Emily Osment and Montana Jordan have made it clear that they never expected to get their own Young Sheldon spin-off. After being a fan-favorite couple on the CBS prequel to The Big Bang Theory, the pair are back and better than ever as Georgie Cooper and Mandy McAllister — newlyweds, parents to a newborn, and new residents living with Mandy’s parents.
With the premiere of the Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage on the imminent horizon — the show’s first episode airs tonight at 8pm on CBS, and will subsequently available to stream on Paramount+ — Osment, Jordan, and their fellow cast and crew members say they’re ready for the world to see what they’ve been cooking up on set (and in front of a live studio audience, nonetheless). Talking with DECIDER, the Georgie & Mandy family members shared their contentment with the show’s impending arrival.
“I’m so excited for everybody to see this show, it’s a super relatable story about two young kids unexpectedly falling in love, having a kid and moving in with her parents. I think everyone has been in a position like that at one point in their lives,” Osment explained.
“I’m feeling great about it, we’re continuing the characters and I’m excited about it,” added Jordan. “I’ve said this since the beginning, it’s a very relatable show — Young Sheldon was — and all the characters are somebody in this world you can relate to, and I think that was the success of it. So we’re going to try and bring it with this [show], as well.”
Decider also chatted with Rachel Bay Jones who plays Mandy’s mom Audrey McAllister, as well as executive producer Steve Holland about what fans will see come October.
“I’m really excited for people to see a continuation of the whole Big Bang Theory–Young Sheldon universe, but in a slightly different way,” said Jones.”[You get a] deeper look at the characters.”
The original Dear Evan Hansen Broadway cast member continued, “And for families to get together and watch.”
As for the fact that CBS has pulled Young Sheldon alums Raegan Revord (Missy Cooper), Zoe Perry (Mary Cooper) and Annie Potts (Meemaw) to guest star in the show, the cast and crew say it’s a thrill to get the band back together, even just months after their they were last together on screen. Also returning is Craig T. Nelson, who plays the love interest of Potts’ character.
“It’s like a real-life family reunion,” Jordan — who started out on Young Sheldon when he was just 14 years old — said. “We’ve been family since the beginning. Since the very beginning, Iain [Armitage] and Raegan were jumping on my back — and Raegan still jumps on my back, sometimes. You know, it’s a real family.”
“It’s been amazing, we just shot an episode last night that had Zoe, and Annie, and Craig T. Nelson and Raegan all in it,” Holland shared. “It’s like a family reunion, it’s so terrific to have them back.”
Even with the characters and part of the storyline being pre-established thanks to Sheldon’s backstory from The Big Bang Theory, the show’s executive producer assures fans that it will be a perfect blend of what people already love about the previous shows and something new, entirely.
“I think the show, you know, has the vibe of Young Sheldon but also is slightly tweaked and slightly different to be it’s own thing. I mean, being multi-cam, in front of an audience gives it its own special feel, but it’s been really great to have these characters we love like coming back and still being a part of this family.”
Armitage — who played Young Sheldon‘s titular character — has been spotted hanging out around set but Holland shared that they are still working on getting him in front of the camera.
“He’s not been back yet but, you know, it’s still out there in the world, these are still Georgie and Mandy’s family and they still live in the same town,” Holland shared. “With Sheldon, you know, he’s off in California going to school and — according to Big Bang lore — he doesn’t come back that often, but it doesn’t mean never.”
Until then, Young Sheldon/The Big Bang Theory lovers will have to tune in for the fun and frenzy of two young parents and newlyweds figuring out life and doing it all for our amusement.
“I think we’re going to hit home with this one,” Osment says.
Watch the trailer for Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage in the player below:
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage premieres on CBS on Thursday, Oct. 17 at 8/7c.