Several Young Sheldon characters are returning in Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage. The Young Sheldon spinoff series will focus on the Coopers’ eldest son as he begins married life with his wife and baby. Its title suggests a rocky road for the couple, likely ending in divorce to match the backstory for Georgie set up in The Big Bang Theory. Its events will take place after Sheldon leaves for Caltech, making it unlikely the young genius will appear, despite star Iain Armitage being open to reprising his role.
It was initially unclear whether any of Georgie’s family would appear after the Young Sheldon finale explained that the young couple would be starting their own life. By then, the pair had already moved out of the Coopers house and in with the McAllisters, who lived across Medford. Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage is supposed to be different from Young Sheldon, so it seemed unlikely that many stars from its predecessor would appear. As more information about the sequel spinoff came out, however, it was revealed that several Young Sheldon characters are coming back, at least as guest stars.
Young Sheldon’s spinoff Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage recast Mandy’s brother Connor, but why did this Big Bang Theory’s followup make the change?
8Mary Cooper
Zoe Perry
It would have been strange to omit Mary Cooper from Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage. The Cooper matriarch was a big part of her children’s lives, and that would have been doubly true after the tragic events of the Young Sheldon finale. Mary suffered the double blow of George Sr.’s death and Sheldon going to Caltech, so she needs something to fill her time. Thus, she would likely annoy Georgie and Mandy by showing up all the time to check in on her granddaughter. Mary will likely also butt heads with the McCallisters, particularly if she shows up uninvited.
Initially, it didn’t seem like Mary would be part of the sequel series at all, but it has been announced that Zoe Perry is returning for the premiere episode of Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage. It remains to be seen whether this is a one-off appearance to help usher in the newest show in the Big Bang Theory franchise or Mary will be a recurring character.
After her stint in Young Sheldon, Mary will officially be replaced by a more dangerous matriarch in CBS’ Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.
7Connie “Meemaw” Tucker
Annie Potts
Annie Potts’ Meemaw is one of the more popular characters from the Big Bang Theory prequel. She was always ready with a sardonic quip, was there for the family when they needed her, and was one of the few people who could get Sheldon to change his behavior. Additionally, Young Sheldon’s Meemaw relationship storyline didn’t get a proper wrap-up, leaving the question open of whether she ended up with Dale after the final credits rolled. The only clue to her future thus remains that she was widowed when she showed up in The Big Bang Theory.
Meemaw was played by June Squibb when she appeared in The Big Bang Theory.
For all these reasons, it’s good news that Meemaw will return for at least one episode of Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage. She will likely be as overbearing as she was after her namesake was born in Young Sheldon, but she also might be able to mediate if there are problems within the family. Whatever her story is, she will undoubtedly add to the humor with her trademark snark. She will probably also refuse to leave Georgie and Mandy alone, though she may have some sage advice if they are having a hard time.
6Missy Cooper
Raegan Revord
Missy was not originally expected to be part of the Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage cast, which was hugely disappointing news. Although Sheldon’s rebellious twin sister didn’t get nearly enough screen time during the final season, she remained one of the most popular characters, and with good reason. She was Sheldon’s polar opposite and often seemed headed down a bad path. The Big Bang Theory made it clear that she did not grow up to be a happy adult — if anything, she was the least successful of the Cooper kids by the time they were in their 30s.
Missy’s inclusion will add a relatable and interesting dimension to Georgie and Mandy’s story that couldn’t be told without including his family.
Missy’s story won’t remain as unfinished as it seemed from the Young Sheldon finale, however. She is slated to appear in the second episode of Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage, and will likely become a recurring character, as the writers intend for Georgie to have to balance being a new dad and husband with trying to take care of his little sister. This is particularly important as her acting out is expected to get worse now that her father is gone. Missy’s inclusion will add a relatable and interesting dimension to Georgie and Mandy’s story that couldn’t be told without including his family.
5Georgie Cooper
Montana Jordan
Georgie will have to be a big part of the new show since his name is in the title and the premise revolves around his marriage to Mandy. Throughout the seven years that Young Sheldon was on the air, Georgie grew from a somewhat dimwitted high school freshman to a responsible adult who not only wants to provide for his wife and baby. More impressively, he will also be taking care of his mother and sister after his father’s death — something that he promised George at his funeral during the Young Sheldon finale.
Georgie had fatherhood and adult responsibilities thrust on him young, so it will be interesting to see how the dynamic works out between him and Mandy. Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage risks ruining The Big Bang Theory canon if it doesn’t end with the pair splitting up. Per the nerd-centric sitcom, Sheldon’s brother had been married several times. Regardless, Georgie will likely continue to grow during Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage, before he and Mandy eventually drift apart over the years. Additionally, his relationships with his family and his in-laws will likely be a source of stress that prompts change.
4Mandy McAllister
Emily Osment
Mandy began as a minor character, appearing to be an older woman Georgie was dating in what logically could have been a short arc. However, her pregnancy and Georgie’s subsequent decision to help raise their daughter turned her into a main character in Young Sheldon season 7. Now, she will be co-starring with Georgie in their own spin-off. The final season of Young Sheldon was close to being a back-door pilot for the new show, so Mandy and Georgie’s previous storylines offer a hint as to what’s to come.
Mandy seems like the perfect partner for Georgie because she’s more level-headed, accepts his foibles, and is willing to stand up to both their families as needed. If it weren’t for The Big Bang Theory‘s reveal that Georgie had been divorced several times, Mandy and Georgie could be Mary and George 2.0. However, Mandy sometimes gets irritated with Georgie, and her parents’ disapproval might get to her eventually. It’ll be interesting to find out more about who she is as a married woman and what ultimately drives her and Georgie apart.
3Audrey McAllister
Rachel Bay Jones
Audrey was a minor annoyance during the last two seasons of Young Sheldon. She was meant to be the mirror image of Mary, which made the two bitter rivals once Georgie and Mandy got together. One famous episode involved both sets of grandparents secretly and separately taking baby CeCe to be baptized even though their parents told them not to. Currently, not much is known about her beyond her tendency to put her nose into Mandy’s life and her daughter’s desire not to have much of a relationship with her.
Audrey will undoubtedly cause a lot of trouble for Georgie and Mandy now, which could be both hilarious and heartbreaking.
Although Audrey is not yet a fully developed character, her interactions with Mandy and Georgie on Young Sheldon provide tantalizing hints about the comedy to come. She doesn’t like Georgie and thinks he’s too uneducated and low-class for her daughter. Meanwhile, her husband seems to be a bit of a pushover who truly liked George Sr because they both felt like their wives overpowered them. Audrey will undoubtedly cause a lot of trouble for Georgie and Mandy now, which could be both hilarious and heartbreaking.
2Jim McAllister
Will Sasso
Like his wife, Jim McCallister isn’t fully defined as a character yet. Originally, the joke seemed to be that Mandy’s parents were just like Georgie’s parents, only they looked down on the Coopers, or at least, Audrey did. Jim’s main function, besides giving Georgie a job in his tire shop, was to strike up a friendship with George Sr. Just as George could not stand up against Mary’s hypocrisy in Young Sheldon, Jim had a hard time stopping his wife from doing whatever she wanted, a trait which will likely continue into the new series.
Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage allows Jim to define his character better. He will be part of the main cast, and since George Sr. passed away, will no longer be able to rely on him for socialization and support when his wife gets on his last nerve. Jim has always been closer to Mandy than Audrey has, so he may become her confidant if things go sideways in her marriage, but his loyalties may be divided if Georgie also comes to him with problems.
1Connor McAllister
Dougie Baldwin
Like the rest of Mandy’s family, her brother, Connor, also appeared in Young Sheldon, albeit for just one episode. Despite subsequent milestones in her and Georgie’s life, including the birth of Baby Cece and their wedding, he never made a cameo again. Despite that, he will be a primary cast member in Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. This time, however, instead of Joseph Apollonio returning to reprise the role, CBS opted to recast Conner McAllister with Dougie Baldwin.
