Bazinga: CBS has renewed “The Big Bang Theory” for two seasons, as anticipated.
For weeks, network head Leslie Moonves had been saying 48 additional episodes were basically booked. The official announcement was all a matter of getting the cast’s contracts in order, and so here we are.
CBS (and its advertisers) love “Big Bang” so much, the so-called Tiffany Network is spinning it off into a prequel next fall. “Young Sheldon” will tell the backstory of Jim Parsons’ popular character. He’ll narrate as adult Sheldon, while Ian Armitage will play the 9-year-old version.
Created by Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro, the new series follows Sheldon Cooper, living with his family in East Texas and going to high school pretty early. Jon Favreau will direct and executive produce the first episode. Zoe Perry, Lance Barber, Raegan Revord and Montana Jordan will co-star.
“The Big Bang Theory” is TV’s top comedy, a slot it has claimed for a number of years. This season, the sitcom is averaging a whopping 19.4 million total viewers, with a 5.1 rating/19 share in the advertiser-covered 18-49 demographic. Those Nielsen numbers include one week of delayed viewing, where available.
The hit series stars Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch. Lorre, Bill Prady and Molaro are executive producers. The series is from Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc., in association with Warner Bros. Television. Lorre and Prady are series creators.