The Big Bang Theoryended in 2019, but the show’s universe has continued through its prequel series. DramedyYoung Sheldonran for 7 seasons, chronicling the story of Sheldon Cooper’s childhood in Texas, andGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, a romantic comedy series following the young marriage of Sheldon’s older brother, has been renewed for a second season. Now we are finally getting the first spin-off to focus on supporting characters fromThe Big Bang Theory’s original run.
Kevin Sussman is coming back to play Stuart Bloom, the comic book shop owner in the as-yetuntitledBig Bang Theoryspin-off series. Lauren Lapkus will return as Denise, Stuart’s girlfriend and assistant manager, alongsideJohn Ross Bowie’s theoretical physicist Barry Kripkeand Brian Posehn’s geologist Bert Kibbler. However, unlike the previousBig Bang Theoryspin-offs, this Stuart-centric series will stream on Max (formerly HBO Max) instead of airing on CBS. Not many details have been released, but I’m worried that the spin-off being on Max means the series will be fundamentally different from the rest of the franchise.
Warner Bros. Wants To Boost Max Subscription Numbers
In an interview withThe Ankler’s Leslie Goldberg, CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach emphasized that CBS was never approached about the Stuart-led spin-off. Instead, Warner Bros., one of the spin-off’s production companies, developed the project directly with Max. Because ofThe Big Bang Theory’s ongoing success, every distributor will want a piece of the expandingBig Bang Theoryfranchise universe. Since Max and Warner Bros. TV both operate under Warner Bros. Discovery umbrella, it makes sense that the spin-off landed there.
Considering Chuck Lorre’s long-standing relationship with CBS, it’s surprising that network executives were caught off guard by the spin-off’s development.
The Big Bang Theoryremains hugely popular on streaming, andYoung Sheldonracked up billions of minutes viewed when it was licensed to Netflix toward the end of its run. Considering Chuck Lorre’s long-standing relationship with CBS, it’s surprising that network executives were caught off guard by the spin-off’s development. However,this move is clearly designed to boost Max’s subscriptionsand streaming numbers. Logically, viewers who streamedThe Big Bang Theorywould be the most likely audience for a continuation focused on its supporting characters.
I Didn’t Want Another Big Bang Theory Spinoff But I’m Increasingly Being Convinced By It
I admit, I was skeptical at first, but after learning more about Chuck Lorre’s new The Big Bang Theory spinoff, I’m starting to warm up to the idea.
Meanwhile, CBS will still have a presence inTheBig Bang Theoryuniverse—Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriagehas been renewed for season 2. While little is known about the tone or storytelling approach of the Stuart spin-off, it may be better suited for streaming than for network television. CBS could still benefit by airing episodes in syndication, creating a mutually beneficial arrangement for both Max and CBS/Paramount+.
The Next Big Bang Theory Spin-Off Will Almost Certainly Have Way Fewer Episodes
Max Tends To Have Seasons Of 10 Episodes Or Fewer
12
279
7
141
2
44
n/a
Max
Mindy Kaling’s series illustrate this shift:The Mindy Project, which aired on Fox before moving to Hulu, ran for 117 episodes across six seasons, with its network seasons averaging over 20 episodes each. Similarly,Young Sheldonon CBS will conclude with 141 episodes over seven seasons, averaging more than 20 episodes per season. Meanwhile, Kaling’s Max streaming seriesThe Sex Lives of College Girlsendedwith only 30 episodes across three seasons.
Given that Max has greenlit seasons as short as six episodes,The Big Bang Theoryspin-off will likely follow a much shorter season format than its network predecessors.
Hacksis Max’s most successful comedy, winning multiple Emmys, and is set to premiere its fourth season, with each season running 8–10 episodes.Our Flag Means Death, a quirky pirate comedy, developed a devoted fanbase on Max but was canceled after two seasons totaling 18 episodes. Given that Max has greenlit seasons as short as six episodes,The Big Bang Theoryspin-off will likely follow a much shorter season format than its network predecessors.
The Big Bang Theory’s Next Spinoff Will Lose Out With A Lower Episode Count
Comedy Thrives On Familiarity & Filler Content
A shorter episode count for the untitledBig Bang Theoryspin-off on Max means the show will miss out on one of the key strengths of long-running network sitcoms: a sense of comforting familiarity. Traditional network sitcoms thrive on routine, airing for months at a time, creating an ongoing presence in viewers’ lives. Thislongevity allows characters to evolve naturally, storylines to unfold at a gradual pace, and writers to experiment with different dynamics, side plots, and even the occasional“filler”episode that still adds to the show’s charm.
Chuck Lorre’s The Big Bang Theory Spinoff Will Feature The Original Sheldon & Leonard
The Big Bang Theory’s expansion series, which will be a true spinoff to the flagship, will feature Chuck Lorre’s original Leonard and Sheldon.
Network sitcoms likeNew Girl,The Office,Friends, andBrooklyn Nine-Ninebuilt dedicated audiences over time by leaning into this structure. Their long episode counts meant they had room for everything from major character arcs to lighthearted, lower-stakes episodes that became fan favorites in rewatches. Without 20+ episode season orders, the iconicBrooklyn Nine-NineHalloween Heist episodeswould never have happened. These sitcoms have found second lives on streaming, in part because their vast libraries make them easy to drop into at any point.
New episodes ofGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriageair on CBS every Thursday at 8:00-8:30 PM ET/PT.
A Max-producedBig Bang Theoryspin-off, likely with just 10 episodes per season, won’t have this same ongoing presence. While this show might be more plot-heavy, that risks feeling less immersive and rewatchable over time, missing out on the slow-burn charm that allowed characters like Howard Wolowitz and Penny to organically grow overThe Big Bang Theory’s many seasons.
The Big Bang Theory’s Spinoff Does Have One Advantage To Help Its Episode Count
Audiences Already Know & Like Stuart, Denise, And The Other Returning Characters
Even though the untitled upcomingBig Bang Theoryspin-off on Max will likely have a much lower episode count than its CBS predecessor, it has one major advantage:we already know and like the characters.Stuart and Denise’s relationship inThe Big Bang Theorywas a rare bright spot in his often unlucky life. Denise, a confident and geek-culture-savvy comic book store employee, was a perfect match for Stuart, bonding over their shared love of comics and pop culture. Denise brought out a more confident side of Stuart, encouraging him to embrace his interests without insecurity.
Stuart Bloom
Kevin Sussman
Owner of The Comic Center of Pasadena. Stuart was happily in a relationship with Denise, as they were moving in together.
Denise
Lauren Lapkus
Stuart’s girlfriend and his assistant manager at the comic book store.
Bert Kibbler
Brian Posehn
A geologist at Caltech who won the MacArthur Fellowship earlier in TBBT.
Barry Kripke
John Ross Bowie
A plasma physicist and string theorist at Caltech with a distinctive speech impediment. He is often antagonistic towards Sheldon Cooper.
Stuart had more screen time than Bert, the lovable but socially awkward geologist, or Barry Kripke, the arrogant yet oddly endearing physicist and Sheldon’s long-time rival and workplace nuisance. Both Bert and Kripke were still working at Caltech atthe end ofThe Big Bang Theory, but without a definite ending for these characters, a spin-off seems ripe to explore their stories. Having a built-in familiarity acts as a shortcut, making the shorter episode count less of a hurdle.
Knowing the characters means the spin-off can jump right into fresh storylineswithout excessive setup, maximizing its potentially limited screen time. Instead of spending episodes defining their quirks or relationships, the show can focus on delivering the humor and dynamics fans already love. Stuart’s awkward charm, Kripke’s speech-impeded arrogance, Bert’s lovable rock-enthusiast personality, and Denise’s geek-culture cool have already been established over multiple seasons ofThe Big Bang Theory,viewers don’t need to spend time getting to know them—we’re already invested.
