An Emotional Goodbye To ‘The Big Bang Theory”

Whether you’re a die-hard fan or an occasional watcher or you’ve never seen an episode, the show that gave us Penny, Leonard, Rajesh, Amy, Bernadette, Howard and Sheldon- The Big Bang Theory ends this Thursday with a BIG BANG!

I was there, on Tuesday at the end of April, in Burbank witnessing the tears and emotions. No matter what your relationship with the show, it was a tearful evening on Stage 25.

The cast – Johnny Galecki (Leonard), Kaley Cuoco (Penny), Kunal Nayyar (Rajesh), Jim Parsons (Sheldon), Mayim Bialik (Amy), Melissa Rauch (Bernadette) and Simon Helberg (Howard) had all been sharing emotional farewells on social media, but there was nothing quite like being on Stage 25 as the cast and crew prepared for the taping.

MC Mark Sweet asked fans to come up and share what the show meant to them, offering them chocolates for sharing their stories. From messages of tolerance, acceptance and escape it was clear what the show meant to people.
For me, this show is one I started watching in London, early mornings, after work and all weekend. I’d sit on the couch laughing and loved these characters. It was a show that I watched in London again, last year after my mother died and provided the escape and laughs that I needed.
One girl from China was now a student in Montreal. She told Sweet and the other fans that the show had inspired her academically. Another woman had been in line for over 12 hours told Sweet that she was in tech and the women of the show had inspired her professionally.

The media had gathered for a finale taping viewing party and Big Bang Theory themed cocktails were served. The colored wristbands finally made sense as we were grouped off and driven through the lot to the historic stage 25 to watch segments of the finale being taped. I caught a scene early in the episode and the atmosphere was one to be remembered.

Emotions were high as crew recorded backstage moments to savor forever. At one point, Chuck Lorre stepped on to the stage, holding the clapperboard before Galecki shot his scene.

Cuoco addressed the audience, tearful saying the show’s cast and crew were her family saying, “The Big Bang Theory will live on in our hearts forever.”

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Final group scene 💕 That’s a wrap 😭 @bigbangtheory_cbs

A post shared by Kaley Cuoco (@kaleycuoco) on Apr 30, 2019 at 11:50pm PDT

Everyone was there for the finale. The final moment. I can’t give away any spoilers (we’re embargoed!), but trust me when I say you don’t miss this Thursday’s episode of The Big Bang Theory as we say goodbye to this historic TV show. The Big Bang Theory premiered on Sept. 24, 2007 and went on to become one of the most successful multi-camera shows in history.

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💫 Final bows tonight 💫 @bigbangtheory_cbs

A post shared by Kaley Cuoco (@kaleycuoco) on Apr 30, 2019 at 11:17am PDT

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knock, knock, knock, thank you… Thank you, apartment 4A, for being a home to so many dreams come true, to so many friendships made. And thank YOU, ALL of you – yes, YOU, reading this right NOW! As we get ready to tape our final episode tonight, to walk in and out of this apartment door for the last time, it is hard to find the words to articulate what a profound experience this has been. But the words “love” and “gratitude” come to mind… so love and gratitude to all of you. ALL of you. Thank you. ❤️ (oh! and happy birthday to @sanctionedjohnnygalecki and @kunalkarmanayyar – talk about good timing… may your next 12 years be as vibrant and wonderful as the last 12 years in which i’ve had the pleasure to know and work with you both 🎉)

A post shared by Jim Parsons (@therealjimparsons) on Apr 30, 2019 at 11:45am PDT