Picking up from the end of Young Sheldon, newlyweds Georgie Cooper and Mandy McAllister, along with their infant daughter Cece, are living with Mandy's parents Audrey and Jim, and her younger brother Connor. Georgie works at Jim's auto and tire shop, much to the disdain of fellow employee Ruben who believes Georgie doesn't deserve authority over him. Mandy and Audrey have an argument when Audrey implies that as Cece is not talking yet (despite her being less than a year old), she could be dumb like Georgie. As a result, Georgie & Mandy decide to move out to a small place near the train tracks. They are given some housewarming gifts by Georgie's mother Mary, and grandmother, Connie. After talking with Jim, Audrey apologizes to Mandy and they return to the house. As Georgie starts to confront Audrey for insulting him, Cece says "Dada"; her first word through the baby monitor.
Title quotation from: Georgie, at the dinner table, announcing the train that's passing by his and Mandy's new home.
2
"Some New York Nonsense"
Mark Cendrowski
Teleplay by : Steven Molaro & Connor Kilpatrick Story by : Steve Holland & Jim Reynolds
Georgie visits his father, George Sr.'s, grave. He claims he can handle the responsibilities of both his old family and new family with Mandy. Ruben taunting him, Audrey undercutting him, Mandy's job search and his younger sister Missy all add to his stress. Missy has him pick her up after she is suspended from school for pulling the fire alarm to get out of a test. At home, Mandy suggesting they may move for her job prospects sets Georgie off and he accuses Audrey of the idea. He storms out but goes to the hospital believing he's having a heart attack. The doctor says it is actually a panic attack. He returns and tells Mandy. They make up and Georgie apologizes the next day to Audrey. Georgie returns to George's grave and admits he doesn't have it all under control and admires how George did it. He later brings Missy to the grave where she lets out some of her grief.
Title quotation from: Georgie's reaction when the doctor explains what a panic attack and anxiety is.
3
"Secrets, Lies and a Chunk of Change"
Mark Cendrowski
Teleplay by : Steve Holland & Connor Kilpatrick Story by : Chuck Lorre & Steven Molaro
Georgie receives his first credit card, leading Mandy to reveal she is in credit card debt of about $12,000 from an irresponsible past. Among her most expensive purchases is a hospital visit for an ex-boyfriend, Nick. Georgie decides that he should get the money that is owed to her, and so gets Nick's address from Jim. Nick is apologetic and writes a check for the money he owes, but when Georgie attempts to cash it at the bank, it is invalid. Nick then shows up at the bank and tells Georgie he is about to get his money by proceeding to rob the bank and Georgie flees. Mandy goes back to her prior waitressing job to start paying off her debt, with Audrey watching Cece. In order to help out and make more money at work, Georgie has the idea to use his credit card on softball uniforms for the local police department; in turn they will page Georgie when people need a tow truck from Jim's store.
4
"Todd's Mom"
Mark Cendrowski
Teleplay by : Steven Molaro & Nadiya Chettiar Story by : Chuck Lorre & Steve Holland
Tired of always hanging out with her parents, Mandy goes to a bar with another waitress Beth, (Casey Wilson), who wants to have fun after her divorce. Taking Georgie to Beth's house, everyone is surprised when Beth's son Todd recognizes Georgie from high school and is only a year younger than him. Todd invites Georgie to go dirt biking with his friends. Mandy says it is too dangerous but Georgie accuses her of acting like his mother and goes anyway. He enjoys it but ends up acting like a parent himself when the other guys try to add alcohol to the mix. Mandy goes back to the bar with Beth, and Beth ends up making out with Mandy's dentist. Mandy pages Georgie and they return home to Cece together. Meanwhile, Audrey and Jim get competitive trying to guess the answer to a game of 20 Questions with Connor.
5
"Thanksgiving"
Mark Cendrowski
Teleplay by : Steve Holland & Jim Reynolds Story by : Steven Molaro & Connor Kilpatrick
As the first Thanksgiving since George Sr.'s death approaches, Georgie and Mandy offer to spend it with Mary. Mary declines, saying she wants to be alone (giving Missy permission to go to a friend's house), and not do anything for her first holiday without her husband. Seeing that Georgie is hurting, Mandy is able to convince Connie and her boyfriend Dale to come to the McAllister house for the dinner. Missy also agrees after Mandy takes her to get a dolphin tattoo on her ankle. Mary still refuses. On the day, Mary decides to come after all, but gets emotional as hearing Audrey argue about Jim's drinking reminds Mary of her and George. Georgie has the idea to take Mary and Missy to have pie at George's grave. Mary discovers the tattoo. Back at the house, Connor plays the accordion and Dale his guitar.
6
"A Regular Samaritan"
Mark Cendrowski
Teleplay by : Steven Molaro & Nadiya Chettiar Story by : Chuck Lorre & Steve Holland
Georgie tows the car of successful real estate agent Valerie, who attributes her success to God wanting her to be prosperous. She invites Georgie to her church, and he decides to go, thinking that the congregation would be a good batch of new customers for the auto store. Mandy and the rest of the family are uninterested. Georgie cuts a deal with the church Reverend on repairing all the church vehicles; Jim is impressed by this and decides to give him a higher cut which angers Audrey. Georgie likes how welcoming the church is and decides to spend more time there which upsets Mandy. Audrey tells her that she needs to confront Georgie about this if it is bothering her. After a session of Bible study, Valerie kisses Georgie who immediately pulls away. This is seen by Mandy who punches Valerie and leaves with Georgie.
Title quotation from: Georgie downplaying helping Valerie with her car when he is called a good Samaritan.
7
"An Old Mustang"
Mark Cendrowski
Teleplay by : Steve Holland & Connor Kilpatrick Story by : Steven Molaro & Jim Reynolds
Jim has had an old Mustang convertible in the garage for years, so he and Georgie decide to start working on it to potentially sell it. Georgie also invites Connor to work on it with them but he declines. Georgie tells Mandy he sometimes wishes he tried to understand Sheldon better, and so insists that Connor join him and Jim on a road trip for a part for the car. With Connor in his own world of music, Jim admits to Georgie he is worried for Connor's future. Connor tells Georgie he feels Jim sees him as a failure for never having had a job, and that everything he does seems to make Jim angry, while Georgie says that he's just worried for him. Stopping for lunch, Georgie tells Jim of the time George took him and Sheldon to NASA for a rained out rocket launch. While there, Connor gets a job as a busboy to prove his father wrong. Georgie is able to get Connor to return with them, saying he has a feeling Connor will be alright in the future. Meanwhile, Mandy and Audrey try to turn Audrey's office into a nursery without arguing. Audrey admits she wants Cece to stay in school, unlike Georgie but she is also worried Mandy has given up on her dreams and is stuck; Audrey similarly gave up on her dreams to have a family. Returning home, Connor tells Audrey he is glad Georgie was there as Georgie is a kind person.
Production
Development
In January 2024, it was announced that a spin-off of Young Sheldon was in development at CBS.[13] In March 2024, it was announced that CBS had greenlit the Young Sheldon spin-off.[14]
The show focuses on the characters of young married parents Georgie Cooper (Montana Jordan) and Mandy McAllister (Emily Osment) "navigating the challenges of adulthood, parenting, and marriage."[14] It was also announced that co-creators Chuck Lorre, Steven Molaro, and Steve Holland, would be writing and executive producing the spin-off series.[14][13] In May 2024, the title of the series, Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage,[15] was announced, and in July 2024, it was announced that the series would premiere on October 17, 2024, on CBS.[1]
The series is executive produced by Chuck Lorre, Steven Molaro, and Steve Holland. Lorre's own Chuck Lorre Productions produces the series alongside Warner Bros. Television as with the other series in The Big Bang Theory franchise.[14] In October 2024, CBS gave the series a full-season order, making the total of 22 episodes.[16]
Casting
In March 2024, it was announced that Montana Jordan and Emily Osment were set to reprise their characters, George "Georgie" Cooper Jr. and Amanda "Mandy" McAllister, from Young Sheldon.[14] In May 2024, it was announced that Will Sasso and Rachel Bay Jones were added as series regulars, reprising their roles as Mandy's parents, Jim McAllister and Audrey McAllister, from Young Sheldon.[17]
In July 2024, it was announced that Zoe Perry, Annie Potts, and Raegan Revord were set to guest star in the series, reprising their respective characters, Mary Cooper, Constance "Connie" Tucker, and Melissa "Missy" Cooper, from Young Sheldon.[1] Also in July 2024, it was announced that Dougie Baldwin had been cast as Mandy's brother, Connor McAllister, and Jessie Prez had been cast as Ruben, an employee at Jim's tire store. Baldwin replaces Joseph Apollonio who was originally cast as Connor in Young Sheldon.[18] In September 2024, it was reported that Craig T. Nelson was set to guest star, reprising his role as Dale Ballard.[2] In November 2024, it was announced that Matt Hobby was set to guest star, reprising his role as Pastor Jeff Difford.[3] In December 2024, it was announced that Doc Farrow would be reprising his role as Coach Wilkins, George's best friend and coworker at Medford High School.[4]
The series premiered on October 17, 2024, on CBS.[1]
Reception
Critical response
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 88% approval rating with an average rating of 9/10, based on 8 critic reviews.[23]Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 61 out of 100 based on 8 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[24]
Ratings
Viewership and ratings per episode of Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage
