The Big Bang Theory (season 2)
The second season of the American sitcom "The Big Bang Theory" was originally aired on CBS from September 22, 2008, to May 11, 2009, consisting of 23 episodes. The Complete Season DVD was released September 15, 2009, and a Blu-ray version was reissued on July 10, 2012, with remastered surround sound audio, whereas the DVD version only had stereo. Jim Parsons submitted the episode "The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis" for consideration due to his nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series at the 61st Primetime Emmy  Awards. In 2009, TV Guide ranked the episode the #60 on its list of the 100 Greatest Episodes. Christine Baranski submitted the episode "The Maternal Capacitance" for consideration due to her nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series at the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards. Overview. Sheldon becomes increasingly obsessive. Leonard and Penny's relationship takes a turn for the worse when they break up, but this is quickly resolved and their relationship progresses to a stronger friendship than before, while Sheldon and Penny's friendship slowly begins. In the season finale Penny hints  at her true feelings for Leonard when the guys leave for a three month expedition to North Pole and she admits to herself that she does not want him to go. Howard has a short-lived sexual relationship with Leslie Winkle in the second half of the season. Meanwhile, Rajesh manages, without having consumed alcohol, to briefly apologize to Penny for what he did in "The Griffin Equivalency". Barry Kripke (John Ross Bowie) makes his first appearance in "The Killer Robot Instability". Episodes. <onlyinclude> </onlyinclude> Reception. Compared to season one, the second season received critical acclaim . Jessica Paff of Screener wrote that "if they can keep the funny coming, I will keep watching", Ken Tucker of "Entertainment Weekly" praised the improvements to the character of Sheldon Cooper, writing that "Prickly Sheldon has become a character to love, and [actor Jim] Parsons is doing something rare on network TV: making intellectualism admirable, even heroic", and James Chamberlin of "IGN" wrote that "Jim Parsons is a riot and is reason enough to tune in each week."