how many series of big bang theory
The Big Bang Theory ran for 12 seasons.
This CBS sitcom, created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, aired from 2007 to
2019, delivering 279 episodes packed with geeky humor and heartfelt moments.
Core Facts
- Total Seasons : Exactly 12 seasons , spanning September 24, 2007, to May 16, 2019âits finale marked a cultural milestone as TV's top comedy.
- Episode Count : 279 episodes across all seasons, with each averaging 22 minutes of physics puns, comic book nods, and roommate antics.
- Why It Ended : Season 12 was the last due to star Jim Parsons opting out; CBS confirmed no Season 13 despite renewals keeping it alive through 2018-19.
Season Breakdown
Here's a detailed table of seasons, episodes, and peak viewershipânotice how ratings soared from modest starts to sitcom dominance.
| Season | Episodes | First Aired | Last Aired | U.S. Viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 | Sep 24, 2007 | May 19, 2008 | 8.34 |
| 2 | 23 | Sep 22, 2008 | May 11, 2009 | 10.07 |
| 3 | 23 | Sep 21, 2009 | May 24, 2010 | 14.22 |
| 4 | 24 | Sep 23, 2010 | May 19, 2011 | 13.21 |
| 5 | 24 | Sep 22, 2011 | May 10, 2012 | 15.82 |
| 6 | 24 | Sep 27, 2012 | May 16, 2013 | 18.68 |
| 7 | 24 | Sep 26, 2013 | May 15, 2014 | 19.96 |
| 8 | 24 | Sep 22, 2014 | May 7, 2015 | 19.05 |
| 9 | 24 | Sep 21, 2015 | May 12, 2016 | 20.36 |
| 10 | 24 | Sep 19, 2016 | May 11, 2017 | 18.99 |
| 11 | 24 | Sep 25, 2017 | May 10, 2018 | 18.63 |
| 12 | 24 | Sep 24, 2018 | May 16, 2019 | 17.31 |
Behind-the-Scenes Story
Imagine four awkward geniusesâLeonard, Sheldon, Howard, and Rajânavigating life in Pasadena, with Penny as their street-smart neighbor. What started as a quirky pilot evolved into a 12-season phenomenon , boosted by real science from UCLA professor David Saltzberg, who scripted equations for Sheldon's whiteboards. Renewals came in waves: three seasons in 2011, three more in 2014, two final ones in 2017âyet no revival despite fan chatter on forums like Reddit.
Fan Perspectives
- Die-Hards Say : "12 seasons? Perfectionâdon't mess with the finale's wedding and Nobel win!" (Echoing IMDb and wiki fans.)
- Spin-Off Fans : Young Sheldon grabbed the torch with 7 seasons (ended 2024), but nothing tops the original's 12-season run.
- Streaming Buzz : Still trending on HBO Max and TBS marathons in 2026âReddit threads debate episode counts on syndication.
No new seasons since 2019; rumors of reboots fizzle yearly. TL;DR: 12 seasons, 279 episodesâtimeless nerd fest.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.