Why The Big Bang Theory Recast Amy’s Mother
screenrant.comCBS quietly recast Amy Farrah Fowler's (Mayim Bialik) mother in The Big Bang Theory but never explained the change. The Blossom actress made her return to acting in the CBS geek sitcom after several years of taking a break. What was supposed to be a guest appearance quickly became a regular gig as Amy became Sheldon's (Jim Parsons) romantic interest. As she transitioned to be a bigger part of the sitcom, The Big Bang Theory also established her background, including her familiar ties.
Given everything else happening with the rest of the Pasadena gang, The Big Bang Theory developed Sheldon and Amy's romance gradually. This worked since both were uncertain about how to tackle their growing attraction toward each other. They eventually started dating in season 4, and part of that was Amy introducing Sheldon to her mother via a video call. At that point, Mrs. Fowler was played by Annie O'Donnell, by the time Sheldon and Amy got married in The Big Bang Theory season 11, she was replaced by Kathy Bates.
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CBS didn't make a big deal out of the recast, but The Big Bang Theory showrunner Steven Holland explained the reasoning behind it (via TVLine). As it turns out, when the show initially introduced Mrs. Fowler, Sheldon’s wife was still a newbie in the series, with limited involvement. After eight years, she had become a main cast member and an important player in the narrative, which meant that there was a chance to put more focus on Amy’s individual story on The Big Bang Theory. The sitcom wanted to bring in someone who can play Mrs. Fowler repeatedly if the narrative called for it and series creator Chuck Lorre already had an existing
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