Jim Parsons pens an emotional tribute to The Big Bang Theory cast, crew and fans

E! Online

Parsons posted a lengthy statement to Instagram accompanied by a picture of the cast on Day 1 of filming the final season premiere. "It is hard (nearly impossible, actually) to really accept that this is a picture of the first of the final 24 episodes we will shoot for The Big Bang Theory. I feel very fortunate that we have another 23 episodes to shoot this season because I am hopeful that with each and every one, my level of REALLY accepting this fact will sink in," Parsons writes. "Something else I feel grateful for—and this gratitude needs no time to ‘sink in' or become more ‘realized;' this grateful-feeling is always with me but is multiplied in this moment of us announcing our final season—but I feel such intense gratitude for our devoted viewers who are the ACTUAL reason we have been graced with the opportunity to explore these characters for 12 years of our lives."

ALSO:

• Read Mayim Bialik's long blog post: “Am I happy? Of course not...This is hard"
• Co-creator Bill Prady and Kunal Nayyar react to ending after 12 seasons