Jim Parsons' decision to leave The Big Bang Theory caused lots of chaos behind the scenes. Although the likes of Simon Helberg understood and agreed with the exit, the actor, like most of the other cast, were not ready for such an announcement, given that the actor hadn't even hinted at it behind the scenes.
The likes of Johnny Galecki grew frustrated with Jim and his lack of hints about a departure, heading into season 12.
In the following, we'll take a look at how the cast felt about his exit, and why Simon Helberg didn't blame Parsons for the show coming to an end. We're also going to reveal why Jim Parsons kept things secretive, not warning the cast ahead of time.
According to the actor, a major reason for this was due to the fact that on a business level, things were different between the cast. Unlike Friends, which did everything together. Parsons revealed that the shows weren't so similar from a behind the scenes point of view.
Jim Parsons Decision To Leave The Big Bang Theory Caught The Cast By Surprise
During season 12, most of the cast expected a renewal into season 13. At that point, negotiations still hadn't taken place and once the table reads started for season 12, Jim Parsons knew it was time to make an announcement about his future to the creators and cast.
Not only was it a tough decision for Parsons, but it was one that caught the entire cast by shock. Kaley Cuoco instantly cried following the reveal, and almost avoided the tapings the following day, given the hurt she was experiencing.
As for Johnny Galecki, he decided to hug his co-star, but initially, the actor wasn't pleased at all, given the lack of communication between Parsons and the rest of the cast.
"We're a family; have a conversation. And I don't even disagree with how Jim felt, because in many ways, I felt the same way. I just disagreed with how it was managed," Galecki stated.
As for Jim Parsons, he had his own take on why the decision wasn't discussed with his fellow castmates.
Jim Parsons Has A Reason For Not Warning The Cast About His Departure
The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series contained lots of juicy behind the scenes details, especially the breakdown involved when it came time to end the series.
Parsons would make a revelation of his own in the book, stating that when it came to contracts and business, the cast wasn't exactly close.
Unlike Friends, who went into negotiations as a team and demanded the same amount, $1 million per episode, the actor revealed it was a different story on The Big Bang Theory.
Buzz Feed writes, "Jim noted that as much as they were often compared, The Big Bang Theory was "a different situation" than Friends, and there was a different level of communication when it came to the business side of things, which is one reason why there wasn't a larger cast discussion before the decision was made."
The actor would also reveal that he was expecting to announce his departure when negotiations for the following season would begin. However, that moment never came, and according to the actor, heading into a new season was never discussed.
The Creators Had No Intention Of Continuing On Once Jim Parsons Announced His Exit
Simon Helberg would take Jim Parsons' side of things, especially when it came to those blaming the actor for ending the show. According to Helberg, Parsons was simply honoring his contract, and his intent wasn't to end the show.
However, according to showrunner Steve Molaro, continuing on wasn't even considered following once Parsons decided on his exit.
“There was never a question about continuing on without him,” Molaro said.
“The show was this ensemble and the thought of doing some strange version without him didn’t seem right.”
It was a tough way to end things but thankfully, the cast was able to bring things together for the sake of the final season. Although Cuoco wasn't happy with Parsons, it is said that when the two worked together on-set following the ordeal, it seemed as though nothing had happened.