Top 10 Behind the Scenes Facts About Young Sheldon
#10: Sheldon’s Music Teacher Was Leonard’s Drunken Boat Kiss
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As we all know, “Young Sheldon” is a prequel series to “The Big Bang Theory”, and takes place in the same world and timeline as the latter series. Therefore, the show’s decision to cast Lance Barber as Sheldon’s father after he’d played Leonard’s old nemesis from high school on “The Big Bang Theory” is still something that gets talked about quite a bit. But that isn’t the only recasting connection between the two shows. Melissa Tang, who played young Sheldon's music teacher, Ms. Fenley, also was Leonard’s drunken boat kiss, Mandy Chao, on “Big Bang”. Magician Teller played Amy’s father, then played personified Pus on “Young Sheldon”. And finally, Vernee Watson played Nurse Althea on “Big Bang” and Nurse Robinson in the prequel.
#9: Why Raegan Revord Carries Around a Stuffed Dog Toy
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His name is Snowflake and he is a white, stuffed dog that actress Raegan Revord has had since she was five years old. Revord, who plays Sheldon’s twin sister Missy on “Young Sheldon”, actually had her eyes on Snowflake from the time she was three years old, but was told she was too young. The dog is one of many antique stuffed animals that her great-grandmother collected, and after she passed away, it made its way to her grandmother's house. Then on her fifth Christmas, young Revord was finally gifted the toy. As of 2020, she revealed in interviews that she was still sleeping alongside the dog every night. You can even sometimes see Snowflake on Missy’s bed on the show.
#8: Sheldon’s Two Moms Are Related
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The character of Sheldon’s mother was an important part of “The Big Bang Theory,” and Laurie Metcalf played her wonderfully - appearing in 14 episodes throughout the series run. And sure, getting Metcalf to play Mary Cooper in the prequel series would’ve been great. But given that “Young Sheldon” takes place two decades prior to the start of “Big Bang” that probably wasn’t realistic. So, instead of making Metcalf younger they went and got a younger version of her… her daughter. Yup, Zoe Perry - who plays Mary Cooper on “Young Sheldon” is Laurie Metcalf’s oldest daughter.
#7: The Cow in the Opening Sequence
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The song used for the “Young Sheldon” opening sequence was written by the original “Blue's Clues” host Steve Burns and is called “Mighty Little Man.” And while Sheldon does have a mighty brain and a mighty ego, he is also scared of a lot of things - particularly animals. Which brings us to the cow. Not only does the cow serve to indicate the show’s cattle-raising Texas setting, but the way it forces the “mighty” Sheldon to move over slightly also has been theorized to represent his fears. The intro has changed a few times throughout the run of the series - but the bovine has remained. And speaking of Steve Burns - he plays fellow nerd Nathan on the show.
#6: Sabrina the Teenage Witch Directed
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While most of us wouldn’t be able to pick a director of most “Young Sheldon” episodes out of a lineup, that certainly isn’t the case for the 17th episode of season three. The episode, titled “An Academic Crime and a More Romantic Taco Bell” aired on March 5th, 2020 and was directed by Melissa Joan Hart. Yup, everyone’s favorite teenage witch was at the helm for that episode. And while that was her first time in the “Young Sheldon” director’s chair, through the show's first six seasons she ended up directing multiple episodes. That wasn’t the first celebrity director the show had, though. The series’ pilot episode was directed by none other than the creator of “The Mandalorian,'' Jon Favreau.
#5: “The Wonder Years” Inspiration
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The decision was made to use narration as a key storytelling device on “Young Sheldon,” but executive producer Chuck Lorre had never used it in a show before. Knowing how narration can greatly change how creators write, Lorre and the gang looked for inspiration and help in figuring it all out. And what better place to go than “The Wonder Years,” the classic show from the ‘80s and ‘90s about a boy growing up in the ‘60s and ‘70s. As Lorre put it, “We looked for inspiration that used it beautifully and no one did it better than ‘The Wonder Years.’”
#4: Iain Armitage’s Audition
Iain Armitage was nine years old when he was cast in the role of the titular “Young Sheldon.” But even more impressive than just his age was the feat he pulled off at his audition. Of course, we all know that actors have to memorize lines, but Armitage had to memorize more than just a few lines for his audition. This 9-year-old had to be off-book on a three-page monologue! Needless to say, he nailed it and got a callback soon afterwards - and after meeting with Jim Parsons and co-creators Steven Molaro and Chuck Lorre, he got the job. Parsons even took Armitage under his wing and helped him really get the “Sheldon” character down pat.
#3: Kaley Cuoco Was Sheldon’s Nightmare Pool
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Over the course of the series, a number of actors from “The Big Bang Theory” have made voice cameos on “Young Sheldon”. Usually, the character they voice is the same one they played on the original series. But not Kaley Cuoco. As we all know, Cuoco played Penny throughout the entire run of “The Big Bang Theory.” But when we finally heard her voice on “Young Sheldon” it wasn’t as Penny, but rather… as a swimming pool. Or more specifically, the talking swimming pool in young Sheldon’s nightmare. Talk about a role to dive into!
#2: The Show Was Jim Parsons’ Idea
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“Young Sheldon” probably wouldn’t be a show if it wasn’t for Jim Parsons. And we mean that in a number of ways. If Parsons hadn’t been so brilliant originally as Sheldon, “The Big Bang Theory” would not have been such a hit, and a prequel spin-off would not have even crossed anyone’s mind. However, in a much more literal sense, there would probably never have been “Young Sheldon” without Parsons because “Young Sheldon” was Parsons’ idea. It was he who brought the concept of a “Big Bang Theory” prequel about his character to the producers and set the “Young Sheldon” ball in motion.
#1: Iain Armitage Hadn’t Watched “The Big Bang Theory”
For most of its run, “The Big Bang Theory” was one of the most-watched shows on television. But one of the people not watching the series was Iain Armitage. Now, to be fair, Armitage was born in 2008 and “The Big Bang Theory” premiered on CBS in 2007. However, even as he was going for the lead role in “Young Sheldon,” Armitage still hadn’t watched the mothership series. As he revealed in an interview in 2018 — the year after “Young Sheldon” premiered — other than a few clips “I haven't really watched 'Big Bang...', though I would love to see it.” Aww. Which “Young Sheldon” factoid surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments.
