Young Sheldon’s Annie Potts Calls Decision to End Big Bang Prequel a ‘Stupid Business Move’
The decision to end Young Sheldon has rubbed “Meemaw” the wrong way.
In a new interview with our sister site Variety, Annie Potts says that she was “shocked” by CBS‘ call to bring the Big Bang Theory spinoff to a close after seven seasons. “I still don’t understand why they cancelled it,” she says. “It just seemed like such a stupid business move.
“This [cancellation] was especially hard because I was completely unprepared. I was shocked,” the Designing Women vet declares. “I mean, the No. 1 show on network TV, No. 1 on Netflix. We’re, I think, all that people watch on TikTok besides a couple of recipes for pasta…. If a show is starting to drag or lag or have a lack of stories or whatever, then you kind of see it coming. We were totally ambushed by this. I was, anyway.” (TVLine has reached out to CBS and Warner Bros. for comment.)
To her point, Young Sheldon remains TV’s most-watched comedy, but comes in second among all broadcast comedies in the coveted 18-49 demo (where it trails only fellow CBS sitcom Ghosts). But in terms of story, Season 7 is a natural stopping point for the prequel. The titular boy genius is now 14 — the age at which, per Big Bang’s previously established timeline, the future Nobel Prize winner moves from Medford, Texas, to Pasadena, Calif., to begin his graduate studies at the California Institute of Technology. That same year, Sheldon’s older brother Georgie marries for the first time, and family patriarch George Sr. meets his maker.
“The story of this extraordinary prodigy in a small town outside of Houston, in a family where he is very much a fish out of water — that story we’ve kind of told, and the remainder of his path leading up to The Big Bang Theory happens at CalTech, in California,” series co-creator Chuck Lorre previously explained on The Hollywood Reporter’s TV’s Top 5 podcast. “Seven years… seems like the natural lifespan of [Young Sheldon], and that was a feeling that was shared between myself and both [series co-creator/executive producer] Steve Molaro and [fellow EP] Steve Holland, who have been instrumental in keeping this thing as extraordinary as it has been.”
Young Sheldon’s one-hour series finale (airing Thursday, May 16 at 8/7c) will feature cameos by Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik, who will reprise their on-screen roles as Drs. Sheldon Cooper and Amy Farrah Fowler for the first time since Big Bang’s 2019 series finale. The Big Bang franchise will then continue in the fall with the first of two planned spinoffs: CBS’ as-yet-untitled Georgie and Mandy spinoff starring Montana Jordan and Emily Osment. Lorre is also developing a Big Bang offshoot for streaming service Max.
Just four episodes remain before Young Sheldon’s sendoff: Episode 9 airs Thursday, followed by Episode 10 on May 2, and Episodes 11 and 12 on May 9. The one-hour series finale will consist of Episodes 13 and 14.
Must say I agree with her. All they had to do is tweak the name to “The Coopers”, have Sheldon move to Cal Tech, and make occasional calls/visits. The rest could have stayed and continued on, even without the inevitable loss of George. Mary moving on, Meemaw, Georgie and Mandy, and Missy if she wanted to remain could have had adventures for quite a while longer. Will watch the spinoff, but not sure it will translate to “multi cam”….and I dearly hope we can keep Ms Potts involved. She is a national treasure.
That would have been much better then the spin off that’s coming, I have no real interest in watching a show mainly about Georgie and Mandy.
Agreed.
Annie Potts is a national treasure, so true! She makes better every show in which she is cast. Loved her in Any Day Now
You know, I would have loved more seasons too, but I also get why it makes sense to end from a story perspective. I’ll watch and enjoy the Georgie and Mandy spin-off, because those are two of my favorite characters on TV, but I’ll definitely miss YS every Thursday night!
She’s wrong. From a storyline perspective when it comes to the Big Banfg Theory, the show had to conclude. Maybe she can stay on on the next prequel series coming out.
It does have to end, but, they could have told the story over two seasons, the first strike-shortened, and covered the same time period as a full 22-24 episode season. They could have called it all “season 7,” with part 1 this spring and part two next fall and winter. But, there are probably financial/contractual reason why they couldn’t.
She’s panicking because this is a rough economy and she won’t be getting a steady paycheck anymore. That’s what your team is for, Ms. Potts! Put ’em to work!
Rough economy? Er..
I think Annie Potts is just mad she’s out of a job again. Besides Annie’s not in charge of the series she doesn’t have a say in whether or not the show should go on that’s up to the network.
She never said that. I’m sorry she feels that she has the right to express an opinion different than yours. Please show me where she said she has a say in the ending of the show.
CBS didn’t want to pay season 8 size ($$$) salaries for the cast. Picked up a spin-off with two characters, gave them salary bumps but I predict the rest of the cast of the new show will be filled with new characters with season 1 salaries.
It needed to end or else get a new title because Sheldon is no longer young or cute.
I think the writers of the new spinoff could easily write to include Mee-maw into the spinoff series as a regular.
Unfortunately I think she just cost herself a recurring role on the George & Mandy spinoff – I don’t think they will want to work with her in the BBT-verse going forward
Why all the downvotes? I wasn’t discounting her feelings, mainly pointing out that the producers wouldn’t want to work with her after she called them stupid?! I would have loved to see Meemaw guest on the George & Mandy spin off, especially since Mandy and Baby CC were living with her before the house was destroyed
She didn’t call the producers stupid. She said the decision to end the show was stupid.
They said they chose to end after 7 seasons – they were not cancelled
From the araticle: “Seven years… seems like the natural lifespan of [Young Sheldon], and that was a feeling that was shared between myself and both [series co-creator/executive producer] Steve Molaro and [fellow EP] Steve Holland, who have been instrumental in keeping this thing as extraordinary as it has been.”
Nothing you wrote here is relevant to my comment.
She did not call the producers stupid (which is what you claimed). She said the decision to end the show was stupid.
CBS, blind leading the blind
Seems like the TBBT writers boxed in the Young Sheldon story, plus the increasing production costs including actor salaries made this the only decision.
It’s how prequels work. At some point, they have to end as they bump into the original timeline and events.
Annie
Any great entertainer knows.. leave when your on top & always leave them wanting more
I agree that it’s a mistake to end this great story and highly rated. So many more storyline options. Too many housewives and other reality stuff!
Annie’s been on TV for years, she ought to know how it works by now. Seven years always seemed like the right time.
I agree with those who have proposed ending Young Sheldon as it exists now, simply because with Sheldon going off to grad school in CA, the story has run its course. However, the same can’t be said for the other characters, all of whom makes this such a great show. Why not just call it The Coopers, & continue with them? The Georgie & Mandy spin off is OK, I guess, but I question if they can carry a show. I find Mandy & her mother both unlikeable characters, & knowing that the marriage is doomed to fail doesn’t help. I will really miss Missy, who I came to like more than any character on the show. And Annie Potts as Meemaw is so good! We could also see Mary pick up her life after being widowed. Why just limit the show to George & Mandy & her parents?
This is how I feel. The actress who plays Missy sadly wants to move on to other things.
Georgie is great and I like Mandy, but I can’t stand her mother. The Spin off should be fine, I will watch it and hope to see Missy at least in a recurring role. It will be nice to see Meemaw too, but I don’t know if that will happen after she made those comments. We shall see!
She could guest on Hacks with Jean Smart. They could have a nice reunion.
Seems to me I heard 2-3 years ago that the show would end with season 7, so why is Annie so surprised?
Actually the show could have ended with season 5 as far as I’m concerned. Sheldon got more and more obnoxious as the years went on. I loved the show in the beginning, but started watching more for the other characters, not him.
Bazinga commented that they should have just changed the name of the show to The Coopers and kept most of the cast, but changed the leads to Georgie & Mandy. That would have worked—I would have loved to keep Missy, Meemaw, et.al. around for support.
I wish the spin off good luck. But I wonder if there would be any fallout if the new spinoff is a ratings dud. I will watch the new show, and probably like it. This decision is a ratings gamble, I hope it pays off.
I agree with Annie Potts. How can people be so dumb? Don’t they learn anything from the past?
With Dad dead, Mom a pita and Sheldon off to college there is no more to say.
Huge mistake! Why end something that’s working? Stupid move!
The show lasted longer than it should have. And I’m surprised that Annie is surprised. She should have realized when she took the job that eventually the actor who plays Sheldon would get too old for the part.
I was suprised when they announced this garbage was even getting a 2nd season much less the 7 they have lol they overkilled this crap thank god it’s ending.
You must not have watched the subsequent seasons if you felt that way, so why are you complaining? No one forced you to watch. It’s obvious the show had many, many fans. Why be so hateful?
They should include Meemaw and Dale in the new shows. They are hilarious.
I feel like this doesn’t bode well for her having been invited to the spin off :( Hope I’m wrong. Meemaw is definitely the best part and we need more of her!
It’s the BEST show on TV. It’s my family’s favorite and we are truly unhappy it’s ending. We will be waiting for Georgie and Mandy’s new show but very unhappy young sheldon is ending. I agree with Annie Potts bad business decision.