The Fortification Implementation

"The Fortification Implementation" is the twentieth episode of the eighth season of the sitcom The Big Bang Theory. The episode aired on Thursday, April 9, 2015.

Summary
Howard finds out that he has a, Sheldon and Amy have a  and Penny gets an offer to  for a.

Extended Plot
At the cafeteria, Howard and Raj are arguing whether  are pronounced "jif" or "". No conclusion is reached as Sheldon shows up quite irritated. He wasn't invited to a weekend   at one of Richard Feynman’s former s for a group of elite s. Howard tells him that it was probably because he is a pain in the ass and Sheldon says that he's just saying that to make him feel better.

Raj brings Howard and Bernadette a gift, nine boxes of. They now have clear to his house since his 's tracked down his father and he signed it over to him. Howard didn't meet him and doesn't want to know where he is. Raj wonders if he is in, or a or playing  in a  cover band.

Wil Wheaton is setting up a for him and Penny to talk about and take calls about their horrible ape movie. Though most download it later, a few thousand people will be listening live.

Amy and Sheldon are having a  and Sheldon is still very depressed. He hopes that an hits the  the symposium is being held in. Since that is not going to happen, Amy is in for a cranky. The Relationship Agreement dictates that they cannot or be on Date Night. To counter this, Sheldon hides behind a mask.

While Raj and Bernadette discuss redecorating ideas, the rings. A young is there and tells Howard how a  contacted his father, Sam Wolowitz, about the title on that house. Since Sam was Howard's father, that makes the young man, Howard's half-brother. Howard calls and tells Bernadette that weird things were happening.

Penny is ing a that she first knew it was a bad  when she read the title: Serial Ape-ist 2: Monkey See, Monkey Kill. Wil invites Leonard to join the podcast. One caller says that she loves the movie and saw it ten times. Penny for the first time, but the other nine are on the caller. The movie has become a and Wil saw someone at a  dressed up as Penny's half- character. Next actor/director calls in and is a big fan of he movie and he loved Penny's performance. He wants Penny to audition for his new movie "". Leonard reminds her that she already has a ; however, Penny didn't ask him.

Sheldon is to Amy about being left out of things in his life including the s built by his brother and sister when he was growing up. Amy can't get him invited to the symposium, but she suggests that together they could build their own fort. Sheldon runs off to get the s while Amy is suppose to Google how to have child-like fun.

Howard runs off to get more coffee leaving Josh with Bernadette and Raj. He is an  in ; while Bernadette loves "". Raj challenges him as to who he really is though who would still claim to be a Wolowitz? Does he want, a or for Howard to replace his father as Ringo in a Beatles' cover band? Bernadette sends him after Howard. Howard is upset that Josh shows up and that his has another. Howard wants to tell Josh to leave until Josh exclaims how amazing that his brother is an. Howard starts to explain about the greatest of his life.

Wil is having fun hosting Penny and Leonard's fight about her, though Penny says that it's just a. Penny reminds him that they could have a wonderful if she becomes  and. Leonard reminds her that it is a Kevin Smith movie. Kevin then hangs up on them. Leonard is just trying to protect her after all her other disappointments. Penny just wants him to be happy for her. He was happy for her when she got her current job that pays a decent. Decent? She makes twice what Leonard makes. Leonard went to half his life and still has s, which Penny offers to help him pay off.

Finishing up their fort, Amy comes in to check out the s Sheldon hung inside. They find their fort amazing and then rough it by sitting on the.

Howard is ing Josh with magic until he figures he has to go. Howard hopes to see him again. Josh has always ed to have someone to play and Bernadette tells him that he'll have to keep dreaming. Howard mentions using the to do it, and Josh thinks he means. Howard did build a robot. Josh thinks that that is all you need. Howard hugs him telling Josh that he is definitely his.

Penny has been putting together a diversified of stocks and bonds with her broker. Leonard says he doesn't because he doesn't have any. Leonard wonders who the mature one now in this relationship is. Penny asks him if he would feel better if she did something stupid like sneaking out from work and trying out for a Kevin Smith move? Leonard agrees and Wil Wheaton comments that Penny just played him like a.

As date night draws to a close, Shamy is finishing their first annual greatest fort ever. Their fort (Fort Cozy McBlanket,) beats. After Amy's goes off, Sheldon isn't ready to stop and suggests that they extend the Date Night s. Amy suggests their first. Sheldon is fine as long as it is, though Amy is pushing for. Does she need or a ? Amy had previously hid a set under the  in case she ever spent the night. And there might be another set in Sheldon's bedroom.

Leonard returns home and finds the fort built using his s. Sheldon wants Leonard to ask to come in just so he can say no. Leonard agrees and asks to come in. Unfortunately, Sheldon thinks it's such a great fort that he can't say no, though he won't let Leonard sit in his spot.

Critics

 * Jesse Schedeen for IGN-..."The Fortification Implementation" came along at a good time. Though it focused on three separate, smaller storylines, this episode wound up offering some tangible progress for several characters and running threads...The most significant of these three storylines involved Howard meeting his long-lost half-brother...(Josh, though he}...wasn't given much to do but sit on the couch and make brief, awkward conversation...Elsewhere, Wil Wheaton guest-starred for the umpteenth time as he invited Penny onto his podcast to discuss all things Serial Apist 2. We quickly learned that Penny has actually developed a cult following...(and)...it's good to see Leonard wrestle with being the less successful one in their relationship for a change...The blanket fort was a charming plot twist, and it wound up resulting in the very first boy/girl sleepover of their relationship. A G-rated sleepover, perhaps, but that's still a pretty huge victory for her.

Trivia

 * Sheldon and Amy spend their first night together in his apartment though the night is rated G.
 * "" is scheduled for release in the summer of 2016 and stars Rosario Dawson, Kevin Smith,  and Jason Mewes.
 * Penny has a chance to restart her acting career with an offer to be in the movie "Clerks 3".
 * Penny earns twice the money that Leonard does changing the financial balance of their relationship. She turns the tables on him and gets him to agree to letting her tryout for the part.
 * Earlier in the season Penny was worrying about her big credit card debt and now is offering to help Leonard pay off his student loans.
 * This episode has references to the episodes "The Robotic Manipulation" and "The Gorilla Dissolution".
 * Goof: Raj's collection of Girl Scout cookies are using the old box designs and not the ones used in 2015.
 * Sheldon brings up Schrödinger again as in Schrödinger's Cat. The scientists at the symposium may be talking about it and at the same time may not be talking about it referring to his experiment.
 * Since Penny had been partially supported by Leonard for years, she better have a great need to help him out now.
 * Howard's father left him when he was a child and now Howard is thrust into the father figure role with his new younger half-brother Josh.
 * The initial first round candidates in the first annual best fort ever contest were Fort Cozy McBlanket,, , , , , and.
 * Howard's father's first name is revealed to be Sam.

Quotes

 * Raj: So how’s it going with the title to the house?
 * Howard: Great. It’s all done. The lawyer tracked down my father and got him to sign it over. I didn’t have to meet him, I didn’t have to talk to him, I don’t even know where he is.
 * Raj: Wow. So you’re not even curious at all?
 * Howard: Nope.
 * Raj: What if he’s in prison? What if he’s a spy? What if he’s in a Beatle’s cover band? I’m just saying, if he’s got your nose and haircut, He’d make a killer Ringo.


 * Penny: What? A few thousand people listening to you talk about Nerd stuff?


 * Amy: According to the codicil of the Relationship Agreement which you insisted upon, we’re not allowed to pout or be moody on date night.
 * Sheldon: You know I just put that in because of uterus stuff.


 * Bernadette: When he’s at Comic-Con, I’m bringing in a wrecking ball.


 * Howard: Will who’s your father?
 * Josh: Sam Wolowitz.
 * Howard: Sam Wolowitz is my father.
 * Josh: I know.
 * Howard: Well, wait, so if we have the same father... I mean... are you saying you’re my half-brother?
 * Josh: I think so.
 * Howard: Bernadette, weird things are happening out here!


 * Wil: Let’s take a call. Hello caller, you are on with Penny and Wil from Serial Ape-ist 2.
 * Caller: I don’t have a question. I just to say I’m a big fan of the movie. I’ve seen it like ten times.
 * Penny: Okay, well, I’ll apologize for the first time, but the other nine are on you.


 * Kevin Smith: So Penny. I saw your movie.
 * Penny: Oh, wow. I wish it was better.
 * Wil: Oh, don’t worry about it. Have you seen some of Kevin’s films?
 * Kevin Smith: You’re crusin’ for a beatin’, Wheaton. Anyway, man I dug ape movies, Penny. And I thought, like, you were really great in in.
 * Penny: Aw.
 * Wil: You know I’m in the movie, too.
 * Kevin Smith: Yeah, whatever. Penny! Penny, how come you’re not in more stuff, man? I’d cast you in a minute.
 * Penny: Seriously?
 * Kevin Smith: Oh, yeah, man! I’m actually in pre-production on a movie right now. Way different than anything I’ve done before. It’s called Clerks 3. You should come over and read for a part.
 * Penny: Oh, my. I would love that.
 * Leonard: You have a new job.
 * Penny: Well, maybe I can do both.
 * Leonard: I don’t think you can do both.
 * Penny: I don’t think I asked you.


 * Leonard: I’m just trying to protect you. How many times have I seen you get your heart broken trying to make it as an actress?
 * Penny: Okay, instead of protecting me why don’t you try getting excited when something good happens?
 * Leonard: I’m always excited for you. I’m excited that you found this new job where you’re making decent money.
 * Penny: Decent? I make twice what you make.
 * Leonard: Wait, twice?
 * Penny: Yeah.
 * Leonard: Like “times two” twice?


 * Josh: I’ve always dreamed about having a brother to play catch with.
 * Bernadette: Keep dreaming.


 * Penny: Leonard. Why are you making such a big deal about this? So our roles have changed a bit over the last couple of years. That’s the way life is. And I’m sure in time they’ll change again.
 * Leonard: Great, you’re not only more successful than me, now you’re more mature.
 * Penny: Okay, look, would it make you feel better if I did something dumb like sneak out of work one day to go audition for a Kevin James movie?
 * Leonard: That would be great. Thank you!
 * Wil: I’m just going to jump in real quick Leonard, a moment ago you were dead set against Penny resuming her acting career, but know your all for it. Is it fair to say she played you like a violin?
 * Leonard: Yes, it is, Wil.


 * Amy: Well, as long as we’re suspending the parameters, I could stay really late and we could have our first sleepover.
 * Sheldon: That’s a big step.
 * Amy: It’s a big fort.
 * Sheldon: Very well. I will agree to a family-friendly, G–rated, boy-girl sleepover.
 * Amy: PG. Some scenes may be too intense for younger viewers.
 * Sheldon: G rated, with a warning for families with babies and toddlers.
 * Amy: You got yourself a sleepover.
 * Sheldon: Do you need to borrow a toothbrush or pajamas?
 * Amy: Would it alarm you to know that I hid those things here two years ago just in case this ever came up?
 * Sheldon: It would, but you know how much I admire preparedness. How did you know we’d be in the living room?
 * Amy: Who said this is the only one I hid?