With more than 20 million fans - and hefty new paychecks - the stars of TV's most popular show, The Big Bang Theory, talk to PEOPLE in this week's cover story about their loves, lives and incredible friendships.
As the series enters its eighth season on CBS, perhaps luckily for everyone involved, success didn't happen overnight. Though Johnny Galecki (Leonard) and Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting (Penny) had built a reputation on hit sitcoms like Roseanne and 8 Simple Rules, the rest of the show's stars including Simon Helberg (Howard), Melissa Rauch (Bernadette) and Kunal Nayyar (Raj) were largely unknown when it premiered in 2007. (Mayim Bialik, who plays Amy in the show, best known for her gig on Blossom, joined in season 3).
Though the comedy was a strong performer during its first three seasons, it only exploded in popularity once reruns began airing in syndication in 2011.
By the end of season 7, it had become the most-watched comedy on TV.
"We were really fortunate that it wasn't jarring in any way," says Jim Parsons (Sheldon) who has now joined the ranks of Michael J. Fox and Kelsey Grammer with a fourth Emmy for his portrayal of a socially awkward theoretical physicist but says the transition from just-happy-to-have-a-job-actor to sitcom superstar felt gradual enough that "it was allowed to be a celebration of, 'Isn't this wonderful? Instead of being, 'Isn't this frightening?'"
After tense contract negotiations this past summer, Parsons, Galecki and Cuoco-Sweeting signed on for another three years, during which time they'll earn a whopping $1 million per episode. (Nayyar and Helberg are now netting somewhere in the $700,000-per-episode range; Bialik and Rauch already had deals in place.)
"No one's being overpaid," executive producer Chuck Lorre said adamantly.
"They bring so much joy to so many people's lives. Of course they should be rewarded."
With the show returning for its hour-long premiere Sept. 22 on CBS, the cast is mostly excited about returning to work among friends - and maybe just a little excited for those big fat paychecks.
"We're so close, and it's a great group of people who leave their egos at the door," says Cuoco-Sweeting.
*Also in this week's People*:
Inside Sherri Shepherd's Baby Drama
Barbra Streisand On Marriage: "It's Not Easy. It's Work, But It Comes With Rewards"
'People' Names Taylor Swift "Best Dressed Of The Year"
src of http://www.starpulse.com/news/Kevin_Blair/2014/09/21/kaley_cuoco_jim_parsons_big_bang_theo
src of http://www.starpulse.com/news/Kevin_Blair/2014/09/21/kaley_cuoco_jim_parsons_big_bang_theo
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