Episode 4 – The Griffin Equivalency (204)
Raj is included in People magazine’s ’30 Under 30 to Watch’ list for his discovery of the trans-Neptunian object 2008 NQ17, sparking jealousy from his friends: Wolowitz received no mention of his mechanical design that led to Raj’s discovery, and Sheldon doesn’t understand why Raj’s stroke of luck (being the first to recognize an already-existing celestial object) is worthy of any recognition. Leonard admonishes them and they attempt to be supportive of Raj, but fame soon goes to his head: he receives star treatment from Gablehouser, gets an assistant and gives misleading interviews about his ‘humble background’ (his father is a gynecologist and drives a Bentley). Leonard, still having been supportive, loses his cool when Raj asks Penny to be his date for the party thrown by People, followed by the snide comment of, “I can’t believe it took you a year.” After the party, a very intoxicated Raj and annoyed Penny return to his apartment (The ‘Raj Mahal’) and receive a web-call from his parents, who criticize Raj for ‘dating’ a white girl despite Penny setting them straight that she isn’t his girlfriend. The night ends when Raj exits to be sick from drinking too much at the party.
The following morning, Raj appears sober and hungover on Penny’s doorstep and she makes him apologize to her without any notes or third-party interpretation. This leads to Raj’s first ever direct words to Penny while not drunk or distracted – ‘Sorry’. She gives him a hug, showing her forgiveness, at which point Leonard leaves his apartment and sees them hugging. When Penny leaves, Raj turns around and gives Leonard a gloating grin. Sheldon comes out and closes the episode by giving an over-forced smile he used throughout the episode.
This episode also includes a cameo from Charlie Sheen; at Penny’s restaurant after the guys all leave, Raj says to the patron at the next table over, “Hey, buddy. I’m going to be in People magazine!”, Sheen turns around and says “Yeah? Call me when you’re on the cover.”
The title refers to Sheldon wishing to have a griffin as a perfect pet, an anecdote he used to propose that the gang adopt a new fourth (i.e., the equivalent of the “perfect pet”). However, once Leonard totes up their criteria (access to a great house, high technology and lots of women), he comes to the conclusion that their new friend will need to be Iron Man.
Directed by Mark Cendrowski.
Written by Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady, Stephen Engel & Tim Doyle.
Originally aired on October 13, 2008.
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