‘Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’ Producer on Moving On From ‘Young Sheldon,’ the Shift to Multi-Cam and Its Opening Credits Dance

As a lover of sitcoms and their intricate narratives, I must say that the new CBS series “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” has caught my attention in a unique way. The show’s producers have cleverly addressed the change in production style from its predecessor, “Young Sheldon,” by creating a dance sequence for the title credits that is as unusual as the relationship between Georgie and Mandy.


As a movie reviewer, I’ve got to say, the creative minds behind CBS’s latest spinoff of “Young Sheldon,” titled “Georgie and Mandy’s First Marriage,” knew they had to tackle the comedy behemoth in the room head-on from the get-go. Unlike its predecessor, which was a single-camera half-hour show, this new series, “Georgie and Mandy,” is a multi-camera sitcom filmed before a live studio audience, a departure that adds a unique flavor to their comedic storytelling.

Indeed, “The Big Bang Theory,” which gave rise to “Young Sheldon,” was filmed using the same method. The rapid switch from multi-camera to single-camera and back to multi-camera, as seen in “Big Bang,” then “Sheldon,” and now “Georgie & Mandy,” might be unique in television history. This is why the series subtly references this change right from the beginning of its premiere episode, with Georgie (Montana Jordan) making a nod to it.

In the TV show “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage,” premiering this Thursday on CBS, the story is set around 1995. To reflect this time period, the opening scene features the characters watching the sitcom “Frasier.” Georgie refers to it as a “laugh-track show” and draws a comparison with the popular single-camera series of that era, “The Wonder Years.” He notes that while you can hear laughter from the audience in shows like “Frasier,” it’s absent in shows like “The Wonder Years.” So, he muses, “Was ‘The Wonder Years’ funny?” He questions, “We may never know.

The discussion about what constitutes comedy, particularly regarding the series “The Bear” and its Emmy category contention, has become quite contentious lately. However, Steve Holland, the executive producer, clarified to EbMaster that Georgie’s comments were essentially a means for the new show to highlight its shift in production style from “Sheldon” to “Georgie & Mandy.

Holland stated that moving from single-camera to multi-camera setup was partially done to give the show its unique touch. However, they were also aware that this change would draw attention and discussion. So, they decided to address it directly, acknowledging their choice, explaining the switch, and essentially saying, “We’re aware of what we’re doing. We know there’s a change. This is a different kind of show.” In other words, they chose to be transparent about the shift in production style.

Viewers may not find the new appearance surprising, since many aspects of “Georgie & Mandy” maintain the same ambiance and aesthetic as “Young Sheldon,” keeping its overall mood and color scheme intact.

In an effort to preserve the essence of ‘Young Sheldon’ and not make a drastic change, Holland explained, “We aimed to maintain the same tone, ensuring continuity with the original show’s world.” Additionally, transitioning into a multi-camera setup was necessary, but we chose not to adopt the conventional, overly bright and heavily laughter-inducing style associated with some multi-cam shows. For ‘Young Sheldon’ fans, the multi-camera aspect should blend seamlessly into the background, making it feel as if you’re revisiting that familiar world once more.

Backstage, Holland admitted that adapting to compose sequences set on less stages, with a live audience, required some modification.

Hollard mentioned that the format for storytelling shifts slightly, but as they delved deeper, they found it didn’t necessitate a comedic multi-camera setup. Instead, the tone resembled their work on ‘Sheldon,’ and writing scenes felt similar. The main difference lies in the fact that it’s more like theater, with scenes playing out for longer durations than they would on ‘Young Sheldon.’

“Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” chronicles the life of Georgie, who starts off as a young father with the more mature Mandy (Emily Osment). This story unfolds post the conclusion of “Young Sheldon,” which saw the demise of George Sr. and Sheldon transitioning to college. With Medford, Texas serving as their backdrop, Georgie and Mandy get married and move in with her family, including her parents (Rachel Bay Jones and Will Sasso) and brother (Dougie Baldwin). They raise their newborn there while Georgie takes a job at his father-in-law’s garage. However, one of his colleagues, Ruben (Jessie Prez), isn’t particularly pleased with this arrangement.

One aspect that made the show captivating was the unique nature of their relationship,” Holland noted. “There’s an age difference and they hail from disparate backgrounds. Their union seems almost fate-driven, yet accidental. Despite the abundance of love between them, their journey won’t be a smooth one.

And that’s where the opening credits come in. The title sequence features Jordan and Osment doing a tango, choreographed by “Dancing With the Stars” alums  Jonathan & Oksana Platero.

The concept originated from executive producer Steve Molaro. He explained, “It was unexpected and unconventional. It perfectly captured the essence of our show in a unique, intriguing manner.” So, we invited choreographers who had experience with ‘Dancing with the Stars’ and were accustomed to working with non-dancers. They only had about four days of practice to master the dance routine. And they truly excelled, leaving us impressed.

As a film enthusiast, I truly felt it was fitting to portray their connection in such a way. It’s brimming with passion, but also has that intriguing push-pull dynamic and an undeniable energy. Their relationship mirrors the challenges and complexities that most relationships face, compounded by additional hurdles that make it even more challenging.

In the fresh new series, fans of “Young Sheldon” might find a comfortable familiarity right away. The character of “Sheldon” is often referenced, and by the end of the very first episode, both Georgie’s mother Mary (played by Zoe Perry) and his grandmother, or meemaw (Annie Potts), make an appearance.

We’re aiming to strike a balance, respecting the original elements for long-time fans while making it accessible for new viewers. However, our main focus is to create a unique show with ample space for fresh characters to develop. Lucky for us, we have an amazing cast at our disposal, including Zoe Perry and Annie Potts. It’s been thrilling to incorporate them. Plus, their presence maintains continuity, as these characters are still part of the family in Georgie’s world. Our goal is to use these characters in ways that benefit this new show.

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2024-10-18 03:17