Jim Parsons' Close Shave with Regret: Almost Saying No to Young Sheldon
As an already-established sitcom with six seasons and renewed for a seventh, Young Sheldon has certainly proved itself as a successful show in its own right and as a prequel TBBT.
However, in a recent interview with LGBTQ+ publication 'them', Jim Parsons (who portrayed Sheldon originally and serves as executive producer of the series) discussed how the show almost never happened if he hadn't been convinced otherwise. Fortunately, Chuck Lorre persuaded him, and the rest is history.
How the idea for Young Sheldon was first created
While working on TBBT still, Parsons and his husband/producer Todd Spiewak started their own production company at Warner Brothers Studios. One of the first ideas they discussed for a show was based on Parsons' very own nephew. Someone Parsons describes as 'an odd man out in the family" due to how smart he is in real life.
However, because of his loyalty to Big Bang and its producers, Parsons felt he could not pursue the idea further until he discussed it with TBBT creator and executive producer Chuck Lorre first.
Due to the clear overlap the idea had with his very own character of Sheldon on the show.
Why Parsons didn't want to do a spin-off
At first, Parsons admits he was reluctant to have his idea for a show based around his nephew tied to Big Bang at all. Although he felt compelled to discuss it with Lorre first, Parsons states his dislike of sitcom spin-offs generally. Considering only a mere number of comedy show spin-offs have ever become as or more successful than its predecessor, it's not hard to imagine why.
However, after writing directly to TBBT's creator to discuss the concept of the series, Parson changed his mind after something Lorre had said. Lorre told him not to worry, as the show which would eventually become Young Sheldon was not going to be a spin-off at all, but more of an origin story of Sheldon's character.
Something Parsons finds quite fitting, considering there were many fictional origin stories that the characters on their show were often fixated with.
Young Sheldon's Pilot and ongoing seasons
After the compelling discussion with Lorre, Parsons' initial series concept was passed along to TBBT producers. Eventually, CBS ordered a pilot of the show to be produced in March of 2017; which would also be created by Lorre and Steven Molaro. Jon Favreau directed and executive produced the pilot episode of the show. And Parsons, Lorre, Molaro and Spiewak continued to serve as executive producers for the rest of the series.
If Lorre had never convinced Parsons to view Young Sheldon as a backstory to the character instead of as a spin-off, we may have never seen more of Sheldon Cooper. Considering the fantastic reception the show has already received over its many seasons so far, Parsons certainly made the right decision in the end.