The Big Bang Theory’s Penny Doesn’t Need A Young Sheldon-Style Spinoff, Because Kaley Cuoco Gave Us “Young Penny” 22 Years Ago
The Big Bang Theory universe can no longer do a Young Penny spinoff because Kaley Cuoco has already done something similar. Unlike the usual reason for cancelations, CBS ended The Big Bang Theory not because of the lack of interest from the public. Instead, it wrapped up its run because Jim Parsons decided to leave the show as Sheldon Cooper. Luckily, Chuck Lorre and the rest of the team found a way to continue capitalizing on The Big Bang Theory‘s popularity with Young Sheldon, which tackled Sheldon’s childhood in Texas before moving to California.
After The Big Bang Theory‘s finale in 2019, the franchise thrived for five more years with Young Sheldon. What started as supplementary viewing for the nerd-centric sitcom ended up being a hit show on its own, as Sheldon and the rest of the family immediately became fan-favorites. The prequel differentiated itself from its parent series by being a more grounded family dramedy. Young Sheldon proved to be a success that CBS essentially copied its format for NCIS‘ first-period offshoot, NCIS: Origins. With the show now done, there is interest in other Pasadena gang members getting the same treatment, including Penny.
How Kaley Cuoco Already Played A Version Of Young Penny
Young Penny Sounds A Lot Like Beach’s Life
All members of the Pasadena gang had their respective fan-base. That said, it’s fair to say that The Big Bang Theory‘s main trio — Sheldon, Leonard, and Penny, are all a bit higher in terms of popularity hierarchy than the rest of the ensemble. Jim Parsons’ Sheldon already had his childhood tackled in Young Sheldon, while Johnny Galecki doing Young Leonard is more difficult, considering the actor’s semi-retirement from Hollywood. That leaves Kaley Cuoco’s Penny to spearhead a new prequel as the next best option. That said, it may not be as interesting as initially perceived.
One overlooked aspect of this matter is how Cuoco already did a version of Young Penny in 8 Simple Rules. The ABC family sitcom featured the actor playing Bridget Erin “Beach” Hennessy, who was essentially a young version of The Big Bang Theory‘s main female character. Like Penny, Paul and Cate Hennessy’s eldest was fun-loving, ditzy, and the stereotypical representation of blondes in Hollywood. She was more focused on dating and her looks than anything else, and that was the initial idea for Penny when she debuted in The Big Bang Theory.
8 Simple Rules showing all of this makes the idea of a Young Penny less interesting as the next The Big Bang Theory spinoff.
Interestingly, what’s known about Penny’s backstory fits with Beach’s story in 8 Simple Rules. While the nerd-centric sitcom didn’t always tackle the life that Leonard’s wife had before she moved to Pasadena, there were several references to it. Occasionally, there were even brief flashback sequences, including when she sat in her bedroom taking a pregnancy test with her partner at that time. 8 Simple Rules showing all of this makes the idea of a Young Penny less interesting as the next The Big Bang Theory spinoff.
8 Simple Rules Has Another The Big Bang Theory Connection
Cuoco’s Characters Have The “Same” Mother
Aside from The Big Bang Theory‘s Penny and 8 Simple Rules‘ Beach having similar traits, there’s another connection between the sitcoms. In both sitcoms, Katey Sagal plays the mother of Cuoco’s characters. In 8 Simple Rules, Sagal portrayed Cate opposite John Ritter’s Hennessy patriarch, Paul. Several years later, she returned to the small screen to play Penny’s mom, Susan. Unlike in 8 Simple Rules where she was a main cast member, Sagal had limited involvement in The Big Bang Theory. She only debuted in season 10, episode 1, “The Conjugal Conjecture,” and that ended up being her only appearance.
Penny Doesn’t Need A Spinoff Show In The Past… Or Present
The Big Bang Theory Effectively Wrapped Up Penny’s Story
Between Penny and Beach’s similarities and Sagal’s involvement in both The Big Bang Theory and 8 Simple Rules as Cuoco’s characters’ mom, Young Penny is no longer a strong contender for Lorre’s next expansion series in the universe. While The Big Bang Theory featured various references to Sheldon’s childhood in Texas, the public had never seen what his life may have actually been like in Medford before he transferred to California. Add to that his and Mary’s complicated relationship with George and his subsequent death, and Young Sheldon became such an interesting premise for a prequel.
Unfortunately, as popular as Penny is, a spinoff series post-The Big Bang Theory isn’t also warranted for the character. As divisive as Penny’s pregnancy arc was, the nerd-centric sitcom was still able to leave her and Leonard in a happy place — both excited about the arrival of their first child. Admittedly, The Big Bang Theory season 13 would have fixed the plot, but mainly because it would have given the show enough time to tackle Cuoco’s character changing her stance about having children.
Doing a The Big Bang Theory show about Penny’s life without her Pasadena gang friends would just be odd.
Aside from that, doing a The Big Bang Theory sequel series centered on Penny would be difficult to pull off without the rest of the old show’s cast. Per the Young Sheldon finale, Sheldon and Amy are still friends with her, which means that they must still regularly hang out with her. Doing a The Big Bang Theory show about Penny’s life without her Pasadena gang friends would just be odd. Even if she moves out of California, the Penny offshoot would require heavy involvement from Galecki’s Leonard, which would be more improbable, considering the actor’s semi-retirement.
Could A Penny Spinoff Actually Happen? What Kaley Cuoco Has Said About Returning
Cuoco Still Loves Penny
After the Young Sheldon finale, the franchise is thriving with Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. That said, Lorre is also doing a proper The Big Bang Theory spinoff with Stuart, Denise, and Bert. The show is set to stream on Max, at least based on its current status. While there is no indication that the producer extraordinaire is trying to get a Young Penny off the ground, Cuoco recently revealed that she is always open to the possibility of reprising her The Big Bang Theory role in any capacity, saying:
I spent 12 years playing that role, and it really set off my career. I owe a lot to that character, to that show, to [creator] Chuck Lorre. It was some of the best years of my life, and some of the most fun I’ve ever had. I would absolutely reprise that role. 100%. I love that character, and I always will.
