Designing Women Reboot? If so, Annie Potts Wants In

PaleyFest's Young Sheldon panelists:
(back, l-r) creators Chuck Lorre and
Steve Molaro, moderator Jessica Radloff,
stars Montana Jordan, Annie Potts,
Zoe Perry, Lance Barber and
Jim Parsons, and (front)
Iain Armitage and Raegan Revord
March 21, 2018, The Dolby Theater, Hollywood
Photo by Michael Bulbenko for the Paley Center

Last night at Hollywood's Dolby Theater, the 35th Annual PaleyFest presented two related panels, featuring the creators and stars of both the 11th season sitcom megahit The Big Bang Theory, and its freshman prequel Young Sheldon, which in its debut season ranks as the top new show on TV.

As Young Sheldon stars Iain Armitage, Raegan Revord, Montana Jordan, Zoe Perry, Lance Barber and Jim Parsons also walked the blue carpet prior to the panel (expertly hosted by Glamour's Jessica Radloff), I was most excited to talk with Annie Potts, who of course had already portrayed one of the protypical Southern women on TV on the '80s-'90s CBS sitcom Designing Women, and now was playing a slightly older model as Memaw on Young Sheldon.

Ironically, Young Sheldon is set in the late '80s, when Designing Women was one of the sitcoms ruling CBS' airwaves.  During the panel, the cast was even asked if Raegan's character Missy, always parked in front of the TV, might end up watching Designing Women, but the show's creators, Steve Molaro and Chuck Lorre, and particularly Annie, think that might be too bizarre.

But clearly, with the return of Will & Grace and the impending returns of Roseanne and CBS' own Murphy Brown, the idea of somehow rebooting Designing Women is in the air.  In fact, when I asked Annie if she had any interest in a Designing Women reboot, she noted that someone earlier on the carpet had already asked the same thing. 

So, would Annie like to juggle her current role as Memaw with a reprise of her beloved Mary Jo Shively?  "Yes, I would," the actress immediately answered.  "I'd love to!  I don't know when I'd do it, but if Linda Bloodworth[-Thomason] wanted to write six episodes or something, that could be done during a hiatus period, yeah, I'd do that!  Because I think it's important. Those were strong characters, and we got to say stuff that women haven't been able to say since. I mean, we took on Donald Trump long ago!  We were speaking truth to power."

Young Sheldon to get at least one year older

It's no surprise that CBS would renew Young Sheldon, its top new comedy, and -- at last -- a show which excels in holding on to its huge lead-in audience delivered by its thematic cousin, The Big Bang Theory.

Still, it's great to get the good news this early -- often, CBS makes even obvious hit shows wait until closer to its May upfront presentation to hear the official good news -- that my favorite new broadcast show of the 2017-18 will continue into 2019 and beyond.

Below, CBS' official announcement.

Jan. 6, 2018

CBS PICKS UP THE #1 NEW COMEDY “YOUNG SHELDON”

FOR 2018-2019 BROADCAST SEASON

Most-Watched New Comedy on Any Network in 18 Years

CBS announced today that the hit freshman comedy YOUNG SHELDON is the Network’s first renewal for the 2018-2019 broadcast season.

“YOUNG SHELDON has made a huge impact on our schedule in the short time it’s been on the air,” said Kelly Kahl, President, CBS Entertainment. “While the show’s DNA is clearly rooted in THE BIG BANG THEORY, YOUNG SHELDON has staked out its own place in the TV universe with a unique creative tone, brilliant writing and a gifted multi-generational cast. We can’t wait to see Chuck, Steve, Jim and Todd’s vision for how the Cooper family deals with Sheldon growing a year older…and smarter.”

YOUNG SHELDON is the #1 new comedy in viewers (16.17m), adults 18-49 (3.3) and adults 25-54 (4.9), and is the #2 comedy in all of television (behind only THE BIG BANG THEORY). It has the best retention for any show ever out of THE BIG BANG THEORY and has the best delivery of any new comedy on any network since the 1999-2000 television season.

The half-hour, single-camera comedy series, which stars Iain Armitage, Zoe Perry, Lance Barber, Annie Potts, Raegan Revord, Montana Jordan and the voice of Jim Parsons, follows THE BIG BANG THEORY’S Sheldon Cooper (Armitage) at the age of 9, living with his family in east Texas and going to high school.

Chuck Lorre, Steven Molaro, Jim Parsons and Todd Spiewak serve as executive producers. YOUNG SHELDON is produced by Chuck Lorre Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.

* * *

What's Sheldon's Deal?

Last season on Big Bang Theory, Penny (Kaley Cuoco) famously asked the guys, "What's Sheldon's deal?" Is the brilliant physicist Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), she wanted to know, into men? women? sock puppets?

Today, a hint of an answer from the series' executive producer Chuck Lorre, at the Television Critics Association conference in Pasadena. Lorre's thoughts:

Part of his character, which I think is wonderful and unique, is that he has chosen not to play in the relationship game. Either way, heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, any sexuality, he has said, "This is not for me. I'm a scientist. All I'm interested in is science and what George Lucas does." I think it's terrific that we've stumbled into creating a character who has chosen a lifestyle for himself that's unique. And I don't see any reason to modify it.

Ah, so that's it. Definitely sock puppets. George Lucas sock puppets.

Watch for Watch!, the September/October issue

Any day now, you subscribers to CBS Watch! should be getting your September/October issue -- with a new twist. This issue features 7 different collectible covers, featuring each of the five stars of the red-hot Big Bang Theory and two with group shots from our day at New York's glam Hotel Pierre.

Me, I just got a whole box of copies today, featuring Mr. Howard Wolowitz himself, Simon Helberg. Inside, check out the interview with Helberg, Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco and Kunal Nayyar, and the gorgeous photos expertly styled by our own Angelique O'Neil and shot by the amazing Mark Mann.

Also, more from yours truly: a tribute to the legendary Bea Arthur, Amazing Race host Phil Keoghan talks about his cross-country bike race to raise money for MS research, and a preview of each of CBS' four new fall series: Accidentally On Purpose, The Good Wife, Three Rivers and NCIS: Los Angeles. On the last page, there's also a job "application" which purports to tell you how to break into the business as a wardrobe supervisor.

If you're not already subscribed to CBS Watch!, the issue should also be arriving on newsstands right about... now! And for the future, to subscribe -- for free! -- just visit our web site, www.cbswatchmagazine.com.

It's the best entertainment that meets the eye. (That's the slogan I pitched, anyway. They didn't go for it. :)

Dressing Up the Big Bang

As Michael Ausiello reported yesterday in his blog at EW.com, last week, we at CBS' Watch magazine staged an incredible photo shoot starring the cast of the red-hot sitcom The Big Bang Theory at New York's Pierre hotel.

Check out this sneak peek at some decidedly non-geek chic. Catch the accompanying story (once I write it!) in the September issue of Watch, available as a free subscription here.