The Big Bang Theory‘s Final Season Adds 2 Familiar Faces

With its final season in full swing (and due to return from a holiday hiatus on Thursday, Jan. 3 on CBS), TV Line reports that two exciting guest stars will be joining The Big Bang Theory. The fan-favorite series has cast Kal Penn and Sean Astin to team up with the crew of series regulars. As the second half of TBBT gets underway, we can’t help but get all kinds of pumped to see these two familiar faces shaking things up in what sounds like very fun roles.

TV Line notes that Penn, who you may recognize from House and who currently stars on Designated Survivor, and Astin, who was recently seen on Stranger Things season two, will be playing “Drs. Campbell and Pemberton, a team of physicists who accidentally confirm [Sheldon and Amy’s] complex scientific concept.” Further specifics about Penn and Astin’s character have yet to be revealed, but who cares? This is intriguing news nevertheless.

Penn posted a celebratory Boomerang video on his Instagram on Thursday, holding his TBBT script and confirming in his caption that his and Astin’s TBBT episode will air on Thursday, Jan. 10.

“Can’t wait to join these guys for an episode next week! #BigBangTheory,” he wrote, adding in nerdy face, rocket and telescope emoji to stay on theme with TBBT.

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After 11 years on the air, it feels like the countdown to the final episodes of TBBT has been a roller coaster of feelings, not just for loyal viewers, but for the show’s stars as well. Speaking with Entertainment Weekly, series lead Johnny Galecki commented that he hopes the series finale narrative includes plenty of emotional moments because “none of us are going to be able to keep from crying during the last taping. We’ve got to justify it in the writing somehow.”

While we may not know what the final episodes will look like or just how emotional the finale will be, we do know that Penn and Astin will no doubt add some much-needed levity during their time on The Big Bang Theory, which is just what heartbroken fans preparing to say goodbye will need.