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The highly-anticipated Young Sheldon spin-off, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, finally arrives on CBS and Paramount+ this Thursday after what seems like months of promos and press. The hype isn’t for nothing: Its predecessors—Young Sheldon and The Big Bang Theory, of course—were two of the most successful shows of all time.
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage certainly has a different feel to it than Young Sheldon. For one, it’s a multi-cam, while Young Sheldon was filmed movie-style as a single-camera comedy. However, Georgie & Mandy is still very much a continuation of the beloved Cooper family—and now the McAllisters. Zoe Perry (Mary) and Annie Potts (Meemaw) make their return in the first episode of the new series, which feels like the comforting hug we all need after the emotional powerhouse of a finale Young Sheldon had in May.
Perhaps the biggest difference outside the switch to multi-cam from single cam is that there is less science in Georgie & Mandy now that Sheldon is off to study at CalTech. “It’s interesting to pivot and explore part of this world that isn’t about science and this special intellect,” Holland said at a recent press conference for the series. “But it’s been really fun [to explore other areas of] this universe and tell some very human, family stories.”
Montana Jordan as Georgie Cooper. Troy Harvey/2024 Warner Bros. Entertainment
Viewers will also meet some new characters, mainly Mandy’s brother, Connor. (And yes, though Connor was seen on Young Sheldon, he’s being played by a different actor here.) You’ll also meet Ruben Troy Harvey, a longtime employee at Jim McAllister’s tire store.
Perhaps the most heartwarming character in Georgie & Mandy is Georgie himself, played to perfection by Montana Jordan. The series picks up a few months after the passing of Georgie’s father, George; if you’ll recall, he promised his dad that he’d always look after his family. Now, as he tries to balance the obligations to his wife, Mandy, daughter, Ceecee, his job at the tire store, and also to his own mother, sister, and brother, the weight of the world seems to be on this young man as he aims to protect everyone—and make them all happy.
“We’re incredibly excited to share this show with the world,” Holland says. “It’s just a blast.” (See more about the first episode, below.)
Meanwhile, it’s a big week for other CBS shows, including the second season of Tracker (starring Justin Hartley in the lead role). I binged the series over the summer and have to say I got quite invested in Colter Shaw’s life, as well as all the terrific ensemble characters around him. More on the new season below, and not to worry—fan favorite Jensen Ackles returns for the second episode next week.
Breakout hit Matlock also airs its second episode this week. If you haven’t watched yet, go ahead and get that out of the way now before you get too far behind (it’s streaming on Paramount+). The Kathy Bates drama series has an unexpected twist at the end of the first episode that had everyone talking, and the ratings have only continued to go up since its sneak preview premiere last month.
Blue Bloods also returns on CBS this week for the second half of its 14th—and final—season. Fan favorite guest stars Peter Hermann and Will Hochman will be back, as well as some other fun surprises, before the series concludes later this year.
Over at Apple TV+, Shrinking, the acclaimed comedy from Bill Lawrence, Brett Goldstein, and Jason Segel, returns for season two. Goldstein also guest stars this season. Of course, my favorite scenes are any and all with Harrison Ford, who is a delight as Dr. Paul Rhoades.
On that note, there’s plenty more to check out this week including Reba McEntire in Happy’s Place on NBC and Anna Kendrick in Woman of the Hour on Netflix.
