The Big Bang Theoryis finally getting a proper spinoff afterYoung Sheldonfailed to stick to its premise as its original offshoot. In 2017, Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady’s sitcom launched its very first expansion series that tackled Sheldon’s childhood. Born out of Jim Parsons' character constantly sharing anecdotes from Texas,Young Sheldondebuted Iain Armitage’s version of the character and the rest of the Coopers. While it didn’t quite get to be as popular as its parent series, it managed to keep the universe going for five more years afterThe Big Bang Theoryended.
To take advantage ofThe Big Bang Theory’s popularity, CBS launchedYoung Sheldon. Set to function as the origins story for the beloved socially-inept genius, the first few seasons of the series focused on his childhood in Medford, Texas, as he navigated school, the community, and even his family. While Armitage played the young prodigy, Parsons' older iteration did the narration that bookended almost every episode. Despite that, however,there was still a big disconnect betweenYoung SheldonandThe Big Bang Theory. Now, however, Lorre is finally coming up with a proper offshoot to his nerd-centric comedy.
Chuck Lorre Is Developing A Stuart-Centric The Big Bang Theory Spinoff
Stuart’s Spinoff Will Be Set After The Big Bang Theory Finale
BeforeGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, there were already reports that Lorre was developing aThe Big Bang Theoryspinoff. Work on the project was kept under wraps, with details about it only coming to light in late 2024. The new show will seeKevin Sussman return as Stuart Bloom, as he spearheads the new show. Ideally, someone from the main cast fronting a follow-up show would be ideal, but between his close ties to the Pasadena gang and relatively unexplored background, Stuart is the next best thing to lead a new show.
Sussman was also briefly cast as Howard inThe Big Bang Theory, but he had to bail out of it because of a prior commitment, which was shortly canceled after Simon Helberg was tapped to take over.
Somehow, there’s also something to be said about Sussman finally getting his time under the spotlight in a Lorre sitcom. Before he was cast as the sitcom’s comic book shop owner who eventually grew closer to Sheldon and the Pasadena gang, the actor was actually in the running to play the socially-inept genius — a role that ultimately went to Jim Parsons. That said,Sussman was also briefly cast as Howard inThe Big Bang Theory, but he had to bail out of it because of a prior commitment, which was shortly canceled after Simon Helberg was tapped to take over.
Why Young Sheldon Failed To Become A Proper The Big Bang Theory Offshoot
Young Sheldon Eventually Outgrew Its Premise (& It’s For The Better)
While plot specifics about Stuart’sThe Big Bang Theoryspinoff are still under wraps, it’s already shaping up to be a better spinoff thanYoung Sheldonended up being. Granted that the prequel tackled the origins story of the flagship’s most popular character, it didn’t take long before it outgrew its premise and became an ensemble. That isn’t exactly a bad thing, however; some ofYoung Sheldon’s best episodes were when the wholeCooper familywas involved. Over time, the rest of Sheldon’s clan also got their respective compelling arcs.
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That being said, looking at it as purely aThe Big Bang Theoryspinoff, it broke away from its parent show, both intentionally and unintentionally, that it’s almost an entirely separate series. Proof of this was the petition forYoung Sheldonto fully abandon the established continuity. That would have included scrappingGeorge’s death. While Lorre didn’t do this, it’s worth noting thatYoung Sheldoncreated many plot inconsistencies that it could have easily been set in an alternate reality if its creative team opted to prioritize its own narrative rather than honoring what came before it.
Its ability to somehow continue Young Sheldon’s legacy is a testament to how far off its parent show veered from its original premise, considering how inconsequential Sheldon and even the events of The Big Bang Theory are to Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’s weekly stories.
Luckily, however, CBS was able to find a way to take advantage ofYoung Sheldon’s popularity until the very end by launchingGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. While the new show is still in its freshman year and not posting the same viewership as its predecessors, it remains solid in its timeslot. Its ability to somehow continue Young Sheldon’s legacy is a testament to how far off its parent show veered from its original premise, considering how inconsequential Sheldon and even the events ofThe Big Bang Theoryare toGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’s weekly stories.
Stuart’s The Big Bang Theory Show Is Better-Positioned To Honor The Show’s Legacy
Young Sheldon Couldn’t Be Fully Faithful To Canon
On paper,Young Sheldonseemed like the perfect way to expandThe Big Bang Theorylore. People were already familiar with the Coopers through Sheldon’s stories, not to mention their Pasadena visits, but there were so many other things that weren’t revealed in the main show that could fuel its run. The problem came when it was time to execute it. Becauseso many of Sheldon’s childhood stories were meant to be ridiculous to elicit laughter, actually showing them in a single-camera show was nearly impossible. This resulted in countless plot inconsistencies to makeYoung Sheldonas compelling as possible.
…Stuart is a recognizable enough character for fans ofThe Big Bang Theoryto be intrigued…
Stuart’sThe Big Bang Theoryspinoff will have a better chance of preserving the mothership’s legacy without compromising its storytelling thanYoung Sheldonfor a couple of reasons. Since it’s set after the mothership’s finale, it has more wiggle room when it comes to the stories it can tell. It is not beholden to much of the canon, because everything that happens in it takes place after Sheldon and Amy’s Nobel Prize in Physics win. Secondly, Stuart is a recognizable enough character for fans ofThe Big Bang Theoryto be intrigued, which increases its chances of success.
The Biggest Challenge For Stuart’s The Big Bang Theory Spinoff Is Finding The Right Story
Sheldon & His Friends Can’t Be Heavily Involved
While viewers knew what they were getting into withYoung Sheldon,Lorre still has work to do when deciding what story to tell with Stuart’sThe Big Bang Theoryspinoff. The last time he was on the screen in the franchise’s original comedy, his life was turning a corner, with a thriving business and a blooming love life. That said, he was also growing increasingly close to the Pasadena gang, particularly the Wolowitzes.
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Moving forward, Stuart needs to have gone some significant changes in his life to front the newThe Big Bang Theoryshow. Otherwise, it would be odd to not see Sheldon and the rest of his group regularly. Cameos from the beloved Pasadena gang would always be welcome, especially afterold Sheldon and Amy appeared in theYoung Sheldonfinale. Anything beyond that, however, is impossible, considering everyone’s busy schedules.
The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory: This sitcom follows a group of socially awkward scientists and their interactions with each other and the people around them. Centered on physicists Sheldon and Leonard, the series humorously explores friendship, romance, and the quirks of life among an eclectic group of academics.
Young Sheldon
A spinoff of the sitcom The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon follows the youth and coming-of-age of Sheldon Cooper during his childhood in Texas as he pursues science and academia. The show also follows his parents, siblings, and Mee-Maw, painting a picture of the world where Sheldon grew up.
