'Big Bang Theory' Gets Two More Seasons

Rumor had it that CBS was negotiating with the cast of The Big Bang Theory to keep the hugely popular show around for at least two more seasons. This week we got confirmation that the network is officially renewing the series through a twelfth season.

There was no word that the cast's salary negotiations are actually finished, but apparently CBS is confident enough that a deal will be done to put a two-season renewal on the books. Sources say that the stars have agreed to salary figures but that Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch have not yet signed contracts. That's not expected to endanger the deal, though.

The interesting thing about the negotiation is that Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki reportedly have taken a pay cut from $1 million per episode to $900,000. Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar are also making the top-level pay grade, and the reason for the pay cut for the other three is so that Bialik and Rauch can get a raise, too. The salary for those two is expected to be somewhere near a half million dollars per episode.

Big Bang continues to be the top-rated scripted series on broadcast TV. CBS also gave a straight-to-series order last week to Young Sheldon, an upcoming Big Bang spin-off.