TVSquad

On CBS's The Big Bang Theory, we've met Sheldon's mother. Emmy-winner Laurie Metcalf appeared in season one as a super-religious Texas mama who knows better than anyone how to get to Dr. Sheldon Cooper. Now, Leonard's mother is going to be introduced, and she's equally as accomplished as Ms. Metcalf.

Tony, Emmy and SAG award winning actress Christine Baranski will be Leonard's mom, Dr. Beverly Hofstadter. That's right, she's a brainiac.

Her specialty is research on the human brain, and according to Bill Prady, Big Bang's executive producer, "There's the possibility that Leonard is the least successful in his family, that his parents always pushed him toward academic success." Sounds like a funny set up to me.

Actually, what makes this casting even more interesting to me is that once more we see creator Chuck Lorre seeking out a star from his past sitcom successes. Laurie Metcalf, not to mention Sara Gilbert and Johnny Galecki, were all on Roseanne.

Christine Baranski was the scene-stealing sidekick to Cybill Shepherd on Cybill, and reportedly the reason Ms. Shepherd garnered so much gossip at the time for expressing her insecurities by insisting that she receive all the jokes. Whether that was true or not, Baranski was still the funniest lady in that sitcom.

So now that we've met Sheldon's mother and sister, and we've seen Koothrappali's parents on his laptop hookup, is there a chance that Howard's mother will appear on screen? Thus far, she's only be a voice off-camera. I'm thinking she's going to remain just a voice, kind of like Carlton the doorman on Rhoda.