“The Big Bang Theory” is a sitcom that aired from 2007-2019. The show is made up of an ensemble cast; however, fans have gravitated towards a specific character. Sheldon Cooper, the fan-favorite character was later spotlighted to be the protagonist as the show progressed. Fans wanted expansion in this universe, specifically expansion on Sheldon.
The Big Bang Theory
“The Big Bang Theory” is loosely based on the creators’ lives and was originally titled “Kenny, Lenny and Penny.” After shifting to an ensemble focus, it gained the current title because the main group consisted mostly of physicists.
“The Big Bang Theory” is about scientist roommates Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter. The show follows their quirky friendship with their waitress neighbor Penny. The rest of the main cast is fellow scientists Howard Wolowitz, Rajesh Koothrappali and Bernadette Rostenkowski. As the show progressed, Amy Farrah Fowler took on the role as Cooper’s love interest. She made a single guest appearance to compliment Cooper’s unconventional behavior in a female counterpart. However, the pairs’ undeniable chemistry resonated with both fans and show writers. In season four, Mayim Bialik, who plays Fowler, signed on to be a series regular.
In “The Big Bang Theory,” viewers learn about Cooper’s unconventional behaviors. Some examples are Cooper’s three-knock ritual, spot rule and catchphrase “Bazinga.” Friends of Cooper abide by his odd ways in order to not frustrate him.
In the two-part finale, Cooper earns the Nobel Prize award in physics alongside Fowler for their discovery of super-asymmetry. Cooper shocks the audience by disregarding his long, self-centered speech to thank his family and friends. This brings Cooper’s series-long emotional evolution to a satisfying ending.
Young Sheldon
The love for Cooper only grew stronger in 2017, when the prequel “Young Sheldon” premiered. Chuck Lorre, the creator of “The Big Bang Theory,” was brainstorming a show about an unusually smart child. After collaborating with Parsons, both realized it would be better as a Cooper origin story.
The focus of the prequel was to show Cooper’s exaggerated “Texan” cliche family against Cooper’s intellect. Cooper’s family makes appearances in “The Big Bang Theory” and for the most part stays true to the original portrayal. Missy Cooper is Cooper’s polar opposite twin sister. Being outshone by Sheldon’s intelligence, she was often paired with her older brother, Georgie Cooper. The three Cooper children were parented by Mary Cooper, a stereotypical religious woman, and George Cooper, the comedic football coach. Constince Tucker, referred to by the children as “Meemaw” also has a close relationship with the family.
“Young Sheldon” blew up on TikTok in 2023 when clips from episodes were uploaded by many users. Notable “memes” were George’s expression “hot damn” and Meemaw saying, “Sheldon Lee Cooper you dog.” George’s love of brisket storyline from season one also garnered attention from fans. Many parody brisket songs arose, the most famous being “Soft Brisket,” parodying “Soft Kitty.” This song first appeared on “The Big Bang Theory,” known as the song that calms Sheldon down.
Additionally, “The Big Bang Theory” references are recognized by fans, such as George’s infamous affair scene. However, it was reconciled into a misunderstanding on Cooper’s part. George was written in “Young Sheldon” to be a reliable and more understanding parent to Cooper. This contrasts the previous narrative in “The Big Bang Theory,” which labels George as a bad husband and father.
The finale brings Cooper’s story to a close. After narrating the entire “Young Sheldon” series, Parsons and Bialik appear in the final episode. It was revealed that the series’ long narration was Cooper writing a memoir about his upbringing.
Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage
Spinoff of the spinoff, fan-favorite Georgie received his own show. Like the title of the show implies, this show is about the unconventional family dynamics post ”Young Sheldon.” Cooper does not appear, however, he is still mentioned. Mary and Missy are present in multiple episodes, where they are shown to still be struggling with George’s death. Georgie and Mandy McAllister navigate their atypical age gap marriage and learn to raise their baby.
“Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage” wrapped up season two in a two-part season finale. It was renewed for a third season, which will pick back up in fall 2026. However, in “The Big Bang Theory,” it was stated Georgie and McAllister’s marriage ends in divorce. This creates a predictable ending for the series.
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe
On July 23, 2026, “Stuart Fails to Save the Universe” premieres. This is the most recent installment of “The Big Bang Theory” universe. Stuart Bloom is a side character in “The Big Bang Theory,” first appearing in the second season. He is known by the ensemble for owning their local comic book shop and later joining the friend group.
Bloom returns in this series where he fails to save the universe, staying true to his unlucky nature. This is set to feature other side characters from “The Big Bang Theory” such as Barry Kripke, Bert Kibbler and Denise.
