Big Bang Theory to End With Season 12, Producers Promise ‘Epic’ Series Finale
It all ended with a big bang, too: The Big Bang Theory will conclude its decade-plus run following the completion of its forthcoming 12th season, CBS announced Wednesday.
In a joint statement, Warner Bros. Television, CBS and Chuck Lorre Productions said, “We are forever grateful to our fans for their support of The Big Bang Theory during the past twelve seasons. We, along with the cast, writers and crew, are extremely appreciative of the show’s success and aim to deliver a final season, and series finale, that will bring The Big Bang Theory to an epic creative close.”
Pondering the hitcom’s fate back in January, Johnny Galecki said, “The only manner in which the cast has discussed wrapping [The Big Bang Theory] has been that we’re all going to be very sad when that day comes. But I think at this point everyone’s very comfortable with 12 seasons being a good time to go home and see our families.” [pmc_inline_gallery]
The final season of The Big Bang Theory will bow Monday, September 24 (8/7c) before moving to its regular time period on Thursday, September 27 (8/7c).
The series, which debuted in 2007, has received 52 Emmy nominations and 10 wins to date. When it airs its final episode in May 2019, Big Bang will end as the longest-running multi-camera series in television history, with a record-breaking 279 episodes.
“The Big Bang Theory has been the defining comedy of its generation,” said Kelly Kahl, President, CBS Entertainment. “All of us at the Network take exceptional pride in this series that uniquely combines creative genius, commercial ratings success, cultural influence and characters who became so popular, they are easily known by just one name. We’re incredibly grateful for our partnership with Warner Bros., Chuck Lorre Productions and a brilliant cast and crew that has made such a ‘big bang’ and lasting legacy on the television landscape.”
AUGH! Heartbroken!
Between 2-5 years from now it will be rebooted….lol. I will miss this show I make sure I’m home every Thursday night to watch it.
I want to say, “At least we still have Young Sheldon”, but the crowd seems to be mixed on that one…
As much as I’ll miss them, it is probably time. :(
Agreed.
I have to agree. I will miss it but all good shows must someday come to an end. Better to go out on their own choice, instead of being cancelled by the network when the ratings start to go down. I will always have the reruns & DVD’s. Who knows they might have a spin off just like all of those other shows. Some good. Some not so good. It’s been a good run TBBT.
Sheldon and Amy have to have a baby, right. yes, yes they do.
That’s been confirmed (in fact multiple children) by Sheldon’s closing voiceover at the end of Young Sheldon, season one.
Don’t watch Young Sheldon so……
Young Sheldon is frequently brilliant!
I just couldn’t find time for it. That’s really the only reason why I didn’t watch it.
You should give it a shot. I was skeptical about it, but was pleasantly surprised by how it good was.
It got a lot funnier with the addition of Meemaw played by Annie Potts.
I might play catch up.
It was? I missed that.
I did too….
Yes, at the end it showed young Sheldon making a contract with his Meemaw. The voice over by Jim Parsons mentions going on to make contracts with roommates, his wife, and even his own children. That’s how the season ended. I think it aired on the same night as TBBT finale in which Amy and Sheldon got married.
Yes, the season finale episode aired right after the TBBT season finale.
How about if the Disney Channel owned the rights to The Big Bang Theory and created The Big Bang Theory in Eighth Grade? I hope for that, plus a Wizards of Waverly Place revival on Nickelodeon.
Noooooooooooo! Big Bang Theory is ending? Why??? That is my favorite show. Why?? Why kill a great thing? Maybe they’ll change their mind? Hopefully 🙏
They won’t. It was pretty clear from recent stories that the network wanted a season 13 but the actors are ready to end it.
CBS wanted 2 more seasons. Jim Parsons wanted to leave.
The fact that they don’t want the hassle of child actors to play Howard’s kids is one good reason to end it. t’s been ridiculous how the kids are either sleeping or hidden in a stroller.
actually we are not to see howard’s kids, a little in joke to keep them off screen like norm’s wife and niles’s wife maris.
And Howard’s mother.
And Charlie [Angels], and never knowing Penny’s maiden name. Babies on a live audience show could be a nightmare.
I love the show, but I’m okay with it ending after this next season.
That’s exactly where I am too. I love the show, but we got 12 seasons out of it, so it’s okay. I’m glad they made the decision now so that they can plan the season accordingly.
I agree. I’ll miss the show, but I’m looking forward to a great final season, hopefully with a girlfriend for Raj (who IMO is not gay).
yeah, i agree. Love the show with all my heart, but i’ve come in terms with the fact that the actors are ready to move on, and i respect that. will always love TBBT and i will be forever grateful for them
😣😣😣😣
12 years to late
Agreed.
No way
Let’s say 9 or so. Even though it always made fun of nerds and not have fun with them, I enjoyed the early years when they ditched the Mars rover, tried to repair the space toilet or where Penny got Sheldon the Leonard Nimoy napkin.
What broke it for me was the episode where the guys try to get to the scifi convention in their Star Trek uniforms and are riddiculed by everyone for having a hobby they enjoy.
Exactly. I’m a nerd and proud. I enjoy going to conventions, Star Trek, etc. when this show was announced I was hopeful because I thought they’d be laughing with us. Instead they’ve been laughing at us. And none of it was funny.
But that’s the episode with the girls arguing about Thor!
Yes unfortunately, because I enjoyed the argument. But the rest is so off-putting that I can’t truly revel in it.
Another truly off-putting moment was this for me: We all know that Sheldon has his quirks. But in the beginning it was just who he was, somewhere on the Asberger’s spectrum. But then came the episode where he deliberately tortured Leonard with the red(?) wool sweater to prove a point. This wasn’t just another “I just don’t know any better”, this was set up mean and hurtful. At that moment Sheldon’s quirkiness lost his appeal, because he admitted that he intellectually knows how his general behaviour is grating on his friends’ nerves and he doesn’t even attempt to reign it in. He just demands that they acquiesce to him.
I really hated that red sweater episode and also the convention one, Sheldon comes off as almost vicious in that episode. The convention episode I hated because even the guys seemed embarrassed by their own nerdiness, think it was just badly written.
Anyway, IMO it’s time to end it. Everyone (except Raj who needs to and Stuart, who has devolved from his original persona that was confident enough to ask Penny out and for her to accept) has moved on with their lives.
The whole point of the sweater episode was to give Leonard some insight into how things like never returning the DVD to Blockbuster feels to Sheldon, because of his OCD. It was a great episode.
Quite right!
+1. The show lose its core (the nerd/geek weirdos part) and became a flat kinda chick flick money grab sooo many years ago. I really hope that in the final season they take some risks and finally give us something unique and FUNNY (without the need of forced laught tracks) again. Oh… and i really want a waaay more of Howard+Bernardette instead of Penny+Leonard in those final episodes.
The first 5 years were the best and then the show made a downward turn. It’s run its course.
Should have gone for 280 to make it even.
Still wish season 11 finale had been an hour long.
Will the spin off called Sheldon return
Rather see a spin-off with Howard and Bernadette with Raj always hanging around.
My three least favorite characters. It’s funny how the characters changed over the years, which is understandable, but some got worse. I can’t stand how shrewish Bernadette is now and I miss talented Stuart who is an artist and runs a comic book store. I used to dislike Amy, especially with her weird obsession with Penny, but like her now.
I’d like to see a spin-off with Stuart – plenty of room for his character to develop and move up.
I think it’s good timing. TBBT has had a good run and the characters are beginning new chapters in their lives
This surprises me in a way. I was stunned when the Teen Choice awards chose TBBT as their favorite comedy just last week so there is still a younger audience out there. I hope Raj gets a great girlfriend by the end of the show. He deserves some happiness, too.
I hope they do a charmed like ending where they flash forward and show their entire lives (kids, grandkids, etc) so we know what happens with them all. I can’t believe they are ending it though. It’s still a great show, still extremly popular, and honestly why would you give up a steady guaranteed pay check? They could all end up never working again. Hollywood is a fickle b1+ch.
When you’re getting hundreds of thousands of dollars per episode over the course of a few years you get the luxury of choosing what you want to do.
Yup. They’ve all got F-U, generational wealth at this point. Given their weekly salaries, the “poorest” one of them likely has in excess of 20 million, on top of real estate. They can live, comfortably, off the interest. To say nothing of the residuals that are likely to keep flowing for another decade as BBT airs in syndication.
.
On top of that, Galecki could have a sweet landing spot on the Conners. I think Kaley wants to take some time to be a wife/mom, while being more selective about her work (plenty of OK movie roles available), and Sheldon’s portrayer will continue to make OK money from Young Sheldon (voice over work, as well as being a profit participant/creator/producer) Methinks these 3 were the ones most eager to leave. The others didn’t make quite as much money, and have iffier landings ahead.
Jim Parsons has a theater career.
Yeah, and the creator of Blossom has already joked about how they are just waiting for Big Bang to end so they can steal Mayim Bialik. I mean he even knows where all the characters would be if they revived, so I guessing she is going to be fine as well.
don’t forget about the money they get from all the re-runs
Reruns air on TBS do their steady paycheck will continue, albeit a much bigger pay cut
I know they will have money from the reruns but look at Katherine Heigl. She left greys to be a big movie star and she can barely find work and she was super popular at the time she left. Half of the cast of friends barely work anymore, half of the cast of Seinfeld, ER, and on and on. I agree with Ellen Pompeo from greys. Stay on the show with the steady pay check until they force you to leave. Why mess with a good thing?
Yeah but the cast doesn’t have to work much because they have upwards of 100 million dollars. Why would they work?
Yes, but most of those you mentioned are still probably loaded. The cast of Friends and Seinfeld are still making money from the reruns, for sure. TBBT cast are mostly making a ton of money per episode and still earning money from the reruns. Just because some don’t work a lot doesn’t mean they want to and can’t find roles. If they were smart about their money, none of at least the main cast would ever have to work again if they didn’t want to. 12 years on one project is a good long run. They might just want a break and I think it’s good to go out on top rather than run it into the ground.
Having a steady pay check isn’t the only thing that keeps people feeling satisfied and happy. Twelve years is a long time to do in the same job – even one you love – without starting to get itchy feet.
+150 TVLine Power User points (no cash value)
Twelve years in an ACTING job is a long time. There are millions and millions of people who work far beyond 12 years in the same job.
Will miss this funny show when gone, has been neat watching them all get older. But will still be able to watch the reruns.
I watch the reruns all the time. Like over and over again, lol.
as much as I love the show, I think it is time. I hope the finale will do the series the greatness it deserves and not the disaster of the wedding finale
Cry a little? Cry a lot? How about laugh your way to the end and forget the sad goodbyes. There’s always reruns and DVDs.
I think it’s time. I don’t enjoy it as much as I used to.
Yeah, I feel that. When Amy and Bernadette were introduced the show slowly went through a transformation in terms of is it comedy or is there drama too. I think all great comedies has or need some well-timed drama. For the most they managed to keep the drama funny when appropriate. Where could they go after 12 seasons? Parenthood? I think that would ruin what originally made it unique and one of a kind but Sheldon needs to experience baby (or fatherhood) if only a pregnancy with Amy. I hope they do go out with a “Big Bang” and rocket the viewers to the moon and back.
All I ask… ALL I ASK is they make the finale 1 or 2 hours. I know they want 30 minutes for syndication but write it such that is can sustain 30 minute intervals. They rushed through Sheldon and Amy’s wedding, and it should have been an hour. THIRTY MINUTES IS NOT ENOUGH FOR THIS SHOW TO GO OUT.
I suspect they’ll split the baby and have the “finale” really be the 2-3 eps leading up to the actual last show be connected and sequential.
I saw on twitter that someone mentioned they’d like the last scene to be the cast walk in the working elevator and the doors shut as the show ends.
then the line snapping….
Wow can’t believe Big Bang Theory is ending. The quality of the beginning is long gone but I have always watched. I hope the finale season will be the season where everything is possible, they maintained the statut quo for too long I guess, it prevented the story to evolve.
I want Johnny to join The Conners for season 2!!
That would be great, but I doubt heèd be ready to do that. I imagine he has other ideas for his career post-Big-Bang.
He seemed to indicate that he wanted to do more than he did but that was all that he could schedule in with TBBT. Not being a 24 ep show and he’s not going to be in every ep anyway, so could be a good fit for him.
All good things . . .
Boo. But it is probably time. Wonder if Raj will get a Joey-like-but-better spinoff?
Why end it? So in a couple of years after some of them had small roles in movies or guest roles on TV, there could be a revival?
And I love revivals, the more the better, but it would be better just to be creative in the first place.
Awe that’ll be sad but it is time. I can’t believe how long it ran tbh.
Good riddance!
This was expected. I am glad they kept YS on Thursday as it can now inherit the 8:00 spot once TBBT ends.