Loving Sheldon Cooper

Iaian Armitage: ‘He’s an interesting character and not exactly hard to play but he isn’t easy either and he, kind of, has to think totally different because he is this incredibly smart kid…I’m not!’

MANILA, Philippines — For more than a decade now, we all have become acquainted with and have come to love Sheldon Cooper, the genius albeit eccentric (and charmingly naïve!) character in the top-rating and Emmy-winning comedy series The Big Bang Theory. The character made a superstar out of actor Jim Parsons, an affable person in real life opposite his fictional counterpart.

With the continued success of the show, Jim and his producer, Chuck Lorre, the prolific creator of The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, Mike & Molly and Mom, among other hits, launched a new comedy series titled Young Sheldon last fall, which was a prequel of sorts to the series, documenting the life and childhood of a young Sheldon Cooper.

The series, launched to instant acclaim, has since been the No. 1 new comedy series in America. It was renewed for a second season, which was announced during our visit to the Warner Bros. set of the show in Burbank, California recently.

“I don’t expect anything in regards to TV ever!” Jim remarked after we congratulated him on the success of his second No. 1 TV show. “But no, it’s very exciting obviously. Who knows? I hope so. It’s going very well so far.”

 Young Sheldon is set in 1989 when Sheldon Cooper was a young nine-year-old genius growing up in East Texas, a time and place when a once-in-a-generation mind capable of advanced mathematics and science only comes second after church and football. The series follows how the gifted, vulnerable and somewhat naïve Sheldon deals with the world around him.

Jim acts as the narrator in Young Sheldon.

Before we toured Cooper’s house, Jim joined the cast for a 40-minute interview with the press. The precocious nine-year-old actor Iain Armitage, who plays the titular character, sat next to Jim during the interview. The rest of the cast Lance Barber, Zoe Perry, Annie Potts, Montana Jordan, Raegan Revord and producers Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro were also on hand to take on questions.

The cast of Young Sheldon (back row, from left) Lance Barber, Montana Jordan, Raegan Revord and Annie Potts. Front row, also from left) Zoe Perry, Iain, Jim, Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro

One the biggest conflicts in the series, and the source of much of its comedy, is the family’s struggle to deal with the genius boy in their midst. And Jim, who helped write the series, explained how young Sheldon’s character and his relationship with his family were developed and how it somewhat contradicts some of the narrative of Sheldon’s past history in the earlier Big Bang Theory, especially Sheldon’s relationships with his mother Mary, father George and grandmother Meema.

 “Since it was an off-stage character we talked about, this is the first time anyone has gotten to really explore the real flesh out human. He is revealing himself not to be such an ass after all,” he explained how the younger Sheldon character differs from the older.

“We know it’s going to be a different kind of show,” producer Steven Molaro explained how the similarity of both shows also happens to define the differences. “We try to stay true to the characters. When we touch on Mary’s religion, just like in Big Bang Theory, we would never want to make that the butt of the joke. We try to identify with her and stay truthful to that. And if you happen to be on Sheldon’s side, who is not afraid to disagree with his mother completely, we represent that side as well.”

“Some of the things that go in Young Sheldon could be viewed through the realm of the most, at times, intimate diary of his — something he wouldn’t say and you wouldn’t have heard on the show (The Big Bang Theory) and it’s like this is really how it happened even though for whatever reason he’s putting it in certain terms,” Jim added.

Tasked to flesh out young Sheldon is newcomer Iain Armitage, who made a big splash last year appearing as Shailene Woodley’s son in the Emmy-winning HBO drama series Big Little Lies.

“I love that he is smart, obviously,” Iain replied when asked what he loves most about his character.

“He’s an interesting character and not exactly hard to play but he isn’t easy either and he, kind of, has to think totally different because he is this incredibly smart kid…” Iain paused and, like a seasoned comedian, deadpanned, “I’m not!” Everyone in the room laughed at his joke.

The young actor revealed that he had a lot of help from Jim in the beginning in shaping his character.

“This guy helps me with a lot of it, kind of, putting me in the mindset,” he said nodding at Jim. “It’s kind of like going through a maze that you know how to get to the end but it all kind of looks the same so you still have to kind of navigate through even though you know how to get to the end.”

Yes, that’s a nine year old describing how he studied and approached his character. Now, that’s smart.

But would Iain want to be friends with Sheldon?

“Not exactly a buddy but he would be a very interesting friend. I can see myself being friends with him, yeah!”

With the show expected to run for multiple seasons, Iain and many fans will likely make Young Sheldon their new friend for many, many years.

Season one of the series continues to air on Warner TV Channel 235 on Cignal and Channel 34 on SkyCable every Friday night at 8:35.