The “The Big Bang Theory” prequel received a multi-year renewal on March 30.
Chuck Lorre and “The Big Bang Theory” franchise he co-created continues to pay dividends for CBS. The network announced Tuesday it has renewed single-camera sitcom “Young Sheldon,” from Lorre and showrunner Steve Molaro, to continue anchoring its Thursday night lineup for another three years.
The new deal means the show, which has aired 11 episodes from its fourth season to date, will be broadcast on CBS through at least the 2023-24 TV season, ensuring the sitcom runs a minimum of seven years.
"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."
Starring Iain Armitage as 11-year-old Sheldon Cooper, “Young Sheldon” serves as a prequel to “The Big Bang Theory,” the top-rated CBS sitcom which ended after 12 seasons in 2019. Jim Parsons, who played the older version of Sheldon in the “The Big Bang Theory,” serves as executive producer and narrator of “Young Sheldon.”
“Young Sheldon” has been a solid ratings earner for ViacomCBS, averaging about 9.6. million viewers per episode, according to CBS, and prior seasons are featured on streaming app HBO Max, so it’s no surprise the show has gotten a lengthy renewal. This also isn’t the first time the program has gotten a multi-year renewal, as the sitcom’s third and fourth seasons were greenlit together back in 2019.
At the start of the show’s fourth season, Sheldon is on summer vacation after graduating from Medford High School in Texas, where his father, George Cooper Sr., works as the school’s football coach. As the season progresses, Sheldon begins his undergraduate studies on scholarship at fictional East Texas Tech under the tutelage of Dr. Grant Linkletter, played by Ed Begley Jr.
Lance Barber plays George Cooper Sr., while Zoe Perry, Montana Jordan, Raegan Revord, Annie Potts and Matt Hobby round out the main cast. The series, which premiered in 2017, is produced by Chuck Lorre Productions with Warner Bros. Television Studios.
New episodes of “Young Sheldon” air at 8 p.m. Eastern on Thursdays. Episodes from the current season are also streaming on Paramount+, which until recently was known as CBS All Access.