The Big Bang Theory finale scores biggest audience in five years May 17, 2019
The hour-long series finale of The Big Bang Theory delivered the show's biggest audience in over five years.
The final episode was watched by 18.52 million people, the show's biggest audience since January 30, 2014. The Big Bang Theory was the most-watched program of the entire night.
The Big Bang Theory had a dominant 3.2 rating in the key adults 18-49 demographic, its best performance in the demo since October 2, 2017. The Big Bang Theory was the highest-rated program of the night.
The second season finale of Young Sheldon, which followed The Big Bang Theory at 9/8c, was watched by 13.72 million people and scored a 2.1 rating in the demo, its best performance of the season. Young Sheldon was the second most-watched and highest-rated program of the night.
The behind-the-scenes retrospective, "Unraveling the Mystery: A Big Bang Farewell", had 11.76 million viewers and scored a 1.7 rating in the demo. The special was the #1 program in its time period.
The Big Bang Theory is the first sitcom since Seinfeld to finish its final season as the top-rated scripted program on TV.
Young Sheldon to inherit The Big Bang Theory time slot May 15, 2019
Young Sheldon will inherit The Big Bang Theory's Thursday 8/7c time period next season, CBS announced today as it unveiled its 2019/20 schedule.
The Big Bang Theory, which ends its twelve-year run tomorrow night, has held the time period for the last nine seasons. After moving to Thursday nights in 2010, The Big Bang Theory grew in popularity to become the highest-rated scripted program on TV.
CBS renewed Young Sheldon for another two seasons earlier this year, taking the show through to its fourth season in 2020/21.
Following Young Sheldon in its new time period will be the new single-camera comedy The Unicorn, starring Walton Goggins. The seventh season of Mom, which was co-created by Chuck Lorre, keeps its 9/8c slot. New multi-camera comedy Carol's Second Act, starring Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond, The Middle), airs at 9:30/8:30c. The new drama series Evil closes out the night at 10/9c.
Elsewhere on CBS's fall schedule, Bob (Hearts) Abishola, a new multi-camera sitcom from Chuck Lorre with star Billy Gardell (Mike & Molly), will air Mondays at 8/7c.
The Big Bang Theory's hour-long series finale airs tomorrow, May 16, at 8/7c on CBS. A special behind-the-scenes retrospective, Unraveling the Mystery: A Big Bang Farewell, airs at 9:30/8:30c after the second season finale of Young Sheldon.
To wrap off this special night for The Big Bang Theory fans, the entire cast will join Stephen Colbert on The Late Show at 11:35/10:35c.
For more Young Sheldon updates, visit our Young Sheldon Fan Site
CBS announces The Big Bang Theory series finale May 9, 2019
CBS has issued the press release for the last two episodes of The Big Bang Theory, "The Change Constant" and "The Stockholm Syndrome", which will air as an hour-long series finale next Thursday, May 16.
The Change Constant - Sheldon and Amy await big news, on the series finale of THE BIG BANG THEORY, Thursday, May 16 (8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
The Stockholm Syndrome - Bernadette and Wolowitz leave their kids for the first time; Penny and Leonard try to keep a secret; Sheldon and Amy stick together; and Koothrappali makes a new friend, as the gang travels together into an uncharted future, on the series finale of THE BIG BANG THEORY, Thursday, May 16(8:30-9:01 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
The second season finale of Young Sheldon will follow at 9/8c. A special behind-the-scenes retrospective, "Unraveling the Mystery: A Big Bang Farewell", airs at 9:30/8:30c.
To cap off this bittersweet night for The Big Bang Theory fans, the entire cast will join Stephen Colbert on The Late Show at 11:35/10:35c on CBS.
The Big Bang Theory crossover on Young Sheldon May 9, 2019
The Big Bang Theory and its spin-off are set for their biggest crossover yet with Sheldon's future friends appearing in the season finale of Young Sheldon, according to TVLine.
Younger versions of Leonard, Penny, Howard, Raj, Amy and Bernadette will be appearing in next week's episode of Young Sheldon, "A Swedish Science Thing and the Equation for Toast".
It's not yet clear how the characters will be introduced to the Young Sheldon universe as Sheldon doesn't meet the characters until adulthood. While Sheldon was growing up in East Texas, his future friends were scattered from California and Nebraska to New Jersey and India.
The Big Bang Theory staged its first Young Sheldon crossover last December with "The VCR Illumination". In the episode, Sheldon was inspired by a VHS tape from his childhood featuring his younger self (Iain Armitage), brother Georgie (Montana Jordan) and father George (Lance Barber).
The second season finale of Young Sheldon airs next Thursday, May 16 at 9/8c following the hour-long series finale of The Big Bang Theory. CBS has renewed Young Sheldon for a further two seasons, taking the show through to its fourth season in 2020/21.
Visit our Young Sheldon fan site for the latest updates
CBS to air The Big Bang Theory retrospective April 29, 2019
CBS will air a thirty-minute The Big Bang Theory retrospective on the night the show ends its twelve season run.
Titled Unraveling the Mystery: A Big Bang Farewell, the special will be hosted by stars Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco. The special will give fans a guided tour of the iconic sets, reveal the show's best-kept backstage secrets, and feature the cast sharing their favorite memories from twelve years spent on "The Big Bang Theory Stage".
The retrospective will air Thursday, May 16 at 9:30/8:30c, following The Big Bang Theory's hour-long series finale at 8/7c and the second season finale of Young Sheldon at 9/8c.
And as if that wasn't enough The Big Bang Theory for this special night, the entire cast will be appearing on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35/10:35c.
1222 'The Maternal Conclusion' Press Release April 19, 2019
CBS has released the synopsis for the May 9 episode of The Big Bang Theory's final season, "The Maternal Conclusion".
Christine Baranski returns as Leonard's mother, Dr. Beverly Hofstadter, in the episode.
The Maternal Conclusion - Leonard is pleasantly surprised when Beverly (Christine Baranski) comes to visit and she's genuinely kind to him, until he finds out the real reason she's there. Also, Denise and Stuart overstay their welcome at the Wolowitz house, on THE BIG BANG THEORY, Thursday, May 9 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
The hour-long series finale of The Big Bang Theory will air the following week.
1221 'The Plagiarism Schism' Press Release April 12, 2019
CBS has released the synopsis for the May 2 episode of The Big Bang Theory's final season, "The Plagiarism Schism".
Kal Penn (House) and Sean Astin (The Lord of the Rings) reprise their roles as Drs. Campbell and Pemberton in the episode. John Ross Bowie and Joshua Malina return as Barry Kripke and President Siebert, respectively.
The Plagiarism Schism – Kripke (John Ross Bowie) has proof that Dr. Pemberton (Sean Astin) plagiarized his thesis in college, and Sheldon and Amy aren’t sure if they should turn him in or not. Also, Wolowitz is happily surprised to learn that Bernadette wasn’t the only waitress at the Cheesecake Factory who had a crush on him back in the day, on THE BIG BANG THEORY, Thursday, May 2 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
After a rerun this past Thursday, The Big Bang Theory returns for its final run of episodes next Thursday, April 18 with "The Inspiration Deprivation". The hour-long series finale of The Big Bang Theory will air May 16.
1220 'The Decision Reverberation' Press Release April 5, 2019
CBS has released the synopsis for the April 25 episode of The Big Bang Theory, "The Decision Reverberation". Joshua Malina returns as President Siebert and Rati Gupta reprises her role as Anu in the episode.
The Decision Reverberation – Koothrappali is worried people won’t take him seriously in his own field after publishing a paper that suggests he may have discovered alien life. Also, Leonard wants to be the principal investigator on a plasma physics study, on THE BIG BANG THEORY, Thursday, April 25 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
The Big Bang Theory is taking a short break with a rerun of "The Propagation Proposition" airing this Thursday, April 11. We are then in the home stretch as the show returns on April 18 with the first of its last six episodes. The Big Bang Theory will conclude with an hour-long series finale on Thursday, May 16.
1219 'The Inspiration Deprivation' Press Release March 29, 2019
CBS has released the synopsis for the April 18 episode of The Big Bang Theory's final season, "The Inspiration Deprivation".
Oscar-winning actress Regina King returns as Janine Davis, the university's human resources director. Joshua Malina and Brian Posehn also reprise their roles as President Siebert and Bert, respectively, in the episode.
"The Inspiration Deprivation" - The concept of what it would mean for women everywhere if Amy were to win a Nobel Prize causes Amy to have a meltdown. Also, Koothrappali and Wolowitz try to relive the good old days after Wolowitz buys a scooter that looks like the one he had years ago, on THE BIG BANG THEORY, Thursday, April 18 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
Following a break while CBS aired the March Madness basketball tournament, the twelfth season of The Big Bang Theory continues this Thursday, April 4 with "The Laureate Accumulation".
1218 'The Laureate Accumulation' Press Release March 16, 2019
CBS has released the synopsis for the next episode of The Big Bang Theory, "The Laureate Accumulation", which airs Thursday, April 4.
Kal Penn (House) and Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings) reprise their roles as Dr. Campbell and Dr. Pemberton. Joshua Malina returns as President Siebert in the episode.
A trio of Nobel laureates guest star in the episode: Frances Arnold, Kip Thorne and George Smoot, who appeared in the Season 2 episode "The Terminator Decoupling".
The Laureate Accumulation - When competitors Pemberton (Sean Astin) and Campbell (Kal Penn) charm America on a publicity tour, Sheldon and Amy try to bring Nobel laureates Kip Thorne, George Smoot and Frances Arnold to their side. Also, Halley's fear of the dark leads to opportunity and conflict for Howard, Bernadette and Stuart, on THE BIG BANG THEORY, Thursday, April 4 (8:00-8:31 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
The Big Bang Theory will be pre-empted for the next two Thursdays (March 21 and March 28) as CBS airs the March Madness basketball tournament.