The end of an era is upon us as CBS announced that Big Bang Theory will end at the end of season 12, which is this coming spring 2019.
Sheldon, Leonard, Penny, Raj, Howard, Amy and Bernadette have been part of our lives for what seems to be an eternity and the idea that in just one more season all we'll be left with are reruns is gut-wrenchingly painful.
So why is CBS ending the series? It seems that it's just time. Warner Bros. Television, CBS and Chuck Lorre Productions said in a joint statement:
“We are forever grateful to our fans for their support of The Big Bang Theory during the past 12 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.”
The longest-running multi-camera sitcom will have aired a record-breaking 279 episodes at the end of their 12th season. It's the highest rated series on television and reruns on TBS boosted that network's ratings as well. Not to mention the 56 awards from 216 nominations.
It could also be that the cost of producing the show is getting too high. In their last contract, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayar got raises to match Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco who made $1 million per episode. Then last season all five stars cut their own salaries to help with raises for Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch, who had become series regulars in their own right.
Whatever the reason, this news really sucks.
At least we'll still have Young Sheldon....
So what can we hope for in the finale? Leonard and Penny having a baby? Raj getting married? Bernadette divorcing Howard? (JOKING!) Share what you hope to see in the final season of Big Bang Theory below!
But before we can ponder that, let's take a moment to sit down and cry cause there's no BAZINGA after this. **TISSUES**