17 Behind-The-Scenes Facts And Trivia About The "Big Bang Theory" Spinoff "Young Sheldon"

There's a surprising connection to "Blue's Clues."

Season 6 of Young Sheldon recently came to an end, and with the Writers Guild of America strike still going strong, it's anyone's guess as to whether Season 7 will premiere in fall of 2023 as planned.

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If you're already missing it, here are some fun facts about the show to hold you over until the new season lands.

1. The idea for the series came from Jim Parsons, who plays adult Sheldon in The Big Bang Theory.

CBS / courtesy Everett Collection

2. Iain Armitage was just eight years old when he was cast to play the titular character.

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3. He was practically a shoo-in after his initial audition.

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"We saw his audition on tape, and I don't know how to put this other than to say it was kind of jaw-dropping," Parsons told Entertainment Tonight.

4. Pretty impressive, considering he had to memorize a three-page monologue.

CBS via Getty Images

"I got a callback, which was great, and Jim Parsons, Steve Molaro, and Chuck Lorre were all there, and I just did my thing," he explained to Firstpost. "When we were getting on the flight to go back to Virginia, we got a call that I had gotten the part, and I thought, 'Why are we going on this flight then?'"

5. Parsons worked with Armitage to help the younger actor find the character.

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During an interview with Ellen, Armitage called his mentor "an incredible Sheldon coach."

6. Medford, Texas isn't a real place, but according to Redditors, it's a fairly accurate depiction of small-town Texas.

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7. The theme song was written by Steve Burns from Blue's Clues.

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It's from his 2003 album Songs for Dustmites.

8. Burns has also appeared in a few episodes of Young Sheldon as a Trekkie called Nathan.

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From left: Iain Armitage and Steve Burns in Young Sheldon

9. Laurie Metcalf, who played Sheldon's mom on The Big Bang Theory, told her daughter, Zoe Perry, to go out for the same role on Young Sheldon.

CBS / courtesy Everett Collection, CBS

"My mom said, 'You better go in for this,'" Perry told The Hollywood Reporter. "It was an exciting and surreal turn of events."

Perry added that Metcalf is "too good and empathetic an actor to give another actor any notes! She’s been really supportive through the whole thing and I feel lucky that I get to share this with her in that way. At the end of the day, she’s a parent and she’s happy to see that her kids are okay."

10. This isn't the first time Perry has played the younger version of one of her mom's characters.

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She appeared as a young version of Jackie during flashbacks in two episodes of Roseanne in the '90s.

11. Lance Barber, who plays Sheldon's dad, also appeared on a Season 5 episode of The Big Bang Theory as Jimmy Speckerman, one of Leonard's high school bullies.

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12. Melissa Tang, the actor behind Ms. Fenley, previously appeared on The Big Bang Theory as well, as marine biologist Mandy Chow.

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13. Vernee Watson played Nurse Althea on The Big Bang Theory before playing Nurse Robinson on Young Sheldon.

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14. Teller (of Penn and Teller) appeared as two separate characters as well: First, as Amy's father in The Big Bang Theory, then later alongside Penn in Young Sheldon, where the pair played a couple of dermatologists.

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15. Annie Potts revealed that, being from the South, she didn't have to look too far for inspiration to play Sheldon's meemaw.

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"I know a lot of southern women like Meemaw," she told Smashing Interviews magazine. "While my mother was a little bit different, the flavor is the same. Look. I know a lot of southern women. I love them. They are fun and are fun to play."

16. Meemaw's appearance is inspired by one of Potts's Designing Women costars.

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"I have to say it was sort of inspiration from Dolly Parton in Steel Magnolias," Potts told Gold Derby. "I thought, Yeah, I bet she looks a little bit like that."

17. Kaley Cuoco voiced the school pool Sheldon had a nightmare about in Season 3.

Axelle / FilmMagic, CBS

Are you excited for Season 7 of Young Sheldon? Let me know in the comments.