GOING OUT WITH A ‘BANG’
TV’s top comedy will end its 12-season run in May
Even huge TV hits come to an end.
“The Big Bang Theory,” TV’s top comedy, will end its run in May 2019 at the conclusion of the upcoming season, its 12th. The Emmy-nominated CBS comedy, which focuses on a group of scientists and their friends, will finish with 279 episodes.
Warner Bros. Television, Chuck Lorre Productions and CBS issued a statement Wednesday announcing the decision and promising to “bring ‘The Big Bang Theory’ to an epic creative close.”
“We are forever grateful to our fans for their support of The #BigBangTheory during the past twelve seasons,” said a tweet from the show’s Twitter account.
According to the statement, the 279 episodes will make “Big Bang” the longest-running multi-camera comedy, the kind filmed before a studio audience. A successful prequel spinoff, “Young Sheldon,” will begins its second season on CBS in September.
The final “Big Bang” season will premiere Sept. 24 before it moves to its regular Thursday time slot on Sept. 27.
“Big Bang” premiered in 2007 and runs in syndication around the world. It has received 52 Emmy nominations and has taken home 10 Emmys.
When “Big Bang” premiered, the initial focus was on two socially awkward physicists, Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki), and the aspiring actress, Penny (Kaley Cuoco), who lived across the hall. It also featured the physicists’ scientist friends, Wolowitz (Simon Helberg) and Raj (Kunal Nayyar).
Over the years, the series expanded its ensemble, with the additions of fellow scientists Bernadette (Melissa Rauch) and Amy (Mayim Bialik). Bernadette married Wolowitz and the couple now has two children, and Amy married Sheldon in the Season 11 finale.
“‘The Big Bang Theory’ has been the defining comedy of its generation,” CBS Entertainment president Kelly Kahl said in a statement. “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.”
“Big Bang” has received 52 Emmy nominations and has taken home 10 Emmys, including four for Parsons for lead actor in a comedy and a guest-acting award for legendary comedian Bob Newhart.