The network has handed out a three-season renewal for the Big Bang Theory prequel from creators Chuck Lorre and showrunner Steve Molaro. The pickup will keep the Iain Armitage-led single-camera comedy on the broadcast network through its seventh season and the 2023-24 television season.
“Under Chuck Lorre and Steve Molaro’s deft leadership, this superb cast and gifted writers have truly brought these wonderful characters to life,” said CBS Entertainment president Kelly Kahl. “Young Sheldon dominates the broadcast comedy landscape by over 2.5 million viewers and is the lynchpin of CBS’ top-rated Thursday comedy lineup. The humor, warmth and heart exuded by the Cooper family is an undeniable hook for the millions of fans who tune in each week. We’re excited to see what the next three seasons have in store for a slightly older Sheldon and all the Coopers.”
This is Young Sheldon‘s second multiple-season renewal, with the three-season pickup giving the prequel another thing in common with Big Bang Theory. The comedy, which revolves around a young version of exec producer Jim Parsons’ Sheldon Cooper, is in the second of its previous two-season renewal. The series took over Big Bang Theory‘s key Thursdays at 8 p.m. slot and continues to be a megahit for CBS, averaging more than 9.6 million total viewers each week.
Young Sheldon is CBS’ third comedy renewal of the season and joins the Lorre-produced Bob Hearts Abishola and The Neighborhood as well as returning dramas FBI, FBI: Most Wanted and rookie The Equalizer on the network’s 2021-22 schedule. Still to be determined are the fates of Lorre-produced rookie comedies B Positive and United States of Al. The latter debuts Thursday. CBS this season will say farewell to Lorre’s critical favorite Mom, which is ending after eight seasons.
Young Sheldon is from Warner Bros. Television, where Lorre has been based for years. Sources say Warners and Lorre continue to negotiate terms of a new overall deal after his current multiple-year pact expired last summer. Lorre also created Netflix’s The Kominsky Method for the studio. That series is ending this year, too.
Lorre remains among CBS and Warners’ most important producers. He is responsible for all of CBS’ Thursday primetime originals and has generated billions of dollars for the network and studio, respectively. Additionally, Lorre and Warners cashed in with streaming sales to HBO Max for both The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon.
Young Sheldon‘s cast includes Zoe Perry, Lance Barber, Montana Jordan, Raegan Revord and Annie Potts. Lorre, Molaro, Parsons and Todd Spiewak exec produce.
Keep up with all the broadcast renewals, cancellations and new series pickups with THR‘s handy scorecard.
