The end of The Big Bang Theory came as a shock to many fans – even though the series ran for 12 years. Nevertheless, for a long time there was little to indicate that the nerd show was coming to an end. The ratings were reasonably stable and the stars seemed loyal to their series.
How did the sitcom come to an end? The decisive impulse, as has become increasingly clear in recent years, was probably Sheldon Cooper actor Jim Parsons. Apparently some of his colleagues also saw it that way.
Is Jim Parsons really to blame for The Big Bang Theory ending?
It had been known for some time that Jim Parsons was no longer interested in playing the cranky physicist Sheldon Cooper before the series finale. Jim Parsons said in 2019 it had none “negative reason” given to leave Big Bang Theory. But now it feels like this“as if the table had been cleared”. TBBT was unimaginable without Sheldon – and that sealed the end.
CBS
Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper
Creator Chuck Lorre drew the harsh conclusions: “I couldn’t come to terms with the idea of continuing without the whole ensemble. The whole ensemble is the reason why we became so successful. It never felt right.”
So: Yes, Jim Parsons initiated the end of The Big Bang Theory. How did his co-stars react to that?
The other The Big Bang Theory stars were mad at Jim Parsons
In the book The Big Bang Theory – The definitive insider report on the cult TV series *, Leonard actor Johnny Galecki describes how disappointed he was with Parsons’ decision, as our partner site Espinof reported, among others.
There are also said to have been tensions between Parsons and Penny actress Kaley Cuoco after Parsons’ decision. According to executive producer Steve Holland, Cuoco avoided eye contact with Parsons during rehearsals. But the dispute was resolved.
CBS
Kaley Cuoco as Penny
Jim Parsons’ cool reaction to his colleagues’ disappointment
In an interview with Yahoo in 2022, Parsons commented on the discord between him and the rest of the cast. Be it “Never nice to hear that you did something that made someone angry or sad.”
However, Parsons was confident in his decision to leave the sitcom that made him a star behind him:
But I did what I had to do, and it was the best way to deal with it. To be honest, we weren’t the type of group where I felt the need to have a group meeting beforehand.
Parsons indicated here that he did not discuss his very serious decision with the rest of the cast beforehand – which of course he is not obliged to do. Nevertheless, that would explain the irritation among Kaley Cuoco and Co.
Some of the cast were able to continue their success even after TBBT ended. Kaley Cuoco, for example, starred in the thriller series The Flight Attendant. Jim Parsons was already a sought-after character actor before the series ended, but now has even more time to star in series like Hollywood on Netflix.
And who destroyed Two and a Half Men? One of the biggest series scandals explained
In the 2000s, Two and a Half Men seemed almost invincible. But then lead actor Charlie Sheen was fired after eight seasons and those in charge had to make an important decision about the future of the series. We look back on this drastic turning point in the Moviepilot podcast Streamgeström.
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