The news thatThe Big Bang Theory’s new spinoff will star Stuart brings up a major potential problem for the series. Like most hit sitcoms,The Big Bang Theoryspawned spinoffs. Unlike most successful TV comedies, the show’s follow-ups weren’t simply sequels that followed a specific character on a new adventure. Instead, afterThe Big Bang Theory’s finale,Young Sheldonwent back in time to explore the early life of the show’s breakout character. The spinoff changed the entire premise asYoung Sheldonwas a single-camera family sitcom whereasThe Big Bang Theorywas a multi-camera hang-out show.
Young Sheldon & TBBT Recap: 10 Things To Remember Ahead Of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage
Before Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage begins, it is worth revisiting The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon to set up the plot of the spinoff.
As if this weren’t unusual enough,Young Sheldon’s spinoffGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriagecomplicated things further by continuing its story. Although the show picked up whereYoung Sheldon’s finaleleft off,Georgie & Mandy’s First MarriagedroppedYoung Sheldon’s single-camera approach in favor ofThe Big Bang Theory’s traditional multi-camera sitcom style. As such, viewers could have been forgiven for assuming thatThe Big Bang Theorywould never receive a conventional spinoff at this rate. However, October 2024 sawDeadlinereport that a spinoff ofBig Bang Theorywas in the “Early stage of development” at Max, with some supporting stars returning.
The Big Bang Theory’s Main Characters Missing Stuart’s Spinoff Would Raise Big Questions
Sheldon, Leonard, Howard, Raj, Bernadette, Amy, and Penny Must Appear
Max’s streaming spinoff is set to focus on Kevin Sussman’s Stuart, the comic book store owner who was also a friend ofThe Big Bang Theory’s central gang. Stuart was one of the most important characters in the series after the central group of Leonard, Penny, Raj, Howard, Bernadette, Sheldon, and Amy. However, he isn’t the only supporting star who is in talks to return. Brian Posehn, who played the dull geologist Bert Kibbler, is also attached to the project. Improv icon Lauren Lapkus is also rumored to reprise her role as Stuart’s quirky girlfriend Denise, the store’s assistant manager.
Some of The Big Bang Theory’s best moments happened in the store and Stuart was central to the lives of the show’s heroes,
This sounds promising, but the setting of the spinoff immediately raises an obvious issue.The Big Bang Theory’s spinoff can’t take place in the comic book store without bringing back the original heroes, since the shop was effectively a second home to them.Some ofThe Big Bang Theory’s best momentshappened in the store and Stuart was central to the lives of the show’s heroes, even living in the Wolowitz house for an extended period. As a result, it would be bizarre if the new show didn’t feature frequent cameos from Kaley Cuoco, Jim Parsons, and Johnny Galecki.
The Big Bang Theory’s Main Characters Would Risk Making Stuart’s Spinoff Into Season 13
The Gang’s Return Would Easily Overshadow Stuart’s New Show
However, this creates another, bigger issue for the upcoming Max series.The Big Bang Theory’s spinoff can’t bring back its original heroes without overshadowing its new leads, so the main gang can’t appear without the new show effectively becoming a continuation of the original series.The Big Bang Theory’s cast were some of the highest-paid actors on television when the show ended in 2019, meaning their return would hardly be a minor playful cameo. Any appearance by the core seven stars would immediately become the most notable thing about the Max spinoff, which could cause another problem.
The Big Bang Theory’s original run included 279 episodes across 12 seasons.
If an appearance fromThe Big Bang Theory’s Amy and Sheldonimmediately gave the spinoff endless publicity and attention from fans, then there would inevitably be a temptation to involve the original cast more heavily in the new series. If the cast members were happy to reprise their original roles, the show could soon end up becoming a sequel series instead of a spinoff. WhileThat ‘70s Showfaced a similar issue with its iconic original cast, the generation gap between the original heroes and the protagonists meantThat ‘70s Show’s lead actors couldn’t leadThat ‘90s Show.
How The Big Bang Theory’s Stuart Spinoff Can Get The Balance Of Its Characters Right
Occasional Cameos Could Keep TBBT Fans Happy
The Big Bang Theory’s spinoff doesn’t have the same luxury asThat ‘90s Show, since it hasn’t been decades since the original series ended and the new heroes aren’t separated from the original stars by an entire generation. On the contrary,Stuart was close friends withThe Big Bang Theory’s heroes, so they really should appear in the new series for the sake of consistency. This will make it tricky for the show to find a way to get viewers as invested in its new characters as they are inThe Big Bang Theory’s returning cast members.
One way to do this would be to only include cameos fromThe Big Bang Theory’s characters when they visit the comic book store. That way, viewers could meetSheldon and Amy’s daughteror get some solid proof that Leonard was still alive and well, but Stuart, Denise, and Bert would still get the lion’s share of the screen time and story focus. Keeping original cast cameos limited to scenes set at the comic book store could ensure thatThe Big Bang Theory’s original gang still plays a part in the show, but doesn’t end up dominating its action.
