The series finale episode will air on Monday, May 13, the network said. As previously announced, the fifth season of Bob Hearts Abishola will start on Monday, February 12.
The news is not surprising. As previously reported, only the two leads, Billy Gardell and Folake Olowofoyeku, of the series' 13-member regular cast have exercised their season five options to remain with the comedy full-time. As part of the cost-cutting move to secure a renewal, the remainder were offered to continue in recurring roles with a five-episode guarantee.
Sources indicated at the time that Bob Hearts Abishola was expected to end with a fifth season of thirteen episodes. After a double strike, the comedy from executive producers Chuck Lorre, Al Higgins, Gina Yashere and Matt Ross will still produce thirteen episodes in its final season.
“We are so proud to call Bob ❤ Abishola a CBS comedy as it helped establish a new generation of programming at the network,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “This series expertly showcased a family love story and workplace comedy about the immigrant experience with heartfelt humor and emotion while also authentically portraying Nigerian culture.
It’s a testament to the incomparable Chuck Lorre, the amazing creative team led by Al Higgins, Gina Yashere and Matt Ross, and the talents of Billy Gardell, Folake Olowofoyeku and the entire cast for making this show and its characters come to life and resonate with viewers. We plan to celebrate it this spring and give fans the most amazing episodes to remember it by.”
Bob Hearts Abishola is CBS's third established scripted series to end this season, joining the well-known comedy Young Sheldon and the drama Blue Bloods.
Like the other two, Bob Hearts Abishola is a solid ratings success for CBS. It premiered as the No. 1 new comedy of the 2019-20 television season. Since its second season, no comedy on NBC, ABC or FOX has attracted more viewers, and along with Monday contemporary The Neighborhood, they were the top two comedies of the 2022-23 season among African-American viewers.
Bob Hearts Abishola from Chuck Lorre Productions and Warner Bros. Television is about Bob (Gardell), a middle-aged businessman from Detroit who, while recovering from a heart attack, unexpectedly falls for his cardiac nurse Abishola (Olowofoyeku), a Nigerian immigrant, and sets out to win her over. Undeterred by Abishola's lack of interest or the stark differences in their backgrounds, Bob was determined to win her heart and ultimately marry her, in this comedic exploration of immigrant life in America.
“Bob ❤ Abishola is about an unlikely love story, but also the premise that immigrants make America great,” said executive producers Yashere, Ross and Lorre. “We’ve loved bringing these stories to life and are excited for fans to see the final chapter of these two families, and the incredible work of this talented cast and crew.”
The series airs Monday on CBS and streams live and on-demand on Paramount+.