The Big Bang Theory is perhaps one of the most treasured sitcoms for millennials who grew up watching the sundry misadventures of certified geeks. But what the Emmy-winning show couldn’t accomplish, its beloved spinoff prequel did, especially with the more nuanced version of the Coopers that Young Sheldon depicted.
And maybe it was because of the odds already set against the character from its juggernaut predecessor that George Cooper, Sr. in Young Sheldon found himself in a web of stereotypes and derision. But kudos to Lance Barber for not only the impeccable rendition of the character but also for humanizing Sheldon’s father in the show.
Lance Barber Softened the Jagged Edges of George Cooper
In almost the entirety of The Big Bang Theory, George Marshall Cooper Sr. – the late father of the prodigal Sheldon – has been stereotyped as an alcohol-abusing redneck “Homer Simpson” Texan and a maladroit parent by his son. So, Lance Barber certainly had his work cut out for him as far as the spinoff goes (via TV Line).
I knew that he was described as a redneck Homer Simpson. The jokes were kind of big, and so there was the challenge of grounding this person and making him a human being, as opposed to a punchline.
Unlike the deplorable version of the character in TBBT, Barber, 50, saved George Cooper Sr. from being pigeonholed as the fat-shamed caricature of an alcoholic dad unaware of the ABCs of parenting.
If anything. The Comeback star cast Sheldon’s father in a much more heartfelt and kinder light than anyone could’ve anticipated, transforming him into one of the dearest (and perhaps egregiously misunderstood) characters on Young Sheldon.
Young Sheldon Producer Praised Lance Barber’s Performance
While George Sr. often ends up bearing the brunt of adult Sheldon’s dark jokes in TBBT, Barber’s version of the character in Young Sheldon is the complete opposite; in the latter, he’s a dutiful father willing to make sacrifices for his family, and one who tries his level best to understand his intellectually-gifted son.
Steve Holland, a writer and producer on both sitcoms, remarked the same as he praised Barber’s emotionally charged depiction of George Sr. in the “sweeter family show” that Young Sheldon is “And because of Lance Barber’s portrayal of George in Young Sheldon, you didn’t believe his dad could be that bad,” Holland said (via USA Today).
It’s not just George Sr. who undergoes immense character development in the Jim Parsons-led prequel series though. The Coopers as a unit appear more fleshed out in Young Sheldon which allows fans to broaden their perspectives regarding the family.
Young Sheldon can be streamed on Netflix or Max.
