This image released by CBS shows Kunal Nayyar, from left, Simon Helberg, Melissa Rauch, Jim Parsons, Mayim Bialik, Johnny Galecki and Kaley Cuoco appear in a scene from the long-running comedy series "The Big Bang Theory." The popular series will end in 2019. (Erik Voake/CBS via AP)
NEW YORK (AP) --
CBS says the upcoming 12th season of "The Big Bang Theory" will be the last.
It's the most popular comedy on television.
The series began about geeky physicist roommates portrayed by Jim Parsons and Johnny Galecki and expanded to include their friends, girlfriends and then wives. Other stars include Mayim Bialik and Kaley Cuoco.
Parsons' work on the show has earned him four Emmy awards and a Golden Globe. CBS also airs a prequel about his character called "Young Sheldon."
There's also a UCLA scholarship created by and named for the series to support undergrad study in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Tom Llamas appears on NBC's Today show at Rockefeller Plaza in New York on Sept. 3, 2021. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)
NBC News appointed Tom Llamas on Wednesday to replace Lester Holt as anchor of "Nightly News" starting this summer, but he's not abandoning his streaming newscast.
The elevation of Llamas, 45, was widely anticipated. He has been Holt's chief substitute on the broadcast news summary since switching from ABC to NBC in 2021. He's also essentially the lead anchor for the NBC News Now streaming service, hosting the one-hour "Top Story" show.
Holt said last week that he was stepping down from "Nightly News" after a decade. He plans to stay at the network to work at "Dateline NBC."
"Tom has the winning combination of journalistic excellence, passionate storytelling and unyielding integrity — all characteristics that have long been trademarks of NBC `Nightly News,' said Janelle Rodriguez, NBC News' executive vice president of programming.
That leaves ABC's David Muir as the longest-serving evening news anchor at "World News Tonight," as well as the ratings leader. CBS News earlier this year replaced Norah O'Donnell with the team of John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois.
While news is a far different environment from the days Walter Cronkite was beamed into millions of homes at dinnertime, the ABC, CBS and NBC newscasts collectively reach more than 10 million viewers a night. The anchors are generally considered the face of the broadcast news divisions.
Llamas will be the first to take that role while retaining his job on the streaming service. His "Top Story" newscasts will begin each weeknight after "Nightly News" ends.
