If that's not enough, then prepare yourself for something arguably even more exciting: a surprise ending. Attendees of the live taping of the series finale thought they saw the very last scene of the episode, but executive producer Steven Molaro revealed to ET that there's "a final scene that even the audience in the studio did not get to see." Even those who watched the finale unfold and who presumably know most of what happens in the episode can't spoil the ending!<doc-sep>(From left) The cast of The Big Bang Theory Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch have earned themselves a place at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California. NEW YORK: Peopled by geeks making physics references, The Big Bang Theory, whose finale episode airs today in the US, seemed destined at first to appeal to only a niche audience. But as the sitcom reaches its conclusion, it has become one of the top five most-watched series in the world. Focused on whether characters Sheldon Cooper and Amy Farrah Fowler will win the Nobel prize, the show is going out on top as it wraps up its 12th and final season. The Big Bang Theory has carved its place at the top of US television, with more than 17 million viewers for much of the current season, including delayed watchers - similar levels to Game Of Thrones, which comes to a close on May 19. Though it differs from most shows in its popularity and subject matter, the series still relies on a variety of tried-and-true sitcom conventions: The episodes, shot on multiple cameras, are made up of a series of punchlines interspersed by a laugh track, some of it edited in later (the show is filmed in front of a studio audience). The end of the series, which coincides with the end of ABC's Modern Family, which will finish with its 11th season next year, marks the end of an era for the genre. Sitcoms on traditional networks, such as Big Bang spin-off Young Sheldon and Mom, also the work of Big Bang creator Chuck Lorre, just do not bring in the same audience numbers.<doc-sep>After 12 seasons and 279 episodes, “The Big Bang Theory” will sign off on Thursday, May 16. But the decision to end the comedy came in August of 2018, which has allowed the cast and creative team to have a long goodbye to the series — for better or worse. “It’s like a long, drawn-out death,” says Mayim Bialik, who has played Amy Farrah Fowler since the third season finale. “It’s one thing to have a personal experience where a job of nine years — or 12, for some of the cast — ends, but we’ve done it very publicly.” Additionally, the fact that the “Big Bang” writers famously approached the show on an episode-by-episode basis throughout the years was “nerve-wracking” for the cast, adds Bialik, because although there was an awareness that they would be saying goodbye on-screen, they didn’t know how they would be signing off until the last minute. To properly service the entire ensemble — Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Melissa Rauch, and Bialik — executive producer Steve Holland says the writers crafted the final three episodes as a “road to the end.” “When we found out this was going to be the last season, we sat together and started talking about the landing place. We knew what was going to be the last piece of the finale for a long time,” he says. “One of the things that was important to us, and also the most challenging, was to make sure everyone got to shine in these last episodes.” Kicking that off is the return of Christine Baranski as Leonard’s (Galecki) mother, Beverly, on the Thursday, May 9th episode. Although Baranski has been a frequent presence on the series, it has often been via Skype as the actress filmed “The Good Fight” (and “The Good Wife” before that) in New York. This time, they were able to make things work in-person: “The Good Fight” wrapped its season a week before she was needed in Los Angeles for “Big Bang,” so Baranski was able to film her scenes on the Warner Bros. soundstage alongside the rest of the cast. “It was an absolutely beautiful episode,” Galecki says of the episode entitled “The Maternal Connection.” “I felt so dear about it, at the last minute I flew my [real] mother in from Chicago for the live audience taping, so she could be a part of it.” Galecki says the episode is “outside of any sitcom pattern” but also one that he thinks ” will be my favorite Leonard episode.” For Sheldon (Parsons) and Amy, much of the final season has seen the duo campaigning for a Nobel Prize. And while the audience may be rooting for the duo to be successful, “I would find it really delightful if they didn’t win,” Bialik says. “There’s something very sweet to the imperfection of these characters. I would welcome that kind of up in the air resolution. As a scientist who plays a scientist, I think [the attempt is] really significant. Some of the dynamics have highlighted what it’s like to be a female in this field, and I think that’s pretty special. It’s a lovely compliment to all of the fun and silliness we’ve also had.” After spending much of the early half of the series too frightened to talk to girls while he was sober, one of the big mysteries about Raj’s (Nayyar) final few episodes is whether he will make it work with his off-on love Anu (played by Rati Gupta). Prior to reading the finale, Nayyar speculated his character’s true happy ending might be more of a twist. “A very fitting ending would be if he realized the one thing he was always searching for was himself,” he says. “It would be very fitting for him to realize he is enough. So much of his evolution has been him trying to search for things on the outside. It would be very fitting if he were to come home to himself.” No matter how the show ends, the team behind the show says the episode will be emotional but not necessarily wrap everything up with a bow. “We have earned it,” Cuoco, who has played Penny since the pilot, says. “Even over the years, there have been emotional moments and there have been hilarious moments. The bottom line is people just love the characters. They love when they laugh and they’re OK when they cry and get sad. At the same time, I know the writers want these characters to live on in our lives; they don’t want some dramatic ending.” Off-screen, parting after a life-changing experience has been a slow process for the team. “It’s such a luxury as an actor to stay within one character and, in this case, tell 270-something stories. Though it’s been the same character, it’s broadened me over the years. Personally, it’s changed my family’s lives; it’s changed everything,” says Galecki. “Someone likened it to the amount of time you spend with people you go to kindergarten to high school with. It’s an interesting point to make — but that’s time spent when you’re with a kid. You spend that time in adult years [and] you’ve been together for deaths, weddings, divorces, for the nitty gritty of life. And on top of it, a show that is world-widely received. Both the gifts and the complications that come with that. That’s a bond that no one else outside of [the show] could really understand.” The group has gone through things like award shows, conventions, studio dedications, getting their hands and feet imprinted at the Chinese Theater, and other glamorous events over the show’s dozen-year run, but the actors all single out the charity work they were able to do because of “Big Bang” as one of its biggest perks. “Getting to meet and work alongside the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and the people we get to meet every month who come to tapings, the bond we’ve made with young kids whose lives are going to be cut short, was one of the most memorable things,” Nayyar says. “That [experience] was always something I looked forward to. Yes, the other things are nice, but it was a really beautiful system we had in place where we got to do this. I’m going to miss that.” Although it’s bittersweet, the team also realizes bidding farewell to a show that impacted them so much was always going to hurt. “As Kaley [has] said, we could do this 25 seasons, and it would still be difficult saying goodbye,” Galecki says. “There’s not going to be a time that comes when any of us are sick of it. This feels as right as it’s ever going to feel.” Danielle Turchiano contributed to this report.<doc-sep>
As The Big Bang Theory draws to a close, its key actors are truly raking in the cash! On May 16, fans everywhere will bid a bittersweet farewell to Penny (Kaley Cuoco), Leonard (Johnny Galecki) and the rest of the lovable, quirky cast of characters. And, although their future as actors is uncertain, they will all have a nice not-so-little nest egg to rely on as they angle for their next big or small screen gig. During the 12th and final season of CBS's hit sitcom, all five of the main cast members, including Cuoco, Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kunal Nayyer and Simon Helberg, are earning a whopping $1 million per episode, according to reports. As for supporting players like Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch, who play Amy and Bernadette, respectively, they are reportedly hauling over $425,000 per episode. In fact, the show's five stars all took a pay cut in order for them to get raises in 2017. However, even before the final season, this gang of actors was already incredibly wealthy. On Forbes' highest-paid TV actors list last year, four of the top five slots belonged to the Big Bang Theory stars. From June 1, 2017 to June 1, 2018, Galecki earned $25 million, and Helberg and Nayyer brought in $23.5 million. But, thanks to endorsements, Parsons topped the list with $26.5 million. It's the fourth year in a row that he has done so. As for Cuoco, she brought in $24.5 million over that same period, making her the second-highest paid TV actress behind Modern Family's Sofia Vergara, who brought in $42.5 million. As for how the beloved show will end, the guessing game is already in full swing, but, according to Cuoco, it's definitely going to win over fans. "I'm thrilled with [Penny's] ending, yet beginning," she told ET on the red carpet of the season premiere. "It's beautiful. There's not anything catastrophic, it's just beautiful. And the characters are gonna live on in your minds and in your hearts, and I think that's what is so special about it. It's really touching." The Big Bang Theory's finale airs May 16 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CBS, and Thursday's episode of ET -- featuring tons of exclusive content -- will be broadcast from the set of the sitcom. GET MORE TV NEWS IN THE ET NEWSLETTER Email By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy RELATED CONTENT: Kaley Cuoco Says She's 'Thrilled' With Where Penny Ends Up in 'The Big Bang Theory' Series Finale (Exclusive) 'Big Bang Theory': Kaley Cuoco and Cast Get Emotional at Chinese Theatre Handprint Ceremony 'The Big Bang Theory': Leonard Has a New Job -- Find Out What His New Role Is!