"A Baby Shower and a Testosterone-Rich Banter" is an episode of Young Sheldon that first aired on February 9, 2023.
Connie, Mary and Missy plan Mandy's baby shower. Georgie's willing to cancel his date with Amber (Lucy Loken), the video store customer he met in "Pancake Sunday and Textbook Flirting", in order to attend the baby shower. But Mandy (Emily Osment) doesn't want him at the baby shower.
It's decided that, during the baby shower, the men will watch a sporting event on TV. Sheldon wants to get out of that, so, forgetting the animosity over the grant database, he asks Prof. Linkletter to let him use the lab that day. Linkletter refuses. When Sheldon tells him why he wants to use the lab, Linkletter explains that as a scientist, he often has to work with other people he doesn't know, and so he encourages Sheldon to use this as an opportunity to practice his social skills.
Mandy reluctantly agrees to allow her mother, Audrey (Rachel Bay Jones), to attend the baby shower. So Mary goes to the tire shop and talks to Jim (Will Sasso), who agrees to join George Sr. and the other men in watching the game. Audrey's more hesitant to attend the baby shower, but ultimately agrees.
On Amber's suggestion, Georgie buys Mandy a locket with the baby's sonogram in it. Georgie figured all the baby shower gifts would be for the baby, he wanted to get her something for her. Mandy loves the locket, but is a little put off when Georgie freely admits it was Amber's idea.
Audrey and Jim arrive with their son Connor (Joe Apollonio), an art school grad with no prospects for a real job, according to Jim. Connor actually bonds with Sheldon over the young genius's comic book collection.
At the baby shower, Mary and the other women give Mandy gifts to help her through motherhood. Brenda (Melissa Peterman) gives Mandy a bra for lactating women. Audrey gives Mandy a house key: Mandy can move back in with her parents. Audrey has no confidence in Georgie's ability to provide for Mandy.
This makes Mandy angry. With Connie's help, the expecting mother storms off. Audrey goes to fetch Jim and Connor, and demands that they all leave right now. Jim was actually enjoying his time with George Sr.
After the baby shower, Georgie reviews the baby shower gifts, and is impressed that the lactating woman's bra unhooks in the front rather than the back.
Tropes
- Bait-and-Switch: Adult Sheldon talks about how he and Connor were bonding over his copy of The Dark Knight Returns. Then young Sheldon demands that the comic be returned to its protective bag; Adult Sheldon then adds how he was doing great at bonding.
- Previously on…: We're reminded that Georgie met Amber at the video store and Mandy was okay with Georgie dating Amber.
- Shout-Out:
- To Guns N' Roses, which Connor regards as sellouts. The young man prefers The Smiths.
- To Frank Miller: According to Connor, that artist brought a new aesthetic to Batman.
- At the video store, Missy tricks Sheldon into renting the kids' movie Bingo, telling him that it's what men watch. For what it's worth, Georgie does seem to enjoy the movie.
