'The Big Bang Theory' tapes final episode

The course of "The Big Bang Theory" is officially complete as the cast and crew of the hit sitcom finished taping the 279th and final episode of the show's 12-season run.

The half-hour episode of the CBS series, to premier on May 16, was filmed Tuesday, according to EW.

The finale will be two-parter - the first segment of which was screened for the studio audience Tuesday before the final 22 minutes were performed live on soundstage 25 at Warner Bros Studios in Burbank, California.

Starring Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco, Johnny Galecki, Mayim Bialik, Melissa Rauch, Simon Helberg, and Kunal Nayyar, "Big Bang" is one of the most popular shows on television.

The episode promises moments of "fun, solid jokes about sex, apartment decor, childcare and food, there are some tender and very unexpected surprises".

In between takes, Cuoco (Penny) sauntered on stage and clapped with the audience while a grinning Galecki (Leonard) played some air guitar.

He later shed some tears moments later. Before ..