"The Gorilla Dissolution" is an episode of The Big Bang Theory that first aired on May 8, 2014. Directed by Peter Chakos. Teleplay by Steven Molaro, Steve Holland and Eric Kaplan, based on a story by Chuck Lorre, Jim Reynolds and Jeremy Howe.
Leonard is excited to be on the set of Serial Ape-ist 2: Monkey See, Monkey Kill (the sequel to the cheesy horror movie Penny was in a few years ago) as his girlfriend Penny acts in a scene with Wil Wheaton (As Himself).
The director, Kenneth (Steve Valentine), in sharp contrast to Leonard, is completely bored, and fires Penny after she asks for one more take of the scene she just shot with Wil Wheaton. In solidarity with Penny, Wil Wheaton says that if Kenneth fires Penny, Kenneth will also have to fire Wil Wheaton.
Leonard commiserates with Penny and Wil Wheaton at a bar. Penny doubts she will ever find genuine success. Wil Wheaton, however, soon lands on his feet, as he gets a call for an audition for a Sharknado movie. After a rather circuitous discussion in Penny's apartment, Leonard and Penny agree to be engaged to be married
Meanwhile, Raj and Sheldon go to a movie theater, where Raj is upset to see Emily (Laura Spencer) on a date with another guy (Casper Smart), causing Raj to worry about his relationship with her. On the one hand, Emily and Raj have not made a commitment to be monogamous. But on the other hand, they have a strong attraction. Emily agrees to show Raj her tattoos, and Raj agrees to show her his piercing.
Also, Mrs. Wolowitz (Carol Ann Susi) breaks her leg, and Bernadette tells Howard the two of them will have to be his mother's caregivers. Bernadette rejects Howard's suggestion to hire a nurse. But Bernadette quickly burns out, and this takes a toll on their marriage. Bernadette now accepts Howard's suggestion and hires Marta (Kaliko Kauahi).
Tropes
- Call-Back: Penny's Anne Frank play over a bowling alley and her hemorrhoid commercial are mentioned.
- Casting Gag:
- After Wil Wheaton gets fired from the Ape movie, he gets an audition to Sharknado 2: The Second One, where he had a real-life cameo.
- Penny's role as Anne Frank comes from Kaley Cuoco's character Bridget on 8 Simple Rules.
- Fake Shemp: In-Universe, After firing Penny, the director plans on having somebody else wear a gorilla mask for the remainder of the film, as they just finished the last scene showing the character's human face.
- Gilligan Cut: When Wheaton dares the director to fire him, too.Wil Wheaton: If you fire her, you're gonna have to fire me too. [cut to him and Penny at a bar] Wow, that fell apart really quickly.
- Jerkass: The director for Serial Ape-ist 2. He clearly does not care about the movie to the point of looking at his phone during a shoot, calls Penny a terrible actress to her face, and fires her and Wil Wheaton for standing up to him.
- Karma Houdini: The asshole director gets no punishment for insulting Penny and Leonard and firing Penny and Wil.
- Motivation on a Stick: Invoked when Howard jokes about using a fishing pole and a honey glazed ham to get his mother to use the treadmill.
- Out of Focus: Amy, as she only appears in one scene and has no plot relevance.
- Took the Bad Film Seriously: In-Universe, Penny decides that rather than complain about the film like she did before, she'll go in with a positive attitude. Shame that the director did not have the same mindset.
