Chuck Lorre: Planning 'closure' for 'Mike & Molly'

The end is near for Mike & Molly.

Two actors, including star Billy Gardell, acknowledge the coming cancellation via social media and executive producer Chuck Lorre confirms he told the cast and crew at a taping that the CBS comedy was heading toward its finish with its 13-episode sixth season (Jan. 6, 8:30 p.m. ET/PT).

"We have an order for 13 (episodes) and we have not received any word from CBS that there is life past that 13, so we’re looking to have closure here on the series," Lorre, who also is executive producer of higher-profile comedy The Big Bang Theory, told USA TODAY recently.

Gardell and Melissa McCarthy, who has a thriving film career, play title characters Mike Biggs and Molly Flynn in the comedy, which also stars Reno Wilson, Katy Mixon and Swoosie Kurtz.

Neither CBS nor Warner Bros. Television, which produces the series, have confirmed that the sixth season will be the final one.

Gardell tweeted early this month that the upcoming season's shows "will be our last episodes. … Thank you everyone who supported us."

Rondi Reed, who plays Mike's mother, Peggy, last week said the show would be ending via a Facebook posting. Reed says taping will finish January 27. Producers unsuccessfully explored the possibility of continuing the show elsewhere, she writes. Here is part of the text of Reed's post:

"Before you hear it elsewhere (and some already have) this is the final and 6th Season of Mike & Molly on CBS. It is also a shortened season (13 episodes) after the announced full renewal of 22 episodes back in March by the network," Reed writes. "The network has it's reasons, and I will not get into a debate, discussion or campaign to get them to change their minds. Other venues were explored … after CBS announced their intentions, but did not turn up a future for our show. It is a fact and we have known for a few weeks. I remain extremely grateful to have been a part of this and to have worked with a fabulous bunch of folks over the years."