Deborah Chan
In The Big Bang Theory season 11 finale, Sheldon Cooper's wedding to Amy sees the whole Cooper clan travel to Pasadena, except for Sheldon's beloved grandmother, Meemaw. Showrunner Steve Holland explains that the episode had so many characters that it was difficult to service all of them without sacrificing the story. A short scene was filmed, featuring a phone call from Meemaw, explaining her absence due to old age, but it was cut for time. Holland believes the deleted scene will be shared with fans after the episode airs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meemaw's presence at Sheldon's wedding | Absent |
| Reason for absence | Episode already had many characters and a phone call scene with Meemaw was cut for time |
| Phone call scene | Voiced by Annie Potts, posted online as bonus content |
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What You'll Learn
Meemaw's absence from Sheldon's wedding
Meemaw, Sheldon's beloved grandmother, was notably absent from his wedding to Amy in The Big Bang Theory season 11 finale. This absence was odd given Meemaw's importance to Sheldon, and fans were left wondering why she didn't attend or get mentioned during the ceremony.
Showrunner Steve Holland explained that the decision to exclude Meemaw was due to the large number of characters already in the episode. With so many people attending the wedding, the creative team had to pick and choose who would be there to ensure the story remained the main focus. Including Meemaw would have taken time away from the wedding, which fans had been eagerly anticipating.
Additionally, there were concerns about confusing viewers with two versions of the character. Young Sheldon, featuring Annie Potts as Meemaw, was airing immediately following The Big Bang Theory. The Meemaw in The Big Bang Theory was portrayed by June Squibb, and having the two different versions of the character appear back-to-back could have been jarring for audiences.
To address Meemaw's absence, a short scene was filmed showing a phone call from Meemaw explaining that, at 93, she was too frail to travel. However, this scene was ultimately cut from the final episode due to time constraints. The scene will reportedly be included in bonus content posted online after the episode airs.
While Meemaw's absence from Sheldon's wedding may have been a disappointment to some fans, the creative team had to make difficult choices to ensure the episode was well-crafted and stayed true to the story.
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A phone call from Meemaw was cut
Meemaw, Sheldon Cooper's beloved grandmother, was noticeably absent from his wedding to Amy in The Big Bang Theory season 11 finale, "The Bow Tie Asymmetry". The episode featured Sheldon's whole family, including his mother Mary, brother Georgie, and sister Missy, but Meemaw was nowhere to be seen or even mentioned.
A phone call scene was originally written and filmed, featuring Annie Potts as the voice of Meemaw, explaining that at 93, she was too frail to travel. However, this scene was ultimately cut from the episode due to time constraints. Showrunner Steve Holland explained that the episode already had a large number of characters, and including Meemaw would have meant sacrificing the story.
The decision to exclude Meemaw was a challenging one, as it left a gap in the narrative and raised questions among fans. It was a difficult scene to cut, especially since it was a sweet moment. The creative team behind The Big Bang Theory understood that viewers would wonder about Meemaw's absence and planned to release bonus content, including the deleted phone call scene, online after the episode aired.
The phone call scene provided closure and context for Meemaw's absence, addressing the issue directly. It also added a layer of emotion and depth to the celebration, showcasing the importance of family and the challenges of aging. Despite the scene's initial exclusion, fans were eventually able to access it and gain a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamics within Sheldon's family.
While the episode's focus on the wedding and the need to manage screen time for various characters contributed to the scene's initial exclusion, the subsequent release of the deleted scene allowed for a more holistic exploration of Sheldon's family relationships and provided a heartwarming glimpse into Meemaw's love and support for her grandson, even from a distance.
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The episode had too many characters
The Big Bang Theory's showrunner Steve Holland explained that the episode already had too many characters, so they had to "pick and choose" who would be at the wedding. In an interview with Deadline, Holland said:
> We had so many characters [in this finale,] so we kind of had to pick and choose who could be at the wedding and who would have something else to do.
The episode, titled "The Bow Tie Asymmetry", was an expensive one, with wedding sets to build, and it was already too long. The creative team had to make cuts to produce the best episode they could, and a 30-second phone call from Meemaw explaining her absence would have taken time away from the wedding, which fans had been waiting to see for a long time.
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The scene was too short to include
The Big Bang Theory's showrunner Steve Holland explained that the scene with Meemaw was cut for several reasons. The episode already had a lot of characters, and including Meemaw would have meant less screen time for the wedding. Holland said:
> We had so many characters [in this finale,] so we kind of had to pick and choose who could be at the wedding and who would have something else to do.
The scene in question was a 30-second phone call from Meemaw, explaining that she was unable to attend Sheldon's wedding as she was too frail to travel. While it was a difficult decision, the creative team ultimately decided that including the phone call would have taken time away from the wedding, which fans had been eagerly anticipating.
The scene was recorded and voiced by Annie Potts, who played the younger Meemaw on Young Sheldon. It was later released online as bonus content, along with other deleted scenes.
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Two versions of Meemaw
Meemaw, the beloved grandmother of Sheldon Cooper, was noticeably absent from his wedding to Amy in The Big Bang Theory. This absence was odd given Meemaw's importance to Sheldon, and her presence at other family events, such as a wedding she attended with Dale and June.
There are two versions of Meemaw in the show's universe: one played by Annie Potts in Young Sheldon, and the other by June Squibb in The Big Bang Theory. The difference in the portrayals of the character was one of the reasons for her absence from Sheldon's wedding. Showrunner Steve Holland explained that with so many characters in the finale, they had to "pick and choose" who would be at the wedding. A scene was written and filmed of Meemaw calling Sheldon to explain that, at 93, she was too frail to travel, but it was ultimately cut for time. Holland believed that including this scene would have taken time away from the wedding, which fans had been eagerly anticipating.
The decision to exclude Meemaw was a difficult one, and Holland acknowledged that people would wonder about her absence. He stated that the creative team did not want to confuse viewers with two versions of the character, especially since Young Sheldon aired immediately after The Big Bang Theory. Holland also revealed that CBS planned to release bonus content online, including Meemaw's phone call, which would give fans the chance to see the deleted scene.
While the decision to exclude Meemaw from the wedding was a practical one, it is understandable that fans found her absence jarring, given her significance to Sheldon. The two versions of Meemaw highlight the challenges of portraying characters across different stages of their lives in a way that satisfies viewers' expectations.
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Frequently asked questions
Meemaw was not at Sheldon's wedding because the episode already had a lot of characters and including her would have taken time away from the wedding. However, a short scene was filmed showing a phone call from Meemaw explaining that she couldn't make it to the wedding because she was too frail to travel.
No, the scene with Meemaw's phone call was cut from the episode because it was too long.
The scene with Meemaw's phone call was posted online as bonus content after the episode aired.
