A Dawson Creek woman’s crochet work has been shown on international television thanks to Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons and Conan O’Brien.
Jackie Laing, a Dawson Creek resident, sent a crochet doll of Jim Parsons in his character as Sheldon Cooper, the oddball star of the hit TV show.
Laing said that she sent the doll to Parsons as a way of expressing how much she enjoyed the Big Bang Theory.
“The Big Bang Theory is my favourite show and he’s my favourite character,” she said. “(I like) his quirkiness - just his character.”
The Big Bang Theory is a sitcom about four nerdy scientists, including Sheldon Cooper, a physicist employed at the California Institute of Technology. Parson’s character has quickly become a fan favourite of the television show, which has drawn in 15-17 million viewers a week this season , according to TV ratings company Nielsen.
Laing, who sent it to Parsons, was not sure that Parsons would receive the doll, as it was sent to CBS Los Angeles.
However, she was excited to receive an e-mail picture from Parsons later on that showed him holding the doll.
Parsons was not done with the doll, as he brought it along with a Christmas decoration when he appeared as a guest on Conan O’Brien’s talk show for the Dec. 5 episode.
“I think it’s the cutest thing in the world,” said Parsons while he was on the show. The doll, decked out in the Flash t-shirt and jeans that Parsons frequently wears as Cooper.
Parson also made mention of the creator, referring to her as “Jackie” from Canada.
“I was in shock,” she said. “I was really excited.” She was so overtaken that she cried when she first saw the doll on television.
Laing has been crocheting for three years, beginning to do it as a way to augment her scrapbooking hobby.
“(I enjoy) the design part, I love designing dolls.”
Laing said that this was not actually the first Sheldon doll she has attempted. The version Parsons received was actually a revision of an earlier design, and that she has attempted other versions of celebrity crochet dolls, including TV host Ellen DeGeneres.
People who she didn’t know have seen the doll and asked her if they would make some copies of the product that they could buy.
However, Laing said that she was too busy with other projects to help them with these requests. Instead, she has posted the designs online for anyone wishing to recreate their own Sheldon doll.
Laing said she is not done with creating these types of dolls. Her next step will be to create a doll resembling Howard Wolowitz, Simon Helberg’s character on The Big Bang Theory.
