When we first met Montana Jordan‘s teenaged slacker Georgie Cooper in the 2017 pilot episode of The Big Bang Theory spin-off Young Sheldon, he was the antithesis of his genius brother Sheldon Cooper (Iain Armitage) — more interested in girls than in his future. But how times have changed. Georgie celebrated his 21st birthday on the March 12 episode of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, and the episode reflects his newly adult concerns.
Before hitting the big 2-1, Georgie had already become a husband to Mandy (Emily Osment), a father to baby CeeCee and the owner of McAllister Auto & Tire store. But his big day is almost overshadowed by Mandy’s recent decision to quit her job as a TV weather girl after facing backlash for suggesting on the air that God might be a woman. But Mandy now has regrets about her rash decision and takes her pity party to levels that try the usually patient Georgie.
Gold Derby spoke to Jordan about Georgie’s newfound maturity at a young age, and an upcoming appearance by Lance Barber, who returns (in an undisclosed way) as Georgie’s deceased father in an episode airing in late spring alongside other Sheldon cast members Zoe Perry, Raegan Revord, Doc Farrow and Rex Linn.
Gold Derby: Georgie’s lived quite a life already and he’s only just turning 21. Has he become wise beyond his years?
Montana Jordan: You’d think he’s about 56 or so by the way that he acts! It’s funny because the episode that we’re talking about is on Georgie’s 21st birthday, but for me playing this character, I feel like he’s been 18 for 10 years.
Georgie says he doesn’t want a fuss for his birthday but do you think if Mandy wasn’t going through so much that he might feel differently?
I don’t think Georgie wants a big fuss anyways; he’s a very selfless person. He’s always been that way. Even in his younger years, he was always focused on all his business endeavors that he was up to that year. I don’t think that he would really want to fuss either way.
There’s a scene where he finally blows up at Mandy, which I feel was a long time coming. He should get a little angrier than he typically does.
Ruben’s next! But Georgie has always been the one to just say, “Hey, look, just put it all on my back and I’ll carry it.” That’s just what it is. Yes, Mandy’s really put him in a tough position — not only in the family, but the business as well. But Georgie is more focused on finding a solution than making her pay for what she’s done.
Which is a really mature thing, because a lot of people wouldn’t be that way and Mandy is 12 years older than Georgie!
That’s what I’m saying. This episode really shows the difference in maturity levels between the two of them.
At one point, Mary mentions George Sr. and how she wishes he could be there to see Georgie turn 21. Just the mention of his name always lands with this weight, but how is it for you personally when those references come up?
It’s incredible, because just having a character that was so loved like George was, and for [the writers] to still find a way to keep his character around is great. I love Lance and I see him as a very big role model in my life. I’ve learned a lot from him over the years, so anytime that he comes on set, it’s always a good time. When we first started the show, Georgie would go to the cemetery and talk to his father and have those serious moments with him and that’s good for the audience. The audience loves to see it, and inside the show it’s good for Georgie to get those emotions out, because he holds them in a lot.
Will we see more at the cemetery or have we moved away from those moments?
I hope so; I think we’re gonna keep visiting it. Obviously, I don’t think they want to overdo it. They know the right time when they want to bring that back, but I love it anytime that we get to go over there and have those heartfelt scenes. It’s amazing.
Georgie surprisingly does not become jealous when Mandy calls Scott (Christopher Gorham), her ex and her boss at the TV station when she’s drunk at the bar. What do you think about him not getting jealous?
It really just depends on how many things you want to throw at the audience. I think the writers just wanted to dabble in it a little bit, but Georgie reacting the way that he did also allows them to sweep it under the rug and not make such a big deal about it.
Earlier in the season, we saw him and Ruben really butt heads, which was tough when his father-in law Jim (Will Sasso). Will Georgie’s ambition continue to get him in trouble in the future?
Absolutely. Georgie is a go getter, and he’s always going after something. That’s just how he is. It’s funny because when Jim was working the store, it was all pen and paper. But now that George is the owner, he’s starting to put in new technology like new computers. So Jim came back in and was like “What the hell is going on?” But that’s one thing about Georgie — he’s always going to find a way to make it work and to make it better.
What else do you think Georgie needs to learn moving forward?
From the outside looking in, you look at his life and are like, “Wow, they just have it all, don’t they? He’s got the beautiful wife, beautiful kids, a great job.” But people don’t see everything that goes into building a business and one thing down the line that Georgie is gonna have to realize is the work and home life balance. Right now, it’s kind of jumbled all in one, and I can speak to that from personal experience as well.
You’ve got your younger daughter at home (Emma Rae) and you’re working with the little girls who plays CeeCee. How has that been for you?
Man, it really is incredible. I’ve always been around kids and I’ve got a little one at home. Isabelle and Zariah [Booko] are the names of the babies who play CeeCee. Anytime that they get to come on set, it’s always a good time. I think they’re a little older than two so they’re at the age where they listen a little bit [during scenes]. Most of the time, you get through [the scenes] a little quicker but we all realize that they’re babies. So we take it literally minute by minute and see what mood they’re in and try to get the scene done.
You’re a busy guy but what do you watch on TV when you have some down time?
You had to ask! [laughs] I’ll tell you, I don’t watch anything, man. I don’t have any social media on my phone. I just try to live in the present especially now that I’ve got a little baby at the house. I try to give her all my undivided attention when I can, because I gotta provide for this family. I gotta work. But when I’m home, I don’t want to be anywhere else. What is on our TV is freaking Cocomelon!