Big Bang Theory ending: Jim Parsons was ready to depart series
Yesterday it was officially announced that long-running CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory will be wrapping up after its 12th season next year. Now, according to Entertainment Weekly, the series’ end was caused because star Jim Parsons was ready to leave. Parsons, who plays Dr. Sheldon Cooper, turned down a roughly $50 million payday if he’d agreed to stay onboard for two more seasons.
The final season of The Big Bang Theory will debut Monday, September 24 on CBS before moving to its regular time period on Thursday, September 27.
The series, which debuted in 2007 and airs in syndication around the world, has received 52 Emmy nominations and 10 wins to date, and 7 Golden Globe nominations.
In addition to centering many of its episodes in the worlds of science and technology, The Big Bang Theory enjoys a healthy appreciation and support from the scientific community at large, including having a bee species (Euglossa bazinga), a jellyfish species (Bazinga Rieki) and a monkey at the Columbus Zoo (Dr. Sheldon Cooper) named in the show’s honor.
In 2015, the first-ever UCLA scholarship created by and named for a television series, The Big Bang Theory Scholarship support undergraduate students in need of financial aid who are pursuing their higher education Endowment, was established to in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
The Big Bang Theory is executive produced by Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady, Steven Molaro and Steve Holland. The series stars Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch. The series is produced by Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., in association with Warner Bros. Television.