Kaley Cuoco’s weird cameo you probably missed in little Sheldon

It’s hard to make a successful network television show. It’s very difficult to create a successful spin-off to a successful series. Fans have certain expectations, and when it comes time to follow another character or two elsewhere, it can get difficult. But CBS hit it out of the park with the series “Young Sheldon,” which focused on young Sheldon Cooper growing up in Texas long before the events of “The Big Bang Theory,” itself one of the most successful sitcoms of the 2000s.

Since “Young Sheldon” is set decades before the events of the series that inspired it, it was difficult for characters from “The Big Bang Theory” to appear. However, the series’ producers were able to sneak in Kaley Cuoco during the show’s third season for a cameo. Of course, Cuoco played Penny on The Big Bang Theory throughout its 12th season.serving as an anchor for the group.

When it came time for her to sneak into “Young Sheldon,” it was all about Cuoco’s voice rather than her actually appearing on screen. The moment came in the episode ‘Teenager Soup and a Little Ball of Fib’ which sees Sheldon (Ian Armitage) feign illness to avoid taking a swimming test at school. Cuoco ended up providing the sound of pool water. In a 2020 interview with TVLineSeries co-creator Steve Molaro explained how it all came together:

“That was Callie’s voice, just like pool water. I needed someone to do the voice. I knew I wanted it to be feminine and kind of sexy, and I said, ‘Okay, Callie’s perfect for this.'”

So, how did Molaro sell this strange role to Coco? After all, Cuoco has been very busy since Big Bang Theory went off the air. Voicing the title character in “Harley Quinn” And “The Air Stewardess” among other projects. However, it was an easy yes from the actor:

“I said, ‘Hey, I have a weird proposition for you: Sheldon’s having a nightmare, and he has to go into this pool, and talk to the pool water. Do you want to be the voice of the pool water?’ She just laughed and said, “Sure, I do.”

Although the role was relatively small and strange, it was also important. Cuoco becomes the first former Big Bang Theory star to lend his talents to the series after Jim Parsons, who served as an executive producer on the series in addition to serving as its narrator. To help close out “Young Sheldon,” Parsons ended up reprising the role of Sheldon In the flesh alongside Amy Mayim Bialik in the final season. Regardless, Cuoco’s voice role was a nice touch for fans.

What’s interesting is that CBS did not promote Cuoco’s appearance prior to the episode’s premiere. Didn’t the network want to highlight the return of the “Big Bang Theory” star to the universe? Maybe, but as Molaro explained in the same interview, everyone involved in presenting the show agreed that the moment was more poignant because it was kept secret:

“Sometimes I get a little weird about overhyping things, and as cool as it was, I don’t know that this should be the kind of thing that shows up in the promos. (Kelly) wanted to keep it under wraps (like okay), so if she finds out “This will be a little Easter egg for you, so we were all on the same page about that.”

The series has been out for seven seasons in total, with Season 7 of “Young Sheldon” concluding in 2024. However, the larger world of “Big Bang Theory” lives on with Another spin-off in the form of “Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage”. It remains to be seen whether or not Cuoco or any of the other “Big Bang Theory” stars will appear on this show.

“Young Sheldon” is now streaming on Netflix and Max. Or you can get the complete series on DVD from Amazon.