Top 10 Small Details You Didn't Notice on Young Sheldon

Okay, let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room. Yes, before getting cast as George Sr. in “Young Sheldon,” Lance Barber played a mean jerk from Leonard’s high school days on “The Big Bang Theory”. However, did you know that Zoe Perry, who plays Mary in the prequel, also has a “BBT” connection? It would’ve been great to put Laurie Metcalf, who plays Mary Cooper in the parent series, in a time machine or use CGI to have her reprise her role. Instead, the casting team chose the next best option: they cast her real-life daughter. Perry, of course, asked her mom for tips before the audition and well, she nailed it!

We’re guessing that someone among the creative team of “The Big Bang Theory” and “Young Sheldon” must be a huge fan of the ‘90s sitcom “Blossom.” Why? Well, in the parent series, the leading actress is first brought up while the guys are trying to find a fourth person to join their Physics Bowl team. Now, do you remember who played the titular Blossom? Yep, that’s right, Mayim Bialik, a.k.a . Amy Farrah Fowler. Now fast forward (or is it back?) to “Young Sheldon,” Missy makes a list of potential boyfriends for her Cabbage Patch doll, one of whom is Joey Lawrence. Of course, Sheldon hilariously has no idea what she’s talking about. What would Joey say!?

In a season two episode, Mary goes through a major crisis of faith after a tragedy strikes her church. Although Sheldon is firmly atheist, he finds his mother’s loss of belief distressing and tries to comfort her in his own unique way. First, he attempts to bring back her faith using science. But, when gravity fails to pull her back in, he tries another adorable tactic. Putting the sentimentality aside, it seems that the show’s creators did their homework. Census data from 1989 and 1990 when the episode is set, shows the global population was indeed in the ballpark of 5 billion people. Now, that’s some pretty impressive attention to detail!

Okay, not exactly. Let us explain. In the “Young Sheldon” pilot, Sheldon follows the sound of music and joins in by playing along on the piano. His perfect pitch catches the attention of the school’s music teacher, Ms. Fenley. We meet her again the following season when Sheldon decides to take up violin in a bid to be more like his idol, Albert Einstein. However, this isn’t the first time we’ve met actress Melissa Tang in the “BBT” universe. Tang also played Mandy Chao, the woman Leonard kissed during his expedition in the North Sea. She’s not the only familiar face either; Vernee Watson-Johnson played a nurse in both series, too.

In the opening credits, we see young Sheldon staring out into the distance until a nearby cow momentarily breaks his focus. Apparently, this setup is a parody of the “Walker, Texas Ranger” opening titles. It also gives us a peek into Sheldon’s inner world, showing his fears and how he feels like a fish out of water. As the seasons roll on, the credits continue to evolve. However, did you spot that the cow gets swapped out for a bull at one point? It’s hard to believe it’s just a coincidence, especially considering this change happens during a rough patch for the family. Bulls might seem more intimidating, but they also symbolize strength and resilience.

We all know that Mayim Bialik and Simon Helberg reprised their “Big Bang” roles in voice-over cameos on “Young Sheldon.” Bialik and Jim Parsons even show up in the prequel’s series finale. Yet, there’s one “Big Bang” alum cameo you may have missed. In this season three episode, Sheldon worries about an upcoming swimming test. During an anxiety dream, he stands at the edge of the water while the talking pool tries to coax him into getting in. If you listen closely, you’ll recognize that voice as none other than Penny actress Kaley Cuoco. Apparently, co-creator Steven Molaro wanted the pool to sound “female and kinda sexy” and realized he knew exactly who to call.

Sheldon is devastated when no one shows up for his Nobel Prize announcement party. Little does he know, there are other kids out there who will one day watch him and his wife accepting their own Nobel Prize. Indeed, we’re shown a montage of Sheldon’s future “Big Bang” pals as children. Interestingly, they’re presented to us in the same order we meet them in the parent series. First, we see Leonard wearing a very familiar-looking robe. Then, we glimpse young Penny asleep, child Raj studying, and kid Howard playing video games. Bernadette follows after, and finally, Amy, the last to join the group, completes the montage. Did you catch what she’s reading, though?

In the very last scene of “Young Sheldon,” our young protagonist arrives at Caltech for grad school. As he takes it all in, he’s approached by a faculty member who asks him if he’s lost. What you might not know is that this professor is played by David Saltzberg, the guy who’s been fact-checking practically all the science in “The Big Bang Theory” and “Young Sheldon” since day one. Showrunner Steve Holland explained that fewer people had as big of a role in molding the character of Sheldon Cooper as Saltzberg. So, as their own personal thank you for all his hard work over the years, they gave him this role in the finale.

Also, in the final episode, we’re back in the present with Amy and Sheldon, now living in the L.A. suburbs, chatting in Sheldon’s office. Holland shared that the team visited the ‘ol set now on display for Warner Brothers Studio tours and handpicked items they thought Sheldon would treasure. You can spot his old train set, comic books, Rubik’s cube tissue box, DNA structure, Gollum, and more. There’s a nod to his Nobel behind him, and of course, the iconic sofa where his kids probably learned never to sit in daddy’s spot. According to Holland, there are around 20 Easter eggs to find, so next time you watch, hit pause and go on a hunt.

We all knew it was coming, but the moment we learned of George Sr.’s passing hit us like a ton of bricks. The funeral episode that followed also felt like a punch to the gut. But here’s a little behind-the-scenes nugget: unbeknownst to viewers, Lance Barber tried to lighten the mood on set. Raegan Revord, who plays Missy, revealed all in her Instagram stories. She shared that Barber dressed up as a woman named Georgina and sat among the mourners in the church. The camera crew likely avoided showing Georgina much during such an emotional scene, but we think we may have spotted her. According to Revord, Georgina “brought some much-needed laughter to everyone.”

Did you spot anything we didn’t notice? Let us know in the comments.