‘The Big Bang Theory’ Renewed For Two Seasons; Mayim Bialik, Melissa Rauch Await Pay Deal

CBS has renewed "The Big Bang Theory" for two more seasons. This news comes amid the pending salary dispute from stars Mayim Bialik and Melissa Rauch.

CBS and Warner Bros. Television finally signed a two-season deal for "The Big Bang Theory" according to CNN. The renewal makes the show one of primetime's longest-running sitcoms. The show premiered in 2007. Two more seasons of the comedy take the show through Season 12. It is unclear if the show ends with 12 seasons.

The renewal has been in the works for the past months and fans thought it would not push through because of Bialik and Rauch. "The Big Bang Theory" stars had asked for salary parity with their co-stars who are earning more than they do every episode.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the original casts of "The Big Bang Theory," Kaley Cuoco (Penny), Kunal Nayyar (Raj), Johnny Galecki (Leonard) Simon Helberg (Howard) and Jim Parsons (Sheldon), earn $900,000 per episode from $1, 000, 000. They agreed to cut $100, 000 off from their respective fees to free up more funds to help provide raises for Bialik and Rauch.

Bialik (Amy) and Rauch (Bernadette) reportedly only earn $175,000 per episode. They have been on "The Big Bang Theory" for seven seasons. Their salary dispute was said to be the hurdle in the two-season renewal for the show.

Now that "The Big Bang Theory" has earned two more seasons, assumptions are that Bialik and Rauch have reached an agreement about their pay dispute. On the contrary, the stars are still awaiting final deals with CBS. It is reportedly unlikely that their request for salary parity will be granted. Instead, they are likely to get a fee of more than $400,000 per episode.

Bialik and Rauch deserve to return for the additional two seasons of "The Big Bang Theory" because they are both important to the show. The show risks a change in the storyline if they do not come back, given that Bernadette and Howard are already married. Likewise, Amy and Sheldon are now living together.