The Big Bang Theory Crew Treated Sheldon Like A Child More Than You Likely Remember
"The Big Bang Theory" reached incredible levels of success from 2007 to 2019, and it's not difficult to understand why so many viewers flocked to it, week after week. It combined nerd culture with the dramatic and comedic beats audiences have come to expect from sitcoms, providing the masses with something familiar yet fresh compared to everything else on TV. Not to mention, they couldn't get enough of its ensemble cast of characters, especially the ever-quirky Sheldon Cooper as famously played by actor Jim Parsons.
A staple of "The Big Bang Theory," Sheldon won audiences over with his dry sense of humor, encyclopedic pop culture knowledge, and unique approach to social situations. At the same time, he never shied away from flaunting his keen intellect whenever possible. After all, he's a doctor with several degrees to his name, he works as a theoretical physicist at the California Institute of Technology, and he even built a nuclear reactor at home as a kid. That's an impressive list of accolades, but that doesn't stop his friends from often treating him like a child.
In fact, you'd be surprised just how often Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki), Penny Teller (Kaley Cuoco), and the rest of the "Big Bang Theory" gang have treated Sheldon like they would a kid.
Sheldon was treated like a kid quite consistently
In June of 2022, Reddit user CorgiTacos31 sent out a call to action for the "Big Bang Theory" community that asked them to help compile a list of every time Sheldon's friends treated him like a child. Fans from all corners of the site came to help, and to call their list extensive would be an understatement. Penny brings him to Disneyland like her own child, she and Leonard have repeatedly tucked him in, and they've even spoken to him like their son during their fights. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. Sometimes Sheldon will reference the fact that they treat him like a little kid, but that never stops him from just going along with it.
Though he could be rude, a bit annoying, and sometimes legitimately mean, Sheldon's child-like side helped make him endearing. Jim Parsons deserves a lot of credit for his performances as the character, even though his work made it difficult for the "Big Bang Theory" prequel series "Young Sheldon" to come together. "We were like, 'Can we find a kid who's nine who can do what Jim Parsons did? That doesn't seem possible! We're not going to find that,'" said producer Steve Holland in an interview with Express. However, that attitude changed once Iain Armitage wound up on his radar, and after Holland and his team check out his audition tape, he landed the gig.
Whether he's depicted as a kid who's astoundingly mature for his age or an adult with a prevalent kiddish side, Sheldon Cooper is an undisputed fan favorite.