Will Sasso and Rachel Bay Jones talk Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage (Interview)

Will Sasso and Rachel Bay Jones both joined Young Sheldon in season 6, playing Mandy's parents Jim and Audrey McAllister, respectively. While they were guest stars on the comedy-drama, they have been upped to series regulars on the spin-off Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage! The new sitcom arrives Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024. (For our interview with leading lady Emily Osment, click here)

Hidden Remote had the opportunity to speak with both actors ahead of the premiere as they tease Audrey and Mandy's relationship, Georgie and Jim's relationship now that George Sr. has passed away (RIP), and what their most excited for fans to see. Read on below for the full interview!

HR: Can you talk about when you found out that the spin-off was happening and that producers wanted you to be a part of it?

Jones: I think we found out late last year. It was after the news about Young Sheldon [season 7] being the last season. It was a great time because we love Young Sheldon and we love that family. But it's been really great to know that we're all going to continue in this new format.

Sasso: It was just wonderful news. And as Rachel said, yeah, bittersweet. Being a part of Young Sheldon towards the end of that run was really an incredible experience.

HR: What is it about this new show and the characters that made you guys want to stay on and continue the story in a new way?

Sasso: There's so much going on with Montana [Jordan]. I feel like his character in the show is hitting this incredible stride - becoming a grown man and now literally jumping into adulthood. Not just with being married, but also the fact that Georgie and Mandy [have brought] a child into the world. It's great to see how Montana has grown and changed from Young Sheldon to where we are now in this new series with the addition, of course, of Emily Osment. Now seeing this whole thing in this family and the McAllister family take it to multi-cam, I think the audience is really going to love what Montana and Emily and Rachel, and hopefully me too, bring to this new medium but [its] familiar [in that it's a] familly show. Family sitcom. And it helps also that the show takes place in the '90s. So all the elements are there and we're really excited to get started.

Jones: We're really going to be able to get to know these people on a different level as well. We'll really get to know the relationship between Audrey and Jim, the relationship between Georgie and Mandy and her parents, and see how they all figure out how to live together. Which is no small feat for most families. So it'll be a lot of opportunity for laughter and relatability.

HR: Audrey and Mandy's relationship is funny and they don't always get along. Will we see them learn to communicate better on Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage?

Jones: God, I hope so. I think we're really going to figure it out. I have high hopes. I think you'll get to know what Audrey's problem is in some way. What's going on, what makes her tick? Is she a really protective mama bear? Why does she do the things that she does? And what is her relationship going to evolve into? I'm really excited to have everybody in on that. I'm really excited to see the Georgie and Jim relationship after Georgie's father passed. [See] that bond grow. I think that's going to be really sweet.

HR: Will, can you talk about where we see Georgie and Jim's in the spin-off series? Also because of The Big Bang Theory, we know that Georgie eventually establishes his own successful tire business. So many of us theorize it's all thanks to Jim for that. Can you talk about their relationship and whether our theory is true?

Sasso: It seems that way because Jim and Audrey have their business, McAllister Tire. And from the first episode that we see Georgie meet the McAllister's, there's immediately an interest in tires from Georgie. He has a line at the end of the first scene. Here's this kid walking in saying, I knocked up your daughter. And as he leaves, he's saying, who came up with steel belted radials? And Jim says, oh that was Michelin. And it's a sweet little moment. And I think a bit of foreshadowing. As far as their relationship goes, one of the things that I really dig about Jim and George Sr. is [that they] really hit it off right away and became friends on [Young Sheldon]. And it puts inside of Jim a unique understanding of Georgie's father. For that reason, [Jim] looks at Georgie not only as his son-in-law. But there's a bit of a father, son thing there. I'm really looking forward to seeing where that goes.

HR: What are you most excited for fans to see in the spin-off?

Sasso: I'm really stoked for the audience of Young Sheldon, and hopefully going all the way [back] to The Big Bang Theory, to see this world in a multi-camera setting. I think it's such a unique thing. And it's really exciting to see how the comedy will translate from Young Sheldon to Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage in that it's now a multi-cam.

Jones: We've watched so many people grow up with Young Sheldon, like grow up with Big Bang. And I'm super excited for everybody to kind of continue that growth through this new family. We've lived in this universe and in Medford, Texas for a long time. And to have generations of families get to enjoy this and watch it together is really exciting for me. I can't wait to see what happens.

Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage premieres Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Stream the next day on Paramount+.