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A phone call from Leonard’s mother, Dr. Beverly Hofstadter (Christine Baranski, who earned an Emmy nomination for this role), leads to problems all around as childhood problems emerge from both Penny and Leonard. Penny meets Leonard’s mom on their way through the lobby and on the way upstairs learns that she is a psychiatrist and neuroscientist. By the time they reach Leonard’s apartment, Penny is in tears after being psychoanalysed. Sheldon, on the other hand, instantly develops a comfortable relationship with the elder Dr. Hofstadter, resulting in the two discussing ‘intimate’ relationship points, leading to a joint game of Rock Band.

In the cafeteria at work, Howard thoroughly enjoys asking Leonard’s mom about her other two, more successful children. Leonard gets his revenge by telling her that Howard lives with his mom and about Raj’s selective mutism. She decides they are in an ersatz homosexual relationship. Later, Leonard and Penny seek comfort in each other and discuss Leonard’s mother first over white wine, then tequila. As the night progresses, Leonard tells Penny that he built a hugging machine when he was ten so he could get physical affection (and that his dad used to borrow it). Penny increases the rules of their drinking games, resulting in a kiss. They eventually go to bed together, where at one point Leonard tells her what his mother’s reasoning for their impending sex would be: psychologically, he is having sex with his mom and she with her dad. Needless to say, Penny immediately throws Leonard out.

Directed by Mark Cendrowski.
Written by Richard Rosenstock & Steven Molaro based on a story by Chuck Lorre & Bill Prady.
Originally aired on February 9, 2009.

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