Family get-togethers can often make for the most uncomfortable circumstances, which is why they have been a television staple since the beginning of time. Primetime, that is. The Big Bang Theory has really been building on the concept of family in recent seasons, both through big character changes (pregnancy and marriage) to introductions of previously unseen characters (Meemaw and Leonard's dad). And when Season 10 begins, we'll finally meet Penny's mother and brother, and here's our first look at the happy extended family all together.
Tell me this image doesn't make you want to immediately hear about CBS ordering up a Big Bang spinoff centering on Katey Sagal as Penny's mother Susan and Jack McBrayer as Penny's brother Randall. Especially if Keith Carradine would be around as her father Wyatt, who has appeared on the sitcom twice in the past. I don't even need to see what they get up to in the actual episode to know that this trio of TV vets would be perfect fronting a show together. Granted, Sagal is busier than ever right now, but I'm sure deals could be made.
While everybody is definitely smiling naturally enough in the image, don't let that fool you into thinking everyone seen here is in the best of places. There is major tension between Susan and Randall over him getting busted for selling drugs on occasion, and that's going to end up bleeding into Penny and Leonard's happy day. But hopefully in a way that still makes them endearing to TV audiences.
To that end, showrunner Steve Molaro isn't finished mining the material that Katey Sagal and Jack McBrayer can bring to Big Bang Theory. Here's how he put it to TVLine.
Now that they are officially members of the Big Bang family, we would love to have them come back so we can service them with more time and energy than we could in the premiere.
Those words are music to my ears. Getting Katey Sagal on a TV show is always a good idea, and Big Bang Theory has made the most out of its familial guest stars. Getting these guys together with Judd Hirsch, Laurie Metcalf, Dean Norris and Christine Baranski is almost going to create a massive overload for a half-hour episode. Will Penny be able to cope with all of it? And more importantly to Sheldon, will Sheldon be able to cope?
The Big Bang Theory will give us some family feuding (and even some jeopardy, if we're needlessly carrying on that game show thing) when it returns to CBS for Season 10 on Monday, September 19, at 8:00 p.m. ET. To see when all your other favorite shows will be back on your TVs, check out our fall premiere schedule.
