Simon Helberg and Kunal Nayyar star in "The Big Bang Theory"

Though its ninth season is already in full swing, fans of CBS’s hit comedy “The Big Bang Theory” still have a lot to look forward to. For months now, the show's writers have been teasing fans with tidbits about what to expect this season, promising nods to two film franchises that will fire up the fervor of sci-fi and film nerds everywhere.

Catch the next episode of "The Big Bang Theory" when it airs Thursday, Nov. 19, on CBS.

The show plays up the nerdiness of the central characters, socially awkward scientists who have cultivated vast knowledge of many a fictional universe. We often see them engaged in zealous discussions about their favorite fandoms, so it should come as no surprise that both “Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens" (2015) and "Ghostbusters" (1984) will be a part of this season’s storyline.

There have been dozens of Star Wars references already throughout the first eight seasons of the show. Last season, Leonard (Johnny Galecki, “In Time,” 2011) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons, “Garden State,” 2004) were detained in a Star Wars prison after trying to sneak into Skywalker Ranch.
At this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, writers told a throng of fans that the original script for that episode included Sheldon stealing a lightsaber and bringing it back to the apartment. That storyline was ultimately axed because the writers felt that theft was too out of character for law-abiding Sheldon.

As the world prepares for the premiere of “Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens” on Dec. 18, “Big Bang” fans can expect their favorite characters to be doing the same, according to showrunner Steve Molaro, who has confirmed that the movie premiere will play into this season.

The other big nod still to come is to “Ghostbusters.” You may recall seeing a quick clip of Bill Murray, star of the Oscar-nominated fantasy flick, in the season 8 episode “The Focus Attenuation.” Well, there should be an even bigger Ghostbusters Easter egg this season, and it seems it was hard won.

According to co-creator Bill Prady at Comic-Con, it was difficult to get the rights to air the clip they wanted this season, but a phone call to Joel Murray -- Bill’s brother, who featured in another Chuck Lorre comedy, “Dharma & Greg” -- helped to clear things up.

He got in touch with his superstar brother, who made some noise at the studio. Enough noise to win the “Big Bang” team the rights to feature footage of the '80s cult classic, which, incidentally, is also gearing up for a reboot. The reincarnation of “Ghostbusters” hits theaters this coming summer.

So far this season, Leonard and Penny (Kaley Cuoco, “Charmed”) eloped to Las Vegas, finally tying the knot, while Amy (Mayim Bialik, "Blossom") ended her relationship with Sheldon. Both of these moves are part of a conscious effort on the part of the writers to dig deeper into the lives of their characters.

Jim Parsons and Johnny Galecki in a scene from "The Big Bang Theory"

Elsewhere, Laura Spencer ("The Lizzie Bennet Diaries"), who plays Raj Koothrappali’s (Kunal Nayyar, “Sanjay and Craig”) dermatologist girlfriend, Emily, has been promoted to series regular, and will play a big part in broadening Raj’s horizons this season. Emily met Raj through an online dating site, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that she has a chilling fascination with all things macabre. Raj has already come a long way from the first season when he could not even talk to a girl.

Howard Wolowitz, played by Simon Helberg ("Old School," 2003), is also undergoing a character shift this season. He had eight seasons of mother issues before said mother -- voiced by the late Carol Ann Susi ("Just Go With It," 2011) and never seen on-screen -- passed away last year. This led to speculation that perhaps Howard's father, Sam, could make an appearance in the series -- "I think it would be nice to potentially meet his dad," Helberg told Press Association.

Molaro, however, put the kibosh on that back in February when "Big Bang" aired an episode centered on Mrs. Wolowitz's death. "I think his dad is always a potential storyline at some point," he said, according to Designntrend.com -- but, "[i]t's nothing that we're poking at just yet."

The series has been renewed for a 10th season, but there is an end in sight. Molaro has said the current season will feature a lot of big shakeups, but every big bang must come to an end. In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, the showrunner said his main concern is that the show ends on a high note: “As long as we can have the opportunity to end it in a way that serves them all properly, that’s my concern -- more than the number of seasons.”

But the show’s not over yet, and there are lots of laughs to be had. Catch the next episode of “The Big Bang Theory” Thursday, Nov. 19, on CBS.