Zoe Perry Says The Producers Of Young Sheldon Help The Cast Feel Like A Real Family Behind The Scenes
It's no secret that behind the scenes of "The Big Bang Theory," the cast was tight-knit. Whether they were having intense ping-pong battles that stemmed from an episode (which led to a few injured knees) or roasting each other on the red carpet (via E! Insider), their bond was evident. In fact, when Jim Parsons shockingly announced that he'd be departing the show, his co-stars — especially Kaley Cuoco — couldn't stop crying (via New York Post).
"The Big Bang Theory" boasts an impressive 12 seasons, with its core cast around the same age. Therefore, it's unsurprising that bonds were formed off-screen during that time. But what about the actors of "Young Sheldon," the CBS spinoff that details the theoretical physicist's upbringing in Texas?
Zoe Perry and Lance Barber, the talent behind Mary and George Cooper Sr., are in their mid-30s and late 40s, respectively. As for the Cooper children — Sheldon (Iain Armitage), Missy (Raegan Revord), and George Jr. (Montana Jordan) — they're now teens, making for quite the age gap.
Throughout the show's six-season-and-counting run, sweet stories have been shared about Armitage and Revord's friendship, which includes convincing the president of Warner Bros. to build a designated play area for them on set. To make the setting even more inviting, golf carts used around the lot for the "Young Sheldon" crew are adorned with colorful bow ties (via LadyBug Blog).
Regarding Perry and Barber's relationship with their younger co-stars, they probably aren't participating in heated ping pong competitions with them. However, Perry shared that the "Young Sheldon" cast feels like a family thanks to some sweet steps taken by producers.
Producers track the heights of the Young Sheldon kids
In an interview with the New York Post, Zoe Perry revealed that she genuinely feels like the proud mom of Iain Armitage, Raegan Revord, and Montana Jordan, who were children when "Young Sheldon" premiered in 2017. At the start of filming, producers decided to set a popular family tradition — tracking the kids' heights — which Perry is a massive fan of. Just as real-life parents and relatives express awe over how tall a child has gotten, so does Perry of her on-screen offspring.
"It's such a lovely little inclusion one of our producers created. We have a growth chart, and it starts from [the kids'] heights at the pilot and goes all the way until today," she said. "By the end of the season, they'll get another mark, and it's nuts to see how much they've grown. I look back at Montana; when he was in the pilot, he was like a cute baby. I don't want to embarrass him ... he was so sweet and little, and now he's a teenager."
Beyond this tradition, the cast of "Young Sheldon" has hosted some wholesome events that united the multi-generation actors. Perry told WATCH Magazine that they enjoyed pool parties while filming the premiere season. These gatherings allowed them to feel like a family. "It would be hard not to," she said.
In 2021, it was announced by Variety that "Young Sheldon" is renewed through 2024. Perry and the rest of the cast have at least a few more years together. However, if the creators of "Young Sheldon" follow the canon of "The Big Bang Theory" and include the eventual death of George Cooper Sr., this chosen family must prepare for some hard days on set.