Sitcom Mike & Molly to end after shortened 6th season

Mike & Molly, one of TV hitmakerChuck Lorre'sstable of populistcomedies,is saying goodbye after its forthcoming season.

Stars of the sitcom, led byMelissa McCarthy and BillyGardell,have gradually revealed the news to fans via social media.

Last week, Gardell posted a Tweetabout the upcoming sixth season debuting in early January as being the show'sfinal, truncated one.

Launched in 2010,Mike & MollystarsGardelland McCarthy as a couple who meet at Overeaters Anonymous, fall in love and marry.

The show'sdebut coincided with McCarthy's rise as a big-screen comedy star (in films such as Bridesmaids, Identity Thief,The Heat,Tammyand Spy)and also earned her an Emmy Award for lead actress in a comedy in 2011.

Actress Rondi Reed, who portrays Gardell'smother on the show, expanded via Facebook, saying that the series would end shooting in late January and would run shorter thanpreviously announced.

"Before you hear it elsewhere (and some already have) this is the final and sixth season of Mike & Mollyon CBS. It is also a shortened season (13 episodes) after the announced full renewal of 22 episodes back in March by the network," she wrote.

The show's cancellation leaves Lorre with two sitcoms onCBS: perennially popularThe Big Bang Theory, starring Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons andKaley Cuoco,and newer seriesMom, starring AllisonJanney and Anna Faris.

Lorre's previouscomediesincludeTwo and a Half Men, Grace Under Fire, Dharma & Greg,CybillandRoseanne, where he began his TV career as a scriptwriter.