Parsons talking with Stephen Colbert | Photo: YouTube/The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
LGBTI actor, Jim Parsons, is the reason why the most popular television show in history is ending.
The news that CBS’ sitcom, The Big Bang Theory, would end in 2019 quickly went viral. TBBT will end its triumphant run as TV’s longest-running multi-camera comedy in history with 279 episodes. It is one of the most watched TV comedies in the world averaging 18 million viewers since its sixth season in the US alone.
But it was revealed this morning that the reason the show was ending was because its star, Parsons, wanted out, according to a report in EW.
“We are forever grateful to our fans for their support of The #BigBangTheory during the past twelve seasons…” pic.twitter.com/OWIHsICi6e
— The Big Bang Theory (@bigbangtheory) August 22, 2018
Parsons who plays Dr Sheldon Cooper on the show makes about US$1 million per episode. He is the highest paid actor on TV along with his co-stars Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Kunal Nayyar, and Simon Helberg.
TBBT centers around the life of physicist Cooper and his equally nerdy friends who share an apartment in Pasadena, California. Cuoco’s character, Penny, started the show as the scientists’ neighbor and an aspiring actress.
‘We are forever grateful to our fans for their support of The Big Bang Theory during the past 12 seasons,’ said Warner Bros. Television, CBS and Chuck Lorre Productions in a joint statement.
‘We, along with the cast, writers and crew, are extremely appreciative of the show’s success and aim to deliver a final season, and series finale, that will bring The Big Bang Theory to an epic creative close.’
Jim Parsons, LGBTI star
Parsons was a relatively unknown actor when TBBT started in 2006.
But he has become one of the most sought after actors winning critically acclaimed roles in film and on Broadway. Parsons will continue to do voice-over for TBBT’s spin-off show, The Young Sheldon.
For his role as the neurotic physicist Parsons has snagged a multitude of awards including, four Emmys and one Golden Globe.
Parsons would have stood to make a minimum of $50 million if he agreed to stay on with TBBT. But he decided to leave the show, and is yet to make his reasons public.
Although he never hid his sexuality, Parsons, said he was ‘delighted’ when the New York Times outed him in 2012.
Since then he has publicly advocated for LGBTI rights and called for better media representation of LGBTI people.
In 2017, he finally married his partner of 14 years, Todd Spiewak, in an intimate ceremony at the Rainbow Room in New York City
The 12th and final season of TBBT starts on 24 September.
