Since the early 1990’s Chuck Lorre has made a name for himself creating, writing and producing some of the best comedies on television. Born in Plainsville, New York in 1952, Lorre (born Charles Michael Levine) started out in a career in music. During the 1980’s he wrote songs before he started writing for sitcoms. He wrote for “Roseanne” and began to create television shows including “Grace Under Fire”, “Cybill”, and “Dharma and Greg”. His television shows were award winning and respected by fellow Hollywood producers. Known for his wit and style, Chuck Lorre’s television shows are successful. Lorre is also known for filming a “Vanity Cards” at the end of each episode expressing tributes, opinions, political views and just about anything. Today Chuck Lorre is wrapping up his the final season of “The Big Bang Theory”, producing its spinoff “Young Sheldon”, and writing and producing his latest hit, Netflix’s “The Kominsky Theory”.
Here are the 5 most successful Chuck Lorre TV Productions.
5. Mike & Molly
Mike & Molly premiered on CBS in 2010 and aired for six seasons. It can still be seen in syndication. Melissa McCarthy was already in The Groundlings and had some success in film, but Mike & Molly and the 2011 movie Bridesmaids helped boost her to a movie star. Chuck Lorre’s Mike & Molly focus on a couple who meet at a Chicago Overeater’s Anonymous group who fall in love. Billy Gasdell played Mike, a Chicago police officer while McCarthy played Molly Bigs, a teacher who later quits to become a writer. The show had a great supporting cast including Swoosie Kurtz, Reno Wilson and Katy Mixon. McCarthy won the Primetime Emmy Award in 2011 and the People’s Choice Award in 2016 for the role.
4. The Kominsky Method
The Kominsky Method has only aired through Netflix one season and has already won a Golden Globe Award for Best Television Comedy or Musical. The show has been picked up for a second season. Chuck Lorre created the show and writes and produces it. The Kominsky Method stars Michael Douglas as Sandy Kominsky, an aging Hollywood acting coach, and Alan Arkin as Norman Newlander, Sandy’s agent and friend. The show is shot with a single camera, and Douglas and Arkin make a great team.
3. Mom
Mom was created by Chuck Lorre, Gemma Baker and Gordoleski and premiered on CBS in 2018. Now in its sixth season, Mom stars Anna Faris as Christy Plunket and Allison Janney as her mom Bonnie. Both are recovering alcoholics and drug addicts who must learn to rebuild their relationship while dealing with life’s daily struggles. Each season features a new year of Christy’s sobriety. The show has won critical acclaim for its comedy that portrays the struggles of addiction, relapse, overdosing, cancer, teen pregnancy, rape and repairing relationships. As with many of his other shows, Lorre brought in a former cast member. Mimi Kennedy plays Christy and Bonnie’s mentor and friend Marjorie. She once played Dharma’s free spirited mom on Dharma and Greg.
2. Two and a Half Men
One of Chuck Lorre’s most successful television shows is CBS’ Two and a Half Men which premiered in 2003 and aired for twelve seasons. The show starred Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper, a wild yet successful Hollywood jingle writer. His brother Alan, played by Jon Cryer, moves in with Charlie because Alan’s divorce has left him with little money. Alan’s son Jake, played by Angus T. Jones, joins the brothers. The show won many awards, but hit a controversial note when Charlie Sheen had a very public meltdown in 2011. Sheen was not kind to Lorre and the pair had a major falling out. When Sheen went to rehab CBS planned to cancel the show but brought it back for a few more seasons, killing Charlie Harper off and casting Ashton Kutchner as the new owner of Harper’s Malibu home where he allows Alan and Jake to continue to live. Lorre used his favorite “Vanity Cards” to express his issues with Charlie Sheen.
1. The Big Bang Theory
The Big Bang Theory is wrapping up its twelfth and final season. Fans of the award winning comedy will certainly miss the show and its characters. Fortunately, Sheldon Cooper’s backstory lives on in Young Sheldon. The Big Bang Theory premiered on CBS in 2007. Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady created the show featuring a group of nerdy scientists with few social skills working at Cal Tech and gathering in their apartments. Known for his use of crossovers The Big Bang Theory was created with Johnny Galecki in mind. Galecki played Darlene’s boyfriend on Roseanne. He plays Leonard Hofstadler on The Big Bang Theory. Lorre has brought on actors from his other shows to TBBT including Larie Metcalf and Sarah Gilbert from Roseanne and Christine Beransky from Cybill.
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