Fans of the CBS hit comedy series "The Big Bang Theory" can look forward to a lot of laughs when the popular series returns next year after their brief winter hiatus with an all-new episode.

In the last episode of the show, the gang imagined what life would be like if Sheldon didn't exist. The holiday-themed episode, which was titled "The Cooper Extraction," echoed the classic Christmas film "It's A Wonderful Life."

On Jan. 2, the show will broadcast "The Hesitation Ramification," which, according to a CBS press release, will put Leonard in the hot seat after Penny asks him bold question about their relationship.

"When Penny's big acting break on NCIS is a bust, Leonard struggles to help her, which results in Penny asking Leonard a bold relationship question. Meanwhile, Sheldon tries to learn how to be funny and Raj tries to work on his "game" before talking to girls," reads the press release.

The premise of the show is based on the lives of Leonard and Sheldon, two brilliant physicists who lack social skills, reports BroadwayWorld.com.  Penny, their beautiful and street-smart neighbor, tries to teach them about life.  However, she and Leonard shared an on-again, off-again relationship in the past, that leaves Leonard to believe he's found true love. Sheldon also finds love and enters into a "Relationship Agreement" with neurobiologist Amy Farrah Fowler. In their free time, Leonard and Sheldon enjoy going to the comic book store and fantasy role-playing games with their friends Koothrappali, Wolowitz and Wolowitz's microbiologist wife, Bernadette.

CBS' "The Big Bang Theory" is set to air its next episode, "The Hesitation Ramification," on Thursday, Jan. 2 at 8:00 p.m., ET on the CBS Television Network.