Connor (Dougie Baldwin) has mostly been a background character in the Young Sheldon spin-off, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. Towards the end of Season 1, and even more so in Season 2, he takes a more prominent role in subplots centered on him. In the latest episode of the sitcom, Season 2, Episode 6, “Heartbreak and the Refuge of the Downtrodden,” he’s dealing with a bad break-up and finally decides to take control of his life. But one move he makes points to a potential Sheldon (Iain Armitage) cameo, possibly delivering an appearance fans have been waiting to see since the show started.
Connor’s Song Could Bring Him to Pasadena
In the episode, Connor is moping about his break-up with Chloe (Kara Arena) following a pregnancy scare. He’s mostly upset that she doubted he would be a suitable father, which is why she ended the relationship even after discovering she wasn’t pregnant. Connor decides that it’s time to shape up and prove that he can make something of his life.
His passion has always been music, so he channels all his emotions into a song called “Axolotl Salamander,” inspired by the aquatic creature capable of regenerating its own heart. It has distinct ’80s synth vibes, an eccentric tune that his family isn’t so sure will appeal to anyone. But he knows precisely who might like it. He sends the tape to Dr. Demento, a popular radio DJ at the time the series takes place in the mid-1990s. This is an important detail that suggests Sheldon could make an appearance for a very specific reason.
Dr. Demento is a real-life disc jockey who rose to prominence in the ’90s and continued working until his retirement in October 2025. Real name Barry Hansen, he is often credited with helping raise Weird Al Yankovic’s career profile. Fans may recall that Rainn Wilson played him in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. But most importantly, Hansen was originally based in Pasadena, where his show aired on KPPC. He later moved to KMET in Los Angeles, then KLSX in the same city, and finally KSCA in Glendale. The Pasadena connection seems far too sweet to pass up, especially since the scene showing Connor mailing the tape clearly indicates a Pasadena address.
Why does this mean Sheldon could show up? Sheldon, as fans know, went off to study at Caltech, which is based in Pasadena. He continued to live there throughout his adult life, depicted in The Big Bang Theory, where the character is played by Jim Parsons. After graduating from Caltech, Sheldon took a position at the university. So, after he left home in Texas, he has been in Pasadena ever since. And most importantly, he’s in Pasadena when this storyline takes place.
Connor may end up going there because at the end of the episode, there’s a cameo from Dr. Demento, the real Hansen, only seen from the back in his signature wild attire. He’s in his studio opening the package from Connor. He plays the tape, bops his head, then says he likes it. It can be inferred that he will reach out to Connor at some point and potentially ask to meet to learn more about his music. If Connor heads out to Pasadena, it stands to reason that he might stay with Sheldon or at least visit him. Ideally, Georgie (Montana Jordan) would accompany him to see his younger brother.
Why I Think Sheldon Will Show up in ‘Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’
There’s no official confirmation that Armitage will appear in a cameo in a later episode, but it would make total sense. We know from The Big Bang Theory that Sheldon didn’t visit home much after going to university. In an episode of that series, older Sheldon, played by Jerry O’Connell, pours his heart out to Sheldon about how he abandoned the family and left Georgie to be the one to take care of their mother, Mary (Zoe Perry), and his twin sister, Missy (Raegen Revord), in the wake of their father’s death. But there are times Georgie would see his brother again between the ’90s and present day.
Seeing Sheldon could be important for Georgie’s journey and, by extension, the story arc of this series. It has become evident that Georgie has been far more sympathetic to Connor than he ever was to his own brother. He makes an effort to boost Connor’s confidence about his insecurities and quirks and compliments him, while he constantly pokes fun at Sheldon. This is something even Georgie recognizes when, in a Season 1 episode, he tells Mandy he regrets not being more understanding of Sheldon and growing closer to him. Perhaps Georgie does make an effort to be kinder to his brother that Sheldon never notices.
There’s no mention of Armitage appearing on the show noted on his IMDb page. He does have some upcoming projects that could keep him busy, including the next season of Big Little Lies and The Adam Trials, which is now in pre-production. But more hints point to a trip to Pasadena. Episode 7, which won’t be released until December 4, is called “A Bus Bench and Faith out the Wazoo.” This could reference Connor taking a bus out to Pasadena for a big meeting with Dr. Demento and a possible encounter with his brother-in-law’s younger brother.
What This Could Mean for Connor’s Career and Confidence
Beyond the potential cameo, this could mean big things for Connor’s career, suggesting he might finally move out of the house and start making some meaningful income on his own. Connor has been the most misunderstood character on the show, so getting this storyline is a welcome addition. Since Dr. Demento was known for making stars out of oddball people like Weird Al by promoting their music, Connor could end up getting a fruitful job as a musician. He could even become more popular than Mandy, leading to another potential sibling rivalry storyline.
Along with Yankovic, Hansen also helped other bands and artists gain exposure, including Barnes & Barnes, Dr. Elmo, who wrote the quirky Christmas tune “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” “Weird” Paul Petroskey, who is now a Twitch streamer and YouTube personality, Spike Jones, and others. He was a vehicle for the eccentrics, so his appeal to Connor makes sense, as does his presence on the ’90s-set show. Dr. Demento is precisely the type of DJ who would fit right into Connor’s wheelhouse.
Of course, if Hansen were to make a cameo showing his face, he’d have to play someone else, since the famous DJ is now 84, while someone else plays him in the ’90s. But what fans really hope from this storyline is that Cooper at least runs into Sheldon, and the two awkward brothers of Georgie come face to face for the first time in a long time (and the first time since Baldwin has been playing the character).
Will Sheldon open his dorm to a cash-strapped Connor? Could this signal the cameo fans have been anticipating for over a season? If Dr. Demento acts on his appreciation for Connor’s work and Connor is finally ready to take his music to the next level, it might very well be. Stream Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage on Paramount+.
- Release Date
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October 17, 2024
- Network
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CBS
- Directors
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Mark Cendrowski
- Writers
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Chuck Lorre, Steven Molaro, Steve Holland, Jim Reynolds, Rachel Intrieri
- Franchise(s)
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The Big Bang Theory
