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Chuck Lorre

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Chuck Lorre
Lorre in 2013
Born
Charles Michael Levine

(1952-10-18) October 18, 1952 (age 72)
Plainview, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)Writer, producer, director, composer
Years active1984–present
Notable workCybill
Dharma & Greg
Two and a Half Men
The Big Bang Theory
Mom
Spouses
Paula Smith
​
​
(m. 1979; div. 1992)​
​
​
(m. 2001; div. 2010)​
Arielle Mandelson
​
​
(m. 2018; div. 2024)​
Children2
Websitechucklorre.com

Charles Michael Lorre (/ˈlɔːri/ LOR-ee;[1] né Levine; born October 18, 1952)[2][3] is an American television producer, writer, director, and composer. Nicknamed the "King of Sitcoms",[4][5][6][7] Lorre has created/co-created and produced many sitcoms including Cybill (1995–1998), Dharma & Greg (1997–2002), Two and a Half Men (2003–2015), The Big Bang Theory (2007–2019), and Mom (2013–2021). He also served as an executive producer of Roseanne. Lorre won three Golden Globe Awards for his work on Roseanne, Cybill, and The Kominsky Method.[8]

Early life and education

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Lorre was born in Plainview, New York, to a Jewish family and given the Hebrew name Chaim.[9][10][11] His father, Robert,[12] opened a luncheonette that did poorly, which caused financial problems. After graduating from high school, Lorre attended State University of New York at Potsdam, dropping out after two years to pursue a career as a songwriter.[3] During his two years at college he "majored in rock 'n' roll and pot and minored in LSD". In 2011, he admitted to drinking heavily in his past, telling Entertainment Weekly (EW) that he "led a dissolute youth until 47" and also stating he was in addiction recovery at the time.[13] Substance-related issues are also a recurring theme in his work.

He changed his surname from Levine to Lorre at age 26.[1]

Career

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Lorre in 2007

After leaving school, Lorre toured the United States as a guitarist and songwriter.[14] He wrote the song "French Kissin'", which Deborah Harry later recorded for her 1986 Rockbird album[14] and which became a UK Top 10 hit. In the early 1980s, he turned to writing scripts for animated shows; his first project was the DIC version of Heathcliff.[15] He co-wrote the soundtrack to the 1987 television series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with Dennis Challen Brown.[16][17][18] In the late 1980s, he shifted into writing for sitcoms, and joined the writing staff of Roseanne. Though he was fired over "irreconcilable creative differences",[citation needed] Lorre's time on Roseanne impressed producers, and led to his creating his first show, Frannie's Turn. It was cancelled after 5 weeks.[14][19]

Lorre's second show as creator, Grace Under Fire, starred comedian Brett Butler.[14] It premiered on ABC in 1993, and was nominated at the 52nd Golden Globe Awards for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy. His next show was Cybill, starring Cybill Shepherd. While Lorre left after two seasons, Cybill went on to air for four seasons on CBS, receiving critical acclaim and winning a Primetime Emmy Award in 1995 for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for co-star Christine Baranski, and two Golden Globe Awards in 1996 for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy for Cybill Shepherd. Lorre signed a deal with Carsey-Werner Productions in 1994.[20]

Lorre then moved to 20th Century Fox in 1995 to create the next project.,[21] creating Dharma & Greg in partnership with Dottie Zicklin (credited as Dottie Dartland), which premiered one year before the end of Cybill in 1997.[3] It starred Jenna Elfman and Thomas Gibson as the title characters, whose personalities were complete opposites—Dharma's world view being more spiritual and 'free spirit'-style, instilled by "hippie" parents, contrasted with Greg's world view of structure, social status requirements, and "white collar duty" instilled by his generations of affluent parents/ancestors.[22] The show received eight Golden Globe nominations, six Emmy Award nominations, and six Satellite Awards nominations,[23] and Elfman won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in 1999.[22]

To move on to his next project, Lorre signed a long-term deal with Warner Bros. Television in 2000, a relationship that continues to this day.[24] Lorre created his fifth show, Two and a Half Men, with co-creator Lee Aronsohn. It focuses on the two Harper brothers, Charlie and Alan. Charlie is a hedonistic, successful commercial jingles composer and womanizer who owns a beach house in Malibu. Alan is a neurotic chiropractor, thrown out of his own house by his divorcing wife. The premise is that Alan worms himself into Charlie's house and clashes with his lifestyle. Alan also has a son, Jake, the "half", who comes to visit him and Charlie on weekends. Two and a Half Men premiered on CBS in 2003 and became the highest-rated sitcom in America.[3][14] In 2011, CBS put the show on hiatus following a series of incidents of production shutdowns due to Charlie Sheen's personal problems related to drug and alcohol abuse and greed, which culminated in the verbal attacks directed at Lorre during a radio interview.[25][26] Sheen was fired from the show and filed a $100 million lawsuit against Lorre and Warner Bros. Television for wrongful termination.[27][28] Lorre killed off Sheen's character and hired Ashton Kutcher as his replacement for the show's later four seasons.

Lorre's next show was The Big Bang Theory with co-creator Bill Prady. It follows two genius physicists, Sheldon Cooper and Leonard Hofstadter, with few social skills who befriend their neighbor, an attractive, outgoing young woman with average intelligence and no college education. The episodes usually focus primarily on the daily lives of the men and two of their brilliant but equally socially challenged friends, with a dose of absurdity from the relationship with their less educated but socially astute neighbor. The two main protagonists are named after actor and television producer Sheldon Leonard.[29] The show was broadcast on CBS from 2007 to 2019 and was the highest rated comedy series in the United States.[14] The show also launched two spin-offs: Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage.

In 2018, Lorre created The Kominsky Method, which follows a fictional aging acting coach used to success. It stars Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin and won Lorre a Golden Globe Award in 2019.[30]

Other shows

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Lorre was executive producer of Mike & Molly, created by Mark Roberts, which premiered on CBS in September 2010.[31] His seventh show, created with Gemma Baker and Eddie Gorodetsky, Mom, premiered on CBS on September 23, 2013.[32] On March 13, 2014, CBS announced the second season renewal of Mom. It ran for eight seasons.[33]

Controversy surrounded United States of Al, a show produced by Lorre for CBS. Released to mostly negative reviews, United States of Al and its makers were criticized for the show's humor, use of antiquated tropes, and in particular, the casting of a South-African-born Indian actor to play an Afghan lead and his use of an inauthentic accent.[34]

Vanity cards

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The unique vanity cards for Chuck Lorre Productions have become a "trademark" for Lorre,[35][36] starting with Dharma & Greg and used for every one of his shows since.[37] An Apple Macintosh computer was used for Lorre's production card on the earlier Grace Under Fire and Cybill.

Typically, on the end of every episode of his productions, Lorre includes a different message that usually reads like an editorial, essay, or observation on life. A typical card might include a range of topics as diverse as what the Bee Gees never learned, the cancellation of Dharma & Greg, his support of Barack Obama, the competence of AOL Time Warner management, and the genesis of Two and a Half Men.

The card is shown for only a few seconds at most, so longer messages require the viewer to pause at the right spot or visit Lorre's website where he posts the cards. CBS has censored Lorre's vanity cards on several occasions;[38] Lorre posts both the censored and uncensored versions of the cards.

During Charlie Sheen's controversial departure from Two and a Half Men in 2011, Lorre referenced Sheen in several cards.[36] Lorre used the vanity card for the series finale, "Of Course He's Dead", to address the circumstances of Sheen's absence from the episode.

Lorre published a compilation of his vanity cards in a coffee table book titled What Doesn't Kill Us Makes Us Bitter, released on October 16, 2012.[39] The book takes its title from Vanity Card #1, which first aired following the first episode of Dharma & Greg on September 24, 1997.[40]

During The Big Bang Theory episode titled "The Hook-Up Reverberation", Vanity Card #463 was displayed. It discussed Lorre's lost or matured angst along with the news that he would stop writing the vanity cards. Vanity card #464 was shown after the next episode, stating it was his last and that he felt like they would not be missed. However, he resumed the cards. Card #493 on March 5, 2015, was a tribute to the late Leonard Nimoy, who had guest-starred on the show as the voice of Sheldon's conscience three years earlier.[41]

When Channing Dungey, chairwoman and CEO of Warner Bros. Television Studios discussed the reemergence of the sitcom in a February 2023 Deadline article, Deadline opined "There are fewer and fewer younger writers that are attracted to the form, however, making finding the next Chuck Lorre trickier," with Dungey commenting "I worry that it’s becoming a bit of a lost art".[42] When Lorre read this, he used Vanity Card #723 to ask "The next Chuck Lorre?! What the &$@? is wrong with the one you have now?!".[43]

Lorre created a special, unnumbered vanity card for Bookie, his first show released exclusively to streaming television. In the vanity card, Lorre remarked on the irrelevancy of writing vanity cards in an age where most streaming platforms encourage credits-skipping, remarking "Why on earth am I writing vanity cards for BOOKIE?" and "If a vanity card is written on MAX, and no one reads it, was it amusing?".[44] This vanity card on the 7th episode of Bookie, titled "The Super Bowl: God's Gift to Bookies", which aired on December 21, 2023, on MAX, was dedicated to Marvin Miles, who died on August 3, 2023, at the age of 72. The tombstone reads: "R.I.P. Marvin Miles (October 6, 1950–August 3, 2023)". The vanity card reads: "In Memory of "Marvelous" Marvin Miles".[45] Lorre discusses about algorithm, or bot, or some sort of silicon-based magical genie to secure the future of Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, because Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage premiered on October 17, 2024 on CBS.[46][47]

Selected credits

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Lorre in September 2008
Title Year Creator / Showrunner Director Writer Executive Producer Network Notes
Heathcliff 1984–1985 No No Yes No Syndicated
Pole Position 1984 No No Yes No CBS
Wolf Rock TV 1984 No No Yes No ABC
M.A.S.K. 1985 No No Yes No Syndicated
Muppets, Babies and Monsters 1985 No No Yes No CBS
My Little Pony 'n Friends 1986 No No Yes No Syndicated
Defenders of the Earth 1986–1987 No No Yes No Syndicated
Charles in Charge 1987 No No Yes No CBS
My Two Dads 1987–1990 No No Yes No NBC
The New Adventures of Beany and Cecil 1988 No No Yes No ABC
Roseanne 1990–1992 No No Yes Yes ABC
Toxic Crusaders 1991 No No Yes No Syndicated
Frannie's Turn 1992 Yes No Yes Yes CBS
Grace Under Fire 1993–1998 Yes No Yes Yes ABC
Cybill 1995–1998 Yes No Yes Yes CBS
Dharma & Greg 1997–2002 Yes Yes Yes Yes ABC
Two and a Half Men 2003–2015 Yes Yes Yes Yes CBS
The Big Bang Theory 2007–2019 Yes No Yes Yes CBS
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation 2008 No No Yes No CBS
Mike & Molly 2010–2016 No No Yes Yes CBS
Mom 2013–2021 Yes No Yes Yes CBS
Disjointed 2017–2018 Yes No Yes Yes Netflix
Young Sheldon 2017–2024 Yes No Yes Yes CBS
The Kominsky Method 2018–2021 Yes Yes Yes Yes Netflix
Bob Hearts Abishola 2019–2024 Yes No Yes Yes CBS
B Positive 2020–2022 No No Yes Yes CBS
United States of Al 2021–2022 No No Yes Yes CBS
Bookie 2023–present Yes Yes Yes Yes Max
Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage 2024–present Yes No Yes Yes CBS

Timeline

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Awards and recognition

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Lorre won BMI Television Music Awards in 2004,[48] 2005,[49] 2008[50] and 2009[51] for Two and a Half Men. On March 12, 2009, Lorre received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard.[52] Three months later, Lorre received an honorary degree from the State University of New York at Potsdam and gave a keynote address at the graduation.[53]

In March 2012, Lorre was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.[54][55] Lorre has won Golden Globe Awards for Roseanne (1993), Cybill (1996),[56] and The Kominsky Method (2019).[30] Lorre was awarded the Critics' Choice Award for Creative Achievement in 2019.[57]

Personal life

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Lorre was first married to his business partner Paula Smith in 1979. They ended both partnerships after 13 years and the births of their two children.[58]

He was married to Karen Witter, an actress, model and author. They divorced in July 2010 after a decade's marriage.[12][59]

From 2010 to 2011, he was in a relationship with Emmanuelle Vaugier, a Canadian actress and model, who appeared in 12 episodes of Two and a Half Men.

In September 2018, Lorre married Arielle Mandelson, a wellness influencer. Lorre filed for divorce in 2022.[60] The divorce was finalized in February 2024. Lorre gained custody of the couple’s dog Harvey, with Arielle being granted liberal visitation. Lorre was also ordered to pay $5 million in their divorce settlement. A judge ordered that one million dollars will be paid upon the execution of the ruling and the remaining four million will be paid within 30 days after Arielle vacates Lorre's properties. [61] [62]

He has publicly discussed his decades of struggle with the autoimmune disease ulcerative colitis, along with depression, anxiety, and bouts of anger or rage, saying, "Put me in paradise and I will focus on the one thing that will make me angry." In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he said, "I am wired on some deep level to seek out something to be worried and obsess about."[63]

References

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  1. ^ a b "CHUCK LEVINE PRODUCTIONS, #119". May 17, 2004. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
  2. ^ "CLP – Vanity Cards #64". www.chucklorre.com. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Rice, Lynette (December 8, 2006). "It Hurts to Laugh". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on February 27, 2009. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  4. ^ Keller, Joel (August 25, 2017). "How Chuck Lorre, Network Sitcom King, Wound Up on Netflix". Vanity Fair.
  5. ^ "Sitcom king Chuck Lorre's wit and wisdom, gathered from the TV screen and put between covers". October 24, 2012.
  6. ^ "Q&A: Chuck Lorre". The Hollywood Reporter. March 11, 2009.
  7. ^ Schneider, Michael (September 6, 2017). "Chuck Lorre on Following Up 'Mom' With a Pot Comedy, and How Making a Single-Camera Comedy Is Torture".
  8. ^ "Golden Globes – Chuck Lorre". Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  9. ^ "CLP – Vanity Cards".
  10. ^ Pilkington, Ed (February 25, 2011). "Two and a Half Men axed after rant leaves Sheen looking a proper Charlie". The Guardian. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  11. ^ Hibberd, James (February 25, 2011). "Charlie Sheen decoded: Where 'Chaim Levine' comes from". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  12. ^ a b Rice, Lynette (January 8, 2007). "Why is Chuck Lorre so angry?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  13. ^ "E! All You Need to Know About Charlie Sheen's Nemesis". March 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  14. ^ a b c d e f Bissell, Tom (November 29, 2010). "A Simple Medium". The New Yorker. No. December 6, 2010. pp. 34–41. Retrieved February 26, 2011.
  15. ^ Lorre, Chuck (February 25, 2012). "Chuck Lorre Interview Part 1 of 4 (19:35)" (Interview). Interviewed by Nancy Harrington. Pacific Palisades, CA: Archive of American Television. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
  16. ^ "Vanity Card #165". chucklorre.com. Retrieved April 19, 2008.
  17. ^ "Vanity Card #243". chucklorre.com. Retrieved May 13, 2008.
  18. ^ Chuck Lorre. "MUSIC – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles". Retrieved May 19, 2010.
  19. ^ "Frannie's Turn – Full Cast and Credits – 1992". Hollywood.com. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  20. ^ Lowry, Brian (March 24, 1994). "Lorre signs deal with Carsey-Werner". Variety. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  21. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (December 2, 1997). "Newman reups deal at Fox TV". Variety. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  22. ^ a b "IMDb Dharma & Greg". IMDb. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
  23. ^ Keveney, Bill (March 7, 2013). "The 'Big Bang' boom propels hit sitcom". USA Today. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
  24. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (September 5, 2012). "Chuck Lorre jumps into 'bigger sandbox'". Variety. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
  25. ^ Hinckley, David (February 28, 2011). "Charlie Sheen, Stan Rosenfield cut ties: Long-time publicist quits amid actor's public meltdown". New York Daily News. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  26. ^ Carr, David (February 28, 2011). "Insulting Chuck Lorre, Not Abuse, Gets Sheen Sidelined". The New York Times. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  27. ^ "Charlie Sheen fired from Two and a Half Men TV show". BBC Online. March 7, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  28. ^ "Sacked star Charlie Sheen sues sitcom makers". BBC Online. March 11, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
  29. ^ "The Big Bang Theory's Sheldon and Leonard By on". American Profile. July 12, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  30. ^ a b "Chuck Lorre wins a best comedy award after 23 years". Entertainment Weekly. January 6, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  31. ^ "Mike and Molly". Metacritic. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  32. ^ "Chuck Lorre's CBS pilot 'Mom' to get series order". Digital Spy. May 8, 2013. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
  33. ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (March 13, 2014). "CBS Renews 'The Good Wife', 'The Millers', 'Two and a Half Men', 'Hawaii Five-0', 'Mom', 'Blue Bloods', 'Elementary' and 11 More". TV by the Numbers (Press release). Archived from the original on March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 13, 2014.
  34. ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (March 21, 2021). "'United States of Al' Blasted For Handling Of Afghan Character; Reza Aslan Defends CBS Sitcom: "You Can't Judge A Show By A 30 Second Trailer"". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 24, 2021. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  35. ^ Lesley Goldberg (October 7, 2014). "Is Chuck Lorre Done With Vanity Cards? Maybe Not". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  36. ^ a b Paige Feigenbaum (February 28, 2011). "EXCLUSIVE: Charlie Sheen: Lawyers Examining Chuck Lorre's Vanity Cards As Legal Fight Looms, Tells 'Men' Creator 'Oops!'". Radar Online. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  37. ^ With Disjointed (2017) being the exception; here a standard production logo was used.
  38. ^ Malcolm, Shawna (March 10, 2009). "Vanity cards let Lorre sound off". Variety. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
  39. ^ Lorre, Chuck (October 16, 2012). What Doesn't Kill Us Makes Us Bitter: Chuck Lorre: 9781451679755: Amazon.com: Books. Dharma Grace Foundation. ISBN 978-1451679755.
  40. ^ "CLP - Vanity Card #01". chucklorre.com. September 24, 2007. Archived from the original on August 7, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2020.
  41. ^ Patrick Kevin Day (March 6, 2015). "'The Big Bang Theory's' Leonard Nimoy tribute was in the cards". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  42. ^ ""Hard Funny": Channing Dungey Breaks Down Warner Bros TV's Comedy Business as Studio Sets up Amazon Projects from Mindy Kaling & 'Hacks' Duo". February 13, 2023.
  43. ^ "CLP - Vanity Cards".
  44. ^ "Chuck Lorre's Bookie on Max".
  45. ^ "R.I.P. Marvin Miles (October 6, 1950–August 3, 2023)". The Obituary App. Retrieved February 4, 2024.
  46. ^ "Chuck Lorre Productions, #745".
  47. ^ Rice, Lynette (October 17, 2024). "'Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage' Premiere: Co-Creator Steve Holland Explains The Tango, Return Of Meemaw & That Rocking Trailer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
  48. ^ "2004 BMI Film/TV Awards". bmi.com. May 12, 2004. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  49. ^ "2005 BMI Film/TV Awards". bmi.com. May 18, 2005. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  50. ^ "2008 BMI Film/TV Awards". bmi.com. May 21, 2008. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  51. ^ "2009 BMI Film & Television Music Awards Winners". bmi.com. May 21, 2009. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  52. ^ "Chuck Lorre receives star on Hollywood Walk of Fame". Variety. March 14, 2009. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  53. ^ ""Two and a Half Men" creator Chuck Lorre to speak at SUNY undergrad commencement". The State University of New York at Potsdam. February 12, 2009. Archived from the original on September 14, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2009.
  54. ^ "Television Academy to Induct New Hall of Fame Honorees March 1". Television Academy. emmys.com. November 28, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  55. ^ "TV Academy Adds Nine To Hall Of Fame". Deadline Hollywood. November 28, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2012.
  56. ^ "Golden Globes – Chuck Lorre". Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  57. ^ "Critics' Choice Awards: 'Roma,' 'Americans,' 'Mrs. Maisel' Top Winners". Hollywood Reporter. January 13, 2019. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  58. ^ "How to Create a Hit Sitcom". chucklorre.com. Retrieved June 9, 2012.
  59. ^ "All You Need to Know About Charlie Sheen Nemesis Chuck Lorre". E!. March 11, 2011. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  60. ^ "Big Bang Theory Creator Chuck Lorre Files for Divorce from 3rd Wife Arielle Lorre After 3 Years".
  61. ^ "TikTok - Make Your Day".
  62. ^ "'Two and a Half Men' Creator Chuck Lorre Settles Divorce, Agrees to Pay Ex Arielle $5 Million".
  63. ^ "Entertainment Weekly". All You Need to Know About Charlie Sheen's Nemesis. March 2011. Retrieved February 5, 2013.
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