# Big Bang Theory -- Conclusion Airs Tonight, May 16, 2019! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 16, 2019, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053 "2019-05-16T13:53:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/161 "2019-05-23T16:39:37Z")
John Ross Bowie’s (Kripke) main gig these days is _Speechless_, where he plays against Minnie Driver. His occasional appearances on BBT of late were pretty much just him slumming it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/162 "2019-05-23T16:49:49Z")
Speechless was cancelled last week, so it’s not continuing. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/163 "2019-05-23T16:51:37Z")
Not anymore, sadly: Speechless, Splitting Up Together, I Feel Bad and The Kids Are Alright all just got cancelled. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/164 "2019-05-23T16:54:57Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally Posted by DrDeth > > But look at the cast of Seinfeld, how many were really successful afterwards? > > 😕 Most of them? Julia Louis-Dreyfus has had a stellar post-_Seinfeld_ career. Seinfeld is basically retired, doing concert dates and his web show when he feels like it (and, FWIW, I applaud him for that). Jason Alexander has done a slew of guest spots, many in shows I’ve never heard of, and a bunch of voice-over work. He’s headlined three series — one lasted a season, another had 9 episodes, and the third just 8 episodes. Michael Richards went back to standup, and then his career imploded when he was recorded shouting a racist rant at a heckler from the stage. One out of four is not “most.” > [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Same with Friends. > > 😕 Most of them? Jennifer Aniston has been in a whole bunch of movies, most not very memorable. She got good reviews for her two Nicole Holofcener movies, _Friends with Money_ and _Enough Said_, but they were indie films — not many people saw the first, and most saw the second because it was Gandolfini’s last movie. The only thing she was in that was really successful was _Horrible Bosses_, in which, IIRC, she had two scenes. Courtney Cox headed one series, _Dirt_, that lasted just shy of a season, and another one, _Cougar Town_, that ran for six seasons but never got good ratings and was demoted from network to cable halfway through its run. Lisa Kudrow had two series, _Web Therapy_ and _The Comeback_ that got very good reviews and very few viewers. Matt LeBlanc’s _Friends_ spin-off tanked, he was great in _Episodes_ but it wasn’t a highly rated show, and _Man with a Plan_ is crap but it seems to be doing well, so I’ll give you that one. Matthew Perry had _Studio 60_ (1 season), _Mr. Sunshine_ (1/2 a season), and _Go On_ (1 season) before he hit with _The Odd Couple_, which wasn’t very good (and his performance was astoundingly bad), but it did last three seasons. David Schwimmer has the shortest post-Friends IMDB list of the lot, with some guest shots, a well-regarded O.J. Simpson mini-series, a network series that lasted 10 episodes, and a recent seven-episode arc on _Will & Grace_. Two\* out of six is not “most.” And just to be clear, I’m not trying to throw shade. I liked _Seinfeld_, loved _Friends_, and greatly respect both casts (except maybe Richards). I enjoyed _Episodes_ and _Cougar Town_, _Studio 60_, _Friends with Money_ and _Enough Said_. I’m just trying to be realistic and answer the question marks above your emoji. \*LeBlanc = 1, Cox = 1/2, Perry = 1/2 ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/165 "2019-05-23T17:06:51Z")
How does Jennifer Aniston not rate as successful post-Friends? She’s the _most_ successful from that cast. I agree that Matt LeBlanc is also clearly successful. (Episodes was one of my favorite shows.) Courtney Cox headlined a sitcom for six seasons. Ratings, schmatings: Any sitcom that lasts for six years is successful. By my count, Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc and Courtney Cox were all clearly successful post-friends. A half-point for Matthew Perry seems fair, so I get 3.5 out of 6. (I don’t think Lisa Kudrow and David Schwimmer want to do any more work than they’re actually doing, so it’s not a dig at them that they aren’t headlining they’re own shows.) ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/166 "2019-05-23T17:32:23Z")
Again, the stars of Friends, The Big Bang Theory and Seinfeld all made enough money that they don’t _need_ to do anything they don’t want and from what I’ve heard, acting in a regular television series is a grind. So I can understand that some don’t want to do that again. Plus, the odds are poor are that any television series will be successful. So I can well understand why some (most?) have not had another multi-season hit show or big-time movie career. Also, these actors are well-known names now, so someone casting for a new show may choose to hire unknown actors instead of them, as the unknown actors are going to be cheaper. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/167 "2019-05-23T17:32:50Z")
> [@Cayuga](#): > > David Schwimmer has the shortest post-Friends IMDB list of the lot, with some guest shots, a well-regarded O.J. Simpson mini-series, a network series that lasted 10 episodes, and a recent seven-episode arc on _Will & Grace_. … 😕 … and 4 Madagascar movies w/ related shorts and a number of directing and producer credits. And that would not count any stage work he has done. Acting is not all IMDB. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/168 "2019-05-23T17:40:15Z")
I agree; I just checked Schwimmer’s Wikipedia bio and it mentions quite a bit of stage acting and directing, in Chicago, New York and London. As for Matthew Perry, I’ve heard rumors that he’s had issues with drug and alcohol addiction, so that may have held him back. And Matt LeBlanc was also on Top Gear, but sadly chose to leave that. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/169 "2019-05-23T17:44:57Z")
It seems to me that a few of you are equating a successful post-top ten sitcom career with having another, just as successful, TV series. If that is the criteria then, no, I don’t think they’ll be “successful”. But that’s a pretty rigid and short-sighted view of success. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/170 "2019-05-23T18:30:20Z")
> [@Cayuga](#): > > David Schwimmer has the shortest post-Friends IMDB list of the lot, with some guest shots, a well-regarded O.J. Simpson mini-series, a network series that lasted 10 episodes, and a recent seven-episode arc on _Will & Grace_ I saw Schwimmer in a Lokingglass Theater production of “Our Town” about 10 years ago, which he also directed. It was an excellent show, and he did a fine job, even if he was a bit old for George Gibbs. He has said that his real passion is stage acting. He has all the money he’ll ever need, so he’s following that passion. Good for him. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/171 "2019-05-23T18:32:23Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > even if he was a bit old for George Gibbs. Holy crap, what vanity casting. At this stage in his life, Schwimmer should be thinking more along the lines of [Leroy Gibbs](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364845/reference). ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/172 "2019-05-23T20:45:44Z")
> [@Cayuga](#): > > Matt LeBlanc’s _Friends_ spin-off tanked, he was great in _Episodes_ but it wasn’t a highly rated show, and _Man with a Plan_ is crap but it seems to be doing well, so I’ll give you that one. > > Matthew Perry had _Studio 60_ (1 season), _Mr. Sunshine_ (1/2 a season), and _Go On_ (1 season) before he hit with _The Odd Couple_, which wasn’t very good (and his performance was astoundingly bad), but it did last three seasons. LeBlanc also did 3 seasons on _Top Gear_. But in terms of sheer quality, his run on _Episodes_ tops all the other ex-_Friends_ by a mile. Which is just surprising. The new _Odd Couple_ show was initially on CBS Thursday at 8:30. Like Letterman used to say about that slot in the NBC glory days: You could put melting cheese on in that slot and it would be a hit. Once it was moved to Mondays (still not a bad slot on CBS), the ratings went way down and it was clear that it had to be canceled. (The iciness between the two leads when they appeared together on talk shows was amazing.) I wouldn’t put this show in the plus column for anyone involved. I would have preferred the melting cheese. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/173 "2019-05-23T22:22:31Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > It seems to me that a few of you are equating a successful post-top ten sitcom career with having another, just as successful, TV series. If that is the criteria then, no, I don’t think they’ll be “successful”. But that’s a pretty rigid and short-sighted view of success. Exactly. Just because most of the casts of \*Seinfeld \*& \*Friends \*didn’t have another just as popular smash blockbuster #1 series doesn’t mean they didn’t go on to have successful careers. They all have done much work since, and are still given leads in series that bank on their name recognition. I don’t know how someone can say that doesn’t qualify as “successful.” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/174 "2019-05-23T22:24:59Z")
So Mr Armstrong, what have _you_ done since 1969? Not much, eh? What a loser. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/175 "2019-05-23T22:32:50Z")
Not everybody can be David Boreanaz or Alyson Hannigan. Some have to settle for millions of dollars and lots of residuals. Or they stay in the business as voice actors and make bank without early morning calls or hours in the makeup chair… ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/176 "2019-05-23T22:35:55Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Holy crap, what vanity casting. At this stage in his life, Schwimmer should be thinking more along the lines of [Leroy Gibbs](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0364845/reference). Mary Martin was 46 when she played Maria in _The Sound of Music._ You know, stage acting is different. It’s ACTING! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/177 "2019-05-23T22:49:57Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Mary Martin was 46 when she played Maria in _The Sound of Music._ And she played Peter Pan, a prepubescent boy, when she was 41. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/178 "2019-05-23T23:31:52Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > How does Jennifer Aniston not rate as successful post-Friends? She’s the _most_ successful from that cast. Sadly, Jennifer Anniston only ranked #3 on [Forbes list of highest paid actresses of 2018](https://www.forbes.com/pictures/5b746648a7ea43757f2c5b56/3-jennifer-aniston/#39a7640b78e2), earning only $19.5 million (Behind Angelina Jolie and Scarlet Johansson). She was #2 on the list in 2017, behind only Emma Stone. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2019, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/179 "2019-05-23T23:57:47Z")
[Moderating] > [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Agreed. In fact I will volunteer to go first. 🙂 The thing about equity between the sexes is that it goes both ways. Just as we’re trying to discourage men drooling over the appearance of women, let’s also try to discourage women drooling over the appearance of men. I realize that the former is much more common, and that there are probably many instances of it that the moderation staff isn’t noticing (probably more unnoticed drooling men than the sum total of drooling women), but the solution to that is for the men to become more aware and restrained, not for women to become less so. ---
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2019, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053/180 "2019-05-24T00:04:43Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > Mary Martin was 46 when she played Maria in _The Sound of Music._ > > You know, stage acting is different. It’s ACTING! Barbara Eden was almost 49 while playing Jeannie in the last year “I Dream of Jeannie” was on the air (in fact, she was a little older than Larry Hagman (who, to tie this comment to the one I’m replying to, even more, was Mary Martin’s son)) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-conclusion-airs-tonight-may-16-2019/834053.md?page=10)