Season 8 of "The Big Bang Theory" kicked off with a bang!

During the season premiere, Sheldon returned from his 45-day cross-country trip after he lost all of his possessions, including his pants and shoes, while he was sleeping on the train.

Ironically, although he decided to get away from Pasadena because he felt overwhelmed about his changing atmosphere, he returned only to find that more changes had taken place in his absence. That includes Penny's new haircut and job as a pharmaceutical sales rep, the shift in Raj and Emily's relationship, and Mama Wolowitz, who is now happily living with Stuart.

The university also required Sheldon to become a teaching professor in order to switch his area of study to dark matter.

However, by the end of the Episode 2, viewers were left wondering what will become of Sheldon's research aspirations now that his only student, Wolowitz, dropped out of his class.

It will also be interesting to see how Sheldon and Amy's relationship will evolve now that he returned home to her not-so-warm welcome.

Speaking of relationships, fans will also get to see how and Leonard's marriage plans will play out now that Penny has the potential to earn a bigger salary and is working in a career that has boosted her self-esteem and confidence.

According to executive producer Chuck Lorre, Penny and Leonard's road to holy matrimony will be long and hard.

"[Penny] is going to start making some money." He told Fox CT at the TCA Conference over the summer. "She's going to find some confidence and self-esteem, which acting does not provide in great heaping doses." He also revealed that her new job will "unbalance their relationship as the power shifts."

Plus, Leonard may feel threaten since "part of [Penny's] new job is going to be a lot of flirting, and that's going to threaten [Leonard]," said a source by the name of Johnny. "People who are older and more successful than he is will fall for her, and Penny and Leonard are going to have to find a really profound strength to survive that."

Executive producer Steve Molaro also hinted that fans should not hold their breath in anticipation for Penny and Leonard's wedding this season.

"I don't think we feel pressure to hit these milestones," Molaro told TV Guide. "I'm sure some fans want a wedding right away or babies or something, but most of them know ... we try to let the show grow organically, so no wedding or babies for now. ... There's no map between now and the end of Season 10 of when certain milestones need to be hit. When it feels like the right time, we'll go for it. We're not great at planning too far out in advance and when we have done it in the past, we end up changing our minds anyway!"

In the meantime, new photos and a preview video revealed that Wolowitz will bite off more than he can chew when he agrees to throw the first pitch at a Los Angeles baseball game in next week's all-new episode, titled "The First Pitch Insufficiency."

"Wolowitz is nervous after NASA asks him to throw out the first pitch at a Los Angeles Angels game," states the official synopsis, according to Hypable.com. "Also, Leonard and Penny try to prove Sheldon wrong after he says that he and Amy are a 'superior couple,'" it reads.

"The Big Bang Theory" Season 8, Episode 3, "The First Pitch Insufficiency," will air Monday, Sept. 29 at 8:00 p.m. ET on CBS.

Watch a preview below.

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