CBS
"The Big Bang Theory"
- "The Big Bang Theory" airs its final episode on Thursday.
- The series and "Roseanne" were the two biggest shows of 2018 based on Nielsen ratings, but both were canceled.
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The series finale of "The Big Bang Theory" airs on Thursday, concluding the longest-running multicamera series of all time.
After 12 seasons, the sitcom was still one of the most popular shows on TV. It was the second-highest-rated series of 2018 according to Nielsen ratings, only behind "Roseanne."
And both of those shows were canceled.
Actor Jim Parsons decided not to renew his contract last year, putting the final nail in the show's coffin and walking away from $1 million an episode. The final season premiered in September.
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"It was the first time in my life of doing this show that it occurred to me that I might want to not do another contract after [season] 12 was up," Parsons told The Hollywood Reporter."I don't know if it's because I'm an Aries or just because maybe I'm in touch with myself. Whatever it is, once I had that thought, I was like, 'Well, that's your answer.'"
The "Big Bang Theory" universe isn't dead, though. "Sheldon," a prequel series, was among the most popular shows last years, as well.
"Roseanne" held tight the entire year as the biggest show of 2018 after it premiered in March. The revival was quickly canceled after one season after the show's star Roseanne Barr tweeted a racist remark at former Obama adviser Valerie Jarrett. It was replaced with a spin-off named "The Conners," which premiered in October to lower, but not bad, ratings.
Below are the nine biggest shows of 2018, according to Nielsen ratings: