Sitcom titan Chuck Lorre is opening up about the decision to bring his two remaining CBS comedies — Young Sheldon and Bob Hearts Abishola — to a close in 2024.
During an appearance on The Hollywood Reporter’s TV’s Top 5 podcast, Lorre first reflects on the “natural lifespan” of the Big Bang Theory prequel, which is ending after Season 7 (which will consist of just14 episodes).
“The story of this extraordinary prodigy in a small town outside of Houston, in a family where he is very much a fish out of water — that story we’ve kind of told, and the remainder of his path leading up to The Big Bang Theory happens at CalTech, in California,” Lorre explains.
“Seven years… seems like the natural lifespan of [Young Sheldon], and that was a feeling that was shared between myself and both [series co-creator/executive producer] Steve Molaro and [fellow EP] Steve Holland, who have been instrumental in keeping this thing as extraordinary as it has been.”
“I think there are so many more stories to tell,” he says. “The initial motivation for that [show] was a romance wrapped around a story of immigrants who make America great — that extraordinary, courageous effort that is made by millions of people every year who find their way in this country. I don’t necessarily feel like we were done, but that was not my call.”
Acknowledging the news that 11 out of 13 series regulars were bumped to recurring for the final 13 episodes, Lorre explains, “There were fiscal restraints imposed on the show. In order to continue making the show, the cost of making it had to be reined in, and that was the only way to do that.
“It’s not my call,” the EP reiterates. “I’m really grateful for the run that we’ve had. Five years has been terrific.”
With both Sheldon and Abishola ending this spring, Lorre is poised to head into the 2024-25 broadcast season without a show on CBS for the first time since Two and Half Men debuted in 2003. Earlier this week, he launched the new Max comedy Bookie with an assist from former Men stars Charlie Sheen and Angus T. Jones.
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