Don’t spend the season wondering whether the The Big Bang Theory TV show on CBS will be cancelled or renewed for season 13. CBS announced the 12th season is the final season, back in August. Despite declining numbers over the years, the comedy has remained the Tiffany Network’s top scripted performer in terms of both its demo rating and total audience size. Even though the spin-off, Young Sheldon, is successful in its own right, its freshman season didn’t quite live up to the original. We’ll keep an eye on the ratings. To find out whether news that the The Big Bang Theory is ending dilutes the audience, or brings back old viewers for a great big sendoff, stay tuned.  

A CBS sitcom, The Big Bang Theory stars Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Mayim Bialik, Simon Helberg, Melissa Rauch, Kunal Nayyar, and Kaley Cuoco. The story revolves around a group of brilliant scientists who are still somewhat socially inept, despite their progress over the years. The final season kicks off with not only Leonard (Galecki) and Penny (Cuoco), and Howard (Helberg) and Bernadette (Rauch) married, Sheldon (Parsons) and Amy (Bialik) are also now joined in connubial bliss.

The ratings are typically the best indication of a show’s likelihood of staying on the air. The higher the ratings (particularly in the 18-49 demo), the better the chances for survival. This chart will be updated as new ratings data becomes available — usually the next day, around 11:30am EST/8:30am PST. Refresh to see the latest.

5/17 update: You can see the latest night’s ratings in context.

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For comparisons: The 11th season of The Big Bang Theory averaged a 2.74 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 14.041 million total viewers (live + same day ratings).

Note: These are the Live + Same Day Ratings which include “live” viewing plus delayed DVR viewing, up until 3am local time that same night. Ratings marked with an “*” are the fast affiliate ratings and will be updated with the Live+SD numbers when they are made available. Typically, networks get paid for C+3 ratings which includes DVR viewing within three days of the original airing when commercials are watched. Those numbers are rarely released to the press.

What do you think? Do you still like The Big Bang Theory TV series? Is this CBS TV show ending at the right time, or do you think it should have been renewed for a 13th season?