Young Sheldon’s Mary Cooper Casting Kept A Weird Sitcom Tradition Alive

When Young Sheldon cast Zoe Perry as Sheldon’s mother Mary, The Big Bang Theory spinoff continued an interesting sitcom tradition that predated both shows. It is not always easy for sitcom spinoffs to recast iconic characters. When Young Sheldon was green-lit, it was obvious that Jim Parsons couldn’t reprise his role as The Big Bang Theory’s persnickety antihero. Young Sheldon’s entire appeal came from the show’s promise to explore the early life of its eponymous lead character, meaning Sheldon and his family needed to be recast with younger actors. Finding a new face for Sheldon was tough, but replacing his family was arguably even harder.