The Shiny Trinket Maneuver Season 5, Episode 12 -  Aired January 12, 2012

The Shiny Trinket Maneuver

Sheldon and Amy encounter their first relationship problem as boyfriend and girlfriend when Sheldon is dismissive of Amy's recent accomplishment. Sheldon must find a way to make it up to his girl. Meanwhile, Howard struggles with Bernadette's dislike of children.

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Guest Stars: Jonathan Schmock as Jonathan, Jadon Sand as Aaron, Dusan Brown as Jeremy, Carol Ann Susi as Mrs. Wolowitz

Writers: Chuck Lorre (Story), Steve Holland (Story), Tara Hernandez (Story), Bill Prady (Teleplay), Steven Molaro (Teleplay), Jim Reynolds (Teleplay)

Director: Mark Cendrowski

Viewers: 16.13 million Households Rating: 9.4/15 Adults 18-49 Rating: 5.3/15

Available on iTunes

Episode Notes

  • The title refers to the tiara Sheldon buys Amy to make up for his relationship transgression.

> Relationship Agreement

On a date with Sheldon at the Cheesecake Factory, Amy explains to Penny that her relationship agreement with Sheldon specifies that the second Thursday of every month, or the third Thursday in a month of five Thursdays, is date night.

> Amy's Tiara

After Sheldon upsets Amy by talking about himself on their date and ignoring her exciting news, he tries to make things up to her with a gift from the jewelry store, ultimately settling on a tiara.

Episode Quotes

Amy: Jewelry? Seriously? Sheldon, you are the most shallow, self-centered person I have ever met! Do you really think another transparently manipulative - Oh, it's a tiara! Put it on me, put it on me, put it on me, put it on me.

Penny: You look beautiful.
Amy: Of course I do, I'm a princess and this is my tiara!

Sheldon: Hard as this may be to believe, it's possible that I'm not boyfriend material.
Leonard: Glad I was sitting down for that.

Sheldon: You were right, the tiara was too much.

Mrs. Wolowitz Has she tried on the vest yet?
Howard: I just gave it to her.
Mrs. Wolowitz I hope it fits. She's a tricky figure. She's short and stacked, like me.

News Stories

Title Date Posted
Episode 5.12 Ratings January 13, 2012

The January 12, 2012 episode of The Big Bang Theory, the first original episode of 2012, finished first in its timeslot and was the highest rated show of the night.  Full story

CBS Announces Episode 5.12 December 20, 2011

CBS has announced the next episode of The Big Bang Theory, which will air January 12th, 2012.  Full story

Recap

Howard is demonstrating his magic tricks to Raj, Leonard and Sheldon, in their apartment as he prepares to perform a magic show for his cousin's birthday party. Although Raj is impressed, Sheldon is disappointed that his apartment has been transformed into a cabaret. Later, Sheldon and Amy are having date night at the Cheesecake Factory. When Amy tells Sheldon the exciting news that her recent paper made the cover of Neuron magazine, Sheldon doesn't pay her much attention. When Amy excuses herself to go wash up, Penny tells Sheldon that he needs to try be excited by the things that excite Amy.

Howard and Bernadette are practicing magic tricks in his bedroom. Bernadette says she might not be the best choice for a magician's assistant as she's uncomfortable with little kids. Howard suggests this will be good practice for when she's a mom. Back at the apartment, Sheldon is up late with women troubles and is drowning his sorrows, virtually, in Red Dead Redemption. Leonard suggests that Sheldon should listen to what's upsetting Amy and show her he can grow and change, but Sheldon is having none of that. Leonard then suggests he skip over any attempt to repair their emotional connect and instead win back her affection with an empty financial gesture.

At the birthday party, Bernadette is assisting Howard as he performs his magic tricks for the children. When a child calls out that he knows how the trick is down, Bernadette yells at him to pipe down. Bernadette snaps at another child who suggests they're using a fake pitcher for the magic trick, and then tells him he won't be having cake after he calls out again. When Bernadette gives Howard the pitcher of milk to pour down his pants, she hands him the wrong pitcher and he ends up with milk all over his crotch. As they drive back from the party, Bernadette reaffirms how she doesn't like children.

Sheldon and Penny are at a jewelry store as he searches for a present for Amy. A pocket watch catches Sheldon's eyes, for him though - not Amy. Sheldon is dismissive when the shop assistant shows him diamonds, which he compares another carbon form: the charcoal briquettes which people toss on their barbecue. Back at the apartment, Howard is concerned that he might never become a dad and starts to wonder whether he and Bernadette are truly right for each other.

Sheldon is waiting for Amy in Penny's apartment, though Amy is unaware Sheldon will be there when she turns up. When Amy arrives, Penny tells her Sheldon wants to talk to her. Sheldon apologizes and congratulates her on her accomplishment, though Amy sees right through his koala face. Penny tells Amy that Sheldon bought her something, so he hands her the bag of jewelry. Amy is overjoyed by the tiara he bought her, though Sheldon now thinks it was too much.

Bernadette shows up at Howard's to talk to him about their having children. Bernadette realizes how important having kids is to Howard and tells him she's come up with a solution, that he be the stay at home parent when they have kids, which Howard reluctantly agrees to.