The Big Bang Theory ran for 12 seasons and a total of 279 episodes and has spawned two spinoff shows so far, which makes for a lot of television to watch. The original series follows Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Leonard (Johnny Galicki), two physicists, and their friends through sitcom antics seen through their more academic lens. That includes them meeting and befriending the woman across the hall in their apartment building, Penny (Kaley Cuoco).