As Johnny Galecki gravely foreshadowed at the very beginning of this year, The Big Bang Theory is going to come to an end in 2019 after the conclusion of its 12th season—which begins next month. That will put the show at 279 episodes, securing its spot as the longest-running muti-camera comedy in TV history and ensuring that reruns will continue to air in syndication for years and years and years. A joint statement from Warner Bros., CBS, and Chuck Lorre Productions said that they’re “forever grateful” to the fans who have supported The Big Bang Theory for this past decade, and they’re planning to bring the show to an “epic creative close.” We’re not sure what that means, but it sounds like the team has some big stuff planned for the end of this show, which shouldn’t be too hard to accomplish given its knack for pulling in big-name guest stars.
Back in January, Galecki noted, “everyone’s very comfortable with 12 seasons being a good time to go home and see our families,” though he said no official talks were happening. It’s also worth pointing out that CBS was reportedly in talks to renew the show for a 13th season just a few months ago, but those talks evidently didn’t work out.
The beginning of the end for The Big Bang Theory will happen with its season 12 premiere on September 24.