Young Sheldon's Title Controversy: Why Did Some People Hate It?
The title "Young Sheldon" is simple, and memorable and gives audiences a pretty direct indication of what The Big Bang's spinoff prequel series is about: Sheldon Cooper when he was young.
The name works and has become somewhat of a household name thanks to the show's success, but the simplicity of it doesn't appeal to everyone. Understandably, some fans might not like it, and not everyone can be pleased, but it was surprising to learn that one of the powerhouses behind the successful coming-of-age series was opposed to the name.
The initial idea for the quirky coming-of-age sitcom came from Jim Parsons, who played Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory. Parsons may not be a scientific genius in real life, but he felt that his 10-year-old nephew was a genuine prodigy, and sent a video of him to Chuck Lorre, who was inspired by it.
Not only was it a great idea for a show, but Sheldon's backstory on TBBT laid the perfect foundation to build a series based on his childhood.
Lorre only picked up the show after Steven Molaro agreed to do it with him, and the team worked together to write and create Young Sheldon. Lorre and Molaro have a long history, having spent years working together on The Big Bang Theory. The pair were asked in an interview whether they had had any fights or disagreements over Young Sheldon, and the only clash they had was over the name.
To put it simply, Molaro was not a fan of the name, and in the beginning, he never wanted to call the series Young Sheldon. Lorre was all for the name, and ultimately the decision was made in favor of the title that everyone is familiar with today. "It wasn't a loss. It's here, it is what it is," Steven Molaro said.
Molaro didn't have an alternative title for the series or a definite reason for not being a fan of the chosen title, and the pair have a unique way of solving disagreements that quickly solved the title dilemma.
They explained in an interview that when they can't agree on something, whoever is more genuinely excited wins, and in this case it was Lorre.
Despite the title controversy in the beginning, Young Sheldon has gone on to follow in the footsteps of The Big Bang Theory, in producing some of CBS's highest ratings as well as earning critical and commercial acclaim. Every decision that has been made by the co-creators has contributed to the show's success, and the title that Molaro may not be overly enthusiastic about has become a beloved household name.