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Mandy McAllister’s parents and brother are set to appear on the new Young Sheldon spinoff, but the latter will look a whole lot different. Why was Connor recast in Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage? Here’s everything we know about the changeup, plus more casting details.
Why was Connor recast in Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage?
Connor McAllister was first introduced to viewers in a Season 6 episode of Young Sheldon, and he was originally played by actor Joseph Apollonio. Although Mandy’s parents, Jim (Will Sasso) and Audrey (Rachael Bay Jones), will be played by the same actors in the new spinoff series, the producers have decided to recast the role of Connor for Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. Mandy’s 20-something younger brother will now be played by Australian actor Dougie Baldwin, who is best known for starring in Chuck Lorre’s Netflix comedy Disjointed.
It’s unclear why Apollonio was not brought back for the Young Sheldon offshoot, but since Georgie (Montana Jordan) and Mandy (Emily Osment) now live with Mandy’s family, Connor will have a larger role on the show, and therefore, the producers likely needed an actor who could commit to being a series regular. Since Lorre is executive producing the new series, it’s also possible that he wanted to bring on an actor he’s worked extensively with.
A new character breakdown describes Connor as “a talented oddball with musical prowess who still lives with his parents.” The description continues: “Coddled by his mother, Audrey, and hassled by his father, Jim, Connor doesn’t fit in — even in his own family.”
News of Connor’s recasting comes shortly after Lorre confirmed that Young Sheldon mainstays Zoe Perry, Annie Potts, and Reagan Revord, will be appearing in the new show. Perry and Potts will appear in the pilot as Mary Cooper and MeeMaw, respectively, while Revord will appear in Episode 2, reprising her role as Missy Cooper.
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage has also cast Griselda alum Jessie Prez as Ruben, a long-time employee at Jim’s tire store “who is less than enthusiastic about the shop’s newest hire: Jim’s son-in-law, Georgie.”
It’s unclear if Young Sheldon‘s protagonist will make a surprise appearance in the show, but his portrayer, Iain Armitage, is up for it. “If I got a call to go back, that’d be so much fun. I’d be honored to,” he told TVLine after Young Sheldon‘s series finale. He added: “I’m also just excited to get to sit back on my couch with some popcorn and watch their show because they’re so good. But I could totally see myself getting in the khakis again, putting on the old penny loafers and bow tie, and going back out on the job.”
He continued, “It’s going to be so fun to see. Montana and Miss Emily are both so funny and so talented, and they play off each other so well. They’re very contrasting characters… and I love them together so much.”
The new series follows Georgie and Mandy as they raise their young family in Texas while navigating the challenges of adulthood, parenting and marriage. Unlike Young Sheldon, multi-cam Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage will shoot in front of a live studio audience — just like the flagship series The Big Bang Theory.
“It’s something I’ve never done before and something I might need to get used to,” Jordan, who landed the role of Georgie at just 14 years old, told TVLine.
