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The Young Sheldon TV series narrates Sheldon Cooper's early years prior to The Big Bang Theory. It reveals how the notoriously quirky physicist came of age in Texas amidst a tight-knit but frequently troubled family.
What probably wouldn't have crossed the minds of many, however, is that several actors who act on Young Sheldon previously collaborated on a totally different production—Toy Story. These crossover roles create a subdued reunion that bridges the sitcom to one of Pixar's most beloved franchises.
The tie-in, CBS says, is through casting. Young Sheldon features actors such as Annie Potts, Wallace Shawn, and Richard Kind, all of whom have provided characters' voices in Toy Story. Potts is Bo Peep, Shawn is Rex, and Kind is seen in Toy Story 3's Bookworm.
All three actors also appear in Young Sheldon, resulting in a behind-the-scenes reunion that only really becomes clear once you join the dots. Here is how this Toy Story crossover works itself out within the world of Young Sheldon.
The Toy Story actors who appeared in Young Sheldon
Annie Potts as Meemaw and Bo Peep
Annie Potts portrays Connie "Meemaw" Tucker, Sheldon's maternal grandmother, in Young Sheldon. Her character has a major impact on Sheldon, as he is renowned for his straightforward nature and robust family influence. She was introduced on The Big Bang Theory but played a larger role in the prequel show.
Disney says Potts provided the voice of Bo Peep in the first Toy Story (1995) and was back for the follow-ups, including Toy Story 4 (2019). Woody's girlfriend and a shepherdess, Bo Peep, turns into a confident, independent woman by the fourth installment.
The Big Bang Theory spin-off is connected to Toy Story through Potts' double casting, although she acts on screen in one and as a voice performer in the other.
Wallace Shawn as Dr. John Sturgis and Rex
Wallace Shawn guest stars on Young Sheldon as Dr. John Sturgis, who is a college professor and Sheldon Cooper's pen pal. He is portrayed as someone Sheldon looks up to for being smarter. Sturgis also becomes romantically involved with Meemaw throughout the show, so he is a recurring character on the program.
Wallace Shawn is the voice of Rex, the anxious yet endearing green dinosaur, in the Toy Story series. Rex is a member of the initial toy group commanded by Woody and Buzz Lightyear. Shawn has provided Rex with his voice in each of the four core Toy Story movies and various short films, as reported by Pixar.
His roles in both franchises contribute to the surprise reunion of actors from very different productions.
Richard Kind as Ira Rosenbloom and Bookworm
Richard Kind portrays Ira Rosenbloom in The Big Bang Theory spin-off, one of Meemaw's other romantic interests. He is seen appearing after her relationship with Sturgis and has been depicted as being involved in a love triangle.
Kind’s Toy Story role comes in Toy Story 3, where he voices Bookworm—a minor character who manages the literature section at Sunnyside Daycare. Though not a lead character, Bookworm is part of the extended toy cast in the film.
With Kind joining Potts and Shawn, Young Sheldon features three actors from the Toy Story franchise, all in roles where they're bonded strongly by storylines revolving around Meemaw.
How the reunion played out on screen
The Toy Story links in The Big Bang Theory spin-off are not explicitly spoken of in the series, and the fans might not have picked up on them unless they knew about the actors' previous roles. The link is more apparent once all three actors—Potts, Shawn, and Kind—are involved in a common storyline concerning Meemaw's love life.
CBS reports that Meemaw's romance with Dr. Sturgis (Shawn) is tense when Ira Rosenbloom (Kind) comes into the scene. These converging romantic storylines place the actors of Toy Story in scenes with each other, creating an indirect on-screen reunion.
Since these actors all employed only their voices in the Toy Story franchise, audience members might not have realized the connection immediately. Still, once it's seen, it's an interesting piece of trivia that connects Young Sheldon to another big pop culture franchise.
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