Top 10 Funniest Young Sheldon Running Gags

We absolutely love how “Young Sheldon” portrays Connie Tucker as so much more than just the Cooper kids’ Meemaw. She’s a strong, spirited woman in her golden years, practically batting admirers away. Fortunately for us, this leads to ample hilarity as men practically fall off their chairs and get into fights over her. We’ve seen Dr. Sturgis facing off with Dale out of sheer jealousy, and even poor Ira got caught up in the love game more than once. However, perhaps the funniest duels for Connie’s heart take place between Dr. Sturgis and Dr. Linkletter. Honestly, seeing the lengths these two will go to to win her affection never gets old.

Mary Cooper is a proud, God-fearing Christian who strives to live a virtuous life. Yet, when she’s especially stressed or agitated, she tends to fall back on some rebellious habits from her carefree youth. Sheldon hinted at this in “The Big Bang Theory,” but seeing Mary in action is far more entertaining. Whether she’s sneaking a secret smoke with Pastor Rob or knocking back some liquid courage, Mary proves that her defiant teen spirit is still alive and eager to come out and play. Seeing her let her guard down reveals a side of her that’s both relatable and charming. We simply love these glimpses into her vibrant and multifaceted character.

In the early days, the title sequence saw Sheldon, donned in cowboy boots and armed with a briefcase, gazing into the distance. A cow comes along and momentarily breaks his focus as he sidesteps to safety. This reportedly represents Sheldon’s anxieties in a world so different from his ideal reality. As the show progresses, Sheldon’s family joins him, and the opening titles change to show more of his personality. We see him dress up as “The Flash,” “Mr. Spock,” and even his hero, Albert Einstein. Also, here’s another running gag you might’ve missed (unless, like Sheldon, you have Vulcan hearing): Most of the episode titles appear as dialogue sporadically within their episode, typically shared between multiple characters.

The dining table takes center stage for some of the show’s most hilarious moments, providing a chaotic yet relatable glimpse into the family dynamics. In fact, in one of the very first scenes, Georgie and Missy kick off a food fight during a family dinner. The table hosts everything from marital disputes and sibling squabbles to debates over brisket recipes and black holes. In one memorable episode, two uproarious dinners unfold simultaneously. Things get awkward at the Coopers as Georgie introduces Mandy to the adults. Meanwhile, next door at the Sparks’, Sheldon and Missy throw out some wild guesses about why everyone’s suddenly acting so weird. Dinner scenes almost always dish up plenty of hilarity.

In “The Big Bang Theory,” Sheldon often recalls his friendless childhood. But “Young Sheldon” offers some surprising contradictions. For instance, adult Sheldon talks about how Billy Sparks tormented him, but that doesn’t exactly align with the hilariously…special kid we meet in the prequel. Anyway, one of his most captivating friendships is with Paige, another child genius. She starts out as a sweet kid who just wants to befriend her intellectual equal but grows into a rebellious teen who relishes challenging Sheldon. Their relationship provides endless entertainment, especially when Paige stumps him, which is often. Sheldon likes to believe he’s the only brainiac in town, so perhaps that’s why he never mentions her in adulthood.

Based on everything we know about Sheldon as an adult, it’s hardly surprising that his need to always correct his educators became a running joke. While he often tested everyone’s patience, he also had a habit of challenging Pastor Jeff’s faith. While the Pastor initially tries to humor him, he soon realizes that Sheldon might just be God’s way of testing him. At one point, Sheldon even announces he’s starting his own religion, much to the Pastor’s dismay. Still, if you were ever concerned about the salvation of Octopus Aliens, Sheldon’s got you covered. His curious mind receives mixed responses from his family but always gets a big laugh from us.

In-law relationships can be rather complicated, but if they’re anything like George Cooper and Connie Tucker, they can also be hilarious. Connie makes no secret of how she feels about her son-in-law, and let’s just say the resentment is mutual. That doesn’t mean that they never get along, but those moments they butt heads are often the funniest. No one trades insults quite like this mother-in-law and son-in-law duo. At the end of the day, we have no doubt that they share a mutual respect and will always have each other’s backs. However, their love language is basically barbed quips and endless teasing, and we’re always here for it.

Missy’s quick wit and confident attitude make her a standout character. She’s no stranger to slinging out a few zingers, mostly at her family and especially at Sheldon. In fact, on several occasions, she’s even led her twin bro astray and then sat back and watched the train crash in action. Arguably, the most hilarious part is that she knows exactly what she’s doing and how to play everyone like a fiddle. As she enters her teen years, that sarcastic little cutie we came to know and love becomes even more savage and pushes boundaries more than ever. But don’t worry, that fiery spirit also comes in handy when she’s defending her family.

Georgie isn’t exactly the sharpest of the Coopers, and often, he says things that might make you want to facepalm. That being said, he builds quite the business acumen. Sometimes, he’ll come up with some wild money-making scheme that, to be honest, like George, we’re very skeptical will work. However, time and time again, Georgie proves that he knows what the people want— or, at the very least, he knows how to make people think he knows what they want. We’ll admit it: we often underestimate Georgie, too. Can you blame us? Still, now that we know he has what it takes, we wouldn’t say no to going into business with him.

One of our favorite things about “Young Sheldon” is connecting the dots to “The Big Bang Theory,” We’ve seen Sheldon discover comic books and video games and adopt his catchphrase “Bazinga.” Nods to Professor Proton, Sheldon’s evolving style, and “Soft Kitty” are like watching the puzzle pieces fall into place. There’s a treasure trove of Easter eggs to explore, but that’s another list (which we’ve done). Not all the links are so happy, but hey, “Big Bang” laid down the groundwork. Still, we felt as excited as Sheldon drawing up a contract when we saw the kid versions of his future pals. It’s those moments that truly bring it all together.

What's your favorite “Young Sheldon” recurring joke? Let us know in the comments.