As was the scenario with season 10, the future of The Big Bang Theory is very much uncertain heading into season 12. So we could be about to see the end of one of CBS’ most popular sitcoms ever.
The final episode of season 11 marked one of the series’ best moments as we saw the once unlikely wedding of Sheldon and Amy, along with an appearance by Mark Hamill as the wedding officiant. As a bleak divorce is unlikely, the concern is that whatever the writers manage to come up with will be less plot-worthy than the wedding.
A yes from CBS
If the decision lays solely in CBS’ hands, The Big Bang Theory would go on and on. Kelly Kahl, president of CBS Entertainment said earlier this year that they hope to see the show running for a few more years yet.
It isn’t difficult to understand why CBS would be desperate to continue the show’s run. TBBT has enjoyed immense success drawing from popular culture, whether it be comic books, cult TV, or video games, making each more accessible to the masses. Its love of comic book characters ties in nicely with the recent wave of superhero movies. The show makes continuous references to well-known characters such as Batman, Wonder Woman, and Thor. Thor has particularly been a hit with film fans, as well as making his mark on the world of gaming, popular with console games and slot games alike. Mr. Green casino, for example, offers a slot based on Thor’s home of Asgard. Whether we see the boys on the show making more references to Thor and co, however, depends largely on the actors playing them.
All on the cast
The main problem for CBS, however, is that the cast’s contracts come to an end after season 12, which means that it isn’t simply a case of saying that they wish to renew and on they go. Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Kunal Nayyar, and Simon Helberg have all starred on the show since the very first episode over 10 years ago. So there’s the possibility that at least some of them will be looking to pursue other projects. In a rarity for a show that has been on the air as long as this one, the cast appears to enjoy working with one another, so if CBS decides to order another season, we could well see everyone agree to sign on.
Sheldon lives on
Should season 12 be the show’s swan song, however, CBS can at least be thankful for the show’s spin-off, Young Sheldon. It’s been a major success and has just been renewed for season two. It might not be attracting the 20 million audience that its parent show does, but most sitcoms would kill for the 11 million viewers it’s pulling in.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=gF0bvI9vLvI
CBS didn’t order seasons 11 and 12 until well into the 10th season, so it may be some time before we find out what the future holds for the show. But just in case, fans may need to start preparing to say goodbye to their favorite nerds.
Are you a fan of The Big Bang Theory? Let us know in the comments what you think will happen in the future.
