# The end for The Big Bang Theory? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2014, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969 "2014-07-24T20:55:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969/21 "2014-07-25T14:15:22Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > Frankly, I think Alex (Sheldon’s former assistant) is a much better match for Leonard then Penny. I completely agree. Leonard and Penny have nothing in common and almost zero chemistry together. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969/22 "2014-07-25T14:18:32Z")
People finding it in syndication has made it the top rated Sitcom on TV. It is a cash cow for all involved. They will pay to keep it going. As I wrote above the actors will get more money, it is a question of when not if. ---
**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:** [July 25, 2014, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969/23 "2014-07-25T14:25:39Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > That’s looking at the IMDB ratings by episode. If you look at the [viewership numbers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Bang_Theory#U.S._standard_ratings), they’ve actually grown over time, from 8.31 million per episode in the first season to about twenty million per episode in the most recent season. As I said, numbers that high are unusual these days. And those rising numbers probably explain the three-season renewal. Another way to think of those viewership numbers; twenty million viewers an episode is about what M_A_S\*H got in its best season, and about what Seinfeld got in its first four seasons. The Big Bang Theory is doing amazing numbers, so there’s no way they won’t come to an agreement. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969/24 "2014-07-25T14:54:05Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > That’s looking at the IMDB ratings by episode. If you look at the [viewership numbers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Bang_Theory#U.S._standard_ratings), they’ve actually grown over time, from 8.31 million per episode in the first season to about twenty million per episode in the most recent season. As I said, numbers that high are unusual these days. And those rising numbers probably explain the three-season renewal. I know, but Charlie Wayne specifically mentioned ratings, so that’s what I addressed. Plus I like that tool 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Nonsuch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nonsuch/32/2922_2.png) [@Nonsuch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nonsuch)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969/25 "2014-07-25T15:04:22Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > I think the writers ruined Stuart’s character. Earlier in the series he was a successful business owner, an artist who had works shown in art shows, and dated Penny. Then he became an unfunny, depressed and basically suicidal character. The original Stuart was much more interesting. Agreed. They might as well write Stuart out if he’s nothing but a self-pitying mope anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969/26 "2014-07-25T15:48:06Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > At the end of last season Howard hired Stuart to take care of his mother. I suspect that will be an ongoing gag next season, but you never know. I smell spin-off. Or maybe that’s the brisket with pearl onions. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969/27 "2014-07-25T15:53:15Z")
Getting rid of the comic book shop has to have been part of re-booting Stuart. Not that devoting himself to Howard’s mom is necessarily going to be the end of it. But I think they’re re-booting Sheldon, too - not just going to deal with the finding-himself tour with a “Hey, you’re back” scene in Ep 1 next year. No idea where they’re taking him. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969/28 "2014-07-25T16:04:28Z")
Once the show does end, I want all of the cast to get killed—in a big crunch, through heat death, getting ripped apart, anything like that. That’d get me started watching again… ---
**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:** [July 25, 2014, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969/29 "2014-07-25T16:17:56Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > Once the show does end, I want all of the cast to get killed—in a big crunch, through heat death, getting ripped apart, anything like that. That’d get me started watching again… Cartooniverse had the [best idea.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17574988&postcount=36) ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969/30 "2014-07-25T16:23:01Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Cartooniverse had the [best idea.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=17574988&postcount=36) OK, that would be pretty awesome. But I’m afraid it’ll just go out with a whimper… ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969/31 "2014-07-25T16:30:16Z")
> [@QuickSilver](#): > > Stewart is the only one I can tolerate lately. Sheldon is great but the writing is so tired on the show that I simply don’t care about most of the characters anymore. Entropy, huh? ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969/32 "2014-07-25T20:12:32Z")
about Comic-Con panel Big Bang Theory: Star Wars Reunion, Hope for Amy and Sheldon > **[Big Bang Theory: Star Wars Reunion, Hope for Amy and Sheldon](https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/news/big-bang-theory-star-wars-reunion-hope-amy-182400213.html)** > > The Big Bang Theory, one of the TV shows most at home at Comic-Con, kicked off its panel on Friday with a clip from the Season 7 episode in which Sheldon (Jim Parsons), Leonard (Johnny Galecki), Howard (Simon Helberg) and Raj (Kunal Nayyar)... ---
**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:** [July 25, 2014, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969/33 "2014-07-25T20:23:24Z")
The second anybody ends up pregnant on the show is the last time I’ll ever watch it. So what are the odds that Sheldon bankrolls Stuart in opening a new comic book store, and maybe tries his hand at business instead of dead-end physics? ---
**Author:** ![ataraxy22](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ataraxy22/32/307_2.png) [@ataraxy22](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ataraxy22)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969/34 "2014-07-25T20:44:02Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The second anybody ends up pregnant on the show is the last time I’ll ever watch it. Even if it’s Sheldon that ends up pregnant? Maybe through some science project that went horribly wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969/35 "2014-07-25T20:45:23Z")
You all are probably right that it won’t be the end. I’ve never watched _Friends_, but I read about them asking for raises as a team. Isn’t that kind of when the show started to go downhill though? ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2014, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969/36 "2014-07-25T20:51:49Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > So what are the odds that Sheldon bankrolls Stuart in opening a new comic book store, and maybe tries his hand at business instead of dead-end physics? I would honestly be shocked if this isn’t where the show goes next season. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969/37 "2014-07-26T01:04:19Z")
I’d like to see Stuart apply his art school training and his comic book knowledge into a career as an illustrator. ---
**Author:** ![yellowjacketcoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/4bbf92/32.png) [@yellowjacketcoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yellowjacketcoder)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969/38 "2014-07-26T01:40:58Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > You all are probably right that it won’t be the end. I’ve never watched _Friends_, but I read about them asking for raises as a team. Isn’t that kind of when the show started to go downhill though? [They started asking for raises as a group before the third season](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friends#Cast) ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969/39 "2014-07-26T02:43:04Z")
> [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](#): > > Once the show does end, I want all of the cast to get killed—in a big crunch, through heat death, getting ripped apart, anything like that. That’d get me started watching again… More likely, though, they will just drift apart and lose all contact with one another. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4bbf92/32.png) [@Charlie\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2014, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969/40 "2014-07-26T04:12:01Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > The [trendline for the entire series’ ratings](http://graphtv.kevinformatics.com/tt0898266) doesn’t seem to indicate any such thing. The last season did have the most negative trendline, but was also the most wildly fluctuating season in terms of ratings, I think. But overall, the ratings remain high - tick the series checkbox. You’ll see there’s a negative trend (I’m sure most long-sunning series would have this) but “terminal slump” is just ridiculous hyperbole. Set the axis to 1-10, not autoscale, and the trend is near-flat. Try comparing it to the original shark-jumping show, [Happy Days](http://graphtv.kevinformatics.com/tt0070992). I certainly don’t doubt your numbers. Perhaps there is just a small group of viewers who feel the show has jumped the shark? Perhaps it’s just folks like QuickSilver and myself? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-end-for-the-big-bang-theory/693969.md?page=3)