You know what the most popular show on streaming was in Nielsen’s most recent ratings? The Big Bang Theory. That’s right. More than seven years after it ended, fans spent more than 1.1 billion minutes consuming Big Bang Theory content in a single week. If you’re keeping score at home, that was more than 200 million more minutes than any other current or former television show.

The Big Bang Theory has put up 1 billion plus weeks before. In fact, the two ratings periods prior to this win both had more than a billion minutes viewed, but July 27th to August 2nd, which is the most recent ratings period, was the first time the show ever topped the overall streaming charts, which is especially impressive for a thirty minute sitcom.

It’s also pretty impressive for a show with a complicated legacy to put it nicely. The Big Bang Theory was the most popular show on television at its peak and had its share of success at the Emmys, picking up four nominations for Best Comedy and four Lead Actor wins for Jim Parsons. From that angle, it shouldn’t exactly be a surprise that it’s still breaking records, but you could also argue that, from another angle, The Big Bang Theory is perhaps the most hated on show in the last few decades, at least amongst the most successful ones.

Perhaps because it was shot in front of a live audience at a point when most other shows had stopped doing that. Perhaps because it was written with a style of rapid fire jokes also reminiscent of a bygone era. Perhaps because it was mostly about nerds. Perhaps for many reasons, The Big Bang Theory has been a punching bag for a segment of the population. To this day, things are said in polite company (and even to the actors) about the show that no one would ever say about the other top shows of its era. It’s almost like there’s this assumption that anyone who really cares about prestige television couldn’t possibly watch The Big Bang Theory.

I’m not going to sit here and say I’m the biggest Big Bang Theory fan in the world. I’ve seen a hundred or so scattered episodes, and I’ve enjoyed it well enough. I’ve also been reflexively defensive because some of the criticisms are so over the top and outrageous, but there’s always been at least a part of myself that has understood the negativity.

But at what point are we just going to admit that The Big Bang Theory clearly works for its intended audience? Very few shows over the last few decades have attracted more eyeballs and made more money than The Big Bang Theory, and yet, networks have been unable to replicate the formula. The mix of ingredients just works perfectly to execute the exact vision it’s trying to execute, and that’s obviously a sign that it’s spectacular at what it’s trying to do.

I’m not saying you need to go out and binge The Big Bang Theory if you don’t want to. I’m just saying maybe this is a moment where we should all collectively reassess the show and say it’s clearly a banger, even if it’s not for me.

The Big Bang Theory has consistently been watched in massive numbers since it hit streaming, but numbers in recent weeks have been especially robust because of the premiere of the spinoff show Stuart Fails To Save The Universe. To the surprise of no one, the spinoff has been landing with its intended audience, and there’s a lot of hope it could wind up having a long and successful run too, as it’s already been renewed. You can watch it and increase those Big Bang Theory streaming numbers on HBO Max.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Stuart Fails To Save The Universe episode "Spoiler: Corn Is Delicious." Stream the episode with an HBO Max subscription and read at your own risk!

Stuart Fails To Save The Universe continues to impress me, especially with its latest example of how it subverted the expectations of the usual high-stakes adventure. After a version of him was killed off in the premiere, Raj returned to tell Stuart Bloom just how much time he has to save humanity, and the answer is quite a lot by human standards.

Raj stood on a street corner in the latest episode, which showed Denise and Stuart enjoying life in a universe in which humans had four stomachs like cows. Stuart was briefly perturbed when the scientist explained to him that the multiverse is in jeopardy, and that universes on the furthest reaches of the galaxy were rapidly disappearing. That worried both characters, until Raj clarified they had centuries left before humanity was erased.

Stuart and Denise began to laugh, and the tension broke instantly. Sure, the universe was coming to an end, but it wasn't happening until long after both of them were dead. Raj was appalled by their reaction, but I couldn't quit laughing.

The stakes are high in Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, but unlike some of the best action movies, this is not a race against the clock. Stuart could spend the rest of his life failing to save the universe and pass the responsibility onto his future generations, who can carry on his mission. I was expecting a much more urgent answer when Raj dropped that bomb, and now all I can do is laugh.

I love the answer, not just because it plays on the relative urgency of thrillers, but because it means that Stuart Fails To Save The Universe never has to get all too serious. With centuries before all of existence is destroyed, there's plenty of time to play around in these fun worlds and figure out why some of them look shockingly similar to The Matrix.

Stuart tried to end his mission entirely, but the Stuart from The Big Bang Theory's continuity showed up and told him he's not allowed to do that. He also gave him a replacement quantum device, which would merge with the one Kripke and Bert left with and were falling endlessly through time with. It didn't make sense, which makes me wonder what the larger story is behind all of this.

So far, Stuart Fails To Save The Universe continues to live up to the hype of being so much better than The Big Bang Theory. The comedy and unexpected violence and swearing brought me in, but now I'm invested in figuring out the deeper mystery of what's going on. Is there someone pulling the strings, and why is there so many unexplained mysteries going on?

Hopefully, we'll get more of those answers before Season 1 ends. We already know Season 2 is on the way, and I can't wait to see what other reveals and cameos are in store.

Kunal Nayyar’s net worth is estimated in the $45 million range. A huge swathe of that portfolio comes from his work on The Big Bang Theory, which made him one of the highest paid people on television through the last few years of the CBS sitcom. Despite the money he already has in the bank, he’s still working crazy 16-hour days on the regular.

Such is the life of an actor, as Nayyar would be the first to tell us. In fact, he did tell fans in an interview with Fortune, mentioning he’s still lucky to be in the Hollywood business after so many years.

A lot of the work the actor has done in recent years are projects that would still appeal to a lot of The Big Bang Theory fans. In the last couple of years he popped up with his former co-star Melissa Rauch, in the now (sadly) canceled Night Court. More recently, he made a splashy-but-short appearance in an early episode of Stuart Fails to Save The Universe.

In between that, he’s a mainstay in the Trolls franchise, he filmed a holiday movie, and he has one give Up and Comer currently in post-production. When he’s not bopping around, he does admit life is pretty simple. He likes waking up at 5 a.m. and having a coffee. He likes napping from 3-5 p.m. every day, and he eats dinner at home every week night.

So, sure, his net worth is impressive, but the actor is still working hard. In a separate, but related story, the actor said some months ago he’s started using his wealth to pay others’ medical bills. He said at the time, money has given him “greater freedom,” which is true both of his daily schedule and his ability to do things for others.

Meanwhile, it's not as if The Big Bang Theory cast just quit working hard after the show ended in 2019. Kaley Cuoco's been no. 1 on the call sheet for several subsequent TV shows, including the acclaimed The Flight Attendant, and again with Based on a True Story and her latest Vanished. Jim Parsons taken key roles in films like Spoiler Alert, and also done a large swathe of theater work over the last seven years. Rauch starred in Night Court. Mayim Bialik tried her hand at Jeopardy!. Simon Helberg's been all over small TV roles.

Even if they weren't working, though? They do have that crazy re-run money coming in, and I doubt that will change anytime soon.

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn't yet caught up on Stuart Fails to Save the Universe through Episode 5 via HBO Max subscription.

By and large, I'm aligned with audiences who prefer Stuart Fails to Save the Universe to The Big Bang Theory, largely because of its bonkers storyline and notable uptick in NSFW jokes. I'm digging the cameos, I'm digging the different dimensions the characters get dropped into, and I'm digging the way Bert seems to keep getting dealt a winning hand in these other-worlds. However, one major character arc hasn't been sitting right with me, and I really hope there's a sensible and believable explanation for it.

I Don't Like That Stuart Has Been With Several Versions Of Denise So Far

I take no issue with the general idea of a lovelorn Stuart struggling to reconnect with his prime-world love, and I think it's a fun concept for a setting-swapping series like this. But I feel like I must have missed a scene at some point where Stuart directly explains why he's perfectly fine latching onto any version of Denise that he comes across, and why that doesn't bother him at all. Did such a scene actually take place? I didn't think so.

As such, I don't quite understand what's happening in Stuart's head, and why he thinks it makes emotional and logical sense to bond with every Denise regardless of what kind of life they were living before he, Bert and Kripke burst into that particular universe. I guess he's working from the perspective of "any port in a storm," but that's kinda gross, even without sex involved.

Had Lauren Lapkus' Denise from Episode 1 bounced out of that universe with the other three and stuck with them, I probably wouldn't have as much of a problem, since it would present a semblance of stasis. But that one stayed behind, leading Stuart to then divulge his transdimensional travels to the boozing Denise from the AI universe. I'm mostly assuming she's the same Denise that leaves the shattered island paradise with the guys at the end of Ep. 5, but I'm not necessarily convinced that she'll be the one that sticks around until the end. Which is more than a little ew in certain respects.

I Hope Denise 3.0 Addresses This Awkward Situation Soon

The themes in the spotlight during Episode 5 seemed to help put my concerns at the forefront of the mind, given the concepts of sharing, possession, monogamy, and (to a lesser extent) consent. Everyone in this remote area is so used to communal sharing that Bert and Kripke cause immediate chaos with their "individual-first" behavior and teachings. And it stands to reason that Stuart's group is having a net-negative impact in every universe they travel to, and I think all the various Denises are part of that.

To be sure, I don't feel like Lapkus' performance makes Denise come across as victimized or troubled, or else it would be a far more awkward show to watch. But I do hope that the character (or any character, really) takes a minute to sit Stuart down and question what his long-term intentions are with Denise 3.0, and what will happen if they make it back to the OG universe where OG Denise is.

I'm desperately wondering that myself at this point. Is the idea that, if and when Stuart actually sets everything straight with Leonard and Sheldon's device, everyone will return to their rightful universes without any overarching issues to worry about? Or like, is there a situation where both OG Denise and Denise 3.0 could co-exist in the Big Bang Theory-verse? Are we dealing with Timecop rules here where one of them explodes if they touch?

Only half of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe's first season is left, so the clock is ticking in regards to Denise's story getting sorted out comfortably. Find new episodes hitting HBO Max every Thursday night at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Stuart Fails To Save The Universe episode "Spoiler: Bert Gets Married." Stream the episode with an HBO Max subscription and read at your own risk!

When I first learned John Ross Bowie's Barry Kripke was going to be in the main cast of Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, I was worried. The Big Bang Theory had a number of memorable minor characters during its run, and while Kripke was fun, he was definitely one that was best enjoyed in small doses. Fortunately, I love the spinoff, and I think Kripke is one of the main reasons why.

As the latest episode to hit the 2026 TV schedule showed Kripke corrupting a utopian society by introducing the ideas of possession and capitalism, I have to give the writers a round of applause for how they've fleshed out the character. As surprised as I was by the first trailer for the show, I'm even more surprised at how they pulled off this character transformation for the classic foil to Leonard and the gang on TBBT.

Kripke Was A One-Note Villain On The Big Bang Theory, But Thrives On Stuart Fails To Save The Universe

Kripke appeared in twenty-five episodes of The Big Bang Theory and was generally seen as a cartoonish rival to Sheldon Cooper. Most jokes revolved around his rhotacism, or the speech impediment that led to him saying anything that has an "r" sound with a "w." He was also known to be a chauvinistic sex hound, which the staff also played on a bit.

John Ross Bowie's character was fine in The Big Bang Theory, but I wasn't sure how Stuart Fails To Save The Universe could elevate what felt like a one-note character. That was before I knew the show would include swearing and violence, and I shut up pretty quickly when Kripke ended up killing Raj in the first episode. As it turns out, the shift in themes allowed the spinoff to crank up Kripke's personality, and thus far, the writing team has done it in the best way possible.

Everything in the spinoff is an homage to the character in The Big Bang Theory, but maximized for comedic effect. I particularly like the reveal that Kripke is bisexual, something that The Big Bang Theory never touched on but perfectly plays into the character's personality. I also love just how cartoonishly evil he can be in a wilder show, and how the show has executed that thus far.

I Hope He Never Changes

So many shows push to see their characters change or develop over the course of their adventure. I don't think that needs to happen with Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, because the chaos that Kripke brings to the table is just so good.

If Kripke were to become a fully trustworthy character on Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, it'd take away some of the magic that's made the show great thus far. Ultimately, I like the fact that he's mainly looking out for himself each week, and sometimes causing trouble whether it's intentional or not. That's a winning formula for this show, and one I hope the show sticks with as it goes on.

Stuart Fails To Save The Universe keeps chugging along on HBO Max with new episodes available on Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. ET. Fortunately, we already have Season 2 confirmed, so here's hoping people are tuning in and ready for more adventures.

For the first time since Young Sheldon’s flash-forward finale capper in 2024, Mayim Bialik graced the small screen as Amy Farrah Fowler, but not the exact Sheldon-loving neuroscientist from The Big Bang Theory. Rather, for an alt-take on the sitcom fave crafted specifically for her anticipated appearance in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, and in an episode that ended with a elaborately constructed Matrix gag. The HBO Max spinoff is quite unpredictable.

Much like I couldn’t have predicted that Bialik apparently isn’t closest with her more immediate Big Bang Theory family co-stars, and was kind of surprised to hear the cast member that she’s stayed in touch with the most. Speaking with People, Bialik shared:

I dunno why that both shocks and amuses me as much as it does. Maybe because I can't 100% think about Bowie hanging out with Bialik without my brain adding Kripke's voice and questionable behavior into the real-world scenario. I've enjoyed Bowie in plenty of other roles. I know he's not Barry Kripke. And yet...

Bialik followed up by pointing to Kevin Sussman as another former co-star that she keeps tabs on, and paid him some ultimate compliments in regards to him taking charge for the follow-up comedy and its dimension-hopping storyline. She continued:

Kevin, Bert, Denise and Kripke certainly aren't the characters that I bet most fans would have predicted to be the leads of a Big Bang Theory spinoff a decade ago. (Okay yeah, Denise didn't join the show until 2018, but you know what I mean.) And I honestly didn't know how much I'd buy Sussman as the emotional anchor of this nutty series, and rewatching Wet Hot American Summer, in which he plays an alien-minded oddball, did not help. But Sussman is indeed nailing it week in and week out.

Bialik continued, and again spoke very highly of Kevin Sussman and John Ross Bowie and their streaming successes.

Mayim Bialik has known a lot of other celebs throughout her long career, which began even before she starred as Blossom's hat-loving teen. So for her to feel that level of excitement for Sussman and Bowie is just plain awesome.

Assuming this IS the real Mayim Bialik, and not an alternate version from one of Stuart's jaunts. Check the back of her neck for one of those zapper things.

Mayim Bialik Got To Cross Paths With Melissa Rauch On Stuart

Though each of The Big Bang Theory's cameo-specific stars have appeared in episodes by themselves, without any grouped-up efforts (yet), Mayim Bialik confirmed that she and Melissa Rauch were actually able to make their schedules work so that they could connect behind the scenes of Stuart Fails. As fans will remember, Rauch reprised a particularly devlish version of Bernadette in Episode 3, and it seems like that episode was filmed around the same time as Bialik's. She said:

Bialik and Rauch previously reconnected on-screen not as their Big Bang characters, but for the latter's NBC comedy Night Court, in which they shared a fun music-and-dance number.

Who will be the next Big Bang Theory vet to show up on Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, and what kind of twisted version will it be of the original character? There's only one good way to find out. Stream new episodes of the Chuck Lorre co-created comedy every Thursday via HBO Max subscription at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn't yet watched Stuart Fails to Save the Universe's fourth episode via HBO Max subscription, so be warned!

As a spinoff of The Big Bang Theory fully embracing science-fiction story arcs, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe was predispositioned to be among the nerdiest shows on the 2026 TV schedule. (A distinction I use lovingly.) But wowie zowie, the fourth episode delivered a tour de force on that front, with one particular shot pretty much spoiling that bonkers Matrix-infused ending, but only for those viewers who knew what they were looking at. It definitely helps to be a DC Comics fan.

To be sure, "Spoiler: Stuart Makes A Wallet" featured several moments throughout the episode that heavily hinted at something being off about the particular universe Kevin Sussman's character ended up in after the Magic World mayhem with Wil Wheaton and Melissa Rauch's Berna-demon. But none were so mindful and cleverly constructed as the comic shop wall where Stuart found the issue depicting his own story. It had nothing to do with that comic, though, and more to do with every other one.

Seemingly Every Comic On The Wall Is A Direct Reference To The Show And The Twist Ending

I've been an avid comic reader and collector for some years, so this piece of set-dec immediately caught my eye because of how seemingly unorganized and slapped-together it looked. Not only because certain series are represented through multiple issues, but because there are comics with current runs like the gloriously trippy Absolute Martian Manhunter placed next to series that wrapped years ago. So I looked a little closer.

Yes indeed, just about every comic I recognized had an easy correlation to make in regards to Stuart & Co. waking up inside the Matrix. Or outside the Matrix, technically. As much as I'd like to go into detail about every single issue, I'll try to keep it brief...ish. Let's start jumping around from the top-left corner.

• The Dreaming #17 (1996) - This is one of 6 (I believe) issues of The Dreaming's 60-issue run that appear on the wall. Without even going into deeper themes, the series name alone is the nose-tapper.
• Supergirl #2 (1994) - In this case, the comic serves as more of a visual nod to both the ending and multiplicity of the show, with an assortment of Supergirls shown inside various pods.
• DCeased #2 (2019) - This variant cover is based on the poster for A Nightmare on Elm Street.
• A. Bizarro #1 (1999) - While possibly a specific reference to the cloned Bizarro trying to find his place in life, I think it's probably more of a reference to dichotomies.
• Absolute Martian Manhunter #6 (2025) - One of six issues from this particular series, which is essentially about an FBI agent who can't figure out if the green martian taking over his mind is truly real or not. That's not quite it, but for the purposes of this comparison, it is.

Not convinced yet? What about references to these characters and stories?

• Firestorm - one hero comprising two different people, speaking to the duality of things.
• Kismet - DC character who can alter reality
• Psycho Pirate - has the ability to manipulate emotions, and create both duplicates and illusions
• Forever People's Beautiful Dreamer - self-explanatory
• House of Brainiac - The cover for this one is reflective of the Matrix-esque visuals, but also Brainac's clone-specific plotting
• Future's End and Convergence - involves mutliversal stories

And yes, Marvel did pop up a couple of times up there, most notably with the Avengers Forever 's variant featuring all the different Scarlet Witches.

There are a couple of comic books up there that I don't really know what the reference is supposed to be. One is the Super-someone comic up top that I can't recognize. And I'm not sure what's up with that Secret Avengers issue also on the top row. But I'm sure it's all connected.

I can't wait to see what other super-nerdy scenes and situations come up in future episodes, as well as finding out whether or not my theory about Jim Parsons' Sheldon is right or not. See you after the next one!

Warning! The following contains spoilers from the Stuart Fails To Save The Universe episode, "Spoiler: Stuart Makes A Wallet." Stream the episode with an HBO Max subscription.

Stuart Bloom was institutionalized in the latest episode, and led to believe that everything he experienced in Stuart Fails To Save The Universe was little more than a psychotic break. Fortunately, he broke free of that universe, but things only got more confusing when he and his friends discovered they were trapped in The Matrix.

That didn't make sense, as Bert pointed out, and they soon shifted to another alternate reality. Their time in "The Matrix" was only a moment, but Kevin Sussman exclusively told CinemaBlend a lot of work went into that short scene:

Recreating the iconic scene from the first movie took a lot of effort, which makes it even funnier that it's only vaguely important to the plot. Bert pointing out there's no way they're in the theatrical universe of The Matrix hints there's something directing their journey, but before they could get to any real answers, they were off to a new location.

Not only was filming that scene to air for the 2026 TV schedule wild, it was also super gross to deal with. The crew of Stuart Fails To Save The Universe made the cast sit in vats of "goo" for the scene, and Kevin Sussman assured me it was no picnic:

When I saw the scene, I guess I assumed the goo was added in post-production or was CGI. It's wild to hear they recreated that with practical effects, and I, too, would be grossed out having to be a party to that. I appreciate that the cast went through it, though, and it makes me love the series even more than I already do.

Kevin Sussman previously told CinemaBlend how surreal it is to star in Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, and how he can't think about it too much. I totally get that after hearing him wrestle with promoting his scene parodying The Matrix, and worrying about the consequences of doing so:

Fortunately, those who watched Stuart Fails To Save The Universe will likely be talking about the latest cameo from The Big Bang Theory cast.

Mayim Bialik Returned As Amy (Sorta) For Stuart Saved The Unvierse

Just one episode after Melissa Rauch played a demon, Mayim Bialik returned as Amy as the head of a behavioral health clinic where Stuart was a resident. Definitely nothing to go wrong in that scenario.

Amy tried to convince Stuart that everything he experienced, including the events of The Big Bang Theory, was all fantasy. It worked for a while, but eventually, Stuart managed to escape and get back on track with saving the universe, I think. Who knows what's up next, or what trauma we'll see befall a former TBBT character.

Stuart Fails To Save The Universe streams new episode on HBO Max on Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. ET. There's plenty of time to catch up for those who haven't yet, and as someone who has seen every episode so far, readers won't be disappointed!

Spoilers below for the third episode of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, so be warned if you haven't yet streamed it via HBO Max subscription.

When it comes to wacky AF sci-fi storytelling, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe may have a total lock on the 2026 TV schedule, at least for the moment. The HBO Max comedy’s weekly jaunts to alternate dimensions is the kind of concept that could theoretically last forever, assuming the creative team keeps finding ways to make it work. Such as having former Big Bang Theory stars appearing as wildly different and possibly demonic iterations of their beloved characters, and then killing (some of) them off.

But what are the chances TBBT’s superhero-loving lead character Sheldon Cooper will appear in a future episode? The actor himself made it seem very unlikely in a recent interview where he laid out the myriad stresses he faced doing sitcom work. To be fair, those sentiments echoed previous quotes where he denied interest in reprising the role, so it’s not like fans have been swimming in abject optimism. That said, Stuart's third episode did deliver a formal namecheck and update for what Sheldon is up to, and I kinda think it's a clever way of confirming that Parsons won't appear at all.

How Sheldon Was Referenced In Stuart Fails To Save The Universe Episode 3

The latest journey through time and space Stuart & Co. experienced took them to a magical realm where science was viewed as heretic behavior. At one point, after the characters met up with the all-knowing Alexa, not a smart home device, but rather a little snarky demon, which is where Melissa Rauch's Bernadette comes in.

More to the point of this story, when asked about Sheldon's current whereabouts, Alexa notes that the genius physicist is starring in a Broadway production of Man of La Mancha. On the surface, it's clearly a nod to Jim Parsons' real-life stage work, which he started to prioritize more after The Big Bang Theory wrapped. (He's currently starring in the comedy musical Titanique, which is in its final weeks on Broadway.) But is the musical that the writers chose a clue indicating Parsons continued absence for the rest of the season?

Why The Usage Of Man Of La Mancha Makes Me Think Sheldon Won't Appear (In Season 1 At Least)

If everybody has their tin foil hats strapped on and secured, we can start down this fairly low-key avenue of speculation. In the first place, Man of La Mancha is inspired by, and wouldn't exist without, Cervantes' Don Quixote, but the musical isn't technically based on it. One can loosely apply that to Stuart itself, which is a sequel to Big Bang Theory that doesn't logistically follow up on most of that show's storylines, but obviously wouldn't be a show otherwise.

As well, I think it's worth pointing directly at the idea of "tilting at windmills" as a thematic metaphor for engaging in pointless efforts. (And not a more literal reading about fighting invisible enemies.) In this case, I pose that "pointless effort = asking Jim Parsons to return."

For a third thing, the biggest song to come out of the musical — which has been covered by everyone from The Temptations to The MIghty Mighty Bosstones to John Cleese on The Muppet Show — is "The Impossible Dream," which also feels like a finger-on-the-nose reference to what it's like to try and get Jim Parsons back as Sheldon.

It's probably a step too far to bring up Terry Gilliam's long-thwarted attempts to turn Don Quixote into a movie, and his disastrous efforts were turned into the 2002 documentary Lost in La Mancha. But I'm still letting it float out there.

To be sure, there are probably other deeper-cut references that could be used to make this argument. And on the flip side, there are probably points to make that debunk my take here. But this is all for Shelds and giggles, so I'm obviously not taking things too seriously.

In the end, I just think Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady and Zak Penn could have used any number of popular musicals to make their point that WOULDN'T make me automatically think that there are subtextual clues about Jim Parsons' Sheldon not showing up in Season 1. Of course, if he eventually does appear later in the season, you can find me out in the fields, swinging my sword at a bunch of wind-producing giants.

In the meantime, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is dropping new episodes on HBO Max on Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Stuart Fails To Save The Universe episode "Spoiler Alert: Bert is Magic." Stream the episode with an HBO Max subscription and read at your own risk!

Stuart Fails To Save The Universe had another great episode and brought back a wonderful guest star from The Big Bang Theory days. Wil Wheaton appeared as an enforcer for the Magic Guild, and while his time was short-lived, it now has me eager for him to return for a potential Star Trek crossover.

Wheaton is one of Star Trek's biggest cheerleaders, and I almost wonder if he's already pitched the franchise crossing over with the new HBO Max series. In any case, this latest episode on the 2026 TV schedule has me hoping we'll get a crossover, and it would be easier to do than you might think.

Wil Wheaton Could Totally Appear As Wesley Crusher In Stuart Fails To Save The Universe

Seeing Wil Wheaton blast magic out from his fingers had me thinking about how Wesley Crusher joined the Travelers in Star Trek, and how Wesley could totally land in Stuart Bloom's universe. Travelers are not bound by the traditional laws of time and space, as we saw a ton when the character was featured in the animated series Prodigy.

Stuart Bloom is a comic book guy, but he generally seems to be an expert on all things that are nerdy in pop culture. No doubt he'd recognize the value someone like Wesley Crusher could bring to his quest to save the universe, provided he could get over the obvious paradox of Star Trek being a fictional franchise in his universe.

Outside the show's universe, it's no secret that Warner Bros. Discovery is in the midst of a merger with Paramount Skydance. With Paramount being the one with the rights to the Trek franchise, it feels like it would be easy, maybe even preferred, if Stuart Fails To Save The Universe gave the storied sci-fi franchise a rub.

The TBBT Franchise Has Long Referenced Star Trek, So A Crossover Would Be Amazing

Wil Wheaton appearing as himself on The Big Bang Theory shows just how much Star Trek DNA is in the franchise. Sheldon Cooper regularly viewed Spock as his hero, rightfully so as one of Trek's best characters.

To have Stuart and friends step aboard the Enterprise or any other revered ship of Star Trek, it'd be a huge moment for the franchise. Plus, given the Star Trek alumni who have appeared on TBBT over the years, it could make for reunions that wouldn't otherwise happen on a traditional Trek show.

Whether it'll happen, we'll just have to wait and see. It certainly seems possible within the premise of Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, in which the team gets caught up in just about every situation imaginable. This includes some scenes from the trailer which appear to show Stuart trapped in The Matrix, and battling Mr. Freeze from Batman.

Until that Star Trek crossover comes, I'll continue to enjoy Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, which streams new episodes on HBO Max on Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET. This season is off to a great start, so I'm eager to see where else Season 1 leads.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Stuart Fails To Save The Universe episode "Spoiler Alert: Bert Is Magic." Stream the episode with an HBO Max subscription, and read at your own risk!

It was another banger episode for Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, as the team found themselves in a world in which magic was real and scientists were burned at the stake. Fortunately, Bert managed to escape his predicament he was in, and turned out to be one of the most powerful people in the universe, which came in handy when the crew encountered Wil Wheaton.

Wheaton's return from The Big Bang Theory was already revealed ahead of Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, but as with the case with the last surprise guest star, there was one character we didn't know would show up. Let's get into both below, and have a "hell" of a time breaking it down.

Wil Wheaton Returned And Almost Killed Stuart With A Fireball

Wil Wheaton went from being someone who actively avoided being on The Big Bang Theory to one of its most memorable guest stars during its run. It would've felt weird if he wasn't in Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, so I'm glad he had a cameo as the enforcer of the Magic Guild. Stuart violated the rules for helping a demon get her magic back, which we'll get into later.

Bert ended up doing battle with Wheaton, and after exchanging the devil horns and Vulcan salute, Bert ended up eviscerating Wheaton's mage. The good news is, that was just the Wheaton of one universe, so hopefully we'll see him pop up again in the future like other characters who have died.

Melissa Rausch Returned As Bernadette, And Became A Literal Demon

Melissa Rausch was the latest person from The Big Bang Theory to return as their beloved character, but this wasn't like the Bernadette Wolowitz we remembered. Sure, she always had some edge to her, but in no universe would I have guessed she was a literal demon.

Beyond the fact that she was from hell, it was the same Bernadette fans know and love with all her special quirks. Unfortunately, she had no idea who Howard was, which meant the team was no closer to finding anyone familiar enough with the Quantum device to fix it or figure out how Stuart needed to save the universe.

She did want the device, however, but fortunately, they were able to get out of that universe before things got too bad. Unfortunately, Stuart was transported from that directly into what appears to be a behavioral health facility, with the implication being that he's there because he concocted this entire scenario in his mind.

Is that the case? I guess we'll find out as Stuart Fails To Save The Universe continues on HBO Max with new episodes on Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. ET. I'm loving these episodes so far, and I can't wait to see who the next big cameo will be.

Had you asked me about comedic returns at the start of the 2026 TV schedule, I would have wagered all my wagerable funds on the idea that I’d be enjoying Larry David’s new HBO show way more than I’d be enjoying the Big Bang Theory follow-up Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. That would have been a fool’s gamble to say the least — also a pretty bizarre bet in general — because Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady and Zak Penn have crafted a spinoff that works better than the original series in many ways.

It doesn’t hurt that Stuart, which won over critics more than most network TV spinoffs tend to, has more in common with wackier comedies than its predecessor, to the point where The Simpsons (and American Dad, to a lesser extent) has popped into my head several times while watching Season 1 episodes, and only in positive ways. Let’s discuss.

1. The Intros Are Fun And Change With Each New Episode

Presumably sparked by the sporadic shifts in openings for classic sitcoms like The Dick Van Dyke Show and Get Smart, I have always been a sucker for shows that play around with intro credits and theme songs. No one has done that better than The Simpsons, from Bart’s chalkboard jokes to the myriad couch gags, though I definitely also adore Bob’s Burgers for its punny change-ups each week, and American Dad for its thematic intro disruptions.

It’s nearly unheard of these days for live-action series to take the same approach, but Stuart Fails to Save the Universe goes that extra mile. The changes are all text jokes, without other big differences, but that’s hardly a knock against, since the opening is already full of fun visuals. The gags also speak to the meta nature of Stuart’s plot, speaking directly to the viewer and the nature of skipping credits in the streaming era. More jokes only helps the show’s longevity, too, as The Simpsons’ golden years can also attest to.

2. Episodes Are Essentially Standalone Cartoonish Adventures

The Big Bang Theory obviously adhered to the traditional sitcom molding with its weekly narratives, with light serialization evolving its characters' personal lives. But from the jump, Stuart aligns itself far closer with The Simpsons in the sense that Stuart, Bert, Kripke and Denise experience vastly different problems and situations from one episode to the next, but still often involving the same locations and side characters.

Also leaning into the cartoonish reset formula, familiar characters can straight up get murdered in Stuart and then return intact in the following episode. (Albeit as multiversal variants, I think.) To that end, the HBO Max comedy skews far more R-rated than Big Bang ever did or could, and it wouldn't be completely out of the ordinary to see Itchy and Scratchy getting a reference somewhere.

3. All The Fun And Unpredictable Guest Stars

Okay so I guess "unpredictable" more applicably describes the manner in which the guest stars' characters are introduced, as opposed to the actors themselves feeling completely out of the blue. Which is to say the cameos we've seen thus far have been TBBT vets like Kunal Nayyar, Kaley Cuoco, Riki Lindhome, and more. But nobody matches up with the characters we knew before, and it's a blast seeing how everyone factors into the varying dimensions.

For instance, Episode 1 introduced a paranoid Raj and then killed him off, while Episode 2 brought in A.I. rebel Penny along with a Christine Baranski who wasn't Leonard's mother Dr. Beverly Hofstadter, but as "herself." Similar to Penn and Teller's appearance, which didn't nod to Teller having portrayed Amy's dad in TBBT. No spoilers for all the fun that's coming, but have faith that it'll be similarly enjoyable.

Obviously The Simpsons isn't the only show known for its guest stars, but it does boast more than just about any scripted series in existence, and from the widest assortment of vocations. And it's also quite well-known for giving audiences twisted and surprising versions of its characters in "Treehouse of Horror" eps and other anthologized installments. Is anybody not convinced yet that these shows are basically the same?

How about this, then? Animation king Brad Bird, who consulted on the show during its early run, went to CalTech, as did Apu, though his stood for the Calcutta Technical Institute. Dun dun dun!! Okay, they're not the same show, but I'm allowed to enjoy the connective tissue that exists, even if I'm manifesting it myself.

New episodes of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe drop on HBO Max on Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. ET.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Stuart Fails To Save The Universe episode "Spoiler: Bert Is Magic." Stream the episode with an HBO Max subscription and read at your own risk!

Stuart Fails To Save The Universe is being not shy about giving fans A-tier cameos, as Kaley Cuoco's Penny was the latest cast member from The Big Bang Theory to pop up in the spinoff. Of course, much like when Raj showed up to get killed off, this wasn't exactly the version of Penny we were expecting.

In this new universe, Penny served as a leader of the resistance in a world in which everyone had shock devices installed in the back of their necks if they were unpleasant or unkind. Penny's kidnapped Stuart, Bert, and Kripke, thinking they could help them stop the AI putting them in a surveillance state, but of course, they had no idea how to fix that. It was a great cameo, but not as great as the deep cut of Christine Baranski returning.

I Love That Christine Baranski Returned, But Was Surprised How

Baranski appeared back in The Big Bang Theory universe, but weirdly enough, she wasn't playing Dr. Beverly Hofstadter. While it felt like the stage was set for her to play Leonard's mom, she instead appeared as herself in a video meant for people in the AI's re-education center.

In it, she explained that this world was in turmoil, up until scientists created an AI to combat violence and unrest in humanity. Unfortunately, the AI killed its creators, and then more or less enslaved humanity into never misbehaving.

I do wonder why Stuart Fails To Save The Universe chose not to have Christine Baranski appear as Leonard's mother, but I guess it wouldn't have made sense to have his mother be the person hosting the re-education video. In any case, she was one of my favorite guest stars on The Big Bang Theory, even if she isn't as notable as some other major names.

I Can't Wait For The Next Big Bang Cameo

Stuart Fails To Save The Universe's co-creators may not want to do something like The Big Bang Theory again, but he sure isn't shy about featuring the former cast members in the new series. I'm all about it, and with Kaley Cuoco showing up in Episode 2, I do wonder who else could possibly show up in these upcoming episodes.

While we may not get Jim Parsons to appear based on his latest comments about The Big Bang Theory franchise, I'm holding out hope that the rest of the main cast will find their way into the series in some way before the end of Season 2. As fun as it is to see Stuart and his friends run around and get up to all these shenanigans, I fear it could just feel kind of empty if we don't get as many of the core characters in the series as possible.

That said, two episodes in, and Stuart Fails To Save The Universe has already impressed me with the premises it's setting up. I kind of expected the show to lean heavily on other popular franchises and riff on them a lot, and while I'm ok with a little bit of that, I'm also down for some zany original ideas as well. Fingers crossed we get more of that!

Stuart Fails To Save The Universe airs new episodes on HBO Max on Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. ET, and critics largely like the show. I'm very excited for this upcoming episode that takes place in an anti-science and pro-magic world, and eager to see which cameo is next.

One of TV’s wackiest and most innovative spinoffs recently debuted, and Stuart Fails to Save the Universe didn’t fail to win over most critics with its apocalypse-dodging multiversal adventures. Centering on former comic book shop staffer Kevin Sussman’s comic shop-owning Stuart — a comparison point that still blows Sussman’s mind — the new show shed the live audience for its zany (and more R-rated) storytelling, and the differences certainly don’t stop there.

As explained by Sussman and co-stars John Ross Bowie and Brian Posehn, the streaming series (available via HBO Max subscription) was a bit more of a physical endeavor for the actors, who were not at all accustomed to such kinetic acting during the Big Bang Theory’s run. Speaking with Etalk in an interview clip shared to Instagram, Bowie addressed how Stuart quickly set itself apart from the flagship sitcom, saying:

It's a funny thing to hear a TV comedy actor talk about running on the set, since that's a specific kind of normal behavior that isn't often shown in traditional sitcoms, given the size and nature of sets within soundstages. Especially for a show like The Big Bang Theory, where the majority of the locations were apartments, Stuart's comic shop, the Caltech cafeteria, and other fairly limited-in-scope settings. Not the kind of place where characters are able to run around for longer than a second or two.

But Stuart Fails to Save the Universe opens up this franchise to a variety of new and different spots (and timelines) that do allow the characters to put feet to pavement with more regularity. Not to mention the fact that there are also threats in the show's alt-universes that require the main characters to dash off.

According to Brian Posehn, however, that uptick in exertion was not part of the sales pitch from co-creator Chuck Lorre. As he put it:

I guess "running" wouldn't count towards any kind of stuntwork or any other distinction that would require Chuck Lorre or the other co-creators to say, "Hey, guys. You'll probably want to stretch as soon as you get to the set tomorrow morning."

Even if there were moments during The Big Bang Theory where the leads were invested in some kind of emergency and had to run from one spot to the next, those scenes were not made to incorporate the side characters. To that end, Posehn amusingly shared:

Not a lot of out-of-breath conversations between Bert and his buddies, that's for sure.

Speaking of things that Stuart does that weren't possible on Big Bang — SPOILERS FOR ANYONE WHO DIDN'T WATCH THE PREMIERE YET — killing off OG characters like Kunal Nayyar's Raj, or at least alternate versions of OG characters. The bearded and half-insane Raj that showed up in the premiere isn't the same charmer that fans got to know in the mothership sitcom, a fact that certainly helped make his death easier to accept.

Considering how those crossovers are being handled, we're also intrigued to see if Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will cross over with fellow spinoff Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage, or if it could even technically jump back in time to touch base with some Young Sheldon characters. Hell, if the premiere could feature prior cameo-makers Penn & Teller, with the latter previously portraying Amy's father Larry Fowler opposite Kathy Bates as Mrs. Fowler. Does that mean there two Teller-looking dudes in every universe?

Warning! Spoilers ahead for the series premiere of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, streaming now with an HBO Max subscription.

The Big Bang Theory ended seven years ago, and the show is still alive. On the 2026 TV schedule, there are now two spinoffs, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage and recently-released Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. With the latter exploring the multiverse and more, it’s possible the two shows could crossover in the future. While Chuck Lorre isn’t too on board with it, Bill Prady makes a pretty good point.

Since Georgie & Mandy is a prequel and spinoff to Young Sheldon, there haven’t been much opportunity to get any present Big Bang Theory characters to appear. Jim Parsons and Mayim Bialik appeared in the Young Sheldon finale, and aside from Parsons narrating the show, that was about it. But given the fact that Stuart (which takes place after the events of The Big Bang Theory) is all about the multiverse and who knows what else, could the two shows interact with one another? Lorre, who serves as co-creator on all four TBBT Universe shows, told Us Weekly that a crossover may not be in the cards:

The concept of Stuart is that Kevin Sussman’s titular comic book store owner accidentally breaks a quantum device that Sheldon and Leonard built, creating an apocalypse multiverse. The Pasadena that fans know and love is completely unrecognizable, and there is definitely a lot that the show can explore in that aspect as Stuart and co. try their best to fix it. Plus it sounds like the world that Sheldon and his family are from doesn’t really exist in this new world, so it might be kind of hard.

That being said, Prady, who co-created Big Bang and Stuart, had a different kind of answer. His was much more hopeful in terms of a potential crossover, and it doesn’t necessarily seem too far-fetched due to the nature of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. Now I need it more than ever:

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe may have a different format from its predecessors, but I absolutely love the doors that this has opened. There are loads of possibilities that could from it, between bringing back other Big Bang stars to crossovers with a prequel. Already, Stuart brought back Kunal Nayyar as Raj for the series premiere, so who knows what else is in store. Also, doing a crossover with a sequel is not too out of left field, as NCIS and NCIS: Origins pulled off a seamless crossover last year.

Even though Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage is on CBS and Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is on HBO Max, it still might not be so hard. Both shows come from Chuck Lorre Productions and Warner Bros. Television, so it’s always possible. For now, fans will just have to tune in to new episodes of Stuart on Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET to see what else will happen.

Stuart Fails To Save The Universe's premise isn't lost on star Kevin Sussman, who acknowledged this whole experience has him questioning his own reality. The actor was once a comic book store worker with hopes of attending San Diego Comic-Con as a guest, and just recently served as one of the event's main attractions.

CinemaBlend had a chance to chat with Sussman ahead of The Big Bang Theory spinoff bringing its sci-fi comedy to the 2026 TV schedule, and he acknowledged how strange his life currently is. When talking about his sitcom legacy origin hearkening back to his real life, and how he thought geeky audiences would respond to the series, he got into how he struggles to grapple with his specific brand of fame.

It's hard not to think it was kismet helped Kevin Sussman spin his job at a comic book store into the first step toward what's become a prolonged acting career, culminating in a starring role for the character people know him best as. Perhaps way back when, he might've been disappointed about landing the role of Stuart instead of Howard, but not anymore!

As a former comic book fanatic, Kevin Sussman did speak to being part of that kind of fandom, and how he felt fellow "geeks" may respond to Stuart Fails To Save The Universe. Obviously, he's the star of the thing, but I think his comments about how it may resonate with others are indeed valid. As he pu tit:

As someone who is a part of many fandoms and has seen the entirety of Season 1, I tend to agree. Stuart Fails To Save The Universe tends to lean deeper into geekdom than The Big Bang Theory did, and as a result, appeals to me more. The first episode alone delivered a big enough shocker to have me hooked, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Obviously, time will tell if the spinoff does as well as other shows in The Big Bang Theory universe. The metric for success is bound to be different for this spinoff, which will be the first one not to air on CBS. It'll also be the first one to feature Batman villain Mr. Freeze, which we saw in the first trailer. This show has a lot of runway to get weird, and based on just that small snippet, it's clear they went all the way with that.

I can't say that I blame Kevin Sussman for opting out of thinking too hard about what he's experiencing. After all, the whole premise feels like it could be the plot for a future episode of the series, which is trippy enough to think about.

Stuart Fails To Save The Universe airs Thursdays at 9:00 p.m. ET via HBO Max subscription. Tune in to watch an unlikely hero try his best to save the multiverse from destruction, and have a few laughs along the way.

Warning! The following contains spoilers for the Stuart Fails To Save The Universe episode "Spoiler: Gary Dies." Stream it with an HBO Max subscription and read at your own risk!

Stuart Fails To Save The Universe got off to a hot start, bringing back a major character from The Big Bang Theory only to kill him off later. Raj Koothrappali made his big return to the 2026 TV schedule, though he was a lot different than fans may remember, and he died quickly. While that was shocking, I am thrilled about the doors it potentially opens.

Stuart was on a mission to save the universe after it was thrust upon him by another version of himself from the same universe as where The Big Bang Theory takes place. For all intents and purposes, this Stuart is largely the same as the one fans remember, minus the fact that everyone here lived in a post-apocalyptic wasteland that had giant moths and other fearsome creatures. Here's how the first leg of the adventure played out, and what it sets the stage for in future episodes.

How Raj Died On Stuart Fails To Save The Universe

Stuart and friends crossed paths with Raj when they were taken captive in an effort to try to fix the universe. They learned the universe was broken thanks to a quantum device built by Leonard, Sheldon, and Howard, and Raj believed he had a way to fix it. They just had to find the device, but there was one major obstacle in their way.

Barry Kripke, the jerk character from The Big Bang Theory, had seized power when the world collapsed and was now a dictator over the Pasadena area. The world had gone to hell, but as far as he was concerned, it was fantastic. As such, he didn't want to change things and was hellbent on preventing anything that may change the status quo.

This led us to the episode's end, in which Raj, Bert, and Stuart found the quantum device. Raj got to work trying to fix it, but before he could make too much progress, he was shot in the back by Kripke. He died, but Stuart, Bert, and Kripke jumped to another reality in which the circumstances are presumably as off the wall as what we saw in the trailer.

There Are, Presumably, Plenty Of Other Versions Of Raj (And Other Beloved Characters) In The Multiverse

Raj is dead, but as we've learned in the best superhero movies, no one is truly dead in the multiverse. There are, presumably, other versions of Raj, just as there are other versions of everyone else.

So, his death opens the door to the characters seeing him again, and maybe seeing some other wild cameos from people from The Big Bang Theory cast as well. After all, if you can kill, transform, or change versions of these people with little to no permanent consequences, the sky's the limit on the wild things the writers can do to these characters.

It's one of the reasons I love Stuart Fails To Save The Universe more than The Big Bang Theory. I feel like the door has been enthusiastically swung open for even more actors we know and love to show up and act out these crazy and shocking storylines, and then come back again for another.

However, it's not the only reason I am here for this show. I also love how this episode made Bert Kibbler look super cool, as he created homemade grenades to blow Kripke's minions up.

On that note, I do wonder how Bert and Stuart will be able to move forward with Kripke, who they just witnessed kill a friend in cold blood. I'm not sure I'd trust him on this mission, as he wasn't exactly a stand-up guy before the apocalypse either. Then again, people change, and anything is possible in the multiverse, so maybe he'll surprise everyone as the series continues.

Stuart Fails To Save The Universe continues on HBO Max with new episodes showing up on Thursdays. Continue to stick with the series as they explore this brave new universe they were sucked into, and wait for more potential cameos from people from The Big Bang Theory.

Many consider The Big Bang Theory to be one of the best sitcoms of all time, but that doesn’t automatically mean that every spinoff that continues its characters’ stories will be a hit. Sure, Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage found success, but Stuart Fails to Save the Universe — a new HBO Max series that hits the 2026 TV schedule on July 23 — is quite a big swing for creator Chuck Lorre. Despite its creative concept, critics’ reviews disagree on whether or not it’s actually funny.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe picks up where The Big Bang Theory left off, with the titular comic book store owner (Kevin Sussman, reprising his TBBT role) triggering a multiversal apocalypse. As he tries to set things right, he encounters multiple versions of himself, Denise (Lauren Lapkus) and their friends. CinemaBlend’s own Mick Joest says he was surprised that the show made him laugh out loud multiple times. In fact, he says he loves it even more than The Big Bang Theory, writing:

The Big Bang Theory fans have been promised easter eggs, and Amber Dowling of The Wrap agrees that’s part of what makes Stuart Fails to Save the Universe fun. The critic admits it’s a completely different tone — with more R-rated material — than TBBT that might take some getting used to, but the cast is game for anything and everything, and you can tell everybody — including creators Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady and Zak Penn — are having a blast. Dowling continues:

Alison Herman of Variety says viewers should be firing up their HBO Max subscriptions for Stuart Fails to Save the Universe because it’s such a creative way to extend The Big Bang Theory universe — especially in an entertainment landscape with so many perfunctory prequels, sequels and spinoffs. Herman says:

Noel Murray of AV Club gives the series a B rating, saying the spinoff is wilder and nerdier than TBBT, but it’s also raunchier, cornier and more uneven. Its strengths are its emotional core and wonkiness, but the critic finds it lacking in humor and occasionally mean-spirited. Murray concludes:

Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert also thinks that despite some “glimpses of ingenuity,” the actual Apocalypse will probably be funnier than Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. The jokes are repetitive, the plots are thin (largely clocking in under-20 minutes), and John Ross Bowie’s character Barry Kripke — horny, cruel and mocking people with speech impediments — was already stale when The Big Bang Theory ended seven years ago. In the critic’s words:

Several critics said you don’t have to have watched The Big Bang Theory to get into this new spinoff, though there are guest stars and references that will make more sense if you did. Critics don’t exactly agree on how funny the show is, which is reflected in its 70% Rotten Tomatoes score.

Tune in to see for yourself when Stuart Fails to Save the Universe premieres at 9 p.m. ET Thursday, July 23, on HBO Max. New episodes drop weekly.

Stuart Fails To Save The Universe may have arrived long after The Big Bang Theory and its spinoffs, but it's easily my favorite in the lineup by a mile. Kevin Sussman's Stuart was a meek comic book owner in the original series, and while not a ton has changed about that, he's easily the most captivating leading man in this hilarious comedy series.

That's just one of the many reasons I'm encouraging everyone to check out this series with an HBO Max subscription when it premieres on July 23rd, regardless of their feelings on TBBT, Young Sheldon, or Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage. This show is something completely different than all of those, and it's a great thing.

The Big Bang Theory Was A Show About "Geeks" Stuart Fails To Save The Universe Is For Them

While co-creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady may take offense to The Big Bang Theory being about "geeks," there's no denying the show had that reputation and gained some ire from those communities for the representation. Rest assured, while TBBT might've been about the geeks, there's no denying that Stuart Fails To Save The Universe is for the geeks.

The new series leans into the growing trend of sci-fi franchises embracing the concept of a multiverse, as Stuart is tasked by another version of himself with trying to save the universe by traveling through different realities. Along for the ride are familiar faces from Big Bang: his friend Bert Kibbler (Brian Posehn), his love interest Denise (Lauren Lapkus), and the heel of the original series, Barry Kripke (John Ross Bowie).

Together, they pop up in different realities, the rules of which gradually unfold throughout the course of each episode. This creates an intriguing premise in which the characters are forced to adapt to weird circumstances either imagined or based on famous franchises, as seen in the trailer. I can't really talk spoilers, but the trailer features nods to The Matrix, as well as Mr. Freeze from DC Comics.

The show not only beautifully leans into the modern trope of universe-hopping adventures, but Stuart Fails To Save The Universe may do it better than any I've seen so far. It also makes plenty of references to pop culture, as well as past events in The Big Bang Theory. Don't worry, most of the references are done in a way that even someone casually familiar with the series will pick up on, but there are treats in store for those who are deep into the original show.

The Series Is Laugh Out Loud Funny, And Unlike Anything I Expected

I think what surprised me most about Stuart Fails To Save The Universe is just how hilarious it is. While The Big Bang Theory and other shows might've given me a chuckle occasionally, there were more than a few moments in the new series I found laugh-out-loud funny, and I'm ready to rewatch it all over again.

Part of this is due to the tonal shift, which can be a bit jarring at first. I can't say I ever imagined any of these characters swearing, or expected so much violence in a show like this, but it's always warranted. It may not appeal to everyone who watched The Big Bang Theory, admittedly, but for those who enjoy the average superhero movie, you'll feel right at home watching this.

I think there's a comparison here to be made between The Big Bang Theory and Stuart Fails To Save The Universe is similar to when Better Call Saul came out after Breaking Bad. Both share some connective tissue, while also being about two entirely different things. I can't say a lot more than I love it way more than I ever did TBBT, but since it couldn't exist without the original, it's given me a new appreciation for the series.

As mentioned, Stuart Fails To Save The Universe premieres on July 23rd at 9:00 p.m. ET on HBO Max. I cannot stress enough how everyone should be tuning into this series to check it out, because it really is that good.

In a lot of ways, The Big Bang Theory followed in the footsteps of sitcom predecessor Friends, particularly in how its ensemble cast became global superstars, and will likely forever be associated with their apartment-dwelling characters. (Remember this reunion?) For Jim Parsons, it’s taken years to properly come to terms with his juggernaut-esque rise to fame, and recently addressed that it was a truly “miserable” time in his life, in part because of how stressed out he made himself on top of other woes.

Appearing on the podcast All Out with Jon Dean (available on YouTube and elsewhere), Parsons looked back at that time of his life and career with fresh eye, and admitted that while it may have looked like heaven from the outside, it was anything but from within. After noting that he stayed sober throughout the first nine seasons of The Big Bang Theory’s, he made this observation:

As opposed to any fun and fancy-free feelings he might have felt about being on one of TV's most popular sitcoms, Jim Parsons seemed to view that success as being a massive amount of pressure to live up to. (Understandably so.) It seems like he was extremely invested in delivering the best version of Sheldon Cooper as he could, and even his method of memorizing scripts seemed intense.

Knowing just how unhappy he was on some levels makes it easier to understand why he was the first cast member who wanted to leave the show, despite others trying to convince him to stay on. And I don't think anyone currently in the process of creating a broadcast TV sitcom should have any hopes for Parsons to sign on as a lead. He plainly stated his career's future will not reflect his past in such a way, saying:

Though he can readily admit that the "somewhat self-tortured nature" is part of why he doesn't feel inclined to ever go back to that lifestyle, and that he regrets that he "missed a lot of life" while stressing over the role of Sheldon Cooper, Jim Parsons is also still appreciative for everything that his years onThe Big Bang Theory helped him to achieve. As such, he doesn't see himself as a bearer of great advice when it comes to other actors who may be in similar positions.

Could Jim Parsons Ever Play Sheldon Cooper Again?

Technically, Jim Parsons has only been completely free from Sheldon Cooper's shadow for a couple of years, as he served as the narrator for CBS' Young Sheldon, and also returned in-person for the series finale in 2024. But he also sounds like he's in a better place mentally and emotionally in terms of carrying that mantle, despite years of reservations over constantly being viewed as his astrophysicist character by fans and the general public.

The most obvious place for a new Sheldon cameo to hit the 2026 TV schedule would be in the new HBO Max comedy Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, which we already know will feature plenty of fan–favorite cameos and easter eggs as it picks up where the OG sitcom left off, albeit in the strangest way possible.

That spinoff’s plot kicks off when the titular comic store owner accidentally damages a high-tech device built by Sheldon and Leonard, which would seemingly already provide a clear and logical way for Jim Parsons and Johnny Galecki to reprise their beloved roles. But given the wacky nature of the new show, such reprisals could happen in ways other than straightforward live-action appearances. For example, if Parsons would be more comfortable lending his voice to an animated Sheldon rather than donning a Green Lantern shirt himself, so be it.

Lots of "serious" actors spend ages attempting to distance themselves from heavily embraced roles due to self-image and other issues, only to realize years later that it might have been better to embrace all the fans' appreciation from the jump. Here's hoping that Parsons can find a way to play Sheldon again in the most relaxing and stress-free manner possible.

All seasons of The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon are available to stream via HBO Max subscription, which is where fans can also find Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, which premieres on Thursday, July 23.

As iconic and successful as it's been, The Big Bang Theory had its share of critics during its run on television. Now, as we reach the point in the 2026 TV schedule where its latest spinoff, Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, comes out, creator Chuck Lorre is firing back. While some may say the original series poked fun or made jokes at nerdy peoples' expense, Lorre has strong feelings pushing against that.

I spoke to Lorre and the other co-creators of Stuart Fails To Save The Universe about the original show's reputation, and how the upcoming series available with an HBO Max subscription feels more "geek-coded" in comparison.

Lorre didn't see his characters as nerdy, nor does he feel the same way as Stuart Fails To Save The Universe and its cast. Kevin Sussman's character still owns a comic shop in the series, ironic because Sussman worked in one as he started out in acting. I wouldn't call Sussman an inherently geeky person, so maybe Chuck Lorre made a good point.

Co-creator Bill Prady, who also helped make The Big Bang Theory, also chimed in. He brought up that, at times, he felt fan complaints characterized him and the writers as punching down on the geeks and nerds. In reality, Prady was pitching and writing moments from his own life:

Prady's point being, even if the show was making fun of "nerds," it wasn't from a place of them being above those experiences or awkward encounters. I don't think it should come as a surprise to any reader that the creators and writers of The Big Bang Theory could also be nerdy, seeing as they invited guest stars like Star Trek's Wil Wheaton regularly.

Now, they've created Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, a series that turns the world of The Big Bang Theory on its head and puts Stuart and friends in wild situations across the multiverse. The trailer for this sci-fi series shows this is a series that feels more like something Leonard and the guys would watch in his apartment, rather than anything that may feel like mockery to its prospective audience.

It's the third spinoff from The Big Bang Theory, and I'm sure HBO is hoping it'll succeed as the next major hit for the growing franchise. Things are a bit different this time around, with the show relying on violence and edgy material rather than wholesome family comedy made for a CBS audience. I'm eager to see how the world responds, and if Chuck Lorre and company can make television magic yet again.

Stuart Fails To Save The Universe premieres on HBO and HBO Max on Thursday, July 23rd. Be prepared for the world of The Big Bang Theory in a way it's never been seen before, and prepare to see some familiar faces in a brand new way.

It’s hard to believe another Big Bang Theory spinoff will be coming down the pipeline soon. Stuart Fails To Save The Universe has already nabbed headlines for bringing back some notable Big Bang Theory characters, but also for being the first spinoff to take place on HBO Max, a network that’s far less joke, joke, joke than CBS. But how does the OG cast feel about The Big Bang Theory characters going in new directions? Well, someone asked Kaley Cuoco.

In a recent interview, Kaley Cuoco was asked about her experiences post-show, and not from a career standpoint. Of course, she’s had successful runs in follow-ups like The Flight Attendant and Based on A True Story. Instead, though, Screenrant asked her what her experience has been watching the franchise go beyond her, and she gave an intriguing answer.

Listen, it’s not like I expected Kaley Cuoco to be a huge hater here. It would have been completely out of character if the actress hadn’t been happy for the Big Bang universe follow-ups. Even if she has been candid there was drama here or there on Bang.

Outside of being honest about life on set, she's generally pretty happy to talk about her time on Big Bang and to give the franchise its flowers. She spent 12 years developing Penny alongside her co-stars and the crew, and it’s clear those years were fondly spent. Even though Jim Parsons was the person to ultimately decide to leave the show first, he didn’t exit without the show being able to wrap in a way that was sensitive to his castmates and the fans, and it’s no wonder The Big Bang Theory is still a sitcom people love to talk about, despite it wrapping well over five years ago at this point. To the actress that TV legacy is really important.

To note, Cuoco has previously been asked if she'd want to reprise Penny in her own spinoff, and she hasn't been opposed to that idea, either.

So far, Young Sheldon was already a successful follow-up for CBS, and Georgie And Mandy’s First Marriage is still doing well on network TV. Stuart Fails To Save The Universe should be a whole new ballgame for the franchise, and I'm interested to see what those with an HBO Max subscription think. Stuart Fails To Save the Universe will hit the 2026 TV schedule on July 23rd at 9 pm.

Stuart Fails To Save The Universe is not The Big Bang Theory, and that'll be apparent enough in the opening minutes of Episode 1. Beyond the switch from traditional sitcom to serialized multi-camera exploits, those who watch can expect occasional violence, swearing, and even some R-Rated humor they would've never heard on the acclaimed CBS series. It may not be embraced by everyone, but Chuck Lorre and his fellow co-creators explained why they had to make this new show more edgy than the previous series.

As we prepare for the series' premiere on the 2026 TV schedule, I had the honor of talking to co-creators and EPs Lorre, Bill Prady and Zak Penn about the big change from TBBT. Lorre admitted some may be surprised by the tonal shift, but that, he thinks, plays to the series' advantage:

I love the Star Trek reference by Chuck Lorre, using the classic line from Spock to salute the continuing legacy of The Big Bang Theory. Beloved as it is, the series is in syndication and on streaming for those with an HBO Max subscription, and that wasn't the show that he and the co-creators wanted to make now. They set out to make a series that emulated some of the best sci-fi movies and superhero shows, not another sitcom.

That much is understandable, but then why risk alienating that audience from The Big Bang Theory, who may not like the new cast swearing, blowing people up, or any of the other wild stuff that happens in the trailer? Bill Prady spoke to me about how it's more or less a necessity, as the reactions help sell the stakes of the story:

The stakes have to feel earned in Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, and as the title may suggest, the stakes are very high. Though the verdict is still out on whether the show's title will ultimately be a massive spoiler for the series like Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, it's evident enough that we'll see Stuart fail at saving the universe more than he'll succeed.

Zak Penn was last to chime in with why the swearing happens in the new series, and while he's speaking tongue in cheek, it's still worth sharing with the prospective audience:

The co-creators added that while Stuart Fails To Save The Universe didn't necessarily hold back on the swearing, it did limit some of the more severe cases for key moments. The same goes for the violence and other wild things that occur, and while I can't get into specifics, I can confirm it's all usually done in service to the plot.

For fans of The Big Bang Theory curious about the series, there is plenty of connective tissue between the two shows that helps boost the story when it can. All this to say, superfans and even casual viewers should make a point to clock that July 23rd premiere date, and have their schedule cleared because this is a show people will be talking about.

Overall, I can't wait for people to watch Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, and be surprised by the many things that happen in this wild series. I'm still crossing my fingers and hoping for a crossover with Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, which Montana Jordan did weigh in on when speaking to CinemaBlend a while back. However, for now, I'll just enjoy this new (and slightly more R-rated) corner of the Big Bang universe.

The Big Bang Theory will soon be adding another show to the growing franchise. Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is set to premiere on the 2026 TV schedule on July 23 with an HBO Max subscription. The new series will include some Big Bang Easter Eggs, even though it will mostly take place in an alternate universe. Kevin Sussman, however, revealed how Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will pick up where the original show ended.

Stuart will pick up after the events of TBBT, which ended in 2019. The series will see Stuart (Sussman) accidentally causing a multiversal apocalypse, leading him to team up with Denise (Lauren Lapkus), Bert Kibler (Brian Posehn) and Barry Kripke (John Ross Bowie) to fix reality. It’s going to be a treat to see these characters all together, especially Stuart and Denise, who went from comic book store owner and employee to a blossoming romantic relationship. Sussman told TVLine that the end of Big Bang gave fans a hint as to where they were going, until we had to say goodbye to them:

Even though some people may not like that this new Big Bang Theory spinoff doesn’t include any of the main cast, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is a pretty great alternative. You have some fan-favorite recurring characters that you are now able to learn more about and expand more. In Stuart and Denise’s case, we’ll finally see more of their relationship. And honestly, I couldn’t be more curious about what’s in store for them. Sussman is excited for the opportunity to touch more on these characters, in more ways than one. As he put it:

It’s likely that about seven years have passed between the events of The Big Bang Theory’s finale and the beginning of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, much like in real life. Obviously a lot can change in that time, but it sounds like Stuart and Denise are still very much together, or at least still working together. Considering the other two Big Bang Theory spinoffs are prequels, it’s hard to tell how Stuart will go. Not only is this the first spinoff that directly follows the events of The Big Bang Theory after the finale, but it’s also a multiverse show, so it could go in so many directions.

Meanwhile, it seems like the series is already having an impact, as Sussman had a full-circle moment ahead of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe’s premiere. He shared a picture on Instagram from his old stomping grounds: a comic book store he used to work at, where his old boss put up a poster for his new show. And you really can’t get any more meta than that.

I am excited to see what Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is all about. The show has already been getting hyped by fellow Big Bang stars, so knowing that it’s gotten the stamp of approval from other actors makes it even better. Stuart Fails to Save the Universe premieres on Thursday, July 23 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO Max.

The Big Bang Theory's Kevin Sussman doesn't just play a comic book store worker on TV, he actually was one! As Stuart Fails to Save the Universe nears its premiere on the 2026 TV schedule, the Stuart Bloom actor recently took some time to highlight his tenure working in comics. Sussman shared that bit of reflection after experiencing a truly sweet full-circle moment.

A lot of promotion is being done for Stuart, especially since the show debuts for those with an HBO Max subscription on July 23rd. It would seem the streamer isn't alone in promoting the show, however. Sussman recently shared a photo that shows a man standing in front of a Stuart Fails to Save the Universe poster, and there's more to it than meets the eye. Check out the Instagram post:

So, who is this man, and why did Kevin Sussman share a photo of him on his account? He explained below:

I could imagine that for Sussman's former boss, Ron Hill, it may be surreal to consider how everything has worked out. If I were in Hill's shoes, I'd be amazed that a guy who used to work for me went on to be a guest star and eventually a series regular on one of the most popular TV sitcoms of the 20th century and is now starring in his own spinoff. It'd be like if Kelsey Grammer was an amateur radio DJ before Dr. Fraser Crane got his own radio show in Frasier.

This post is also a testament to how cool it can be to look back at moments in life and see where small decisions made all the difference in changing the course of one's life. In the context of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, that sentiment is also ironic. That's because the show follows the titular comic book shop owner as he attempts to save the multiverse with the help of his friends.

What's more is that Stuart may also be a show of more interest to actual "geeks" than Big Bang, based on the trailer and what I've learned about it so far. The show was crafted with the idea in mind that it would be a series that Leonard, Sheldon and the rest of the main Big Bang Theory characters would want to watch. Additionally, the Chuck Lorre-produced show leans into the modern trend of big franchise shows by utilizing a multiverse. In comparison, TBBT arguably poked fun at geeks' expense, rather than making jokes they'd understand and resonate with.

As for whether the show will live up to the hype, that's for the fans to decide. I'm interested in seeing if the show attracts the same audience that has shown up for The Big Bang Theory and its other successful spinoffs. Of course, it could also draw in a different crowd, given the show is so different from its predecessors.

In any case, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is a big gig for Kevin Sussman, who was a supporting character who appeared in eighty-four episodes of Big Bang. When the show ended, he didn't even take anything from the set, mainly because he could buy most of it in a regular comic shop. I hope he gets a chance to snag some props this time around but, above all, I hope Sussman continues to relish his status as a leading man and soak in the support from fans and his former boss.

The Big Bang Theory has long held my fascination as a show with enduring and palpable interest from fans. So, of course, I’ve been paying attention to the upcoming spinoff Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, or at least I thought I was, as Kevin Sussman and co. wrapped filming and started promoting the series. Only, somehow I completely missed the boat on one big detail, and I don’t really know how to feel about it.

So far, the Chuck Lorre Universe that spawned characters like Sheldon Cooper has had two spinoffs: Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage. All three shows, the third of which is The Big Bang Theory itself, have aired in a traditional network TV format. In fact, all three have specifically aired on the TV schedule on CBS proper.

That’s not what’s happening with Stuart Fails To Save The Universe. Instead of airing on the Eye Network, it’s going to be available for those with an HBO Max subscription. I only just became aware of this when HBO Max dropped the show's July 23rd release on a poster and dangled it in front of my face.

Now, this is hardly a secret. In fact, I’ve been roasted by some of my peers here at CinemaBlend for not making this connection, and rightfully so. Still, now that I am clued in, I think we need to be talking about how the move does have implications, both positive and negative. First and foremost, you can do a lot more when you are on a streaming service. Runtimes don’t need to fall into a narrow box, nor are there network censors worried about certain language choices and more. There’s more freedom, both from a creative standpoint, but also simply from the lack of structure network TV requires.

Now for the bad part? The siloing of the show is not great. It means ideas that have oft been bandied about, like a Georgie and Mandy spinoff, are less likely to happen than they might if everything was tied together on one network. It means not everyone who has access to the shows on CBS will have access to HBO Max. The audience could become more segmented.

I’ve seen the mind-bending trailer for Stuart Fails To Save The Universe (and yes I see it says a Max original all over the trailer, but again, we've already established it totally went over my head before.) Basically, I did know the tone of this was going to feel different than a laugh track-based sitcom, and that’s probably a good thing. It’s better for the franchise to move forward and try something new than to remain stagnant, but it still marks the end of an era for the franchise, and I don't fully know how to feel.

Still, we also know the show has a ton of Big Bang Theory crossover, from returning characters to references in Season 1. There should be something for everyone in Stuart Fails To Save The Universe… provided you have HBO Max.

There have been so many Big Bang Theory stories bandied about in the last five years between book releases, celebrity interviews and the official BBT podcast. You’d think at this point it would be pretty hard to surprise me, but during a recent appearance on the aforementioned podcast, Simon Helberg confirmed a story that I’d either glossed over, never heard or possibly forgotten.

Apparently, when Jessica Radloff published her book The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series, she mentioned in that book that Kevin Sussman had actually auditioned to play Howard when TBBT was coming together. Sussman, as you may already know, ended up on Bang anyway, and now has a brand new series coming when Stuart Fails to Save The Universe hits the 2026 TV schedule. Yet, if things had gone differently, he could have been the one making that incredible Big Bang salary.

He'd auditioned for the role Simon Helberg ultimately won, but he never, ever spoke to Helberg about it, as the actor admitted to Radloff in a recent interview. It's a little surprising, since they were pals on set!

As it turns out though, Sussman had also read for Howard Wolowitz. I guess it could have made interactions a little awkward, so he kept it to himself until the Big Bang Theory book was coming together. It was Radloff who in turn broke the news to Helberg, though he admitted they haven’t yet had the chance to hash it out. Life has simply gotten in the way.

Simon Helberg Says Auditioning For The Big Bang Theory Was Really Weird

Now, Simon Helberg maybe didn’t know TBBT was considering another actor for the role, but looking back, he said that he can see it. The entire experiences of auditioning for the CBS sitcom was a little Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. On the one hand, he had a great time in the room and thought he nailed it. Then, the show ghosted him for a period of time:

Eventually, I’d assume the casting directors settled on Helberg and had to break the news to Sussman, though the two men have not spoken of it. Helberg did share what he believed happened from his perspective:

Who knows what The Big Bang Theory dynamics would have really been like if Sussman had been hired instead? Even Helberg admits if these conversations had gone a different way, "it would have been a different thing." This is particularly true when it came to Howard and Bernadette. In general, though, the actor seems more curious than upset about this secret finally coming to light, and mentions this sort of thing is pretty common as part of any actors' career.

Alls well that ends well. Eventually, the Chuck Lorre sitcom brought Kevin Sussman in as a comic book store owner in Season 2, and he became more of a regular on the series later on. Years later, the latest spinoff got greenlighted, and now Stuart Fails to Save The Universe has been filming and in the works for months now.

As it turns out, Sussman didn’t ultimately need the Howard role, but it’s certainly interesting to consider the alternate timeline, particularly as Stuart will be a series about alternate timelines. It does make me wonder if this bit of fan lore could come back in fiction in some way. We'll have to wait and see, of course.

There’s only one show on the 2026 TV schedule that could actively destroy the universe as we know it, or at least only one with a comic book shop owner serving as its titular maybe-hero. I’m talking, of course, about Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, the impending comedy spinoff of perhaps the most successful sitcom of the 21st century. One of the biggest reasons to get excited is the fact that it’ll go hard on Big Bang Theory easter eggs, though maybe not the most normalized ones.

The new series’ co-star Lauren Lapkus knows a thing or two about the flagship series, having joined in Season 11 as Stuart’s assistant manager-turned-love interest. So she knows that audiences are going to be jazzed to recognize those callbacks when the new shows starts streaming (via HBO Max subscription.) Speaking with People about reprising Denise 7 years after the OG series ended, she says longtime fans will be pleased:

It may not be the most detailed spoiler in the world, but it aligns with what we already know about Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. The series’ plot kicks into gear when Stuart accidentally breaks a highly complicated device developed by fan-fave characters Sheldon and Leonard, which sets up a multiversal armageddon that only Stuart and his loyal compadres (which also includes Brian Posehn’s Bert) can stop. Probably. Or not.

As we saw in the wild first trailer, the streaming comedy will present alt-universe versions of familiar characters, with Stuart 2.0 being the catalyst for this adventure. Though I can imagine that many fans are eager to see John Ross Bowie’s Supreme Ruler Barry Kripke.

Arguably the biggest easter egg question that fans have had during the extended development and production comes down to the Sheldon and Leonard of it all, as OG stars Jim Parsons and Johnny Galecki have yet to be confirmed to appear. I’m optimistic about it, though I wouldn’t be surprised if the characters popped up in animated form, with the actors reprising the roles that way as opposed to live-action.

Speaking of such surprises, Lapkus continued, indicating that each episode will be its own reality-tweaking adventure, saying:

Oh man, now I know what my biggest hope for the spinoff is. Given that Kaley Cuoco wasn’t super-pumped about how Penny’s story wrapped, it'd be cool to see what Penny’s life is like in parallel universe. However, I’m really, really hoping that we get to see a reality where the original pilot actress Amanda Walsh’s character Katie lived across the hall from the guys for all those years instead of Penny. That might be too over the top, though...

Check out the trailer below if you haven't watched yet.

Find out what all the easter eggs are when Stuart Fails to Save the Universe debuts on HBO Max on Thursday, July 23.

Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage just ended its second season, and while it's on break, another series set in The Big Bang Theory universe is coming to the 2026 TV schedule. I'm fully on board with the weirdness that is Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, and apparently, so is G&M star Montana Jordan, as I asked him about the potential for the two shows to crossover.

I had a chance to talk to Jordan about the mind-bending first look at Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, and how, in a series that can do anything, it's entirely plausible the show crosses over with Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage. I asked Jordan if he was aware of anything like that, and he gave me all he could on the idea:

That's interesting he'd say that, because it does feel as though Stuart Saves The Universe could include characters from The Big Bang Theory universe as alternate characters in adventures. John Ross Bowie, who played Dr. Kripke in TBBT, was spotted as a military general of sorts, and the original main cast was featured on the front of a comic book.

I'd love to see Montana Jordan pop up in the series as a character, but I also love the idea of a Stuart Fails To Save The Universe episode taking place within the confines of Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage. Like, I just imagine Stuart being back in the sitcom format, but existing outside of it and pointing out the laugh track and whatnot, and I think it'd be an amazing idea.

It's also a feasible idea, as we inch closer to Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount combining under the same umbrella. Out of all the wild crossovers that could happen, this one makes the most sense and could give both fandoms an excuse to check the other series out. So, if anyone at CBS is wondering if Georgie & Mandy fans would get behind such an idea, lemme say I'm very on board with this.

It feels like anything is on the table when it comes to Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, but I do wonder if Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage would be so willing to "jump the shark" and do something very whimsical with its plotlines. After all, this is a series ultimately centered around the couple's eventual divorce, whenever that may be. I guess we'll have to wait and see how the creatives feel about a crossover and whether they'll pull the trigger on one.

Stuart Fails To Save The Universe premieres for those with an HBO Max subscription on July 23rd. I'm very excited to see if it's as fun as the trailer makes it look, and if it'll be as successful as The Big Bang Theory.

Welp, possibly the weirdest looking show on the 2026 TV schedule has arrived, and it’s somehow topped the lunacy of Food Network’s Chopped Castaways. I’m talking about The Big Bang Theory’s long-awaited Cooper-free spinoff, the Kevin Sussman-led Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. The first trailer was unveiled, as well as the date when it’ll be available to stream (via HBO Max subscription), and I’m almost too shocked and confused to react properly.

As seen above, the new series looks almost nothing like The Big Bang Theory, as it seemingly eschews the limitations of apartment and comic book shops sets for a far more expansive story. One that could possibly affect the fate of the entire planet. Or at least the parts of the planet that are immediately surrounding our lowly heroes: Sussman’s Stuart, Brian Posehn’s Bert, Lauren Lapkus’ Denise, and John Ross Bowie’s Barry, though the latter seems to be less in hero mode when he first pops up in the….’twailah.” (I couldn’t help myself.)

The series will land on HBO Max on Thursday, July 23, and it's going the primetime route by releasing eps at 9:00 p.m. ET, as opposed to dropping them in the A.M. hours. It makes sense, though, considering Big Bang Theory ruled over Thursday night primetime for years, and then passed that mantle on to its first two spinoffs, Young Sheldon and Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage. If it wasn't set on Thursday night, would it really be a BBT offshoot?

But that's about the only predictable thing to say about the trailer and this show in general. The storyline kicks off with Stuart attempting to fix a complicated device crafted by Sheldon and Leonard, but he accidentally breaks it and unwittingly incites an Armageddon situation throughout the multiverse. The gang will inevitably meet differing versions of themselves, as seen in the promo, which will no doubt complicate their struggles.

That said, it's not entirely clear what those struggles even are, or how the squad is even going to try to save anything. I mean, the title suggests that nothing gets saved, but they're still likely going to TRY to do something positive. But even if this show was just a slapfight between Stuarts, I wouldn't necessarily call it a bad idea.

To his credit, Chuck Lorre has primed us all for this, saying he was sure that fans would either love it or hate it, without much middle ground. And I guess I can see what he's talking about, since this very clearly stands apart from its source material in a way that could be seen as divisive. Plus, Lorre said he worked a lot with CGI for the first time on this project, which should bring about some unique comedic choices.

We've got a post-apocalyptic planet, we've got gnarly flying creatures straight out of The Mist, and we've got bald Stuart in cryogenic sleep goo. There are doorways to nowhere, out of this world weaponry, a giant woman, and even a comic book of the show's adventures. Which is where we get visual cameos for Leonard, Sheldon and Howard.

Will Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons and Simon Helberg actually show up in live-action for the new show? I think the bigger question might be, "How ridiculous will they look when they do?" (I have a feeling this might be the only project that could pull Galecki out of his semi-retirement phase.)

Get your fireball powers in check, and ready yourself for all the timeline-twisting action and mayhem when Stuart Fails to Save the Universe premieres on HBO Max on Thursday, July 23.

The Big Bang Theory Universe is pumping out another spinoff, which is set to air amid the 2026 TV schedule! Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will official debut and become streamable for HBO Max subscription holders this July. The series has been in the works for a while and will star Kevin Sussman, Brian Posehn, Lauren Lapkus and John Ross Bowie, who all starred on the parent show. All the while, other Big Bang cast members have been hyping up the new show, including Wil Wheaton, but I’m just pumped about the sweet picture he shared.

Wheaton frequently guest starred on The Big Bang Theory, playing a fictionalized version of himself. Whether or not fans will see him on Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is unknown, but he is still celebrating the spinoff. The Star Trek star recently took to Instagram to share an old photo from The Big Bang Theory set featuring Sussman to celebrate his new series, and I love this so much:

Even though TBBT ended seven years ago, some still consider it to be one of the best sitcoms of all time, and it’s clearly still loved by fans and the stars. It's sweet that some series alums are still sharing BTS photos from the show, and that's a testament to joy they apparently had from their experiences working on the show. For me, personally, Wheaton’s post further drives home the point that it's been more than half a decade since The Big Bang Theory ended, and the fact that the show has continued to live on since then is certainly impressive.

Meanwhile, Wheaton has been going through a bit of Big Bang nostalgia as of late, so it’s not surprising he was able to dig up a photo from years ago. In March, he revealed that he’d been rewatching the series and shared a sweet memory from filming Amy and Sheldon’s wedding. That Season 11 finale includes plenty of guest stars such as Mark Hamill, Kathy Bates, Jerry O’Connell, and Courtney Hengeggeler.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will be a "big swing" compared to its predecessors, as it'll see Stuart and his friends seeking to fix the multiverse. I'd love to see Wheaton on the show but, even if he doesn't appear, I hope the cast and crew will create some fun memories. Filming on the show wrapped in February, and the show's July release window was just recently announced. I’m tempted to assume that whenever this latest Big Bang spinoff premieres, Wheaton will be tuning in alongside other fans.

For now, people can always rewatch The Big Bang Theory on HBO Max, and relive their favorite Wil Wheaton moments and more from the show’s 12-season run. The Big Bang Universe is not done quite yet because, with Stuart Fails to Save the Universe on the way and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage getting a third season, there is a lot more to look forward to.

I don’t think that, in late 2007, anyone could have guessed that The Big Bang Theory (which had just debuted on CBS) would turn into a mega-hit or eventually become the comedy gift that just keeps on giving nearly 20 years after its premiere. That 12-season series was spun off into another long-running hit, Young Sheldon, as well as that show’s own spinoff, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. Yet another series based in the same universe, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, is set to debut soon and iconic producer Chuck Lorre thinks it’ll either be “revered or reviled.”

Why Chuck Lorre Thinks Stuart Fails To Save The Universe Is A ‘Big Swing’

Chuck Lorre has been turning out hits for so long that it can be hard to remember a time when he didn’t have a beloved comedy on the air. It’s also difficult to imagine a future without at least one of his shows racking up fans, which is hopefully what the upcoming Big Bang Theory spinoff, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, will do when it debuts for those with an HBO Max subscription sometime later on the 2026 TV schedule.

The sitcom creator already previously said that his desire for Stuart was to “do something radical,” but in speaking with People recently he admitted that he’s not sure what TBBT fandom will think of it, and noted:

Those are two very strong and opposing takes, for sure. Why does Lorre feel this way? Well, the new comedy is definitely different from the creator’s other projects in a big way, in that there’s a sci-fi element that’s not usually present.

The story focuses on Kevin Sussman’s recurring TBBT character, Stuart Bloom (along with other returning characters), after he gets his hands on a device made by Sheldon and Leonard and breaks it, which leads to him “accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon.” This means that he has to break out of his comic-book-store comfort zone and put reality as we know it to rights. Lorre continued:

“A big swing” indeed! While comedy has been his bread and butter forever, he’s also never really delivered a show that’s high on the action/adventure scale, so not only will this be a rather radical concept for a comedy without superheroes, but it’s also new for him.

Look, it’s hard to say right now how Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will be received when it debuts. But, with the wild premise of this show, and several actors who helped fill out the world on TBBT returning to their recognizable characters for it, my guess is that it already has a leg up on the competition when it comes to viewers like me being intrigued by it, so know that we can’t wait to see the finished product.

Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage is preparing to return on the 2026 TV schedule to resume its second season, and that isn’t the only Big Bang Theory universe show that fans will be able to look forward to in the near future. Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, which will be streaming with an HBO Max subscription is also on the way, and the production just reached a major milestone. It was recently revealed that the show wrapped filming, and I am pumped seeing the wrap photo, as is Kunal Nayyar.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe lead Kevin Sussman, who is reprising his role as the titular Stuart Bloom from Big Bang Theory, took to his Instagram recently to share a fun photo from the show's wrap party. The photo is pretty on-brand for comic book store owner Stuart, as the backdrop seems to be a giant comic book. All in all, I couldn't love this more, and you can check it out for yourself:

Filming for Stuart Fails to Save the Universe began last fall, with much of the cast and EP taking to social media to celebrate. Based on the details known about the latest Big Bang Theory spinoff, it's shaping up to be quite intriguing, and this wrap photo just makes me even more excited for it. I'm also glad to see Nayyar, who starred on The Big Bang Theory as Raj Koothrappali for all 12 seasons, shares my hype. The actor shared a sweet comment under the post:

It’s nice to see how supportive some of The Big Bang Theory cast is when it comes to Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. While it’s unknown if anyone else from TBBT, aside from spinoff stars Sussman, Lauren Lapkus, Brian Posehn and John Ross Bowie, will make appearances, I'm still happy that there's a level of support amongst the series vets. Personally, I'd love it if Nayaar ended up reprising his role as Raj or at least, a version of the character.

Stuart is going to be very different from its predecessor as well as the prequel shows. The gist of the new series is that Stuart breaks a device built by Sheldon and Leonard, accidentally bringing a multiverse Armageddon to the surface. So he, Denise, Bert and Barry Kripke attempt to restore reality. With that, it's been teased that alternate versions of familiar characters will appear. This is certainly a unique plot, but I love it, especially when it comes to the possibilities regarding characters that could return.

Since filming has wrapped on Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, I'm hopeful it won't be too long until additional information on the premiere date is released. With any luck, fans won't be left waiting for the show too long. In the meantime, check out Stuart, Kunal Nayyar's Raj and the other characters by streaming The Big Bang Theory on HBO Max now.

Lots of big shows are heading to the 2026 TV schedule, but none have quite the same level of anticipation as HBO Max’s Big Bang Theory follow-up Stuart Saves the Universe, which finally started filming in September after a lengthy development process. The spinoff’s core cast has long been set, and sporadic updates have unveiled returning co-stars, with some taking on new characters. But fans have remained in the dark regarding potential returns for TBBT regulars like Kaley Cuoco.

Luckily, Cuoco herself seemed to let the cat out of the bag without ever having to touch the bag or even admit to there being any cats in the area. Speaking with Entertainment Tonight about her latest TV gig, MGM+’s four-ep mystery thriller Vanished, the actress put on the least convincing poker face humanly possible when the topic of reprising Penny was addressed. It’s not what she said so much as the “look at my face instead of listening to my words” way that she delivered the answer. Just look at these eyeballs:

Those eyes are wider and rounder than a tractor's tires. That's not the way an actor reacts when they're about to share disappointing news, or when they're about to throw out a generically hopeful comment about possibly returning if scheduling works out. No, this is the face of someone who 100% either already filmed new scenes, or has signed the dotted line to bring those new scenes to life in the imminent future.

As far as actual words went, the bottom half of Cuoco's face wasn't nearly as telling as the top half, and she even repeated the way Cassie DiLaura called out her reaction.

Ever since the spinoff news surfaced, fans have voiced hopes for the core Big Bang Theory apartment mates to show up. When Vanished was first announced and suggested Cuoco's schedule might be too busy to fit a sitcom reprisal in, fans were still hopeful about Penny's return. That hype was strengthened further when Cuoco reunited with Johnny Galecki in 2025, though that was for a Royal Kingdom ad and not anything TBBT-related.

I think Cuoco's unconvincing reaction may be enough to sate audiences for a while, as it seems like a certainty that Penny will pop up the first season of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. Or some version of Penny, anyway. I don't put it past Stuart to have an AI version of Penny as a personal assistant or something along those lines.

As far as how she currently feels about the character that turned her into a household name, Cuoco said:

Can we possibly expect to see Johnny Galecki making a TV return to reprise Leonard for the Big Bang spinoff? I wouldn't expect Cuoco's eyes to get quite so wide when answering that one.

Following the successes of Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, The Big Bang Theory franchise is expanding again. Producer Chuck Lorre and co. have been developing Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, with Kevin Sussman returning to play the show’s meek protagonist. Some details have been revealed and, based on what’s known, it promises to be different from anything else this IP has ever produced. Fans can now rejoice, as filming has finally begun, with Sussman and his colleagues taking time to celebrate.

It seems that production on Stuart Saves the Universe kicked off this week, and the cast and crew are officially on set by the looks of it. To mark the occasion, Kevin Sussman took to his Instagram story to share a photo. Check out the picture, which shows off his character designation marker on his trailer:

The lengthily-titled Big Bang spinoff’s leading man was joined in posting about the start of filming by co-star Laura Lapkus. On her own Instagram story, Lapkus – who plays Stuart’s girlfriend, Denise – took a cue from her on-screen partner by sharing the sign that’s posted on the door of her trailer. Take a look at her post about “Day One”:

Adding to the chorus of celebrations upon the start of filming on Stuart was John Ross Bowie, who is reprising his role as Barry Kripke on the new show. Bowie shared a picture of a set chair (that may or may not be his) on his IG story, and the photo provides a good look at what may be the show’s official logo. The star also tagged his co-stars while acknowledging “day one”:

The only main cast member who hasn’t posted to commemorate the first day of filming (as of this writing) is Brian Posehn, who plays Burt Kibbler. Series co-creator and EP Bill Prady did speak out, though, as he shared a behind-the-scenes photo to his Instagram:

Months ago, this Big Bang spinoff’s cast united for what was reportedly their first table read and, at the time, John Ross Bowie posted a group photo to signify the occasion. That tidbit may have been enough to get some fans excited at the time. However, these set photos truly drive home the fact that the show’s cast and crew are now getting into the nitty gritty of the work. In short, the prospect of the series hitting the small screen at some point has never felt so real.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe ditches traditional sitcom conventions to tell a story that spans multiple realities. The show sees comic book store owner Stuart Bloom breaking reality due to using a device constructed by buddies Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper. With that, Stuart – along with Denise, Burt and Barry – aim to undo this multiversal apocalypse and, along the way, they’ll meet alternate versions of established Big Bang characters.

Co-creator Chuck Lorre has been open about how this upcoming show (which will be streamable with an HBO Max subscription) differs from any of his past work. As the legendary TV producer explained, the show uses “a lot of CGI,” which he really has “no experience with.” Still, Lorre says that’s exactly what he wanted, as he was hoping to do something that would push him out of his comfort zone.

As of right now, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe is slated to arrive sometime in 2026, as HBO boss Casey Bloys recently told Deadline. I’m very curious about what the cast and crew are cooking up and what this wild-sounding show will actually look like. With filming having begun, we’ll have to wait and see if some teases are shared in order to shed more light on what’s coming. In the meantime, stream all ten seasons of The Big Bang Theory on HBO Max, and check out the 2025 TV schedule for fresh, comedic offerings.

While the Big Bang Theory franchise continues to have a foothold on network television thanks to the Young Sheldon spinoff Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage on CBS (which can also be watched with a Paramount+ subscription), it’s also gearing up to deliver the delightfully kooky-sounding, CGI-packed Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. This show that will exclusively stream on HBO Max is bringing back a handful of supporting TBBT characters to take center stage, and now two more alums from the popular sitcom have come aboard. However, this time around, these actors will not be playing the same characters as before.

If you’re a longtime fan of The Big Bang Theory, you may recall Kevin Can Wait’s Ryan Cartwright and Silicon Valley’s Josh Brener making guest appearances. The former appeared in a Season 6 episode as Penny’s community college classmate, and the latter appeared in two episodes across Seasons 5 and 6 as Dale, who worked at Stuart’s comic book store. Well, for Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, Cartwright will instead play Kyle, who is reportedly a comic book nerd and regular customer of the comic book store run by Kevin Sussman’s Stuart. Brener is reportedly playing someone named Trevor, but no details about him were revealed.

Additionally, Deadline has heard that Tommy Walker from the Nickelodeon series Danger Force will appear in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe as Gary, the “handsome” boyfriend of Lauren Lapkus’ Denise. Although Walker never appeared on The Big Bang Theory or any of the other spinoffs, he did cross paths with creator Chuck Lorre when he guest starred on the Netflix series The Kominsky Method. Cartwright, Brener and Walker will all recur on Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, while Sussman and Lapkus are joined in the main cast by Brian Posehn and John Ross Bowie, who are respectively reprising Bert and Barry Kripke.

It was first reported in 2023 that another Big Bang Theory offshoot was in the works, and by March 2025, the series’ title was unveiled. Then last month, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe officially scored a series order, and we learned that it will follow Start attempting to fix the universe after damaging it with a device created by Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper. This will trigger what’s described as a “multiverse armageddon,” and it’s been teased that this will pave the way for alternate versions of TBBT characters to appear.

In Ryan Cartwright, Josh Brener and Tommy Walker’s case, however, they’re now back in the franchise to play different roles, so we’ll have to wait and see how they mesh with these fan-favorites. It hasn’t been announced yet when Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, which Chuck Lorre co-created with The Avengers’ Zak Penn, will be released, but you’re always welcome to revisit The Big Bang Theory proper on HBO Max while we wait for that information and more updates.

The Big Bang Theory franchise has been expanding since the conclusion of its parent show in 2019. In 2023, it was reported that another offshoot was in development and would be available for then-Max/now-HBO Max subscription holders. The title of that TBBT spinoff has since been revealed as Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. Now, the show has officially been ordered to series, with the creative team sharing statements. Among them is a hilariously wildly (and greatly exaggerated) tale about co-creator Chuck Lorre.

HBO Max announced this week that Stuart Fails to Save the Universe received a series order. In a press release shared by the streamer, legendary producer Chuck Lorre explained that the project was born out of his desire to “do something radical.” The witty Lorre also explained that he wanted to concoct a show that the fanboys of Big Bang “would have loved, hated, and argued about.” As funny as those sentiments are, it’s the comments from fellow EP Zak Penn about teaming up with Lorre and co-creator Bill Prady really take the cake:

As a rational human being, I know that this isn’t actually how Zak Penn teamed up with his colleagues on this endeavor. However, I want to believe so badly that it all panned out this way. Those comments shared by Penn – whose credits include Alphas, Ready Player One and Beacon 23 – alone sounds like something out of small-screen comedy. Considering the quirky statement the seasoned scribe shared, I’m already curious as to how that brand of humor will manifest itself in this latest Big Bang show.

The press release also features the official logline for the upcoming series, of which plot details were scarce up to this point. It centers on Stuart Bloom – who’s played by the returning Kevin Sussman – as he must fix the universe after wrecking it with a device constructed by pals Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper. As the lowly comic book store owner tries to achieve his goal, he recruits several other familiar faces – his girlfriend, Denise, the awkward yet affable Bert and the snarky Barry Kripke.

Kevin Sussman is joined on the show by fellow Big Bang Theory alums Lauren Lapkus, John Ross Bowie and Brian Posehn, who reprise their roles as Denise, Kripke and Bert, respectively. The logline also teases that alternate versions (or variants) of other fan-favorite characters will appear in this multiversal tale. So maybe that opens up the possibility for the likes of Johnny Galecki, Mayim Bialik or Kaley Cuoco to return in their TBBT roles. There’s plenty to speculate about in regard to who could show up.

After the reveal of the show’s synopsis, the comments that Chuck Lorre made about the show earlier this summer make a lot more sense. Lorre noted that the series would utilize “a lot of CGI,” which he has “no experience with.” It’s understandable that visual effects would be necessary for a show that involves the multiverse. I’m not completely sure what this will all look like, but I’m intrigued. Also, I’m not sure I’m ever going to forget Zak Penn’s funny fable about teaming up with Chuck Lorre and co.

HBO Max has yet to announce an official release date for Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. In the meantime though, fans can use a membership for that service to stream all 12 seasons of The Big Bang Theory and all seven seasons of spinoff series Young Sheldon.

As Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage continues to keep the Cooper family grounded at CBS, Big Bang Theory co-creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady (along with screenwriter Zak Penn) are taking the franchise into uncharted territory for the in-development spinoff titled Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. It’s a step in a new direction for Lorre, who revealed the streaming series is going heavy on…wait for it…CGI effects, so that it can lean more into its sci-fi comedy inspirations.

Considering the bulk of the CGI used in The Big Bang Theory was utilized in the opening titles and transitions, as opposed to within the lives and narratives of the characters, Lorre and Prady have been busy trying to educate themselves in the process while churning out scripts for the Stuart-centered offshoot, which reunited Kevin Sussman and co-stars for a photo shoot earlier in the year. Speaking to Variety at this year’s Banff World Media Festival, Lorre said:

My imagination is already piqued for what fans might see once Stuart Fails to Save the Universe kicks off, and how it'll separate itself from the brightly lit sitcom aesthetic of Big Bang, the muted tones of Young Sheldon's dramedy, and the warmer hues of Georgie and Mandy. Plus, how will the CGI be utilized in the new show?

Will it be a case where Kevin Sussman's Stuart is given a Bugs Bunny-esque treatment where he's able to pull carrots and giant mallets out of his impossibly deep back pocket? Or will he get into laser blaster battles with John Ross Bowie's Barry, with lots of explosions and destroyed furniture? Or will the digital effects be utilized more for background effects?

For someone who has held strongly to the idea that traditional sitcoms will never die, Chuck Lorre doesn't seem like the kind of TV creator who would be enthused about trying something completely out of his wheelhouse. But it probably helps that Zak Penn is part of the writing team, as he's experienced with scripting effects-heavy fare such as Free Guy, Ready Player One and X2, among others. How amazing would it be to get a legitimate superhero sequence? Especially one set inside the comic book store.

To be sure, HBO Max has yet to officially order the new project, which is still technically just in the development stages,a s opposed to being an imminent part of the 2025 TV schedule. It sprouted up a potential project back in 2023 when G&M's First Marriage was still coming together, and Lorre kept quiet about the details until all the pieces were in place, and it was revealed that Sussman would be teaming back up with Bowie, Lauren Lapkus as Denise, and Brian Posehn as Bert.

So for now, fans should remain hopeful that HBO Max's execs hurry up with the approval process so that Stuart Fails to Save the Universe can get ordered up and put into production post-haste. And if the show wanted to also bring Sara Gilbert back in, now that The Conners is over, that'd be great as well.

It all started with a "Big Bang," but the beloved television franchise has now spun off for a third time with yet another show set in its universe. Granted, those who watched The Big Bang Theory may wonder why the latest spinoff, Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, is choosing to center on a side character who was often just on the outskirts of the core friend group. As a Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage fan, I get it, and I think others will as well once it finally premieres.

I'm excited to see Stuart's adventures when the series premieres for those with a Max subscription (assuming it's greenlit), though had I not seen how well a premise like this worked with Montana Jordan and Emily Osment's Young Sheldon spinoff, I'm not sure I would be. For those in that category, let's talk about why we should all be psyched for more Stuart, even if we wanted more Sheldon instead.

Stuart Is The Perfect Character That Can Link To The TBBT Cast While Still Having His Own Show

I'm sure there are people out there wondering why we don't just have a proper sequel series of The Big Bang Theory that brings back the core original cast for more hijinks and fun. As fun as that could be, I can't imagine the eye-watering amount of money that would be needed to juggle the salaries of the actors from one of the most popular television shows of the modern era. Jim Parsons would probably net $20k alone for every knock on a door and an additional $15k for saying "Penny."

I'm joking about that last part, but pulling the original starring actors back to be in the main cast of this new series would likely be very expensive. This is likely why Stuart was chosen as the lead for this The Big Bang Theory spinoff, as he exists on the outskirts of the core group while still being connected enough to associate with them. I would expect the spinoff to feature episodes that see actors like Mayim Bialik, Kaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki reprising their characters from TBBT.

In the meantime, Stuart Fails To Save The Universe will call on other actors who played minor characters in the original series. Lauren Lapkus is back as Stuart's girlfriend, Denise, and we'll also get people like Brian Posehn as Bert and John Ross Bowie as Kripke.

It's a similar strategy that Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage took when it started out after Young Sheldon. Members of the Cooper family, like Missy and Mary, have occasionally shown up to support the story, but the show mainly rests on the shoulders of its starring cast. It's worked out well, as Jim and Connor McAllister have become two of my favorite characters on G&M. I don't see any reason why it wouldn't with this new spinoff.

Using Stuart Allows The Writing Crew To Sidestep The Big Bang Theory's More Science-Heavy Stories

Steve Holland, the showrunner for Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, once noted an advantage of the show was that without Sheldon Cooper, the series wasn't burdened with making sure the science in the show was valid and made sense. I can imagine the headache of having to do that as a writer, especially when you're not a genius in a field of science like Sheldon.

While G&M has managed to thrive without having to rely on the science bits brought with Sheldon Cooper, I think Stuart Fails To Save The Universe may fare even better, thanks to the nature of the character. While Stuart is no genius regarding the things that Leonard, Howard, Raj and Sheldon worked on, the guy runs a comic book shop.

Comic book store owners are geniuses of a different sort, as they are well-immersed in the world of comic books and sci-fi television, and can probably name every upcoming Marvel movie without having to check a guide for reference. Stuart may not have a lot of book smarts, but he seems to know a good deal about geeky stuff.

I think that in this regard, Stuart Fails To Save The Universe could outshine Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage. Anyone who enjoyed the geekiness of The Big Bang Theory can likely expect it to continue in this new series, and probably on a level most people can relate to. Sorry to all those hoping for more physics-related jokes, though I'm sure we'll get a tiny bit of that when TBBT characters show up on the show.

Much Like Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage Did With Young Sheldon, Stuart Fails To Save The Universe Could Tap Into What Truly Made The Big Bang Theory Great

Despite lacking Sheldon, Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage has been a joy to watch because it manages to tap into what truly made Young Sheldon great. Science and Sheldon aside, the show was about family and navigating the issues in our daily lives. It gave us happy moments like Sheldon conquering his fears and crushingly sad moments like the death of George Sr.

Stuart Fails To Save The Universe may not have a ton of science, but it seems primed to focus on the thing that made The Big Bang Theory a success. It was all centered around friends at a pivotal time of their lives looking for love and navigating relationships.

I can't guarantee that the upcoming spinoff will focus on that, but given the success rate of this franchise, I would reckon they have a good idea of how to make this series work and maybe even make it one of the most popular streaming shows. Stuart may be a "failure" when it comes to saving the universe, but should this series make it to Max, I think he stands a very good chance at creating a successful show on streaming.

CinemaBlend is watching updates for Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, which will stream on Max if/when it gets the greenlight to go to series. As for Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, readers can catch new episodes on CBS on Thursdays at 8:00 p.m. ET.

The Big Bang Theory has been gone from our lives for six years now, but the world it created lives on. The Young Sheldon spinoff Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage is currently airing on CBS, and back in April 2023, it was announced that a TBBT spinoff for Max was in the works. We’ve since learned that this new show will follow characters like Stuart Bloom, Denise, Bert Kibbler and Barry Kripke. Now the title for this offshoot has been announced, and it’s fittingly has just a gargantuan vibe as The Big Bang Theory.

Per Deadline, this spinoff that will be accessible to those with a Max subscription has been titled Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. So right there, we know that Stuart, played by Kevin Sussman, will be the focus of this latest addition to the Big Bang Theory franchise, although keep in mind that it hasn’t been greenlit yet. Also, while this unfortunately doesn’t shed any light on specific plot details for the show, it also meshes well with the poor luck that Stuart experienced throughout his time on The Big Bang Theory.

As noted in the article, this continues a trend of each Big Bang Theory spinoff being named after one or more of its main characters. However, minus reconnecting with Sheldon Cooper and Amy Farrah-Fowler in the Young Sheldon series finale, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will mark the first time we’re following up with the Big Bang Theory characters after the events of that 12-season show. I like how this Max spinoff title has a cosmic bent just like TBBT, it’s just a shame that we can’t count on Stuart to successfully come to our rescue.

Stuart Bloom was introduced in The Big Bang Theory Season 2 episode “The Hofstadter Isotope” as the owner of the comic book store that Leonard, Sheldon, Howard and Raj frequented. Lauren Lapkus’ Denise started working at the store in Season 11, and by the show’s final season, she and Stuart began their romantic relationship and planned to move in together. So if you’re going to make a show revolving around Kevin Sussman’s character, it would have been weird not to include Denise, assuming they’re still together.

What’s not as clear cut is how Bert and Kripke, respectively played by Brian Posehn and John Ross Bowie, fit into Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. Both characters worked with the aforementioned quartet at the same university, but their paths rarely crossed with Stuart’s and they never expressed any interest in comic books. So it’ll be interesting to see what leads to them becoming a regular part of his life. Behind the scenes, TBBT creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Brady, as well as Zak Penn, are writing and executive producing the spinoff.

As mentioned earlier, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe hasn’t gotten the official go-ahead just yet, though the four starring actors do have talent holding deals in place for if the show is picked up. We’ll let you know if that day comes, but until then, get your fix of new TBBT content by watching new episodes of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage Thursdays at 8 pm ET on CBS, and stream them afterwards with a Paramount+ subscription.