Surprise! Laurie Metcalf has joined the cast of Supergirl season 3

In the season of re-casting and casting parents, Supergirl’s latest addition is no stranger to playing the mother of a nerd: Welcome, Laurie Metcalf.

Laurie Metcalf, known for her Emmy-winning role on Roseanne and perhaps more recently for playing Sheldon Cooper’s conservative mother on The Big Bang Theory, has just joined the cast of Supergirl season 3 as Winn’s mother.

This season, which has been an incredible improvement over the second one, has seen its fair share of cast changes. From re-casting Alura Zor-El to adding Betty Buckley as Sam’s mom, and even introducing J’onn J’onzz’s father, the most recent addition comes as more of a surprise because … well, Winn doesn’t have a huge role in the series.

I mean, it’s not his fault. But when they do give him arcs, he’s usually put in terrifying, if not traumatic, situations. In the first season, we learned his father was the Toyman. Then, they gave him an alien love interest who was a little too aggressive with her feelings. And what’s worse, he took a part-time job as Guardian’s “Man in the Van” and got his butt kicked in one episode.

But Laurie Metcalf is nothing if not a lovable mother figure who can hopefully add some levity to Winn’s life. We won’t see her until next year in episode 15. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t include why she took the job: According to TVLine, it was “so her youngest child can meet her idol Melissa Benoist.”

This is always one of those actors vs. their characters arguments. But I think that really goes to show how Benoist’s portrayal of Supergirl resonates with all kinds of viewers. And this also adds to why it’s important for actors to put their best foot forward on and off the camera. I mean, that’s the job. Metcalf didn’t say, “to meet her idol, Supergirl.” She named Ms. Benoist. So I think that’s pretty incredible, and of course, I can’t wait to see Metcalf’s debut on the show.

Supergirl airs Mondays at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.