Young Sheldon's Annie Potts Is Unrecognizable in an Early Role

Summary

• Annie Potts' Meemaw is the ultimate fan favorite on Young Sheldon.
• The actress portrayed one of the most memorable characters in the Ghostbusters franchise.
• Potts will reprise her iconic role in the upcoming Ghostbusters movie.

Although Young Sheldon is named after the most eccentric and controversial character on CBS' hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory, he is hardly the focus of the show. Sheldon's grandmother Connie, whom he affectionately calls Meemaw, is by far the most beloved character.

Meemaw is funny, caring, and feisty. But most of all, she's determined and extremely charismatic, which is why the audience adores her. And of course, it's Annie Potts' performance that makes the character so popular with viewers. However, you wouldn't recognize the actress in one of her most famous early roles, which was completely different from Connie.

The One and Only Janine Melnitz

It's been almost forty years since Ghostbusters premiered, but it's still one of the most popular franchises in the world. Starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, and written by the latter two, the supernatural comedy debuted in 1984 and has continued through several installments since, telling the story of a group of parapsychologists who make it their life's work to catch malevolent ghosts that haunt our world.

While Young Sheldon's Annie Potts played a supporting role, Janine Melnitz was one of the main characters in the two original installments of Ghostbusters. As the receptionist for the Ghostbusters, Potts' Janine dealt with clients on the phone, managed the business, and ran errands for the group.

Seemingly dull, Janine was one of the brightest characters in Ghostbusters, dazzling audiences with her impeccable style. In fact, Melnitz was always dressed like a fashion magazine model. The accessories she wore were bold, and her short hair added sass to the overall look. As for her personality, Janine's confrontational attitude and sharp tongue made her instantly popular with viewers – and in that, the character was very reminiscent of Young Sheldon's Connie.

Annie Potts within the Ghostbusters Franchise

In the second movie, released in 1989, the actress reprised her role as the sassy receptionist whose new image was even more stunning than before. Janine's new bob haircut gave her an even bolder look. And in her more daring clothes, such as the leopard fur coat, she couldn't look more different from YS's Meemaw.

Annie Potts made a brief cameo appearance in the 2016 remake of Ghostbusters, where she played a hotel clerk. More excitingly, the actress reprised her iconic role in the 2021 sequel to the original duology, where she assisted the new generation of ghostbusters.

This year, Potts will return to her character once again in the upcoming Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, which will take the new team to New York, where it all began.

We'll get to see Annie Potts' Janine again when the movie premieres on March 22.