It’s hard to believe there are only nine episodes left of The Big Bang Theory before the show finally wraps its final episode. However, it’s starting to hit home for the cast and series lead Kaley Cuoco has especially had trouble with the series wrapping. In fact, she says she’s been a hot mess – especially compared to the rest of the cast—on the set of the comedy. She revealed on Ellen she’s been getting super emotional in recent weeks, noting,
We’ve been getting super emotional. We were doing a scene from the holiday and we were just blocking and we’re [Penny and Leonard] are the only two in it. We were just kind of rehearsing the scene and out of nowhere I just started bawling. And the crew all the camera guys and everyone came out and were like, ‘We’re so glad you cried because we’ve been waiting to cry.’ Then they all gave us this huge group hug and like we just all cried for 10 minutes.
What a touching story. Reports have indicated the decision to end the series has come from lead Jim Parsons wanting to move on and CBS deciding it was time to throw in the towel. Still, the series has been on the air since 2007 and has maintained its principle players through the show’s entire run, adding characters like Bernadette and Amy later on. The cast and crew should know each other very well at this point and this story in particular, which also includes lead Johnny Galecki, really highlights how much people can bond over 12 years on a TV show.
However, crying seems to be pretty common for the actress, who really got famous thanks to signing on to play Penny more than a decade ago. She also revealed to Ellen and the audience that if anyone tries to hug her at all in relation to the fact the show is ending, immediately the tears begin to flow. And when asked who was the most emotional person on set when it came to the show ending, everyone quickly pointed out it was Kaley Cuoco.
It’s not surprising in the least that Kaley Cuoco might be the most emotional personality on set as she’s already said plenty of touching stuff about the impending end. Judging by how some of the other characters have handled the news—the likes of Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar spend time cracking jokes—it’s unsurprising she’d be the one to bust out the tears.
In fact, while many of the series’ leads are funny in real life, even about emotional endings, Jim Parsons did admit he’s fully expecting to cry at some point down the line even if he’s stuck with being humorous about the end so far. He also said on Ellen,
I haven’t cried yet and I have a very deep fear, seriously that I’m going get that the most unexpected thing is going to happen and I’m going to absolutely lose my shit. It really is profound, a time in your life –more than I think any of us can get a grip on –I’m worried that it’s going to trigger me deep down and suddenly it’s going to be like, ‘Oh I didn’t know that was there, it hurts,’ you know?
We’ll have to wait and see whether or not Jim Parsons gets emotional before the end. We do know he’ll in particular miss Simon Helberg, with whom the actor has shared a lot over the past 12 years. The actor has also already expressed why he felt it was time to let go of the long-running CBS sitcom. He said previously:
It's both as complex and as simple as just feeling innately that it was time. It speaks to a lot of things, none of them bad. There is no negative reason to stop doing Big Bang. It felt like we have been able to do this for so many years now, it doesn't feel like there is anything left on the table. Not that we couldn't keep doing it, but it feels like we've chewed all the meat off this bone. I guess at a personal level, it feels like the right time in my life. I don't know what's next for me. It's not like there is something specific I am aiming for. I'm firmly in my middle age now. I don't know how much longer I can wear [the T-shirts] without looking really long in the tooth.
There are two schools of thought when it comes to shows ending on network TV. The first is that a show should go out while it is still on a high note, which is arguably why the likes of Seinfeld and other shows ended when they did. Then there’s the school of thought that shows should go on as long as the leads are happy and people are still watching, which is how shows like Criminal Minds or Supernatural have been on the air for so long.
Honestly, The Big Bang Theory has had a great run. Twelve seasons is nothing to regret or to be sad about. However, it’s likely because the cast has been together for so long and spent so much time together that the fact life will be changing is overwhelming and emotional for cast members like Kaley Cuoco.
Change can be good, but it can also be bittersweet. That's what we are seeing right now as The Big Bang Theory slowly makes its way to the end. Still it's not the first long-running show and it won't be the last to do so.
Luckily, it’s not something the cast has to face just yet. The end can be something that is considered in the abstract for a little longer as the series approaches the end of filming and the last round of press before its final bow. The same is true for the audience, which can continue to tune in on Thursday nights at 8 p.m. ET, only on CBS.
And hey, even when it’s all over, at least there should be more Young Sheldon to look forward to.
