The Big Bang Theory Season 2 - Episode 4

"The Griffin Equivalency"



Raj is included in People magazine's '30 Under 30 to Watch' list, sparking jealousy from his friends, first from Wolowitz who receives no mention of his mechanical design that led to Raj's discovery, and Sheldon who doesn't understand why Raj's work is being recognized (at all). Leonard admonishes them and they attempt to be supportive of Raj, however his antics - including hiring an assistant and misleading the interviewers about his 'humble background' (his father is a gynecologist and drives a Bentley) - leads to a strain between them. Leonard, still having been supportive, loses his cool when Raj asks Penny to be his date for the party thrown by People and makes the belittling comment '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.

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!", Mr. Sheen turns around and says "Yeah? Tell me when you're on the cover."
The title refers to Sheldon's childhood wish to create a griffin using recombinant DNA research after the untimely death of the family cat, "Lucky".