Taping Report: 7.11 The Cooper Extraction and 7.12 The Hesitation Ramification

[spaced_up]

The Reports

Amy dreams that Penny tries to seduce Sheldon, she leans in to kiss him and he is disinterested. Are they messing with both shamys and shennys here?http://forum.the-big-bang-theory.com/topic/4037-season-7-taping-reports/#

Comments

[shellsyke]

The answer is YES. Yes they are. (Trying to mess with Shennies and Shamies. Let's throw Lennies into the mix as well.)

I am very surprised that this was Amy's dream, although it could have easily been Leonard's dream IMO. I'm also merely surprised that there was a dream involving Sheldon when it was supposed to be AUs of life without Sheldon. Not surprised that Amy dreamt that Sheldon rejected Penny (remember Sheldon NOT rejecting Amy was also Amy's dream) but surprising that it was Penny in the dream.

As far as 7.12 itself, if the recurring goal was for Shamy to have sex and for Lenny to get married, then this episode is like Sheldon and Penny mocking these goals, and Amy and Leonard are uncomfortable with it. Sheldon drops his pants in front of Amy, but it is because he is trying to make a joke. I get the sense that Amy is very tired of Sheldon here. Meanwhile, Penny proposes to Leonard, but she is tipsy and it comes after a big role falls through. Leonard doesn't say yes immediately (although he doesn't say no), and Penny gets pissed and leaves.

[jislane35]

Wow. Why am I NOT surprised that they would take out Penny's small part in NCIS….oh that's right because the really writer's couldn't give a rat's ass about taking her career seriously for once. I don't care what anybody says, Leonard's comment about her big break "never going to happen" spoke volumes to me. I too thought the same exact thing that Penny did: the fact that Leonard has little to no faith in her acting career. That comment really did crush her hopes and dreams (and seemed pretty unforgivable IMO), as if she's not already insecure enough about herself than she already is! This guy is more worried about the fact that if she ever does become famous one day then she'll just flat out leave him. How selfish is that? Not to mention how little trust he has in her as a loyal GF. And it looks as if Penny's 'proposal' not only seemed half-hearted and superficial but it also explained that if she has nothing left for herself then her only back up plan is to marry Leonard. That says a lot doesn't it?! I really hate how they've made Penny such a quitter (and a very drunk one at that). And of course Leonard would think that giving her a bouquet of red roses would be enough to make up for him just completely crushing her spirits so harshly. Kudos to him though for offering the Star Wars audition but at the same time I would have to agree with Penny about it still being a pretty amateur stunt for her to do.

I honestly skipped the Raj/Stuart scenes because it was the same BS from previous episodes, nothing might ever change for those two. They should seriously just hook them up already since its more than obvious that they've only got each other left.

I have a feeling that trouble is beginning to brew up yet again in the Howardette department.

Okay now its more than obvious that Amy is becoming bored, frustrated, and annoyed with Sheldon. She even said it herself straight to his face: she was having second thoughts about having to date him anymore (which she REALLY should)! That says quite a lot to me, it's no wonder she sounds depressed all the time that is until he drops his pants a second time then that's when she'll stop complaining. So now they have Sheldon becoming interested on being a jokester…wooooowww seriously?! There just making him more and more childish as the seasons go by.

And regarding episode 7.12, can I just say that Penny's dream was beyond random and kind've well...mean? The rest of the gang's dreams seemed pretty stupid and pointless to me since they were doing nothing but making fun of themselves and each other.

I was pretty damn SHOCKED that Amy dreamt about Penny being the one to ALMOST kiss Sheldon (DAMN IT if ONLY it was on the LIPS, THAT'S ALL I'VE EVER WANTED! But we all know that the writers wouldn't be THAT cruel to their canons). I honestly expected her dream to be just another intelligent female scientist who was drop dead beautiful competing against her on getting Sheldon's interest and it would take place somewhere in Caltech like say Sheldon's office, her office, or maybe even a lab of some sort. But instead we have her imagining her 'bestie' putting the moves on her man (and OF COURSE she would dream about him being repulsed by a beautiful girl putting the moves on him while stripping off her shirt and leaning in for a smooch).

I could understand why Leonard would dream about Zack being with Penny and not Sheldon, because he doesn't see Sheldon as 'real competition' on top of him being just as big of a nerd as he is and because he's well as the old saying goes "it's SHELDON!" Plus Zack is everything Leonard isn't. Just like Penny is everything Amy isn't.

YES they are INDEED messing with both Shamy's and Shenny's (but I think it's indicated MORE towards US since it seems pretty personal), I think the writer's know how uncomfortable the Shamy's get whenever there's a scene between Shelly and Penny.

I wonder what other problems will be heading towards for Lenny, will they only get worse?? (Even if they do they'll still live 'happily ever after' anyway because their ship is just THAT obvious).

[spaced_up]

I'm curious to see the almost kiss scene, obviously. But I'm not going to do my happy dance just yet. In the premier they said Sheldon and Penny would be sharing intimate secrets and Sheldon would be crushed when Leonard returned. Talk about pulling our strings. But if this is a great scene it could be the shot in the arm this ship needs. We have been a little down in the dumps of late.

[jislane35]

"In the premier they said Sheldon and Penny would be sharing intimate secrets and Sheldon would be crushed when Leonard returned."

Sorry but it seems as if you were referring to the premiere on the first episode of this season just now LOL!

[spaced_up]

I was. It was an example of how the writers love to pull our Shenny 'strings'. :)

[ses1515]

Jislane, I'm very happy and also shocked Leonard said no to Penny. This is a man who had sex with a very drunk Penny so why not say yes to a very drunk marriage proposal? Leonard did crush Penny's dream even if he did not mean to do it. Penny has stood behind Leonard and especially with his last trip. Hopefully this will mean a Lenny breakup. I did not read 7/11 yet. Very interesting that Amy dreamed of Penny going after Sheldon. No question in mind Amy thinks Penny is some kind of threat. I also think Amy is getting very fustrated with Sheldon. I really hope something has to give with all of these Ships inlcuding Howardette. The Raj and Stuart scenes continue to be sad IMO. :(

[jislane35]

I too almost expected to him to just outright accept her proposal and take advantage of it while she's still drunk (just like last time) but I think deep down Leonard knows that she would've regretted on ever asking him once she sobered up, and we all know he doesn't want a half-assed proposal. He doesn't want to be another Zack, he wants for her to be completely serious about it this time. He honestly could've kept his own opinions about her never being able to make to himself but instead he decided to be a total dick about it.

Here's devilbik's take on the episodes:
"While I would love for Penny and Leonard to split up I just don't have that kind of faith in the writers. I can absolutely see them hedging their bets, assuming that Kaley gets pregnant after she gets married, and looking to make things go as smoothly as possible as well as goosing publicity with a real life pregnancy side by side with a fictional one. You may not know this but the same thing kind of happened with Lucille Ball on the I Love Lucy show in the 1950s. Her show pregnancy shadowed her real one. We may be seeing evidence of a writing staff that's run out of ideas. Perhaps they should consider hiring some new writers.

I think they're taping next week so I guess we'll have a sense of what happened then since neither show will air till after New Years Day.

I am really sick of Penny being treated like a piece of drunk furniture. It's rude and disloyal. And I really can't figure out why Kaley puts up with it.

As for her part ending up on the cutting room floor, I have a lot of actor friends. It happens all the time. People who are major actors now had stuff cut out when they were younger. It sucks that it happened to Penny but it is part of the business and probably happened at some point to everyone in the cast. It's an embarrassing story but usually the actor's agent is informed, especially if it was a speaking role.

I agree that it's pretty clear that Leonard would prefer that Penny have a hobby, not a career. He could never compete with her if she had any measure of success because he has no ambition. In fact It's kind of telling that the most significant thing he's done, aside from the North Sea, is disprove something Sheldon did.

Perhaps I'm rambling but I will once again raise the need for Penny to have a friend outside the group that actually supports her acting ambitions and helps her. Leonard has shown, especially in this coming episode, that he hasn't bothered to learn anything about what she wants to do, primarily because he doesn't really care."

I understand that the writer's want to put a more 'realistic' POV through Penny's acting career but COME ON something's gotta give at some point for this girl! It's obvious that they're making her become as empty as possible so she can just say 'f*** it all!' and ask for Leonard's hand and in marriage because apparently that's all she has left for herself. Really?!

You're absolutely right Penny has always been there to support Leonard on taking his career even further but we can't exactly say the same for him.

[gamma12]

Wow, I think he has the Leonard/Penny dynamic down pretty well. I have thought for quite a while that TPTB keep Penny unsuccessful because she would quickly outgrow him if she ever had real success. I agree with him that they really do need some new blood in the writer's room. Wasn't the Penny acting plot kind of lifted off of a Friend's episode? I seem to remember something similar happening to Joey after he got all of his friends and family to watch.

I thought it was interesting that at the end of the episode when Leonard is talking with Sheldon he can't articulate why he didn't say yes to Penny. He doesn't know. Could it be that Leonard was never all that serious about marrying her in the first place(after all he must have known she would not react well to how those proposals were made) or did going away for the summer etc change his prospective.

[jislane35]

"Wasn't the Penny acting plot kind of lifted off of a Friend's episode? I seem to remember something similar happening to Joey after he got all of his friends and family to watch."

I wouldn't be surprised about that, this show has been known for recycling old material/plot devices from previously famous sitcoms.

I don't don't the fact that Penny could possibly put Leonard to the side while she continues on building her name up as an actress if she ever does make it to the big screen.

"Could it be that Leonard was never all that serious about marrying her in the first place(after all he must have known she would not react well to how those proposals were made) or did going away for the summer etc change his prospective."

You know thats a very intriguing hypothesis, but I just think don't think Leonard is confident enough in himself to do something as big as splitting up with Penny. He immediately wanted her back the first time he did it so I doubt he'd have enough willpower to keep his distance from her, especially if he sees how depressed she'll become once he lets her go (because apparently she's played off as being "lost" and "empty" without him). But there could be a slight chance of him having second thoughts about marrying her given how she took the proposal so playfully like that and or seemed better off without her during his trip at sea.

But I know a few canons who aren't very fond of Penny's character who'd be happy to see Leonard warming up to the idea the idea of calling it splits with her, most of them want to see him with a girl who's more in his league which frankly is the only thing I can agree with them on.

[gamma12]

But Leonard has never broken up with Penny, its always been her doing the breaking up. Maybe if Leonard decided once and for all that they didn't fit he could finally move on.

[jislane35]

Hmmm could've sworn there was an episode where one of them broke up with the other and they ended up regretting it, it's been a real LONG time since I last saw the show (and for a very good reason) so maybe I was confusing him with Penny instead.

She regretted doing it the last time and the time before that, then she was close to doing it a third time during season 5 or 6 so that says a lot about her unsure feelings for him already. Maybe it could and should be Leonard's turn to call it quits with her (I pray it's permanent this time but we'll need a miracle in order for that to happen). Because he needs to move on with someone better for him.

[gamma12]

You know to me Penny seemed okay with the breakup that Wheaton caused UNTIL Pryia had Leonard tell her to stay away and the girls(mostly Amy) kept harping on Pryia and Leonard being together and what a catch Pryia was. It was like Leonard became more attractive to her because someone beautiful and accomplished wanted him. Same with last season, she was thinking of breaking up with him till Alex hit on him(and Amy was working her magic again that time).

[jislane35]

Damn you're right, that's SO true. So in the end it was actually Amy who was the main catalyst for her to take Leonard back those first two times instead of it fully being Penny having second thoughts about missing him as a BF and taking him back herself. And then Sheldon just had to completely but in to her business and prevent her from breaking up with his 'friend' because he didn't want her to hurt Leonard's feelings (what a bunch of crap). I think Amy even did it a third time a season or two ago, Bernie was present at that time too, they both tried to stop her from thinking about leaving Leonard again.

And of course with the overly-insecure person that Penny is she took him back by using the only two things she thinks she's good for: her beauty and her talents in the bedroom (which she knows is Leonard's kryptonite). Which brings back her comment from 7.10 about something along the lines of "not wanting someone until you only no longer have them and they just lose interest in you then that's when you really want to chase after them" VERY accurate. That quote defined Lenny perfectly.

You know there was something about Priya that reminded me of Leonard, I just can't put my finger on it...

[dsnynutz]

Of course Amy is actively trying to keep Penny with Leonard, If they ever break up then Sheldon will spend more time with Penny, and her whole 5 year plan is out the window.

[ses1515]

I would be shocked if we see a baby on this show regardless of what may happen in RL. While it may be crazy to think TPTB will break up the Lenny again, the signs are there. No telling though if it is just a big tease? I think breaking up all three Ships would do wonders for this show. It would reset things and give a chance at fresh material. I just also want to add that Penny wants Sheldon, she wants him bad. :)

[jislane35]

"I just also want to add that Penny wants Sheldon, she wants him bad.:)"

LOL Hellz yeah, I wonder what Penny will say to him during that scene.

It would be pretty insane for them to split them up a third time but you're right there are way too many obvious signs and not to mention good reasons as to why they should permanently split up. To me if things don't work out a second time for them then how in the hell could it possibly get any better? No matter what anyone says their relationship hasn't changed all that much. It could be nothing more than a big fat tease that'll 'strengthen the bond between them even more'. *shakes head*

Even though I would expect such a thing from them, giving Penny a pregnancy scare during this time would be a pretty bad idea for them to do.