American film director and television writer Chuck Lorre (Mom, Disjointed) has spoken out about the decision behind the cancellation of his last two CBS comedies, Young Sheldon and Bob Hearts Abishola, in 2024. According to TV Line, Lorre was guest on The Hollywood Reporter’s TV’s Top 5 podcast, where he spoke on the “natural lifespan” of the Big Bang Theory backstory, Young Sheldon. The series will end after season seven and will have 14 episodes.
“The story of this extraordinary prodigy in a small town outside of Houston, in a family where he is very much a fish out of water — that story we’ve kind of told, and the remainder of his path leading up to The Big Bang Theory happens at CalTech, in California,” said Lorre. “Seven years… seems like the natural lifespan of [Young Sheldon], and that was a feeling that was shared between myself and both [series co-creator/executive producer] Steve Molaro and [fellow EP] Steve Holland, who have been instrumental in keeping this thing as extraordinary as it has been.”
However, during the podcast, Lorre seemed less pleased about CBS’s decision to conclude Bob Hearts Abishola after its fifth season.
“I think there are so many more stories to tell,” he says. “The initial motivation for that [show] was a romance wrapped around a story of immigrants who make America great — that extraordinary, courageous effort that is made by millions of people every year who find their way in this country. I don’t necessarily feel like we were done, but that was not my call.”
Lorre also brought up the news that 11 out of 13 series regulars were bumped to recurring for Bob Hearts Abishola’s remaining 13 episodes; to this news, he stated, “There were fiscal restraints imposed on the show. In order to continue making the show, the cost of making it had to be reined in, and that was the only way to do that.”
”It’s not my call,” Lorre restated. “I’m really grateful for the run that we’ve had. Five years has been terrific.”
Considering that both series end in the spring, Lorre will go into the 2024-25 broadcast season with no show on CBS since Two and a Half Men premiered in 2003.
Yet, earlier this week, Lorre debuted his new Max comedy series, Bookie, with guest appearances from Two and a Half Men’s very own Charlie Sheen (Anger Management, Hot Shots!) and Angus T. Jones (The Rookie, See Spot Run).
Bob Hearts Abishola’s fifth and final season debuts on Monday, Feb.12 at 8:30/7:30c and ends on May 13. Meanwhile, Young Sheldon premieres on Thursday, Feb.15, at 8 pm and concludes on May 16.