The Occupation Recalibration Season 7, Episode 13 -  Aired January 9, 2014

The Occupation Recalibration

When Sheldon is forced by the university to use his vacation time, he struggles to fill time. Meanwhile, Leonard tries to support Penny after she decides to quit her waitressing job to focus on her acting career, and Bernadette needs Stuart's help tracking down a comic book after she accidentally destroys Howard's copy.

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Guest Stars: Brian Posehn as Bert, Josh Peck as Jesse, Ian Scott Rudolph as Captain Sweatpants, Kevin Sussman as Stuart

Writers: Eric Kaplan (Story), Maria Ferrari (Story), Tara Hernandez (Story), Steven Molaro (Teleplay), Jim Reynolds (Teleplay), Steve Holland (Teleplay)

Director: Mark Cendrowski

Viewers: 20.35 million Households Rating: 12.3/19 Adults 18-49 Rating: 5.7/17

Available on iTunes

Episode Notes

  • The title refers to Penny quiting her job at The Cheesecake Factory in order to focus on her acting career.

Episode Quotes

Penny: Thank you, I needed to hear that. Why can't Leonard understand it?
Sheldon: Because he's not like us, Penny. We're dreamers!
Penny: Yeah, I need to start cracking the window when I leave you in the car.

Bernadette: Hey, Stuart.
Stuart: *startled* Hey.
Bernadette: Sorry, did I startle you?
Stuart: Yes, but at this point pretty much any customer does.

Jesse: You're back.
Bernadette: *Angry voice* Yes, I am. There's a few more things I want to say to you. Stuart's store is just fine. And he's a much nicer person than you are. And if you still have that comic I'd like to buy it right now.
Jesse: No problem. Want a latte while you wait?
Bernadette: No, I don't want a latte. I want a cappuccino and a blueberry scone.
Jesse: I only have chocolate chip.
Bernadette: Well that sounds even better!

Sheldon: Where's my lemonade?
Penny: I didn't get it.
Sheldon: A fitting swan song to your career as a waitress to forget my order one last time.

Bernadette: I accidentally destroyed one of Howard's comic books this morning and I was hoping I could replace it.
Stuart: What happened?
Bernadette: Batman got his ass kicked by my curling iron.
Stuart: Don't let the Riddler know that. It's a comic book joke.
*Bernadette stares blankly*
Stuart: Or maybe it's not.

News Stories

Title Date Posted
7.13 'The Occupation Recalibration' Ratings January 10, 2014

Last night's episode of The Big Bang Theory posted strong week-to-week gains to dominate its time slot and deliver the show's biggest audience ever in its 8pm time slot.  Full story

7.13 'The Occupation Recalibration' Pictures January 8, 2014

Pictures from tomorrow's new episode of The Big Bang Theory, 7.13 "The Occupation Recalibration", have been added to our gallery. Josh Peck guest stars as Jesse, the owner of a rival comic book store to Stuart's, in this episode.  Full story

7.13 'The Occupation Recalibration' Press Release January 2, 2014

CBS has put out the press release for the January 9 episode of The Big Bang Theory. Drake and Josh's Josh Peck guest stars in this episode.  Full story

Recap

As Sheldon and Leonard climb the stairs to their apartment, Sheldon angrily recounts to Leonard how the university is forcing him to take his vacation days. Leonard points out he has his own problems to deal with, after Penny proposed and he didn't say yes, but Sheldon is dismissive. While Sheldon returns to the apartment, Leonard goes to see Penny to check they're okay. Leonard is half expecting Penny to break up with him, but she tells him she doesn't want to break up. When Leonard tells him he will support her whatever she wants to do, Penny reveals she's been thinking she should quit waitressing at the Cheesecake Factory to focus on her acting career. As Leonard tries to caution her about making any rash decisions, Penny tells him she's already quit, so he tells her he supports her.

As Leonard leaves for work, Sheldon follows, begging him to take him to work with him. Elsewhere, Bernadette goes to Stuart's comic book store to try replace a comic of Howard's that she accidentally destroyed. Stuart asks her if she can give him a few days to track a copy down as it's pretty rare. Bernadette says she was hoping to have it today as she doesn't want Howard to know about it, so she offers Stuart anxiety medication from her pharmaceutical company if he can make it happen.

Howard and Raj show up at Amy's lab to see if she wants to join them for lunch as Sheldon's not at work. After a geologist, Bert, comes by Amy's lab and leaves her with a piece of quartz, Howard tells Amy the guy clearly likes her. Howard and Raj mock Amy about her "boyfriend" Bert. When Howard wonders if Bert thinks Amy's available, she realizes she has never told him she's dating Sheldon. Back in the apartment building, Penny finds Sheldon sitting on the stairs. Penny is going out to run some errands and invites Sheldon along. Back at the comic book store, Stuart tells Bernadette they have a copy of the comic she's looking for at Capital Comics. Stuart explains he hates that place because the owner is a jerk who's always making him feel bad about himself. Stuart offers to drive Bernadette there so she doesn't get ripped off.

As Amy and the guys eat lunch in the university cafeteria, Leonard fills them in on how Penny quit her job. When Leonard calls Penny and she tells him she's at the Cheesecake Factory, Leonard jumps the gun and assumes she got her job back. Penny explains she's just returning her uniform, so Leonard again tells her he supports her. When Penny returns to the car, angry at Leonard, she asks Sheldon if he thinks she made a mistake quitting in her job. Sheldon tells her he doesn't think she's making a mistake and that the best way to achieve a goal is to focus 100% of one's time on it.

When Bert stops by Amy's lab again to invite her to a rock and mineral show, she tells him she has a boyfriend. Bert wonders whether she's just saying that because she doesn't want to go out with him because of his off-putting personality, but Amy assures him she does have a boyfriend and he also has an off-putting personality. Feeling bad for him, Amy agrees to join him at the rock and mineral show. Elsewhere, Stuart and Bernadette arrive at Capital Comics. When the owner, Jesse, mocks Stuart, Bernadette decides to leave without buying the comic. Back at Amy's lab, Amy asks for Howard and Raj's help to get out of her commitment with Bert. When Amy decides to tell Bert the brutal truth, Howard and Raj, having being hurt themselves, decide they'll break things off with Bert for her.

At the apartment, Penny and Sheldon are performing yoga. When Leonard returns home, Penny tells him Sheldon supports her, unlike him. When Leonard reiterates his support for her, Penny wonders what his phone call was about. Leonard tells her he's not sure she should have quit her job, and wonders why she didn't ask him first. Sheldon interjects, believing he's also a part of their relationship. Penny tells Leonard however reckless it seems she's being, she needs to take this shot. Leonard swears he is on her side, but Penny says he doesn't act like it. Elsewhere, Bernadette returns to Capital Comics to buy the comic, despite her complaints about Jesse's treatment of Stuart. Finally, Howard and Raj join Bert as he drives to the mineral and rock show.