Classic Multi-Camera Sitcoms: Tv's Longest-Running Shows

The format of sitcoms has evolved drastically over the years, with some being highly politicized, and others being animated. Despite this, multi-camera sitcoms remain a staple of television. The longest-running multi-camera sitcom of all time is The Big Bang Theory, which aired from 2007 to 2019 and produced 279 episodes over 12 seasons.

The Big Bang Theory broke Cheers' record of 275 episodes

The Big Bang Theory is a comedy series created by Chuck Lorre that debuted in 2007. It revolves around a group of nerdy friends living in Pasadena, California, and stars Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, Kaley Cuoco, Simon Helberg, Kunal Nayyar, Melissa Rauch, and Mayim Bialik. The show was a frequent presence at the Emmy Awards, with Parsons winning the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series award four times.

Cheers was an NBC sitcom that debuted in 1992 and ran for 11 seasons with 275 episodes. The show starred Ted Danson as Sam Malone, a former baseball player and ex-alcoholic who owns a bar. Shelley Long played Diane, with whom Sam has an on-and-off-again love affair. The show also featured Woody Harrelson as Woody Boyd, an aspiring Midwestern bartender. Cheers led to the successful spin-off Frasier, which centred around Kelsey Grammer's character, psychiatrist-turned-radio-show-host Frasier Crane.

The Big Bang Theory's final season concluded in 2019, with a total of 279 episodes over 12 seasons. The show's popularity made it a frequent presence at the Emmy Awards, and it broke new ground by combining common sitcom tropes with a focus on science and geek culture. The show's emphasis on scientific topics and nerd culture reflected their growing popularity in pop culture at the time.

The show also spawned a prequel spin-off, Young Sheldon, which explores the early life of the character Sheldon Cooper, played by Jim Parsons in the original series. Young Sheldon has received mixed reviews from fans of The Big Bang Theory due to continuity errors, but it has nonetheless found success, with its final season set to air in 2024.

The Big Bang Theory's cast celebrated the milestone with cupcakes

The cast of The Big Bang Theory celebrated the show becoming the longest-running multi-camera sitcom in television history with cupcakes. The show's 276th episode broke the record previously held by Cheers, which ran for 275 episodes. The cast, including Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, and Mayim Bialik, took to Instagram to thank the fans for their support over the show's 12-season run.

Cuoco shared a photo of the cast gathered around a tray of cupcakes spelling out "276" on her Instagram account, expressing her gratitude for the fans' support over the years. Kunal Nayyar, who played Rajesh Koothrappali on the show, also shared a photo of his script for the record-breaking episode, calling it "a dream come true".

The Big Bang Theory's one-hour series finale aired on May 16, 2019, bringing the show's total episode count to 279 over 12 seasons. The show centred on a group of friends with quirky interests, including science and comic books, and their romantic relationships. It initially focused on five characters: Sheldon Cooper, Leonard Hofstadter, Penny, Howard Wolowitz, and Raj Koothrappali, with several supporting characters being introduced and promoted to starring roles over time.

The show's success can be attributed to its combination of common sitcom tropes with a fresh perspective on "geek culture", as well as the popularity of its characters and their quirky lifestyles. The Big Bang Theory's impressive viewership and longevity led to a prequel spin-off, Young Sheldon, which concluded in 2024, and a third series in the franchise, Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, is set to premiere in the last quarter of 2024.

The Big Bang Theory's final episode aired on May 16, 2019

The Big Bang Theory aired its final episode on May 16, 2019, bringing to an end the longest-running multi-camera sitcom in TV history. The show's record-breaking 276th episode (some sources state 279 episodes) marked a major TV milestone, surpassing the previous record of 275 episodes held by Cheers.

The cast, crew, and producers celebrated the achievement with cupcakes, and the show's Twitter account shared a photo of the cast gathered around the treats, captioned:

> "Today marks a BIG TV milestone! The #BigBangTheory is officially television’s longest-running multi-camera comedy EVER, exceeding Cheers’ previous record of 275 episodes!”

The final episode, titled "The Stockholm Syndrome", saw Sheldon and Amy receive a Nobel Prize in Physics, and Penny reveal that she is pregnant. The episode was watched by 24.75 million total viewers in the United States and received positive reviews from critics.

The Big Bang Theory combined common sitcom tropes with a fresh perspective on science and geek culture, making it a highly watched and admired show. The show's emphasis on scientific topics and nerd culture reflected its growing popularity in pop culture at the time. The quirky lifestyles and poor luck with romantic relationships of the five main characters—Leonard, Sheldon, Penny, Howard, and Raj—were a highlight of the show.

Sheldon's hyper-obsessive behaviour and socially awkward mannerisms became the highlight of the show, with thousands of fans exclaiming "bazinga" alongside Jim Parsons throughout its 279 episodes. Parsons received the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series on four separate occasions.

The show's final season provided a satisfying and appropriate conclusion to the series, with a sweet and sincere speech from Sheldon. The series finale also included a bunch of little grace notes, such as Stuart and his girlfriend/fellow comic-book nerd Denise deciding to move in together, and Amy's stylish makeover.

The Big Bang Theory was criticised for its portrayal of geeks and nerds

The Big Bang Theory is the longest-running multi-camera sitcom on TV, with 276 to 279 episodes over 12 seasons. The show's cancellation was widely celebrated, but it also received praise for its portrayal of geekdom and for helping to normalise interests that are typically associated with geek culture.

However, The Big Bang Theory has also been criticised for its portrayal of geeks and nerds. The show's pilot episode introduced two California science professors, who spent much of the episode stammering awkwardly in front of their new neighbour, or being humiliated by her ex-boyfriend. This first impression confirmed the worst fears of the geek community: that the show would be a cliché-ridden mockery of all things nerdy.

The show has been accused of perpetuating stereotypes about nerd culture, such as the idea that nerds are socially awkward, struggle with fashion, and are obsessed with comic books, video games, and science fiction. Some critics argue that the show's characters are one-dimensional and that the jokes are stale and lazy digs at nerds. The Big Bang Theory has also been criticised for portraying geek culture as predominantly male and for perpetuating the stereotype that fantasy fiction, video games, and science fiction are "guy stuff".

On the other hand, some viewers argue that the show is not an indictment of geek culture, but rather a portrayal of individual characters. They suggest that the jokes are not about entire subgroups of people, but rather about the specific characters of Leonard and Sheldon. Additionally, The Big Bang Theory has been praised for its portrayal of female characters, such as Penny, Bernadette, and Amy, who are shown to have careers, dreams, and desires, and who force the male characters to grow up and engage with the wider world.

The show has also been credited with promoting the idea that nerds are the new normal and with helping to normalise geek interests. While it may have perpetuated some stereotypes, The Big Bang Theory also provided a platform for geek culture and helped to bring it into the mainstream.

The Big Bang Theory's cast shared emotional farewell messages on social media

The Big Bang Theory is the longest-running multi-camera sitcom on TV, with 276 episodes over 12 seasons. The show's final table read and final episode taping in 2019 were both emotional affairs, with the cast sharing their feelings on social media.

Kaley Cuoco, who played Penny, posted a photo of the last page of the script with the caption, "Yea, didn't sleep." She also shared a photo of her script covered in used tissues, hinting at the emotional finale to come. In another post, she wrote, "It's an overwhelming day to say the least. All of the feelings: gratitude, sadness, joy, excitement, grief... it's the end of a huge part of our lives and the beginning of who knows what."

Jim Parsons, who played Sheldon, shared a picture of the door to his old apartment on Instagram and paid tribute to the show's fans. He wrote, "Knock, knock, knock, thank you... Thank you, apartment 4A, for being a home to so many dreams come true, to so many friendships made. And thank YOU, ALL of you – yes, YOU, reading this right NOW!"

Kunal Nayyar, who played Raj, wrote, "Thank you for your words. Thank you for your encouragement. Thank you for tuning in night in and night out... Thank you, for making us feel safe enough to be free. Thank you for letting me share my birthday on stage with my six best friends, and thank you, for you, because without you – there would be no us."

Melissa Rauch, who played Bernadette, shared a sweet cast selfie and a group hug photo on Instagram. She also posted a black-and-white image of the core cast sharing a group hug, writing, "I was always picked last for every team as a kid, so getting to be a part of a huddle – let alone this particular huddle – has been extra special. I'll forever cherish these moments with my TBBT brothers and sisters."

Mayim Bialik, who played Amy, shared a tribute to her co-star Melissa Rauch, calling her "solid gold." She also wrote about the end of the show, "It's an overwhelming day to say the least. All of the feelings: gratitude, sadness, joy, excitement, grief...It all started with a big bang."

Johnny Galecki, who played Leonard, posted a photo of an apartment door on Instagram and wrote, "It is an overwhelming day to say the least. Gratitude, sadness, joy, excitement, grief...it's the end of a huge part of our lives and the beginning of who knows what."

The cast's emotional farewell messages on social media reflected their gratitude, sadness, and love for the show and its fans as they bid goodbye to The Big Bang Theory.

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