The end for The Big Bang Theory?

[Accidental_Martyr]

@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.

[Quimby]

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.

[Dewey_Finn]

@Dewey_Finn

That’s looking at the IMDB ratings by episode. If you look at the viewership numbers, 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 MAS*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.

[MrDibble]

@Dewey_Finn

That’s looking at the IMDB ratings by episode. If you look at the viewership numbers, 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

[Nonsuch]

@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.

[Son_of_a_Rich]

@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.

[ElvisL1ves]

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.

[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…

[silenus]

@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.

[Half_Man_Half_Wit]

@silenus

Cartooniverse had the best idea.

OK, that would be pretty awesome. But I’m afraid it’ll just go out with a whimper…

[Bryan_Ekers]

@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?

[johnpost]

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

[silenus]

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?

[ataraxy22]

@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?

[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?

[Justin_Bailey]

@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.

[Ranger_Jeff]

I’d like to see Stuart apply his art school training and his comic book knowledge into a career as an illustrator.

[yellowjacketcoder]

@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

[njtt]

@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.

[Charlie_Wayne]

@MrDibble

The trendline for the entire series’ ratings 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.

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?