- Leonard, Sheldon, Raj and Kripke battle for tenure at the university.
- The death of Professor Tupperman at Cal Tech opens up a tenured position. Leonard, Sheldon, Raj and Kripke each have different reasons for wanting the tenure opening. They believe the best way to secure this goal is to schmooze those on the tenure committee, which includes Director of Employee Relations, Janine Davis, who Sheldon in particular had a previous bad experience. But the most effective schmoozing may be done at Professor Tupperman's memorial, where the entire committee will be in attendance. While significant others in their lives support their respective man in whatever way they can, Howard does whatever he can to ensure a cat-fight between his friends.—Huggo
- The death of Professor Tupperman opens up a tenured position at Caltech that Leonard, Sheldon, Raj, and Barry Kripke all qualify for. At first, the gang decides not to contact the tenure committee to improve their chances. Mrs. Davis of Human Resources, the woman who dealt with Sheldon after Alex's sexual harassment complaint, is on the tenure committee and both Leonard and Barry ambush her in the university gymnasium exercise room. Leonard's attempt to work out and talk to her at the same time causes him to have an asthma attack. Sheldon gives out stereotypical DVDs; Mrs. Davis received the miniseries Roots and Dr. Woo received the collected works of Jackie Chan. At first the guys all agree not to go to Professor Tupperman's memorial service. Later Penny tells Leonard that she helped Amy pick out a dress for it. Amy coaches Sheldon in what not to say and Penny shows up wearing a tight black dress to flirt with the committee members. They begin to argue, but ultimately decide to work together to prevent Barry from getting the job after he is promising to baby sit for Mrs. Davis. Later, Sheldon apologizes to Mrs. Davis that his gift to her was inappropriate and thanks her after he finds out that he, Leonard, and Raj are all on the final short list for the tenured position. She replies that they are all qualified in their fields despite their quirks which Sheldon doesn't understand. Sheldon tries to give her a hip handshake that also bothers her.—laird-3
- Leonard, Sheldon, Howard and Raj are in the Caltech cafeteria when Barry Kripke approaches them to announce that the smell from Professor Tupperman's office was the deceased professor who passed away two weeks previously. His death opens a tenured position in the Physics Department. Sheldon is not happy with the tenure system since it leads to the faculty becoming complacent. He prefers placing chips in their heads that causes the brain to explode if they say something stupid. Barry leaves saying that if they need him, they can find his nose firmly lodged up the rectum of the tenure committee. Raj says that he's not going to play politics and that he hopes that if he doesn't get it, Sheldon or Leonard get it.
While having dinner together, Penny learns that a professor in a tenured position can't be fired no matter how bad he or she is. She quips that it's like being a pretty waitress at The Cheesecake Factory. Penny asks who he has to impress while Leonard states that he'll let his work speak for itself. Penny compliments him on his integrity. Leonard reacts saying that he is a naive idiot to do that and she replies that he did hear what she was really saying.
While Amy and Sheldon are having dinner, he tells her that even if he were tenured, it would not decrease his academic output since like himself, one can't turn off the sun. Sheldon is worried if he got tenure Leonard would become insanely jealous and he would have to have a gun or a chainsaw under his pillow at night. Amy counters that with his extra income he could move out, buy a house, get married start a family. Amy tells him that maybe he should cozy up to the tenure committee. Checking up on the tenure committee, Sheldon finds that Janine Davis (Regina King) is on it.
Leonard goes to the gymnasium exercise room to get close to Mrs. Davis. Asking how to operate the model of exercise equipment, Mrs. Davis tells him to push the "start" button. Nothing happens since Leonard doesn't know to start walking. He then asks Mrs. Davis about being on the tenure committee who then comments that she has to get a home gym. While Leonard continues quickly using his inhaler, Barry comes in noting that it's the first time he's ever seen Leonard in the gym. Barry takes his place on the other side of Mrs. Davis and mentions the banana bread he sent to her. Leonard says that he now has had enough cardio and decides to stretch out before he does his weights and ends up exhausted lying on the gym floor.
Having returned to her office, Mrs. Davis receives a ninety-minute YouTube video from Raj detailing his life and qualifications. She turns it off hearing Sheldon's usual knock. (God, they're everywhere!) Sheldon tells her that she might have had a bad impression from their first meeting so he gives Mrs. Davis a gift, a DVD set of the miniseries Roots, so that she will like him. She then asks him why he thought that he had an appropriate gift. Sheldon asks to verify that she is black. The next committee member he is visiting is Dr. Wu whom he got the inappropriate gift of the complete DVD collected works of Jackie Chan.
Leonard returns from the nurse's office after an asthma or heart attack\ Howard, who is not in line for the tenured position, kids them that they don't want to look like they're brown nosing the committee who will all be at prof Tupperman's funeral.
Sheldon and Amy are in the apartment having tea as he tells her that he can't make their date night since he has to attend the memorial service. Amy suggests that she come to which Sheldon agrees. Amy says that she is well versed in academic politics and is a respected scientist while Sheldon just wants her to drive him.
While Leonard and Penny are preparing dinner, Penny mentions that she was helping Amy to choose a dress for the memorial service which surprises Leonard. He didn't want them to find out that he was going by himself. Penny asks if she should go to support him. Penny leans over to tie her shoelace showing off her butt to which Leonard says that maybe she should go. Raj is on the phone still arguing with his father about his seat warmer (for his new BMW which is being denied) and telling his Yorkie that he has to get tenure.
Amy and Sheldon arrive with her coaching him what not to say. Raj walks in with a drink in hand telling them that it is unbelievable that they came to suck up to the committee. Leonard and Penny show up with Leonard snapping at Sheldon that the train store wasn't having a cotillion after all. Amy asks what Penny is doing there to which she says she is there to support her man, just like Amy. Sheldon assumes that Penny is there to take their drink orders and get them wrong. Leonard tells her to "do it". Penny whips off her coat and is wearing a tight black dress and a push-up bra.
Raj is staring at Penny's prominent cleavage. Sheldon asks Amy if she has done "it" yet. Amy tells him that she plans to flirt with the committee members to further Leonard's cause. Sheldon tells Amy, "Don't just stand there, take your breasts out!" Howard and Bernadette show up to watch the fun. Howard makes a suggestion to Sheldon who then tells Raj that last night when he needed sexual relief, he had his mother for a dollar. Leonard concedes that he doesn't want to lose his friends over a job because friends are forever. Howard jumps in that so is tenure (forever). Kripke enters telling Mrs. Davis that he'd love to babysit her kids. Leonard says that they are not going to lose to that jerk. The others also go into the hall.
Finally, Sheldon goes to Mrs. Davis' office and thanks her after he finds out that he, Leonard, and Raj are all on the final short list. She replies that they are all qualified in their fields, including Sheldon despite his quirks. First Sheldon acknowledges that his gift to her was inappropriate and then tries to give her a hip African American hand shake.
Title reference: The new tenured position that opens causes turbulence among Leonard, Sheldon, and Raj who are all potential candidates for it.
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