The Big Bang Theory cemented its place among the most celebrated American sitcoms, featuring an ensemble cast including Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, and Kaley Cuoco.
From diverse characters to engaging storylines, clever writing to impeccable cast chemistry, the sitcom resonated with a wide audience, garnering a strong fandom. However, behind the scenes, the show faced a major issue involving its ending.
Parsons, who played Sheldon Cooper, played a pivotal role in the show’s conclusion. His involvement led to significant tension with his co-stars, particularly Cuoco, which was evident when the cameras were not rolling.
Jim Parsons Reflected on His Exit from The Big Bang Theory
Ending the widely acclaimed show, The Big Bang Theory turned out to be a complex decision, which turned the cozy atmosphere into somewhat tense.
Running for 12 seasons, the show garnered a massive fanbase and critical acclaim, but the story behind Jim Parsons exiting the show in 2018 resulted in significant tension between him and his cast members.
Having played Sheldon Cooper for over a decade, the actor felt that he had already reached the saturation point with the role and wanted to pursue new opportunities. In the book, The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit, Parsons reflected on his decision, stating via Yahoo Entertainment,
I don’t think there was a part of me that actually thought I would do more seasons [of Big Bang] after the twelfth. I was ready to… get out of the security of the show to fully find out what was next for me.
While he had made up his mind, it had a profound impact on the show as Cooper was undoubtedly a central figure, whose intellectual prowess and unhinged satire contributed to the show’s success.
Given that every member complemented one another, continuing the show without him would have been challenging. While the network eventually accepted the decision, his co-stars found the news difficult to digest, particularly, Kaley Cuoco.
Jim Parsons’s Decision Created Tension Between Kaley Cuoco and Him
After Parsons told the producers of his decision after the table read for the season 12 premiere, it eventually reached his cast members’ ears. Jessica Radloff, author of the book, noted that the producers waited almost a week before breaking the news with the other cast members, but it left Cuoco break in tears.
In the book, Cuoco, who played Penny, an aspiring actress, expressed her feelings at the time.
We cried for hours. We thought we were going to do another year, so all of a sudden your life kind of flashes before your eyes. I looked at Chuck and said, ‘What are we going to do?’ I couldn’t breathe. It just felt like a death.
She was deeply hurt by the sudden announcement as she wanted to continue for a while, but Parsons’ announcement messed things up. Her co-star, Jonathan Galecki who plays her love interest, Leonard Hofstadter on the show, reflected that the set’s atmosphere became quite tense after that.
None of them were talking between scenes. Kaley could barely make eye contact with Jim during the runthrough, but they got through it.
The awkward atmosphere made things difficult in the first run-through, and their off-screen chemistry was notably changed.
Despite the internal conflict, the actors remained committed to delivering their best performances. While the dynamics between Parsons and Cuoco indeed took a different turn, it fortunately did not overshadow the show’s fame.
The Big Bang Theory is available on Max.
