<Li> Lauri Johnson as Mrs. Gunderson </Li> <Li> Mayim Bialik as Dr. Amy Farrah Fowler </Li> <Table> <Tr> <Th> No . overall </Th> <Th> No. in season </Th> <Th> Title </Th> <Th> Directed by </Th> <Th> Written by </Th> <Th> Original air date </Th> <Th> Prod . code </Th> <Th> U.S. viewers (millions) </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 41 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> "The Electric Can Opener Fluctuation" </Td> <Td> Mark Cendrowski </Td> <Td> Steven Molaro </Td> <Td> September 21, 2009 (2009 - 09 - 21) </Td> <Td> 3X5551 </Td> <Td> 12.96 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> The men return home from their expedition at the Magnetic North Pole . Penny reveals her feelings for Leonard when he visits her . Sheldon is humiliated on learning that Leonard, Howard and Raj tampered with one of his experiments, and retreats to his mother's home in Galveston, Texas . </P> Title reference: The electric can opener used by the men to fake the results of Sheldon's experiment while at the Magnetic North Pole . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 42 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> "The Jiminy Conjecture" </Td> <Td> Mark Cendrowski </Td> <Td> Jim Reynolds </Td> <Td> September 28, 2009 (2009 - 09 - 28) </Td> <Td> 3X5552 </Td> <Td> 13.27 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> Leonard and Penny, vacillate between friendship and a romantic relationship, struggling to resolve the awkwardness . Sheldon and Howard stake their most valuable comic books on a bet over the species of a cricket they hear, enlisting a depressed entomologist to settle the bet . </P> Title reference: Sheldon tries to guess the species of a cricket he names after Jiminy Cricket . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 43 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> "The Gothowitz Deviation" </Td> <Td> Mark Cendrowski </Td> <Td> Story by: Lee Aronsohn & Richard Rosenstock Teleplay by: Bill Prady & Maria Ferrari </Td> <Td> October 5, 2009 (2009 - 10 - 05) </Td> <Td> 3X5553 </Td> <Td> 12.52 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> Sheldon tries to condition Penny, rewarding with chocolate what he considers to be "correct" behavior . Howard and Raj pretend to be goths to try to meet girls at a goth club...</P> Title reference: Howard and Raj go to a Goth club . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 44 </Th> <Td> </Td> <Td> "The Pirate Solution" </Td> <Td> Mark Cendrowski </Td> <Td> Steve Holland </Td> <Td> October 12, 2009 (2009 - 10 - 12) </Td> <Td> 3X5554 </Td> <Td> 13.07 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> Raj's research on trans - Neptunian objects comes to a dead end and he faces deportation to India unless he gets a new job . Sheldon offers Raj a chance to work for him . Raj accepts but disagreements ensue . Howard tries to hang out with Leonard and Penny, but intrudes into their relationship . </P> Title reference: Sheldon's comment about Raj either emigrating to another country, returning to India, or "wandering the high seas as a stateless pirate ." </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 45 </Th> <Td> 5 </Td> <Td> "The Creepy Candy Coating Corollary" </Td> <Td> Mark Cendrowski </Td> <Td> Story by: Chuck Lorre & Bill Prady Teleplay by: Lee Aronsohn & Steven Molaro </Td> <Td> October 19, 2009 (2009 - 10 - 19) </Td> <Td> 3X5556 </Td> <Td> 13.47 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> Howard bonds with Penny's friend Bernadette, over their respective relationships with their mothers . Sheldon enters a collectible card game tournament, with Raj as his partner, to compete against his rival Wil Wheaton . </P> <P> Note: This episode marks the first appearance of future regular cast member Melissa Rauch as Bernadette Rostenkowski and also marks the first cameo appearance of Wil Wheaton on the show . </P> Title reference: Penny's description of Howard's outward behavior . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 46 </Th> <Td> 6 </Td> <Td> "The Cornhusker Vortex" </Td> <Td> Mark Cendrowski </Td> <Td> Story by: Bill Prady & Steven Molaro Teleplay by: Dave Goetsch & Richard Rosenstock </Td> <Td> November 2, 2009 (2009 - 11 - 02) </Td> <Td> 3X5555 </Td> <Td> 12.73 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> Leonard attempts to fit in with Penny's football - loving friends, despite initially knowing nothing about the game . Howard upsets Raj by repeatedly abandoning him during activities to pursue women . </P> Title reference: The football team Penny and her friends watch . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 47 </Th> <Td> 7 </Td> <Td> "The Guitarist Amplification" </Td> <Td> Mark Cendrowski </Td> <Td> Story by: Chuck Lorre & Lee Aronsohn Teleplay by: Bill Prady & Richard Rosenstock & Jim Reynolds </Td> <Td> November 9, 2009 (2009 - 11 - 09) </Td> <Td> 3X5557 </Td> <Td> 12.79 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> Sheldon is upset by reminders of his quarrelling parents as Leonard argues with Penny, Raj argues with his parents and Howard argues with his mother . </P> Title reference: Penny's guitarist friend . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 48 </Th> <Td> 8 </Td> <Td> "The Adhesive Duck Deficiency" </Td> <Td> Mark Cendrowski </Td> <Td> Story by: Chuck Lorre & Bill Prady & Dave Goetsch Teleplay by: Steven Molaro & Eric Kaplan & Maria Ferrari </Td> <Td> November 16, 2009 (2009 - 11 - 16) </Td> <Td> 3X5558 </Td> <Td> 13.23 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> Sheldon, despite never having driven a car before, is forced to drive Penny to the hospital after she slips in the shower . Leonard, Raj and Howard go on a camping trip to watch the Leonid meteor shower, but all succumb to the effects of "magic" cookies given to them by Deadhead campers nearby . </P> Title reference: Sheldon telling Penny that he has sticky non-slip duck shaped appliqués in his bath tub and that they would have prevented Penny's accident . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 49 </Th> <Td> 9 </Td> <Td> "The Vengeance Formulation" </Td> <Td> Mark Cendrowski </Td> <Td> Story by: Chuck Lorre & Maria Ferrari Teleplay by: Richard Rosenstock & Jim Reynolds & Steve Holland </Td> <Td> November 23, 2009 (2009 - 11 - 23) </Td> <Td> 3X5559 </Td> <Td> 14.13 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> After three successful dates, Howard reflects on the future of his relationship with Bernadette . A prank fight between Sheldon and Kripke begins when the latter severely embarrasses the former on National Public Radio's talk show Science Friday by filling Sheldon's office with helium, giving him a high - pitched voice . </P> Title reference: Sheldon's revenge against Kripke . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 50 </Th> <Td> 10 </Td> <Td> "The Gorilla Experiment" </Td> <Td> Mark Cendrowski </Td> <Td> Story by: Chuck Lorre & Richard Rosenstock & Steve Holland Teleplay by: Bill Prady & Steven Molaro & Maria Ferrari </Td> <Td> December 7, 2009 (2009 - 12 - 07) </Td> <Td> 3X5560 </Td> <Td> 14.38 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> Howard becomes jealous of Leonard after Bernadette shows an interest in his work, causing friction in the relationship of all three . Penny becomes jealous over not being able to talk to Leonard about his job, and asks Sheldon to teach her about physics . </P> Title reference: Sheldon's view that teaching physics to Penny is equivalent in challenge to teaching sign language to Koko the gorilla . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 51 </Th> <Td> 11 </Td> <Td> "The Maternal Congruence" </Td> <Td> Mark Cendrowski </Td> <Td> Story by: Lee Aronsohn & Steven Molaro & Richard Rosenstock & Maria Ferrari Teleplay by: Chuck Lorre & Bill Prady & Dave Goetsch </Td> <Td> December 14, 2009 (2009 - 12 - 14) </Td> <Td> 3X5562 </Td> <Td> 15.58 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> At Christmas, Leonard's mother visits, much to Leonard's horror and Sheldon's delight . Penny is upset to learn that Leonard has not told her about his mother's visit, nor his mother about their relationship . Leonard learns that Sheldon appears to know more about his parents' lives than he does . </P> Title reference: Leonard's mother visiting him again . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 52 </Th> <Td> 12 </Td> <Td> "The Psychic Vortex" </Td> <Td> Mark Cendrowski </Td> <Td> Story by: Lee Aronsohn & Steven Molaro Teleplay by: Chuck Lorre & Eric Kaplan & Jim Reynolds </Td> <Td> January 11, 2010 (2010 - 01 - 11) </Td> <Td> 3X5561 </Td> <Td> 15.82 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> Penny is upset when Leonard derides her for taking advice from a psychic . Awkward situations ensue as Sheldon and Raj date two women they met at a university mixer, Raj having bribed Sheldon to be his wingman . </P> Title reference: Penny's belief in psychics . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 53 </Th> <Td> 13 </Td> <Td> "The Bozeman Reaction" </Td> <Td> Mark Cendrowski </Td> <Td> Story by: Bill Prady & Lee Aronsohn & Jim Reynolds Teleplay by: Chuck Lorre & Steven Molaro & Steve Holland </Td> <Td> January 18, 2010 (2010 - 01 - 18) </Td> <Td> 3X5563 </Td> <Td> 14.99 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> Sheldon fears for his safety after his and Leonard's apartment is burgled, and takes various measures to try to increase his security . </P> Title reference: Sheldon moves to Bozeman, Montana after his and Leonard's apartment is robbed . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 54 </Th> <Td> 14 </Td> <Td> "The Einstein Approximation" </Td> <Td> Mark Cendrowski </Td> <Td> Story by: Lee Aronsohn & Dave Goetsch & Steve Holland Teleplay by: Chuck Lorre & Steven Molaro & Eric Kaplan </Td> <Td> February 1, 2010 (2010 - 02 - 01) </Td> <Td> 3X5565 </Td> <Td> 15.51 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> After becoming obsessed with a physics problem, Sheldon decides to take a menial job, comparing himself to Albert Einstein, who conceived his theory of relativity while working at the Swiss patent office . </P> <P> Meanwhile, Raj feels left out when Leonard, Penny, Howard and Bernadette go on a double - date at a roller skating rink . </P> Title reference: Sheldon's attempt at solving his problem by working in a menial job, comparing it to Albert Einstein's discoveries made while working in Switzerland in the Patent Office . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 55 </Th> <Td> 15 </Td> <Td> "The Large Hadron Collision" </Td> <Td> Mark Cendrowski </Td> <Td> Story by: Chuck Lorre & Steven Molaro & Jim Reynolds Teleplay by: Lee Aronsohn & Richard Rosenstock & Maria Ferrari </Td> <Td> February 8, 2010 (2010 - 02 - 08) </Td> <Td> 3X5564 </Td> <Td> 16.26 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> Sheldon feels betrayed when Leonard decides to take Penny, not Sheldon, with him to a conference in Switzerland, where they will also have the chance to visit the Large Hadron Collider . After failing to convince Leonard to change his mind, Sheldon tries to convince Penny to drop out, which leads Leonard to terminate his friendship with Sheldon . </P> Title reference: The dispute between Leonard and Sheldon over who gets to be Leonard's guest for the trip to the Large Hadron Collider . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 56 </Th> <Td> 16 </Td> <Td> "The Excelsior Acquisition" </Td> <Td> Peter Chakos </Td> <Td> Story by: Chuck Lorre & Lee Aronsohn & Steven Molaro Teleplay by: Bill Prady & Steve Holland & Maria Ferrari </Td> <Td> March 1, 2010 (2010 - 03 - 01) </Td> <Td> 3X5566 </Td> <Td> 15.73 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> Sheldon tries to meet Stan Lee at a comic book signing, but is stymied by having to appear in court for running a red light, and enlists Penny to help him win the judge's favor . </P> Title reference: Stan Lee's comic book signing event . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 57 </Th> <Td> 17 </Td> <Td> "The Precious Fragmentation" </Td> <Td> Mark Cendrowski </Td> <Td> Story by: Lee Aronsohn & Eric Kaplan & Maria Ferrari Teleplay by: Bill Prady & Steven Molaro & Richard Rosenstock </Td> <Td> March 8, 2010 (2010 - 03 - 08) </Td> <Td> 3X5567 </Td> <Td> 16.32 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> Sheldon, Raj, Leonard and Howard acquire a collectible casting of the One Ring, which turns out to be a prop from The Lord of the Rings film trilogy . Fights and deceptions ensue as the four try various means to prevent the others from possessing it, as Penny observes in disbelief . </P> Title reference: The guys' fight over the One Ring . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 58 </Th> <Td> 18 </Td> <Td> "The Pants Alternative" </Td> <Td> Mark Cendrowski </Td> <Td> Story by: Chuck Lorre & Bill Prady & Steve Holland Teleplay by: Eric Kaplan & Richard Rosenstock & Jim Reynolds </Td> <Td> March 22, 2010 (2010 - 03 - 22) </Td> <Td> 3X5568 </Td> <Td> 13.42 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> The characters try to help Sheldon overcome his fear of public speaking in time for him to accept a science award . </P> Title reference: Sheldon takes off his pants during his acceptance speech for the award whilst drunk . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 59 </Th> <Td> 19 </Td> <Td> "The Wheaton Recurrence" </Td> <Td> Mark Cendrowski </Td> <Td> Story by: Chuck Lorre & Steven Molaro & Nicole Lorre & Jessica Ambrosetti Teleplay by: Bill Prady & Dave Goetsch & Jim Reynolds & Maria Ferrari </Td> <Td> April 12, 2010 (2010 - 04 - 12) </Td> <Td> 3X5569 </Td> <Td> 13.39 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> Leonard and Penny reflect on their relationship after Penny does not reciprocate when Leonard tells her he loves her . At a bowling match with Stuart and others, including Sheldon's rival Wil Wheaton, the two question their future together, but Wheaton may also be interfering . </P> Title reference: Wil Wheaton's return as a guest star on the show . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 60 </Th> <Td> 20 </Td> <Td> "The Spaghetti Catalyst" </Td> <Td> Anthony Rich </Td> <Td> Chuck Lorre & Bill Prady & Lee Aronsohn & Steven Molaro </Td> <Td> May 3, 2010 (2010 - 05 - 03) </Td> <Td> 3X5570 </Td> <Td> 11.63 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> Leonard and Penny, having now ended their relationship, consider whether they can maintain their friendships with the other characters . </P> Title reference: Sheldon's spaghetti dinner with Penny . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 61 </Th> <Td> 21 </Td> <Td> "The Plimpton Stimulation" </Td> <Td> Mark Cendrowski </Td> <Td> Story by: Chuck Lorre & Bill Prady & Lee Aronsohn Teleplay by: Steven Molaro & Jim Reynolds & Maria Ferrari </Td> <Td> May 10, 2010 (2010 - 05 - 10) </Td> <Td> 3X5571 </Td> <Td> 13.73 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> Dr. Elizabeth Plimpton, a cosmological physicist from Princeton University, accepts Sheldon's invitation to stay over at the apartment during her visit to Caltech . However, she instead takes an immediate interest in Leonard, and the two end up sleeping together, inciting jealousy from Penny . However, it quickly becomes clear that Leonard and Elizabeth both have very different ideas about the nature of their relationship . </P> Title reference: Dr. Elizabeth Plimpton visits and "stimulates" Leonard and Raj . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 62 </Th> <Td> 22 </Td> <Td> "The Staircase Implementation" </Td> <Td> Mark Cendrowski </Td> <Td> Story by: Lee Aronsohn & Steven Molaro & Steve Holland Teleplay by: Chuck Lorre & Dave Goetsch & Maria Ferrari </Td> <Td> May 17, 2010 (2010 - 05 - 17) </Td> <Td> 3X5572 </Td> <Td> 15.02 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> Taking shelter in Penny's apartment after an argument with Sheldon, Leonard tells Penny how he and Sheldon met in 2003 . He describes the trials he underwent in order to become Sheldon's roommate, which reveal many aspects of the latter's character, and in the process reveals how their building's elevator came to be out of order . </P> Title reference: Because Leonard's rocket fuel explodes inside the elevator and destroys it, the stairway becomes indispensable . </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> 63 </Th> <Td> 23 </Td> <Td> "The Lunar Excitation" </Td> <Td> Peter Chakos </Td> <Td> Story by: Chuck Lorre & Bill Prady & Maria Ferrari Teleplay by: Lee Aronsohn & Steven Molaro & Steve Holland </Td> <Td> May 24, 2010 (2010 - 05 - 24) </Td> <Td> 3X5573 </Td> <Td> 14.78 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="8"> <P> Penny introduces her new boyfriend Zack to the other characters as they set up an experiment to bounce a laser off the moon using the laser reflector left by Apollo 11, but grows disappointed with him as she watches him interact with the group . She later breaks up with him and has drunken sex with Leonard, leading Leonard to hypothesize that he has become irresistible to the women around him, which he tests throughout the episode . </P> <P> Meanwhile, Raj and Howard create a profile for Sheldon on a dating website without his knowledge, which to their surprise matches him with a woman named Amy Farrah Fowler . The two force Sheldon to meet Amy, and are surprised at the results . </P> Title reference: The guys bouncing a laser off the reflector left on the moon by the crew of Apollo 11 . </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Th> No . overall </Th> <Th> No. in season </Th> <Th> Title </Th> <Th> Directed by </Th> <Th> Written by </Th> <Th> Original air date </Th> <Th> Prod . code </Th> <Th> U.S. viewers (millions) </Th> </Tr>

Big bang theory episode where howard meets bernadette