'The Big Bang Theory' Will End On Season 12; Sitcom Bosses Still Negotiating With Jim Parsons

It's a sad day for The Big Bang Theory fans. CBS and Warner Bros. have announced that Season 12 will be the show's last installment. However, there is a report that the sitcom bosses are still trying to extend the show for at least two more seasons. But apparently, it will all depend on one of the lead actors-Jim Parsons.

Warner Bros. Television, CBS, and Chuck Lorre Productions have released a joint statement thanking all TBBT fans for their support for the last 12 years. The companies confirmed that the twelfth installment of The Big Bang Theory will be its last.

"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 a series finale that will bring The Big Bang Theory to an epic creative close," the companies stated.

Apparently, CBS and Warner Bros. TV made the decision to end Emmy-winning show after Season 12 concludes next year since Parsons is ready to leave the show, Entertainment Weekly reported. However, CBS is reportedly trying to negotiate with the actor to stay for two more years.

EW noted that Parsons could earn at least $50 million including profits if he agrees to stay for two more seasons. Currently, the actor is receiving almost $1 million per episode, same as with the four original cast members: Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Kunal Nayyar, and Simon Helberg. The five cast members along with Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch have renewed their contracts for at least two more seasons.

Earlier this month, CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl said the network did not believe Season 12 would be the last for TBBT. He also revealed that they are "in preliminary discussions" to renew the sitcom for another season. TBBT executive producer Bill Prady, however, was surprised of Kahl's announcement at the time. Now, Prady has also confirmed that the show will end next year.

The Big Bang Theory originally follows the lives of Caltech physicists Sheldon Cooper (Parsons) and Leonard Hofstadter (Galecki) who share an apartment in Pasadena, their neighbor aspiring actress Penny (Cuoco), and their socially awkward friends and co-workers aerospace engineer Howard Wolowitz (Helberg) and astrophysicist Rajesh Koothrappali (Nayyar). Later on, the group met neuroscientist Amy Farrah Fowler (Bialik) who became Sheldon's girlfriend and microbiologist Bernadette Rostenkowski (Rauch) who later tied the knot with Howard.

Several world-renowned scientists and celebrities have appeared as guest stars on the show throughout the years. In the list are Stephen Hawking, Neil deGrasse Tyson, George Smoot, Michael J. Massimino, Bill Nye, Elon Musk, and most recently Bill Gates.

The series has won seven Emmys from 46 nominations, including four wins as Outstanding Lead Actor in Comedy for Parsons. The Big Bang Theory also recorded an average of 18.6 million viewers per episode in Season 11, which is more than any other show in the US.

The Big Bang Theory Season 12 is set to premiere on September 24 on CBS before moving to its regular Thursday timeslot on September 27. So far, there is no word from CBS if they are planning to create another TBBT spinoff. The network currently has the Young Sheldon, in which Parsons is one of the executive producers. It is a prequel that is based on Sheldon's early years.

"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 #TheBigBangTheory to an epic creative close.” -Warner Bros. Television, CBS and Chuck Lorre Productions — The Big Bang Theory (@bigbangtheory) August 22, 2018