, Sheldon says they’re not engaged yet because Amy hasn’t answer, which she says is because he’s on the phone. Sheldon tells Leonard and Penny he will phone back and, a few moments later, does so to tell them that Amy said yes.

When Sheldon phones his mother Mary to tell her they’re engage, an excited Amy eagerly breaks the news. Mary says she is happy for them, although she is not surprised as she had been praying for this. After Sheldon says they will not be getting married in a church, Mary is fine with it as Jesus is always with her, although Sheldon claims he will be her “plus one” then. When Sheldon phones their friends to inform them of the engagement, Raj and Howard are excited for them. As Howard tells Bernadette, she is in the bathroom preoccupied by the surprising results of a pregnancy test.

In the apartment, Penny talks with Bernadette about whether Sheldon will want a weird Star Trek wedding. When Penny wonders why Bernadette is being so quiet, she admits she is unexpectedly pregnant again, but asks Penny not to freak out. Apart from her own concerns, Bernadette is worried that Howard will lose his mind when she finally breaks the news to him. Penny reassures Bernadette that the pregnancy is a good thing, but they both soon freak out.

Back in New Jersey, when Sheldon tells Amy he is checked in to his flight, she asks why he booked a flight out just one day later. Sheldon explains it was in case she said no, so he wouldn’t have to stick around and look at her stupid face. When Amy invites Sheldon to stay a few extra days, he agrees to go stick around. After Amy mentions she’s having dinner with colleagues later and asks Sheldon to join them, Sheldon is worried she’s already nagging him. Meanwhile, Leonard, Howard and Raj eat lunch in the university cafeteria. When they spot Ramona sitting alone, Raj goes over to give her the news about Sheldon and Amy, although Ramona has already heard about the engagement. Raj offers again to go out with Ramona, but she is not at all interested.

In their kitchen, Howard finds Bernadette on her laptop and ask if she wants him to make dinner. Bernadette says yes but tells Howard she wants to show him something first, handing him a pregnancy test. Howard can’t believe it and, when she finally convinces him they are expecting again, he freaks out. Bernadette tries to be reassuring, but doesn’t believe it herself. Elsewhere, Raj arrives at the comic book store looking for an engagement gift for Sheldon & Amy. After Stuart shows Raj a figure of Superman and Wonder Woman which could be considered romantic, Raj wonders why he’s buying a gift for Sheldon and Amy when they have happiness, and instead looks for something for someone who’s bitter and alone.

Amy introduces Sheldon to her colleagues as they sit down for dinner at a restaurant. Amy’s colleagues are happy to meet the man who landed this brilliant woman. When Amy explains that Sheldon is a physicist, her colleagues don’t seem very interested. After one colleague praises Amy’s work, the other says they don’t think Sheldon wants to sit and listen to work talk. On the contrary, Sheldon says let’s discuss work - his work. When Amy’s colleague says she has a question for Sheldon, Sheldon can not believe that it’s about Amy’s work, so instead he poses his own question.

When Sheldon and Amy arrive back at her apartment, Sheldon says it was exhausting. He describes Amy’s colleagues as rude because they kept talking about her, no matter how many times he brought himself up. Amy is offended that Sheldon needs every conversation to revolve around him and tells him that he’s not always the smartest person in the room. After Amy storms off to her room, Sheldon goes to the bathroom instead.

In the apartment, Leonard and Penny sit down to eat with Howard & Bernadette. When Leonard asks her about the pregnancy, Bernadette says things are good and they’ve come to view their situation as a gift. Leonard and Penny reassure them that they are great parents and that they’re there for them if they need anything. Bernadette suggests they could get pregnant too, but Leonard and Penny quickly shoot that notion down. Meanwhile, at the comic book store, Raj chats with Stuart about his mixed feelings for Sheldon and Amy. Raj wants to be happy for this friends, but instead just has a gnawing, empty sensation in his gut.  Raj feels he can’t talk about this with his other friends, but thought Stuart would understand because he’s also alone. When Stuart says he has actually met someone, Raj asks him to forgive him if he’s struggling to be happy for Stuart. Stuart doesn’t mind as he is enjoying Raj’s pain.

In the bathroom of Amy’s New Jersey apartment, Sheldon is on his laptop talking to Stephen Hawking about his relationship problems. When Sheldon says he can’t believe Amy’s colleagues were in the presence of a world class mind and only wanted to talk about their own nonsense, Stephen Hawking tries to make Sheldon see the irony. Elsewhere, when Penny arrives back at the apartment, Leonard has put up balloons and is holding a cake. Penny worries that she forgot their anniversary, but Leonard explains he simply didn’t want her to feel left out with Amy and Bernadette celebrating big news. Penny says she is not feeling left out because Bernadette has to grow a baby inside her and Amy is marrying one. When Leonard realizes it actually is their anniversary, Penny is already gorging on the cake.

Over in New Jersey, Sheldon goes out to Amy to say he’s been thinking about the Avengers: they’re individually great, but sometimes they appear as small roles in each other’s movies without feeling bad about not being the center of attention. Sheldon admits he should have been the cameo in her movie tonight. Amy thanks Sheldon for his apology, and he promises to try do better. Amy says they have a lifetime for him to practice being a more supportive partner, although Sheldon admits it may indeed take a lifetime. When Sheldon wonders whether to go back to Pasadena now and let Amy have her own experience in New Jersey, she realizes he just wants to go back where everybody makes a fuss over him.

Three months later, Sheldon and Amy enter the university cafeteria for the first time as an engaged couple. Leonard, Howard and Raj are excited to see Amy again and ask to see her engagement ring. When Amy spots Ramona Nowitziki and decides to go talk to her, the guys worry what Amy will do. At Ramona’s table, much to her confusion, Amy thanks Ramona profusely.