The Opening Night Excitation Season 9, Episode 11 -  Aired December 17, 2015

The Opening Night Excitation

After more than five years of dating, Sheldon and Amy spend their first night together. Also, Leonard, Wolowitz, and Koothrappali must decide who will take their extra Star Wars movie ticket.

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Guest Stars: Bob Newhart as Professor Proton - Arthur Jeffries, Wil Wheaton as Himself, Jeff Witzke as Movie Goer (O.S.)

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

Director: Mark Cendrowski

Viewers: 17.23 million Adults 18-49 Rating: 4.1/16

Available on iTunes

Episode Lists

  • Sheldon & Amy: Key Episodes Sheldon & Amy: Key Episodes

    The key moments in Sheldon & Amy's relationship including Howard & Raj setting them up, the signing of the relationship agreement, the first time they said "I love you", them breaking up and subsequently getting back together, the proposal, the wedding and winning the Nobel Prize together.

Episode Notes

  • The title refers to the guys' excitement at the opening night of the new Star Wars movie.

> Bazinga

When Sheldon describes one of his ideas for Amy's birthday present - an all-expense-paid trip to the "Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival" - Penny pauses and says, "Sorry, I was waiting for the Bazinga."

> Sheldon's Knock

When Sheldon goes over to Penny's apartment to see her and Bernadette, they decide to have some fun with Sheldon's door knocking routine. When Sheldon knocks on Penny's apartment door, Bernadette tells Sheldon to come in, instead of Penny. This causes Sheldon to repeat his habitualistic known but calling for Bernadette. When Penny answers this time, Sheldon tells them to "Keep it up. I got nowhere else to be", at which point Bernadette tells Sheldon to just come in. Greeting the ladies, Sheldon tells them "For future reference, if I want to watch Mean Girls, I’ll stream it on Netflix."

Episode Quotes

Amy: Okay, what is going on?
Penny: We just want you to be prepared for any surprises that could happen tomorrow.
Amy: What surprises?
Bernadette: We don't want to spoil anything, but you should know that Sheldon said he's ready to be physical.
Amy: You shut your damn mouth! You actually heard him say this?
Penny: Yes, he said he wants to do something to show you how much you mean to him.
Amy: I can't believe it. I don't know what to say.
Bernadette: Well, we're really happy for you and we know how much-
Amy: I do know what to say. Let's get me waxed!

Sheldon: Oh, I should probably tell you something about this gift.
Amy: You mean, before you give it to me?
Sheldon: Yes. But may I ask you a question before I give it to you?
Amy: Of course.
Sheldon: Why are we saying give it to you like that?

Penny: Okay, let's just recap our options. We've got harp thing, sheep thing-
Bernadette: Wild thang.

Sheldon: (3 knocks) Penny! (3 knocks) Penny! (3 knocks) Penny!
Bernadette: What happens if I say come in?
Penny: Well, find out.
Bernadette: Come in!
Sheldon: (silence)
(3 knocks) Bernadette! (3 knocks) Bernadette! (3 knocks) Bernadette!
Penny: Come in!
Sheldon: Keep it up. I've got nowhere else to be.
Bernadette: Just come in.
Sheldon: For future reference, if I want to watch Mean Girls, I'll just stream it on Netflix.

Sheldon: Then it's settled. Amy's birthday present will be my genitals.

News Stories

Title Date Posted
911 'The Opening Night Excitation' Press Release December 8, 2015

CBS has issued the press release for the December 17 episode of The Big Bang Theory, "The Opening Night Excitation" - the last original episode of 2015. Bob Newhart reprises his role as Arthur Jeffries/Professor Proton. Wil Wheaton also appears in the episode.  Full story

Episode Tournaments

WinnerThis episode won our Season 9 episode tournament in July 2016.
This episode won our Seasons 1-9 episode tournament in August 2016.

Recap

A short time ago in the apartment, the guys were waiting for tickets to the new Star Wars movie to go on sale. As Sheldon, Howard and Raj play a board game, a frazzled Leonard comes out to say the tickets have been put on sale. Sheldon rushes to his laptop and finds the website is frozen. As the guys fear that the tickets will sell out, Sheldon goes against everything he believes in and starts talking to God. Mercifully, Howard manages to get tickets before Sheldon makes a bargain with the Lord.

In the present day, Leonard and Penny tell Sheldon they are really happy that he and Amy are back together. Still, Leonard is more excited for the new Star Wars movie coming out in three days and Sheldon isn’t far behind. When Penny points out that Thursday is also Amy’s birthday, Sheldon doesn’t think that matters as he bought the ticket back when he and Amy were broken up. Penny warns him not to ditch Amy on her birthday so soon after they got back together, but Sheldon is worried that somebody will ruin the movie if he doesn’t see it right away.

In Sheldon’s bedroom, he wakes up to see Arthur Jeffries appear in his Jedi robes. Sheldon isn’t sure why Arthur’s there. In the past, Arthur has appeared to him when he was struggling with a dilemma. After Arthur asks what’s troubling him, Sheldon explains that his friends have told him not to abandon his girlfriend on her birthday to see the new Star Wars movie. Arthur thinks that sounds about right. Sheldon admits he loves Amy, but he thinks she knows how much Star Wars means to him. Arthur suggests Sheldon show Amy how much she means to him. Arthur tells Sheldon he can see the movie whenever he wants, but he only has a limited number of days that he can be with Amy.

After Amy is woken up by her phone ringing, she asks Sheldon what’s wrong. Sheldon tells her he will be spending her birthday with her, explaining that Professor Proton convinced him to be with her instead of seeing the new Star Wars movie. A tired Amy struggles to comprehend what he’s saying, but when Sheldon says he’ll let her get back to sleep, Amy asks if he was really not going to spend her birthday with her. Sheldon quickly hangs up the phone, saying it’s a late and he’s got to go.

As the guys get ready to go to the comic book store, Raj says Sheldon has done a good thing by deciding to spend Amy’s birthday with her. Leonard thinks it will be weird seeing the movie without Sheldon, so they briefly consider seeing the money later. After they come to their senses, they ask Sheldon if he would like to come to the comic book store with them. Sheldon says he can’t as he needs to make preparations for Amy’s birthday. Speaking of Amy’s birthday, Sheldon gives them his ticket to Star Wars and trusts them to give it to someone worthy.

When Sheldon goes across the hall to Penny’s apartment, he asks for their assistance helping select the perfect gift for Amy’s birthday. He’s come up with three ideas: playing the harp with the L.A. Philharmonic, an all-expense paid trip to the Wisconsin Sheep and Wool Festival, and, finally, that having coitus with her. Penny is stunned by Sheldon’s proposal and squeezes her wine glass so hard it shatters.

At the comic book store, Leonard asks Howard and Raj what they think about giving Sheldon’s ticket to Stuart. They think going to the movie theater with Stuart is like going with your grandpa as he brings his own food. When Leonard goes over to ask Stuart what he’s doing Thursday night, Wil Wheaton enters the store and Howard jumps at the chance to invite him instead.

Back in Penny’s apartment, she is still trying to process what Sheldon said. After Penny recaps Sheldon’s proposed options, he asks them which they think Amy would prefer. Penny warns Sheldon that being physical with Amy is a huge step for him and she wonders whether he’s ready. Sheldon concedes that being intimate with anyone is a big step for him, but he thinks it feels like now might be right time to show her how important she is to him.

As the girls leave Penny’s apartment, Amy thanks them for taking her out. When they discuss where to go, Penny suggests they take Amy for a bikini wax. Amy is puzzled why she would get a bikini wax for her birthday. When Bernadette proposes watching a dirty movie and then answering any questions she might have about it, Amy wonders what’s going on. Penny says they want her to be prepared for any surprises that might happen tomorrow. Amy is still puzzled, so Bernadette reveals that Sheldon said he’s ready to be physical with  her. Amy is shocked and, temporarily, lost for words. Amy quickly decides a bikini wax is exactly what she wants to do.

When Arthur appears again at night, Sheldon figures he’s there to give advice on being physical with Amy. Arthur tries to avoid the awkward conversation by impaling himself with his own lightsaber, but unfortunately it doesn’t seem to have much effect on his hologram. Sheldon tells Arthur he understands the mechanics, but he is worried he might be overwhelmed on such an important night for him and AMy. Arthur assures him if he’s with the right person, it will be okay.

In the apartment, the guys are excited to finally be heading out to see the Star Wars movie. Bernadette is doubtful when the guys claim they’re going to have more fun than Sheldon, but Penny isn’t so sure. At the movie theater, the guys wonder what’s going on the audience starts booing. They turn around to see Wil Wheaton wearing a Star Trek uniform and doing the Vulcan salute. When Leonard asks what he’s doing, Wil claims he’s just rooting for the home team as a former Star Trek actor.

As Amy lights candles in her apartment, Sheldon knocks on her door and calls for the “Birthday Girl”. Amy lays down seductively on the couch and asks Sheldon to come in, but the chain is on the door. When Amy gets up and opens the door to Sheldon, he has a bouquet of flowers for her. As they sit down on the couch, Amy asks what Sheldon had on mind for tonight. When he says he thought he’d take her out for a nice birthday dinner, Amy says that sounds nice but she’s not really hungry right now. Amy wonders if they could do presents now. After Sheldon says he should tell her something about this gift, Amy reveals that she knows Sheldon’s present is for them to be intimate tonight. When he asks if that’s all right, Amy leans over and kisses him.

Back at the movie theater, Leonard asks Wil what he’s doing there if he doesn’t like Star Wars. Wil claims he’s just having fun because everyone takes Star Wars so seriously. Wil says people act like if the movie’s bad it will ruin their lives, but he argues that whether it’s great or terrible it won’t change people’s lives. Leonard agrees as, good or bad, they will still be coming back to watch it again tomorrow.

In the apartment, Bernadette wonders whether Sheldon will really go through with it. Penny says Sheldon insisted he’s ready, so she’s going to stay positive. Elsewhere, Sheldon is sitting in Amy’s bed as she comes out of her bathroom. After Amy asks Sheldon if she should get under the covers with him, he agrees and they both sit nervously side-by-side. After Sheldon wonders why she’s shaking, Amy admits she’s nervous. She says she’s been waiting for this for so long and has built it up in her head, she doesn't know what to expect. After Sheldon says he doesn’t know either but they can find out together, they lean in and kiss each other.

At the movie theater, the guys admit they are nervous about the movie as they’ve been waiting so long for it and have built it up in their heads. Wil assures them it’s just a movie. In Amy’s bedroom a few hours later, Sheldon declares he enjoyed that more than he thought he would. Amy, whose hair is wildly ruffled, enthusiastically agrees. When Sheldon tells her he looks forward to her next birthday when they do it again, Amy says that works for her. Meanwhile, at the movie theater, Wil admits he enjoyed that more than he thought he would.

When Sheldon wakes up to Arthur in his bedroom again, Sheldon is puzzled why he’s there as he doesn’t need any more advice. Arthur says he was curious how it went. Sheldon admits it was amazing; he saw it a few days later and what a movie it was. When Arthur asks about Amy, Sheldon says she liked it fine but doesn’t have the history with the franchise he does.