The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis Season 2, Episode 11 -  Aired December 15, 2008

The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis

Leonard starts working with a cool, handsome colleague at work, but things go awry when the colleague starts dating Penny. Meanwhile, Sheldon's obsessive gift-giving etiquette irritates the whole gang, while Penny's Christmas gift for Sheldon leads to a memorable moment.

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Guest Stars: Michael Trucco as David, Michael Hyatt as Charlotte

Writers: Bill Prady (Story), Richard Rosenstock (Story), Stephen Engel (Teleplay), Eric Kaplan (Teleplay)

Director: Mark Cendrowski

Viewers: 11.2 million Households Rating: 6.7/10 Adults 18-49 Rating: 4.1/11

Available on iTunes

Episode Lists

  • Christmas Episodes Christmas Episodes

    Celebrate Christmas with Sheldon, Leonard, Penny, Howard, Raj, Amy and Bernadette in these classic Christmas episodes of The Big Bang Theory.

Episode Notes

  • The title refers to Sheldon's plan to match the value of the bath item gift basket he gives to Penny with the value of the gift she gives him.

Episode Quotes

Sheldon: All I need is a healthy ovum and I can grow my own Leonard Nimoy.
Penny: Okay, all I'm giving you is the napkin, Sheldon.

Penny: Now, honey, it's okay. You don't have to get me anything in return.
Sheldon: Of course I do. The essence of the custom is that I now have to go out and purchase for you a gift of commensurate value and representing the same perceived level of friendship as that represented by the gift you've given me. It's no wonder suicide rates skyrocket this time of year.
Penny: Okay, you know what? Forget it. I'm not giving you a present.
Sheldon: No, it's too late. I see it. That elf sticker says to Sheldon. The die has been cast, the moving finger has writ, Hannibal has crossed the Alps.

Sheldon: If I would give you this gift basket, based on that action alone and no other data, infer and describe the hypothetical relationship that exist between us.
Store Clerk: Excuse me?
Sheldon: Here. Now, are we friends? Colleagues? Lovers? Are you my grandmother?
Store Clerk: I don't understand what you're talking about and you're making me a little uncomfortable.
Howard: See? Sounds just like you and Penny. We'll take it.

Penny: Leonard, look. Sheldon's hugging me!
Leonard: It's a Saturnalia miracle.

Leonard: By the way, my leg is killing me. Thanks for asking.

News Stories

Title Date Posted
The Big Bang Theory Episode Tournament: Result September 16, 2019

Our tournament to find the fans' favorite episode from The Big Bang Theory's twelve-season run has now closed.  Full story

The Big Bang Theory Episode Tournament: Result August 14, 2015

The final round of our The Big Bang Theory Episode Tournament has now closed and the results have been counted. We can now declare the winner was "The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis" with 60.04% of the vote in the final round.  Full story

The Big Bang Theory Episode Tournament: Result September 3, 2014

Our The Big Bang Theory Episode Tournament has now closed and a winner has been declared. The voting was extremely close with just one vote deciding the result. The second season Christmas episode, "The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis", won the tournament. Thank you to everybody who voted.  Full story

Big Bang Theory Episode Tournament: Result September 10, 2013

Our Big Bang Theory Episode Tournament has now closed and a winner has been declared. The second season Christmas episode, "The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis", won the tournament. Thank you to everybody who voted in the tournament.  Full story

Episode Tournaments

WinnerThis episode won our Seasons 1-3 episode tournament in Summer 2010.
This episode won our Season 2 episode tournament in Fall 2009.
This episode won our Seasons 1-2 episode tournament in Summer 2009.
This episode won our Seasons 1-4 episode tournament in August 2011.
This episode won our Seasons 1-6 episode tournament in Summer 2013.
This episode won our Seasons 1-7 episode tournament in September 2014.
This episode won our Seasons 1-8 episode tournament in August 2015.
This episode won our Seasons 1-12 episode tournament in September 2019.

Recap

The guys spot David Underhill, the university's cool and hunky star physicist, in the cafeteria and are surprised when he wants to work with Leonard. Returning from work, Leonard is enthused about working with the good looking physicist. Penny drops by to talk about Christmas presents, inviting an earful from Sheldon who does not appreciate the obligation put upon him by reciprocal gift-giving.

After Leonard is injured by Dave's stationary motorcycle, Dave helps him up the stairs to his apartment where he meets Penny. Penny is instantly charmed by Dave and agrees to go see his lab. Elsewhere, Sheldon is searching for a gift for Penny with Raj and Howard's help.

At the university cafeteria, Leonard is surprised to find Penny there taking up Dave's offer of a guided tour. Back at the apartment, Howard and Raj do the bulk of the lifting when Sheldon decides to buy an array of gift baskets of varying size as a fool-proof way to ensure he gives Penny a gift of commensurate value. Worked up that Penny has decided to date a genius - just not him, Leonard goes to Penny's apartment. After he angrily questions her, Penny breaks down sobbing because Dave turned out to be married. They drown their sorrows in eggnog which is now mostly rum.

Later, Penny brings over her Christmas presents and gives Sheldon a napkin signed by Leonard Nimoy. Sheldon, overwhelmed by this gift, runs back to his room to get Penny's present. Unsure how he can reciprocate Penny's huge gift, he brings her all the gift baskets he bought. Worried that the gift baskets still aren't enough, Sheldon gives Penny a hug in what Leonard describes as a Saturnalia miracle.