“The Big Bang Theory” and CBS have reached a substantial deal that will bring the sitcom back for another two years. Currently in its 10th season, “Big Bang” will get 48 more episodes, which will keep it on the air through season 12. It had been reported by our sister site Variety that the renewal hinged on cast members Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch, who have been paid substantially less than their co-stars and were seeking a raise.
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Bialik and Rauch, who joined the show in season three, were making $200,000 per episode, compared to $1 million per episode for original cast members Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar. The higher paid cast members agreed to a pay cut to fund a raise for Bialik and Rauch, and while a deal hasn’t been finalized with the two actresses as of this writing, it is expected soon according to Deadline.
“The Big Bang Theory” remains a ratings and revenue behemoth, averaging 19.4 million viewers and bringing in more than $1 billion for Warner Bros. TV in syndication deals. It has earned four Emmy nominations for Best Comedy Series (2011-2014). Star Parsons has won Best Comedy Actor four times (2010-2011, 2013-2014), tying the record held by Michael J. Fox, Kelsey Grammer and Carroll O’Connor. And Bialik has been nominated four times for Best Comedy Supporting Actress (2012-2015).
In addition to two more seasons of “Big Bang,” CBS has already ordered the prequel “Young Sheldon” straight to series. The spinoff will follow Parsons’s character as a youngster played by “Big Little Lies” child actor Iain Armitage.
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