(CNN) Two major hits, "Game of Thrones" and "The Big Bang Theory," are signing off within days of each other. Whether those shared viewing experiences represent a celebration or a wake is once again the subject of debate in TV industry circles. When it comes to bringing millions of people together, TV executives are fond of saying that the pipes still work. HBO's mythical drama soared to an all-time high with its penultimate episode -- with 18.4 million viewers in the US -- and despite ample criticism and venting on Twitter , seems likely to eclipse that mark with Sunday's finale. The lingering question is whether in an age of watch-it-your-way viewing these sorts of shows can be replicated, or whether each successive generation of "hits" will inevitably be narrower and more siloed off than the one that preceded it.

Source: CNN May 18, 2019 15:20 UTC