How The Big Bang Theory Ruined Sara Rue's Character Dr. Stephanie Barnett

So, how does Dr. Stephanie Barnett even get involved with any of the guys on “The Big Bang Theory”? At first, she’s pretty aggressively wooed by Howard Wolowitz, who tells her in a Season 2 episode that he can “drive a car on Mars,” meaning the Mars Rover, if she hangs out with him. She does, and he promptly gets the Mars Rover stuck in a ditch. When Leonard ends up driving Stephanie home, she admits that she likes him and not Howard, which definitely causes an issue between Leonard and Howard for just a bit … until Stephanie sets Howard up with one of her friends.

Incredibly, Sara Rue’s character only sticks around for three episodes in the 2nd season of “The Big Bang Theory.” After her initial appearance on that ill-fated date with Howard in “The Lizard Spock Expansion,” they settle into a real relationship — which is even Facebook official — in “The White Asparagus Triangulation.” Things fall apart in the very next episode, “The Vartabedian Conundrum,” where Penny points out that Stephanie has quietly moved all of her stuff into Leonard’s room. After that, they apparently split, and Stephanie never returns to the show.

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