'Big Bang Theory' coming to an end on CBS

BURBANK - There's sad news today for fans of Leonard, Sheldon, Howard, Raj, and Penny, with Warner Bros. Television announcing that the upcoming season of "The Big Bang Theory'' will be the comedy hit's last.

"We are forever grateful to our fans for their support of `The Big Bang Theory' during the past 12 seasons,'' according to a statement from Warner Bros., CBS and Chuck Lorre Productions. "We, along with the cast, writers, and crew, are extremely appreciative of the show's success and aim to deliver a final season, and series finale, that will bring `The Big Bang Theory' to an

epic close.''

Season 12, which began filming Tuesday, will debut on Monday, Sept. 24, then move back to its regular Thursday night time slot on Sept. 27.

When it ends, the show will have produced 279 episodes.

Kaley Cuoco, who stars as Penny on the show, wrote on her Instagram page that the series "has been a dream come true and as life-changing as it gets.''

'No matter when it was going to end, my heart would have always been broken in two,'' she wrote. "Drowning in tears, we promise to bring you the best season yet.''

She thanked the fans and producers of the show and added, "We are goin out with a bang.''

The show, which follows the lives of four socially awkward Caltech scientists and the women who learn to love them, debuted in 2007. It has won 10 Emmy Awards, including four lead actor prizes for Jim Parsons in 2014. But despite consistently high ratings, the show never won for best comedy series.