The Big Bang Theory recap: Meet Sheldon’s brother Georgie 

Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Scott Halberstadt, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Frank Pacheco

We are a week away from Sheldon and Amy’s wedding and there are two big hurdles the gang must overcome. First, Sheldon’s mom isn’t traveling to witness her son’s nuptials because Sheldon didn’t invite his brother Georgie to participate in the festivities. Second, pink eye is running rampant and it is picking off the wedding party one-by-one.

Let’s start with Sheldon. It makes sense that he wouldn’t want to include George on the happiest day of his life (Millennium Falcon wedding cake anyone?) because he was tormented most of his childhood. Even though he’s a grown man and can do whatever he wants, Sheldon is also tethered to his mother and can’t imagine her not being there to cheer him down the aisle.

Sheldon tries to find camaraderie with Raj and Leonard, who also have unlikeable brothers, but it’s Leonard who somehow ends up on a plane to Texas with Sheldon to confront Georgie. Leonard is shocked to learn that Georgie is the man behind a car tire dynasty. Sheldon is quick to point out that Georgie’s “Dr. Tire” title requires half a semester in community college to land that particular doctorate.

Georgie, who goes by George now, is played by Jerry O’Connell and all I can hear is “This is Cush” from

. If you don’t know that movie reference, it makes me sad and I weep for your lack of pop culture knowledge. Google it.

George has held onto his ’80s mullet. And he wants nothing to do with Sheldon or his tiny friend Leonard. The guys head back to the hotel, but Leonard agrees to go back and try one more time to convince George to let bygones be bygones.

As it turns out, most of the tormenting (read: George sitting on Sheldon’s head) was George being George. However, there were instances when George intervened to protect Sheldon. For example, George threw away Sheldon’s Halloween costume because he knew the other kids would make fun of him. George took care of Sheldon, drove him around, and apologized when he did something stupid.

Leonard drags George back to the hotel and commands that the brothers hash it out. George finally explodes, ranting that he was the one who sacrificed the most after their dad died and the rest of the family catered to Sheldon’s every need. Plus, Sheldon is clearly the favorite brother. The worst part is that Sheldon never said thank you.

Sheldon feels awful and sincerely apologizes to his brother, offering him three quick pats on the shoulder. Then he invites him to his wedding and George accepts. Leonard cries. I may have teared up, too.

Speaking of tearing up, Howard gets pink eye from the kids. Penny does everything she can to keep the oozing leaking from the bride, but it doesn’t work. Both Amy and Bernadette contract it and then Raj is added to the list. Penny is the only one without the crusty goo. Everyone is highly annoyed by this fact.

Amy is freaking out and doesn’t find her friends funny when it is suggested she wear a thick veil or a welding mask to cover her disgusting eye. Of course, when Bernadette suggests they tell germaphobe Sheldon that they are all attending the wedding as

cast and the pink eye is cool makeup, Amy considers that a solid plan B.

As it turns out, the pink eye is bacterial and should go away before the wedding. Normally I would cheer this victory, but in Amy’s case, I think a little pink eye might have helped pull some focus away from her Abominable Snowman wedding dress.

George: “I would rather swallow a pregnant wildcat and crap out a litter of kittens than go to your wedding.”

Raj: “My date was going well until my eye dripped into her latte.”