'Big Bang Theory' season 9 spoilers: Amy and Sheldon have new love interests

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"The Big Bang Theory" season 9 has already kicked off and thus far Amy (Mayim Bialik) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons) are still spending their time apart after their breakup during the season 8 finale. However, things will get shaken up as a report from TVLine reveals they both will have new - albeit short - love interests.

According to the report, "Manhattan Love Story" star and "America's Next Top Model" contestant Analeigh Tipton will be guest starring on the show and it is heavily speculated that she will be portraying a new girl that Sheldon will date in order to get Amy jealous and think about getting back together with him.

It won't be Tipton's first appearance on the show, however. Tipton had a cameo appearance on "The Big Bang Theory" seven years ago in season 2 episode 11 "The Panty Piñata Polarization," where she appeared as herself alongside fellow contestant Samantha Potter.

Stephen Merchant, on the other hand, will be playing Amy's new date. Merchant is known for starring on HBO's "Hello Ladies" while also being recognized as the co-creator of the British take on "The Office" and "Life's Too Short." He is also widely known as the voice actor for the robot Wheatley in "Portal 2."

A report from Cinema Blend points out that a human version of Wheatley would be the ideal date for Amy given that Wheatley is portrayed as a bumbling and sarcastic persona. While Sheldon's date might just be there for looks, Amy's date might be added in to let Sheldon realize that he isn't the only smart scientist that could attract Amy's interests.

TVLine's report doesn't cite when the two will be making their appearance but given that details for episode 6 do not include their appearance and the fact that episode 7's title, "The Spock Resonance," makes the episode a tribute to the late Leonard Nimoy, it is likely they will be introduced in episode 8 onwards.