"The Misinterpretation Agitation" is an episode of The Big Bang Theory that first aired on October 30, 2014. Directed by Mark Cendrowski. Teleplay by Steven Molaro, Steve Holland and Maria Ferrari, based on a story by Chuck Lorre, Eric Kaplan and Jim Reynolds.
Dr. Lorvis (Billy Bob Thornton), one of Penny's doctor clients, misinterprets her flirting as her being interested in him and tracks her down and brings flowers, unannounced, to Apartment 4B.
The somehow unmarried doctor learns that Penny's engaged to Leonard, and it saddens him. So, Sheldon offers Lorvis a hot beverage at Apartment 4A, and the guys listen to his celebrity medical stories, name-dropping several famous patients, until Penny comes home.
Penny pulls Leonard aside and explains that as a sales representative, she can't socialize with clients. Leonard must get rid of Lorvis. Lorvis invites Howard, Raj and Sheldon to his home to show off his collectibles. Leonard asks if he can come along, Lorvis says yes. This is not what Penny meant by "get rid of him," but Leonard counts it as such.
Howard, Leonard, Raj and Sheldon are really enjoying themselves at Lorvis's rec room, until Leonard notices that the bad doctor has disappeared and they're locked in. Lorvis is back at Apartment 4A trying to woo Penny. When Penny gets a call from Leonard, she demands Lorvis release Leonard and his friends.
Meanwhile, Bernadette is excited to appear in a magazine article about sexy women scientists, until Amy points out that it's sexist and degrading. Even so, Bernadette's disappointed when the photo shoot is canceled. Amy wrote "a scathing letter" to the magazine's editor, who then agreed the article was in bad taste.note
Dr. Lorvis is violating all kinds of doctor/patient confidentiality laws by bragging about his clients. But as Thornton's a one-off guest star, we never learn whether Lorvis suffers any consequences for his casual attitude with patient information.
Tropes
- Brick Joke: Bernadette rants about the double standard of a hot female scientists, noting that "no one would want to see Neil deGrasse Tyson in a wet T-shirt bending over a Porsche!" The Chuck Lorre Productions Vanity Plate at the end shows just such a picture.
- Hopeless Suitor: Deconstructed with Dr. Lorvis, who tries to woo Penny after confusing her sales tactics for affection and later does the same with Amy.
- Hypocritical Humor: Howard making jokes about Dr. Lorvis still living with his mother. Raj is not amused.
- Locked in a Room: Dr. Lorvis locks the guys in his rec room while he tries to go out with Penny. Only they don't mind since they're too busy playing Donkey Kong.
- My Eyes Are Up Here: After learning the photo shoot was canceled, Amy tells Bernadette that she wants people focusing on her achievements instead of her breasts. And then Bernadette catches her staring at them.Bernadette: Hey! Up here!
Amy: Sorry, we just... were talking about them. - Pass the Popcorn: While Leonard confronts Dr. Lorvis about trying to date Penny, Sheldon, Howard and Rajesh stand by the doorway, Chinese take-out in hand.
- Shout-Out: The doctor talks about his celebrity patients and the shows they give him props from, including Sigourney Weaver and Tobey Maguire.
- Special Guest: Billy Bob Thornton as Dr. Lorvis.
- Stalker with a Crush: Dr. Lorvis. He's shown to be a very shallow person who doggedly stalks any woman who makes physical contact with him. Indeed, the girls find him extremely creepy, and when they learn he's locked the boys in his game room, the girls forcefully march him back to free the boys.
