Emily Osment says she requested an intimacy coordinator on “Young Sheldon” because she wasn’t comfortable filming romantic scenes with her younger partner, Montana Jordan.
His story appears in Jessica Radloff’s new book, “Young Sheldon: The (Juicier-Than-Meemaw’s-Brisket) Inside Story of the Hit Comedy,” published Oct. 20 by Grand Central Publishing.
Osment joined the CBS comedy during its fifth season as Mandy McAllister, the love interest of Jordan’s Georgie Cooper. Its first episode aired in January 2022.
Their follow-up comedy, “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage,” began its third season on October 8, 2026, according to CBS.
Osment wanted Jordan to know he could ask for help
Osment recalled that Jordan was 18 during their first romantic scenes. In excerpts published by TheWrap, she described him as gentle and concerned that he could quietly tolerate discomfort.
She wasn’t sure he knew he could request an intimacy coordinator himself. She wanted him to have that option and, as she put it, to “make him feel comfortable.”
The director and screenwriters recognize what they overlooked
Director Alex Reid admitted the production had “totally dropped the ball”. As the sitcom did not feature sex scenes, the team did not anticipate needing a kissing coordinator.
Reid remembers taking a photo between takes of Osment and Jordan sitting in a car and facing away from each other. He associated the embarrassment with having to kiss a scene partner they had recently met.
Osment said she used to film romantic moments with actors she barely knew.
Writer Connor Kilpatrick identified another flawed assumption in excerpts reported by Us Weekly. Jordan had previously filmed similar scenes with Isabel May, who played Veronica Duncan, and Osment was an experienced actress. Production had assumed the experience meant additional help was not needed.
Co-creator Steve Molaro supported Osment’s right to request a coordinator. He also recalled that she eventually felt comfortable filming without it.
Georgie and Mandy’s romance also raised questions on CBS
Georgie was 17 and Mandy was 29 when the fictional characters met, although he claimed to be 21 and she said she was 25. The truth came out and Mandy discovered she was pregnant.
In the book, co-creator Chuck Lorre acknowledged CBS’ concerns about the storyline, according to Entertainment Weekly. Showrunner Steve Holland said the writers were unsure how audiences would react and debated how to present the relationship.
Mandy’s age had also been discussed before the writers decided on it. Osment recalled possibilities ranging from 27 to 35.
Jordan and Osment continued their partnership as a spin-off
Jordan told Radloff that he didn’t think much about the age difference at first. He acknowledged that viewers were always asking how the relationship would be viewed if the genders were reversed.
Her mother initially had reservations about the storyline, although those concerns have lessened. Jordan credited the chemistry he and Osment developed as they continued to work together.
After “Young Sheldon” ended in May 2024, the actors returned with the same characters. Their spinoff premiered in October, following the couple as they married and raised their daughter, Cece.
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