$50 Million Reportedly Wasn’t Enough for Jim Parsons to Stay on Big Bang

Courtesy of CBS.

With The Big Bang Theory coming to a close next year, its cast is about to experience a big bang of their own. (Sorry.) The show’s original actors have called this series home for more than a decade, and saying goodbye will almost certainly be a major adjustment. But one cast member was reportedly very ready to leave—so ready, in fact, that he turned down more than $50 million to stay for two more seasons, catalyzing the show’s cancellation. After all, what would Big Bang be without its biggest breakout star, Jim Parsons?

According to Entertainment Weekly, CBS tried to secure the sitcom’s original cast members—Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Kunal Nayyar, and Simon Helberg—for two more years, with a deal that would have nabbed each actor $50 million including profits. CBS Entertainment President Kelly Kahl told reporters earlier this month that the network was trying to renew the show, saying, “We don’t believe it’s the final year.” Parsons, however, was apparently ready to move on—an understandable desire for anyone who’s played the same character for 12 years. A representative for Parsons did not immediately respond to V.F.’s request for comment.

One person who seems very sad to be leaving the show? Cuoco reacted to the news on Instagram Wednesday night, writing that she was “drowning in tears.”

“This ride has been a dream come true and as life changing as it gets,“ Cuoco wrote. “No matter when it was going to end, my heart would have always been broken in two. Drowning in tears, we promise to bring you the best season yet. To the fans, our crew, families, Chuck Lorre, Warner Brothers , CBS, and everyone who has supported us for so many years, thank you. We are goin out with a bang.”

Nayyar also penned his own farewell: “As you may already know... and for those of you who don’t. This will officially be Big Bang Theory’s last season. After season 12 we will be the longest running multi camera sitcom in the history of television. There are no words in any language that can describe what my heart wants to say... The love that I feel for all of you is boundless. Without you the fans there would be no us. Tonight I sleep with a prayer of gratitude on my lips. This isn’t goodbye... yet... still 23 eps to shoot!”

And in a joint statement Wednesday, Warner Bros. Television, CBS, and Chuck Lorre Productions wrote, “We are forever grateful to our fans for their support of The Big Bang Theory during the past 12 seasons. We, along with the cast, writers, and crew, are extremely appreciative of the show’s success and aim to deliver a final season, and series finale, that will bring The Big Bang Theory to an epic creative close.”

The 12th and final season premieres September 24, and will conclude next May.

That show is one of the best I've ever seen, and it gave me a whole lot of laughs.

I like the show but 12 seasons is a long time. Hated when Penny cut her hair

The novelty wore off after season 2 here. Also its hard to watch when you have 3 ad breaks of 4 minutes long each in a so called 30 minute programme which is just 16 minutes when you figure in all the ads and opening and closing songs. Ad breaks are so long and so numerous, that you forgot what is going on in the show if anything.

.

The amount of ads on free to air TV is just so excessive people are turning them off and homes without TVs are becoming more common here at least (New Zealand)

RodeoSchro said:

That show is one of the best I've ever seen, and it gave me a whole lot of laughs.

Totally agree Rodeo. My husband and I have watched it from the beginning. We've seen re-runs of re-runs too and still laugh out loud each time we watch regardless of how many times we've seen an episode. Such a great show. We will really miss this one.

kpowers said:

I like the show but 12 seasons is a long time. Hated when Penny cut her hair

and so did she. She added extentions as the show progressed.

It's a one trick pony. It's literally as bad as someone standing on a piano and jumping on the same key for 12 straight years.

Opinions - what are they like? Oh yeah, they're like assholes because everyone's got them.

Can't say I was an avid fan but I got a kick out of it from time to time. I know most people loved Penny but I liked bossy Bernadette best, and Amy. Hopefully that elevator will get fixed if it hasn't recently been fixed.

TrivialPursuit said:

It's a one trick pony. It's literally as bad as someone standing on a piano and jumping on the same key for 12 straight years.

well dang. it was fun while it lasted!

XxAxX said:

well dang. it was fun while it lasted!

It will live on forever in syndication

kpowers said:

XxAxX said:

well dang. it was fun while it lasted!

It will live on forever in syndication

re-run immortality!

XxAxX said:

kpowers said:

It will live on forever in syndication

re-run immortality!

[Edited 8/28/18 10:44am]

wtf?^

Its been a great show over the years ... I damn near wet myself laughing when Sheldon hid in the sofa dressed as a zombie!

I still enjoy it now, but more due to the fact that its like catching up with old friends ... can't remember the last episode I watched that really had me laughing, it been a couple of season at least.

One thing my missus and I always debate is whether the guys in the show could actually get with ladies that stunning in real life? Maybe I'm being shallow, but I have my doubts!

Hope they show more of Zack in the last season. I like him on the show

XxAxX said:

kpowers said:

It will live on forever in syndication

re-run immortality!

Purplegarden said:

The novelty wore off after season 2 here. Also its hard to watch when you have 3 ad breaks of 4 minutes long each in a so called 30 minute programme which is just 16 minutes when you figure in all the ads and opening and closing songs. Ad breaks are so long and so numerous, that you forgot what is going on in the show if anything.

.

The amount of ads on free to air TV is just so excessive people are turning them off and homes without TVs are becoming more common here at least (New Zealand)

Then he passed on making a million dollars a minute

I worked on this show and they run a TIGHT SHIP!

kpowers said:

XxAxX said:

well dang. it was fun while it lasted!

It will live on forever in syndication

they had a good run and the show never jumped the shark.

ChocolateBox3121 said:

I worked on this show and they run a TIGHT SHIP!

More details please

...I donno,....the idea of caricaturising geeks is, I would say,...not a very inventive idea, doesn't take a whole lot of imagination, and the show aimed for quite a few cheap laughs doing that. However, some of it was quite.....*watchable*, and even fun, too!