If the cast member who decided to leave was Johnny instead of Jim, would the series still end?

[Nevaeh Dibrof]

Typically when the top-billed cast member of a series leaves, whether through resignation or termination, the show goes down with them (whether through cancellation or ratings).  Ted Danson and Charlie Sheen are good examples.  In this case, Jim Parsons appears to be the Gary Coleman [or Jaleel White] of TBBT: becoming the cash cow of the series despite not receiving top billing.  And let's be realistic -- JoMarie Payton's replacement on "Family Matters" did not affect whether or not the series would last.  Everyone wanted Urkel, not Harriet Winslow.  However, Johnny Galecki is obviously just as vital as Jim Parsons, ironically opposed to JoMarie who was given her "own" spinoff series: "Family Matters."  But even though the opening credits say "Starring Johnny Galecki," would his departure really matter as much?

Edited August 28, 2018 by Lovelycoo

[Tensor]

2 minutes ago, Lovelycoo said:

Typically when the top-billed cast member of a series leaves, whether through resignation or termination, the show goes down with them (whether through cancellation or ratings).  Ted Danson and Charlie Sheen are good examples.  In this case, Jim Parsons appears to be the Gary Coleman [or Jaleel White] of TBBT: becoming the cash cow of the series despite not receiving top billing.  And let's be realistic -- JoMarie Payton's replacement on "Family Matters" did not affect whether or not the series would last.  Everyone wanted Urkel, not Harriet Winslow.  However, Johnny Galecki is obviously just as vital as Jim Parsons, ironically opposed to JoMarie who was given her "own" spinoff series: "Family Matters."  But even though the opening credits say "Starring Johnny Galecki," would his departure really matter as much?

Actually, according to Lorre, yes.   He was opposed to continuing if any of the top three left (and I would argue, at this point, if Mayim left.).  Which is why I don't really see another season, one that doesn't have Jim. 

[Jonny]

3 minutes ago, Lovelycoo said:

Typically when the top-billed cast member of a series leaves, whether through resignation or termination, the show goes down with them (whether through cancellation or ratings).  Ted Danson and Charlie Sheen are good examples.  In this case, Jim Parsons appears to be the Gary Coleman [or Jaleel White] of TBBT: becoming the cash cow of the series despite not receiving top billing.  And let's be realistic -- JoMarie Payton's replacement on "Family Matters" did not affect whether or not the series would last.  Everyone wanted Urkel, not Harriet Winslow.  However, Johnny Galecki is obviously just as vital as Jim Parsons, ironically opposed to JoMarie who was given her "own" spinoff series: "Family Matters."  But even though the opening credits say "Starring Johnny Galecki," would his departure really matter as much?

It was going to 100% end with no Jim IMO, the rest I just don't know.

I think there would have been a strong likelihood that if it had been Johnny or Kaley instead it still would have ended, but not 100% certain on that like I was with Jim.

[MsGreentea]

Probably yes,  because Lorre said so.  And in any case, I think Johnny and Kaley were staying or leaving together so the situation of losing just Johnny was not realistic.  

[MTBigBangTheoryFan]

Yes it would. You can't compare The Big Bang Theory to to Cheers or TAAHM.   While Cheers and Mary Tyler Moore Show  billed themselves as "ensemble" (they were to an extent) The Big Bang Theory is a true ensemble show much like Friends although a bit more unequal even compared to Friends but Jim, Johnny (who name actually appears first) and Kaley  share top billing.   All the actors have said they would not do the show without the other.  

And @MsGreentea is correct 

Edited August 28, 2018 by MTBigBangTheoryFan

[April]

I think the show is at a stage where the decision to end it is easier than to continue at all costs. 12 seasons is a great run and everybody knows it and retooling the whole thing so late in the game comes with great risks. So when Lorre says he wouldn't have continued without any of the big three then I believe him.

[chucky]

17 minutes ago, April said:

I think the show is at a stage where the decision to end it is easier than to continue at all costs. 12 seasons is a great run and everybody knows it and retooling the whole thing so late in the game comes with great risks. So when Lorre says he wouldn't have continued without any of the big three then I believe him.

I think that Jim, Johnny, Kaley and I'll throw in Mayim as well. For the most part they are always interacting. Simon, Kunal and Melissa not so much. So of the 7 cast members, 4 are needed and 3 can be written off. I believe a few years ago Simon and Kunal were threatened with being written off and I don't think that's changed!

Edited August 28, 2018 by chucky

[bfm]

I think they may have considered continuing without Kunal, Melissa or Simon, although personally I wouldn't want TBBT without Simon and Melissa (Kunal is a great actor but at this point I think Raj is less important to the dynamics of the characters than Simon and Melissa). Johnny, Kaley and probably also Mayim - no. I do believe though that if it were one of them who was presented as the reason for TBBT not continuing they would have gotten much harsher backlash because their parts are not as big as Jim's (we have Tensor's screen time project to prove that). If Johnny for example didn't want to continue, Jim did him a big favor.

Edited August 28, 2018 by bfm

[3ku11]

I think the real question. IS could they continue without Johnny, Jim, and Kaley? No. Simon, Kunal, Mel, and Mayim? Yes. 

[bfm]

47 minutes ago, 3ku11 said:

I think the real question. IS could they continue without Johnny, Jim, and Kaley? No. Simon, Kunal, Mel, and Mayim? Yes. 

I don't think they could continue without Mayim at this point (mot that she wanted out anyway). Without Simon or Melissa not so much because that would make him write a plot that would be too heavy for TBBT, unless it's just one season and the person appears here and there. I also think it would be weird without them. Now without Kunal I think yes. 

[mirs1]

22 minutes ago, bfm said:

I don't think they could continue without Mayim at this point (mot that she wanted out anyway). Without Simon or Melissa not so much because that would make him write a plot that would be too heavy for TBBT, unless it's just one season and the person appears here and there. I also think it would be weird without them. Now without Kunal I think yes. 

I agree, they could not have gotten rid of just one member of a couple without writing a death or a divorce, which is too sad for a sit-com like TBBT. Breaking Shamy, Lenny or Howardette up for good would have been hard on fans. Raj could have gone easily, he could have gotten a better job somewhere or returned home, it was a lighter thing to write. Anyway, IMO, it wouldn't have been TBBT without all 7 character, even if I love some more than others (and Raj is my least favourite one,  no contest here) I would have hated if they continued with the show without any of the actors.

Edited August 29, 2018 by mirs1

[Die Zimtzicke]

YES. If any of the big three left I think they would have ended it.

[Sah]

Yes...you need the top three cast members for this show to work. Plus, Chuck Lorre has said as much.

[chucky]

14 hours ago, Sah said:

Yes...you need the top three cast members for this show to work. Plus, Chuck Lorre has said as much.

That's true, plus now you would have to add Mayim to the equation since Sheldon an Amy are married now.

On 8/29/2018 at 2:26 AM, bfm said:

I don't think they could continue without Mayim at this point (mot that she wanted out anyway). Without Simon or Melissa not so much because that would make him write a plot that would be too heavy for TBBT, unless it's just one season and the person appears here and there. I also think it would be weird without them. Now without Kunal I think yes. 

Howard and Bernadette could be written of as moving to Houston with Howard working at NASA and Bernadette doing the same thing as in California. There could be one sided conversations over the phone. Just a suggestion for them leaving!

[Sah]

Truth be told, I think I would really miss Raj as well. He has made me laugh. Especially with his bromance with Howard like in Gothowitz. I loved when he had to share an office with Sheldon and the desk he got was ridiculously big and how angry Sheldon was. I enjoyed seeing his relationship with Emily and the episode that he snoops in her apartment. Too funny. I actually would be sad to lose any of the characters. I really love them all. 

[Stephen Hawking]

On 8/29/2018 at 7:36 AM, 3ku11 said:

I think the real question IS could they continue without Johnny, Jim, and Kaley?

I don't think they could continue without any of them, or indeed Mayim, and I don't include Mayim because of how much I love her.

As Sheldon's wife, I think she's now an essential part of the show.

On 8/29/2018 at 7:36 AM, 3ku11 said:

Simon, Kunal, Mel, and Mayim? Yes. 

Simon, Melissa and Kunal aren't, IMO, as essential to the show as the other 4.

The show could continue without Howard and Bernadette, or Raj, because most episodes would've still worked without them.

[chucky]

14 minutes ago, Stephen Hawking said:

I don't think they could continue without any of them, or indeed Mayim, and I don't include Mayim because of how much I love her.

As Sheldon's wife, I think she's now an essential part of the show.

Simon, Melissa and Kunal aren't, IMO, as essential to the show as the other 4.

The show could continue without Howard and Bernadette, or Raj, because most episodes would've still worked without them.

Totally Agree!

[MsGreentea]

I pretty much agree with most here, they could have written  off Howardette and Raj and still produce a show which resembles TBBT.  That is not to say it wouldn’t have taken a ratings hit. 

[The Lash]

12 seasons is a fantastic run. I have just binge watched all 11 seasons and have noticed that all the actors have obviously aged in the time.

 

I can fully understand Jim Parsons wanting to move on - I don't think the show would work with 40+ year old characters; and once all the leads are in relationships (Raj / Kunal aside) the show has kind of lost the "awkward nerd" paradigm that made it so viable and entertaining.

[chucky]

19 minutes ago, The Lash said:

12 seasons is a fantastic run. I have just binge watched all 11 seasons and have noticed that all the actors have obviously aged in the time.

 

I can fully understand Jim Parsons wanting to move on - I don't think the show would work with 40+ year old characters; and once all the leads are in relationships (Raj / Kunal aside) the show has kind of lost the "awkward nerd" paradigm that made it so viable and entertaining.

Interesting

[JohnPhD]

The show couldn't possibly have continued without JG or KC. Or rather it obviously could have been made but it wouldn't have been worth watching for the original TBBT fans.

Raj could be lost with advantage IMO, and the time advantageously filled with a bit more Stuart. Howard and Bernadette would be sadly missed, but the show could survive.

The only absolutely essential cast members are KC, JG and JP - the triangle on which the show was built. If MB had left they could have written Amy out quite easily any time up to and including 1124 - eg Sheldon realising that marriage wasn't for him. That would have thrown the structure back to more like what it was in earlier seasons, with Sheldon as the weird third wheel to Leonard and Penny. As it is I think the Shamy marriage meant the show couldn't go on long anyway, because it depends on their all living in each other's pockets to an extent that becomes less believable as each couple marries. It was already fairly unbelievable that P & L allowed the others to treat their home like a common lounge they could hang out in whenever they felt vlike it.

Edited October 24, 2018 by JohnPhD
Had written 1112 when I mean the last ep of S11

[JohnPhD]

After watching 1202, I wondered if it would be noticeably different if JG and KC had left. I wish they had, rather than put up with this treatment.

[chucky]

13 hours ago, JohnPhD said:

After watching 1202, I wondered if it would be noticeably different if JG and KC had left. I wish they had, rather than put up with this treatment.

Well, I guess the 900 Grand helped!

[Die Zimtzicke]

On 10/26/2018 at 5:43 AM, JohnPhD said:

After watching 1202, I wondered if it would be noticeably different if JG and KC had left. I wish they had, rather than put up with this treatment.

That would never happen. What job can you have where you get paid a million dollars for that little amount of work?  It is just a job, after all.

[JohnPhD]

Neither of them needs to worry about the odd million dollars. IMO KC could have been as big a movie star as eg Goldie Hawn.