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#10: Meeting Mrs. Fowler (the Second One) “The Bow Tie Asymmetry”
Although this wasn’t the first time we’d met Mrs. Fowler, this was the occasion that left a long-lasting impression. This time around, she was played brilliantly by Kathy Bates, Mrs. Fowler blew into town for her daughter’s wedding, uprooting everything in her path. She’s bold, brassy, and domineering, rarely letting her husband get a word in edgeways. It might’ve been Amy and Sheldon’s big day, but she very nearly stole the show. Mrs. Fowler was the perfect blend of fierce and funny, making us wonder why this version hadn’t been introduced sooner. We were thrilled that her story arc lasted a couple more episodes. Plus, watching her bond with Sheldon was a real treat.
#9: Penny’s Family Makes an Impression “The Conjugal Conjecture”
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After meeting Penny’s dad in season four, we couldn’t wait to meet the rest of her family. While we’d have to wait until season 10, it would all be worth it. Their dynamic is hysterical, and Penny’s brother, Randall, is especially full of brilliant one-liners. They serve as the perfect contrast to Penny’s in-laws; fun, laidback, and even the more neurotic tendencies of Penny’s mom Susan are a breath of fresh air compared to the Hofstadters. They only appear in one episode but pack in so many laughs that we’re still chuckling today. Still, it would’ve been nice to see them again. Also, whatever happened to Penny’s sister, Lisa? Why wasn’t she at the wedding? We’ll never know.
#8: Beverly Hofstadter vs. Mary Cooper “The Maternal Combustion”
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Over the seasons, we’ve enjoyed getting to know Leonard and Sheldon’s mothers. However, it’s always been clear that they’re about as similar as chalk and cheese. One is a cold, pragmatic academic, while the other is a warm, loving, and god-fearing Texan. Putting them together was a stroke of genius. It doesn’t take long for them to clash over their vastly different beliefs, leading to one of the funniest arguments on the show. Their reconciliation is equally hilarious, and we already couldn’t wait until the next time they’d be in the same room. Although, we imagine Mary leaving dinner with Beverly’s ex during the next season probably didn’t do much to ease future tensions.
#7: Wil Wheaton on “Fun with Flags” “The Habitation Configuration”
Sheldon’s always had a somewhat “Schrödinger’s Friendship” with the Star Trek alum. It all started with a bad childhood memory, but eventually, Wil makes it up to him. Now that they’re firm friends, Sheldon asks Wheaton to guest-star on “Sheldon Cooper Presents: Fun with Flags.” This memorable scene sees Wil and Amy go head-to-head over creative differences. She accuses him of being downbeat, stiff, and of overacting; meanwhile, he throws shade at Amy’s directorial abilities. Like Sheldon, we feel caught in the middle: are we team Amy or team Wil? Who knows. Still, this was one of the first times the show properly put this actor under the spotlight, and it only made us want more.
#6: Arthur Jeffries / Professor Proton Brings the Force “The Opening Night Excitation”
Bob Newhart’s first appearance as former children’s entertainer Professor Proton was so remarkable that it earned the actor a Primetime Emmy Award. He would go on to be nominated twice more in 2014 and 2016. However, our favorite Arthur Jeffries moment is from season nine, where he manifests as a Jedi to talk Sheldon through a big decision. Newhart’s classic deadpan humor is on point, whether he’s getting his mind around “Star Wars” references or taking his lightsaber for a spin. Sure, it’s a monumental episode for Sheldon and Amy, yet they’re left vying for our attention thanks to Newhart’s immeasurable wit. This guest appearance is the Obi-Wan for us.
#5: Zack & the Science Dudes “The Justice League Recombination”
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Penny’s on-again, off-again boyfriend is a sweetheart, but he’s not the brightest bulb. Still, he tries, whether that’s asking thoughtful questions about the moon or talking science with “the science dudes.” In the latter, Zack tries to have an intellectual conversation with the guys, but they mercilessly mock him. His wild claims about starfish are far fetched and seem fitting for a kid’s tv show, but it’s still incredibly funny. It takes Zack a while to realize that the others aren’t actually laughing with him. In this scene, he manages to make us giggle, capture our hearts, and break them. We love it anytime Zack shows up, but this occasion was exceptionally super.
#4: Beverly Hofstadter Gets Drunk “The Maternal Congruence”
Dr. Hofstadter is typically abrasive and stoic. So watching her let loose is always a sight to behold. We first saw it when she threw caution to the wind to karaoke with Sheldon in season two. However, nothing beats when she got drunk with Penny and showed us a side of her we didn’t even think existed. Bev wonders why Leonard hid his relationship with Penny from her, so the pair stumble into apartment 4A to confront him. Who knew that alcohol would bring out Beverely’s maternal side? And that’s not even the craziest part of this scene. This marked Dr. Hofstadter’s most unforgettable moment. However, her heart-melting reconciliation with Leonard in the final season is a close second.
#3: Mary Cooper Tours Hollywood “The Rhinitis Revelation”
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Mrs. Cooper is a sweet-natured, warm-hearted mother with a sassy streak that gave us iconic lines like. She’s visited Sheldon several times, but none had us laughing harder than her tour of Hollywood’s churches. It’s not exactly the fun day out everyone imagined, but we sure thought it was hilarious. Mary takes the opportunity to talk to the Big Guy upstairs and thank him for her sweet yet challenging son. She then gets everyone else involved but tags her own hysterically wry commentary on the end of each of their prayers. We’re almost surprised that she couldn’t convince Sheldon to join them. As we later learn, Mary Cooper always gets what she wants.
#2: Stuart Shows up Mark Hamill “The Bow Tie Asymmetry”
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Stuart Bloom’s fallen on plenty of hard times and isn’t always a ray of sunshine. However, when officiant Mark Hamill is tasked with stalling Amy and Sheldon’s wedding, Stuart really comes into his own. Howard suggests that the Luke Skywalker actor does a “Star Wars” Q&A, but we soon learn he’s not the franchise’s biggest aficionado. Instead, Stuart flaunts his expertise, becoming increasingly confident as he realizes his effect on Denise. We could bring up countless Stuart moments, but this one was special as it marked a turning point for the character. Plus, after all these years, we were just happy to see him happy. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Barry Kripke Pranks Sheldon, “The Vengeance Formulation” Sure, It Was Mean - but Admit It, You Laughed Bert Kibbler Gets a Crush, “The Occupation Recalibration” At Least Bert Wouldn’t Take Amy for “Granite”; It’s Just How He Rolls Mike Rostenkowski Shares Some Advice, “The Countdown Reflection” Howard & His Father-In-Law Didn’t Always See Eye to Eye, but This Scene Was Out of This World Video Chats with Mr. & Mrs. Koothrappali, “Various” So Many Funny Quips, Misunderstandings & Insults Leslie Winkle’s Rivalry with Sheldon, “Various” A Strong, Intelligent & Funny Character Who Never Stopped Challenging Sheldon
#1: The Irreplaceable Mrs. Wolowitz Various
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Even though we never saw all of her, Howard’s mom was a larger-than-life staple of the show. She’s loud and overbearing but has a huge heart and loves her son more than anything. Her voice alone could steal any scene and have us doubled over with laughter. She’s impressed us with her “Wheel of Fortune” skills, cracked us up with her badly-timed quips anytime Howard’s entertaining, and who doesn’t still yell this whenever their phone rings?[1] She even made Howard’s trip to space all the funnier and no doubt gave some NASA employees a good chuckle. We were gutted to lose actress Carol Ann Susi and her incomparable talents. No supporting character had more main cast energy than Debbie Wolowitz.
