Legendary sitcom director James Burrows dies at 85 21 hours ago
James Burrows, the legendary sitcom director who directed both iterations of The Big Bang Theory's pilot episode, has died at the age of 85.
Burrows directed more than 1,000 episodes of television across a career that spanned five decades, earning him a reputation as one of the defining figures of the multi-camera sitcom.
His television career began in the 1970s with a string of shows produced by Mary Tyler Moore's MTM Enterprises, including Phyllis, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show and Rhoda. His big breakthrough came with Taxi, where he was the resident director and worked with writers Glen and Les Charles.
With the Charles brothers, Burrows co-created Cheers, one of the shows that came to define his career. He directed more than 230 episodes of the show across its 11-season run and went on to direct episodes of its equally long-running spin-off Frasier.
Burrows helped launch Friends, directing the show's 1994 pilot and another 14 episodes during its first four seasons. Before the pilot was taped, he famously took the six main actors to Las Vegas to help them bond as a cast, telling them this would be their last chance to go out in public without being recognized.
Will & Grace held a unique place in his career. Burrows directed every single episode across its original eight-season run from 1998 to 2006 and its three-season revival from 2017 to 2020, and served as an executive producer for the bulk of its run. Burrows later called Will & Grace "probably the funniest show I ever did".
Burrows was one of television's most sought-after pilot directors. He directed more than 75 pilots that were picked up to series, laying the foundations for shows including Wings, 3rd Rock from the Sun and NewsRadio. He also directed 21 episodes of Caroline in the City, which counted Big Bang Theory co-creator Bill Prady as one of its writers.
His work with Chuck Lorre began with the pilot of Dharma & Greg and continued with the pilot of Two and a Half Men. In 2006, he directed the original Big Bang Theory pilot, which featured Sheldon and Leonard, but not Penny, Howard or Raj. In an unusual move, CBS passed on the original pilot but asked Lorre and Prady to rework the show. The next year, Burrows returned to direct the pilot viewers know today, featuring Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar.
Burrows' most substantial work on a Chuck Lorre show came with Mike & Molly, where he directed almost 50 episodes and was an executive producer for two seasons. He also later directed episodes of Disjointed and B Positive.
In 2016, NBC aired Must See TV: An All-Star Tribute to James Burrows, a special celebrating Burrows' milestone of directing 1,000 television episodes. The program reunited cast members from many of his best-known shows, including Taxi, Cheers, Frasier, Friends and Will & Grace, and also featured the casts of the then-running sitcoms The Big Bang Theory and Mike & Molly.
His final directing credit was Mid-Century Modern, a traditional multi-camera sitcom made for Hulu, which starred Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, Nathan Lee Graham and the late Linda Lavin. Burrows also recently appeared as a fictionalized version of himself on the third season of Lisa Kudrow's The Comeback, playing on his reputation as one of television comedy's most celebrated directors.
Many of Burrows' former cast members and colleagues shared tributes following his death. Among those connected to The Big Bang Theory, co-creator Bill Prady remembered Burrows on Instagram, while Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar also posted about him on Instagram Stories. Jessica Radloff, host of The Official Big Bang Theory Podcast, also paid tribute to Burrows, who joined her on the podcast last year to discuss directing the show's pilot episodes.
Chuck Lorre to release memoir later this year 5 days ago
Chuck Lorre, the co-creator of The Big Bang Theory, will release his memoir Sitcom later this year.
The appropriately titled book looks back on Lorre's decades in television comedy, telling the stories of some of the most successful sitcoms of the past thirty years while exploring the more difficult experiences that shaped his life and work. Alongside his career on shows including Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon, Lorre writes about addiction (both his own and his famous colleagues'), his chronic illness, failed marriages, and what he terms "disastrous life choices".
The cover of the book, revealed by People last month, shows Lorre from behind, seated in a Two and a Half Men chair between chairs for Young Sheldon and The Big Bang Theory.
Before becoming known as the "King of Sitcoms", Lorre started out in music, working as a guitarist and songwriter. He co-wrote "French Kissin'", later recorded by Debbie Harry, and wrote the theme song for the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series. His television writing career began with animated shows before he moved into live-action sitcoms, including Charles in Charge, My Two Dads and, most significantly, Roseanne.
Lorre's time on Roseanne ended after clashes with Roseanne Barr, but the show also proved to be an important step in his career, bringing him into the orbit of stars including Johnny Galecki, Sara Gilbert and Laurie Metcalf, all of whom would later become part of The Big Bang Theory universe.
Lorre went on to create Grace Under Fire and Cybill, though his tenure at both shows was cut short following well-documented creative difficulties with their stars. He then co-created Dharma & Greg for the 20th Century Fox studio. The show ran for five seasons on ABC and helped establish Lorre as a notable sitcom creator.
In 2000, Lorre moved to Warner Bros. Television, where his Chuck Lorre Productions company remains today. His big breakthrough came in 2003 with Two and a Half Men, which he co-created with Lee Aronsohn. The CBS comedy starred Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones, and went on to become television's top-rated sitcom.
That success would prove important for The Big Bang Theory. After CBS passed on the original version of the Lorre and Bill Prady-developed pilot, the network gave the project a second chance. The reworked version premiered in 2007 and went on to run for twelve seasons, eventually overtaking Two and a Half Men as television's top-rated comedy.
Lorre's CBS run continued with Mike & Molly, Mom, The Big Bang Theory prequel Young Sheldon, Bob Hearts Abishola, B Positive, United States of Al, and continues today with the Young Sheldon spin-off Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage. He has also created series for Netflix, including Disjointed, The Kominsky Method and Leanne.
Although Lorre is best known for traditional sitcoms, his next television project is a clear departure. Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, a science-fiction comedy set in The Big Bang Theory universe, follows comic book store owner Stuart Bloom as he tries to repair a multiverse disaster triggered by a device created by Sheldon and Leonard. The show premieres next month on HBO Max.
Sitcom will be published by Dey Street Books, an imprint of HarperCollins, on Tuesday, October 13.
Announcing the book, Lorre joked in a statement shared with People: "I set out to write this book thinking I’d reveal where all the skeletons are buried. Turns out most of them are mine."
Pre-order Sitcom, a memoir by Chuck Lorre, from Amazon.com
The Big Bang Theory Podcast returns with Season 3 May 18, 2026
The Official Big Bang Theory Podcast has returned to revisit Seasons 3 and 4 of The Big Bang Theory, and this time the podcast is presented in video.
Hosted by Jessica Radloff, author of the New York Times bestseller The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series and the upcoming Young Sheldon: The Inside Story of the Hit Comedy, the podcast takes a look at a classic TBBT episode each week. Radloff is joined by a special guest - from cast members and guest stars to writers, producers and crew - to share behind-the-scenes stories and memories from the show.
For its new episodes, the podcast has moved to a purpose-built video set from HBO Max and Warner Bros., allowing fans to watch Radloff and her guest of the week as they discuss the episode and react to clips from the show.
The podcast originally launched in March 2025 with a look back at the unaired Pilot, which was developed for the 2006/07 season, before continuing through December to cover all seventeen episodes of Season 1 and all twenty-three episodes of Season 2.
Guests during the first two seasons included The Big Bang Theory co-creator Chuck Lorre, executive producer Steven Molaro, director Mark Cendrowski, cast member Kunal Nayyar, future cast member Kevin Sussman, and guest stars including Sara Gilbert (Leslie Winkle), John Ross Bowie (Barry Kripke) and Christine Baranski (Beverly Hofstadter).
In a recent Instagram post, Jessica Radloff teased several upcoming guests for the new season, including The Big Bang Theory cast members Kunal Nayyar, Simon Helberg, Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch. Other guests set to appear include guest stars Joshua Malina (President Siebert), Brian Thomas Smith (Zack), Wil Wheaton (himself), executive producer Steve Holland and Young Sheldon star Raegan Revord.
In the first episode of the new season, Jessica was joined by showrunner and executive producer Steve Molaro to discuss the Season 3 premiere, "The Electric Can Opener Fluctuation", which saw Leonard and Penny finally get together. Molaro discusses why the writers chose not to drag out Leonard and Penny's long-awaited move from friends to something more, and why they decided to make the couple's first night together less than perfect. He also reflects on how Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki's real-life relationship at the time helped shape the chemistry fans saw on screen.
The Official Big Bang Theory Podcast is released every Monday on HBO Max and all major podcast platforms, including Amazon, Apple, Spotify and YouTube.
HBO Max releases Stuart Fails to Save the Universe teaser May 13, 2026
HBO Max has released the official teaser for Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, the upcoming spin-off of The Big Bang Theory centered on comic book store owner Stuart Bloom, played by Kevin Sussman.
The trailer was unveiled Wednesday by stars Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, Brian Posehn and John Ross Bowie during Warner Bros. Discovery’s Upfront presentation in New York. HBO Max also confirmed that the 10-episode series will premiere Thursday, July 23 at 9 p.m. ET, with new episodes dropping weekly on Thursdays.
The single-camera comedy series follows Stuart after he accidentally breaks a device built by Sheldon and Leonard, setting off a multiverse catastrophe. To restore reality, Stuart teams up with his girlfriend Denise (Lapkus), geologist Bert (Posehn), and the perpetually abrasive quantum physicist Barry Kripke (Bowie). Their mission brings them face to face with alternate-universe versions of familiar Big Bang Theory characters, though, as the title suggests, Stuart’s rescue efforts do not exactly go smoothly.
The teaser opens with a hooded figure entering the Comic Center of Pasadena, only to reveal himself as Bert. When Stuart asks what it is like outside, the trailer cuts to flashes of apocalyptic chaos before Bert deadpans, “I think there’s room for improvement.” Other footage teases giant bugs, desolate war zones, a supreme ruler of Southern Pasadena and a wormhole, while one version of Stuart quickly tries to explain how this “apocalyptic nightmare” never has to happen.
At one point, Stuart finds a Stuart Fails to Save the Universe comic book in his own store, featuring a panel showing Sheldon, Leonard and Howard with the “Vari-state Quantum Entanglement” device that appears to have caused the crisis.
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is created, written and executive produced by The Big Bang Theory co-creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady and screenwriter Zak Penn, whose credits include The Avengers and Ready Player One.
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe release date announced April 27, 2026
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, the upcoming The Big Bang Theory spin-off, will debut this July on HBO Max, it was revealed yesterday.
The announcement came during a panel at CCXP Mexico City, where stars Kevin Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, Brian Posehn and John Ross Bowie shared new concept art and first-look stills from the show. An official Instagram account, @stuartfails, was also launched alongside the reveal.
The sci-fi comedy follows hapless comic book store owner Stuart Bloom as he attempts to restore reality after accidentally breaking a device built by Sheldon and Leonard, triggering a multiverse catastrophe. Joining him on his quest are his girlfriend Denise (Lapkus), geologist Bert (Posehn), and ever-irritating quantum physicist Barry Kripke (Bowie). Along the way, the group encounters alternate-universe versions of familiar characters from The Big Bang Theory. As the title suggests, things don’t always go to plan.
Blending comedy with science fiction and fantasy, the series marks a notable shift from the traditional multi-camera format of The Big Bang Theory, adopting a more cinematic style with larger-scale settings and extensive visual effects.
The newly released teaser images show the group navigating increasingly chaotic situations, from the familiar confines of Stuart’s comic book store to a Caltech lab, where he is seen holding the device, and later a war-torn environment patrolled by armed soldiers, still carrying it. Another image shows Stuart and Denise in a tranquil lakeside setting, offering a brief contrast to the surrounding chaos, while the final shot depicts the group looking battle-worn and on edge.
It was also announced that Emmy and Grammy Award winner Danny Elfman will compose the show’s original theme music. Elfman is known for his work on films such as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and Batman Returns, as well as television themes including The Simpsons and Desperate Housewives.
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe comes from executive producers Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, co-creators of The Big Bang Theory, alongside Ready Player One screenwriter Zak Penn. The first season will consist of 10 episodes, with a specific July premiere date yet to be announced.
HBO Max spot gives first look at Stuart Fails to Save the Universe December 13, 2025
HBO Max has released a new spot highlighting its 2026 programming slate, including a couple of shots from the upcoming The Big Bang Theory spin-off, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is an hour-long comedy series which blends elements of fantasy and science fiction and is expected to feature a lot of CGI, marking a shift from The Big Bang Theory’s multi-camera sitcom origins. The series stars Kevin Sussman as Stuart Bloom, the hapless comic book store owner who inadvertently triggers a multiverse catastrophe by breaking a device created by TBBT’s Sheldon and Leonard.
Joining Sussman are several Big Bang Theory alumni: Brian Posehn as geologist Bert, Lauren Lapkus as Stuart’s girlfriend Denise and John Ross Bowie as physicist Barry Kripke. Together, the trio help Stuart attempt to restore reality. Ryan Cartwright, Josh Brener and Tommy Walker are also set to appear in recurring roles.
The HBO Max spot includes two brief, never-before-seen shots from the series.
In the first, Stuart appears panicked in his Pasadena comic book store. In the second shot, Bert is shown tied to a stake, seemingly moments away from being burned alive by a crowd of torch-wielding villagers.
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe comes from executive producers Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, co-creators of The Big Bang Theory, along with Ready Player One screenwriter Zak Penn. The show, which has been in development for a couple of years, is currently filming in Los Angeles. The first season is expected to have ten episodes and an exact air date has yet to be announced.
The HBO Max spot also highlighted upcoming programming including new seasons of The Pitt, Industry, House of the Dragon, Euphoria, Hacks, The Gilded Age, and Dune: Prophecy, as well as new series and limited projects such as A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, DTF St. Louis, The Rooster, Half Man, War, Lanterns, a two-part documentary titled Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!, and an untitled limited series from Larry David.
While HBO Max looks ahead to its 2026 programming, its corporate parent, Warner Bros. Discovery, is caught in a takeover battle between Netflix, which agreed to buy WBD on December 4, and Paramount, which this week launched a hostile bid directly to shareholders after its offer was rebuffed by the company.
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe adds 3 actors August 14, 2025
Three new actors have been added to the upcoming Big Bang Theory spin-off Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, which is in development at HBO Max.
According to Deadline, Ryan Cartwright (Kevin Can Wait), Josh Brener (Silicon Valley) and Tommy Walker (Henry Danger) are set for major recurring roles on the new show. Both Cartwright and Brener previously guest starred on The Big Bang Theory, although they'll be portraying new characters in the upcoming show.
The recurring trio join Big Bang Theory alumni Kevin Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, Brian Posehn and John Ross Bowie, who make up the series' main cast.
According to the show's logline, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe follows comic book store owner Stuart Bloom (Sussman) after he accidentally triggers a multiverse catastrophe by breaking a device created by Sheldon and Leonard. As he attempts to restore reality, Stuart is helped by his girlfriend Denise (Lapkus), geologist Bert (Posehn) and quantum physicist Barry Kripke (Bowie).
As the premise suggests, the series will introduce alternate-universe versions of familiar characters from The Big Bang Theory, potentially paving the way for guest appearances from original cast members.
As reported by Deadline, Cartwright will portray Kyle, a regular at Stuart's comic book store. Brener takes on the role of Trevor, while Walker plays Gary, Denise's handsome new boyfriend.
Ryan Cartwright, a British-born actor, is best known for his starring role on Kevin Can Wait and recurring appearances on Bones and Alphas. He guest starred on The Big Bang Theory as Cole, Penny's British study partner, in a Season 6 episode, and has since appeared in several Chuck Lorre sitcoms including Mom, Bob Hearts Abishola and B Positive.
Josh Brener is best known for his role as Nelson "Big Head" Bighetti on HBO's Silicon Valley, which ran for six seasons. He previously played Dale, an employee at Stuart's comic book store, in two episodes of The Big Bang Theory. His additional credits include guest spots on The Middle, Modern Family and The Neighborhood.
Tommy Walker is best known for portraying Drex Stinklebaum on Nickelodeon's Henry Danger and its spin-off Danger Force. He also guest starred in an episode of Chuck Lorre's Netflix comedy-drama The Kominsky Method.
Stuart Fails to Save the Universe was officially ordered by HBO Max in July, though it has been in development for a couple of years. The series comes from Big Bang Theory creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, alongside The Avengers and Ready Player One screenwriter Zak Penn. A premiere date has not yet been announced.
The Big Bang Theory Podcast shifts to Season 2 July 21, 2025
The Official Big Bang Theory Podcast has now shifted its focus to Season 2 of The Big Bang Theory after eighteen episodes covering the show's first season.
Hosted by Jessica Radloff, author of the New York Times bestseller The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series, the podcast takes a look at one TBBT episode each week with a special guest - a crew member, cast member or guest star - to share their memories of the episode and what it was like working on the show.
The podcast premiered on March 17 with a look at the unaired Pilot originally developed for the 2006/07 season. The following seventeen episodes focused on Season 1 of The Big Bang Theory, from the Pilot to the season finale, The Tangerine Factor.
Among Jessica's guests for the first season were The Big Bang Theory co-creator Chuck Lorre, former Warner Bros. executive Peter Roth, renowned TV director James Burrows, TBBT directors Mark Cendrowski, Anthony Rich, and Nikki Lorre, and writer/producers Dave Goetsch, Lee Aronsohn, and Steve Molaro. Other guests included TBBT guest stars Sara Gilbert (Leslie Winkle), Courtney Henggeler (Missy Cooper), and Vernée Watson (Nurse Althea), along with the show's science consultant David Saltzberg, set decorator Ann Shea, and production designer John Shaffner.
In this week's episode, Jessica Radloff is once again joined by Chuck Lorre to discuss the Season 2 premiere, The Bad Fish Paradigm. On-screen, Leonard and Penny faced the aftermath of their first date, but behind the scenes, Chuck Lorre had just learned about the real-life romance between Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki. Lorre also recalls Jim Parsons' audition for Sheldon, and reflects on The Big Bang Theory's first visit to Comic-Con, where the show's strong connection with fans became clear.
As the Season 2 episodes of the podcast continue, Jessica Radloff will be joined by Sara Rue (Leonard's girlfriend Stephanie), John Ross Bowie (Barry Kripke), Christine Baranski (Beverly Hofstadter) and Kevin Sussman (Stuart Bloom), along with more The Big Bang Theory crew members.
The Official Big Bang Theory Podcast is released every Monday on HBO Max and all major podcast platforms, including Amazon, Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.