'Big Bang Theory' season 8 episode 12 preview: Sheldon and Leonard go clothes shopping!

Shopping is not fun for Sheldon and Leonard. CBS

It seems like Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki) won't be having a good time when "The Big Bang Theory" season 8 returns after its winter hiatus. 

In episode 12, dubbed as "The Space Probe Disintegration," the long-time roommates are forced by their respective girlfriends to join them in clothes shopping. This is definitely not one of the activities that the two boys enjoy. While Penny (Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting) and Amy (Mayim Bialik) are busy trying out and buying clothes, the boys are dying of boredom inside the store. 

It's unfortunate for the two tech geeks because it seems like they are totally unprepared for the shopping trip. They could have thought of bringing their smartphones or portable gaming consoles, but since they didn't, they just resort to some bickering while waiting on the store couches. 

Meanwhile, Raj Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar) also has an agony of his own as he painstakingly waits for the data from the space probe project that he had a hand in launching. To make his wait less daunting, Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg) helps by distracting him. 

The official synopsis for the episode reads: 

"Wolowitz tries to distract Raj, who is anxiously awaiting data from a space probe he helped launch. Meanwhile, Sheldon and Leonard go dress shopping with Penny and Amy.

Could the shopping trip, as well as Raj's painful waiting, end up well after all? 

"The Big Bang Theory" season 8 returns after the winter break, following the hilarious but touching Christmas episode where Sheldon planned to ruin Amy's Christmas spirit by getting her the best gift so that she will feel guilty for not giving him anything. This plan backfired big time, since Amy loved Sheldon's musical picture frame gift with a photo of him sitting on Santa's lap. Amy also gave him a present, which Sheldon surprisingly liked. 

"The Big Bang Theory" season 8 returns Jan. 8 on CBS.

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