Chuck Lorre

Chuck Lorre (/lri/;[2] born Charles Michael Levine;

October 18, 1952)[3] is an American television writer, director, producer, composer, and production manager. He
has created a number of successful sitcoms such as Grace
Under Fire, Cybill, Dharma & Greg, Two and a Half
Men, The Big Bang Theory, and Mom. He also served
as an executive producer of Roseanne and Mike & Molly.

Or, even creepier, did my ex-wife somehow

know all this and propose the name Lorre just
to screw with me? Hmmm... I was a no good,
rotten husband so I certainly had it coming.[2]

2 Career
After leaving school, Lorre toured across the United
States as a guitarist and songwriter.[8] He wrote Deborah
Harry's radio hit single "French Kissin' in the USA" for
her 1986 Rockbird album.[8] Lorre also co-wrote the
soundtrack to the 1987 television series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with Dennis Challen Brown.[9][10][11]
Lorre shifted into writing, being a writer on the show
Roseanne. Chuck Lorres time on Roseanne impressed
the shows producers, and led to him creating his rst
show, Frannies Turn, but it was cancelled after 5
weeks.[8][12]

Early life

Lorre was born in Bethpage, New York, the son of

a Jewish family.[4][5] His father, Robert (died 1976)[6]
opened a luncheonette but struggled, causing nancial
problems for the family.

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. He also admits to drinking heavily Afterwards, Lorre created Grace Under Fire, starring
in his past, telling EW that he led a dissolute youth until comedienne Brett Butler.[8] It premiered on ABC in
47. He now is in recovery.[7]
1993, and was nominated at the 52nd Golden Globe
He changed his surname from Levine to Lorre at age 26, Awards for Best Television Series Musical or Comedy.
Lorres second show was Cybill, starring Cybill Shepherd.
explaining in 2004:
The show aired for four seasons on CBS and received critical acclaim, winning a Primetime Emmy Award in 1995
The reason I changed my name was simple.
for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
My mother, never a fan of my fathers famfor co-star Christine Baranski. The show also won two
ily, had an unfortunate habit of using Levine
Golden Globe Awards in 1996 for Best Television Series
as a stinging insult. When displeased with me,
- Musical or Comedy and Best Actress in a Television
she would often say/shriek, You know what
Series - Musical or Comedy for Cybill Shepherd.
you are? You're a Levine! A no good, rotten
Levine!" So, for as far back as I can remember,
every time I heard my last name I would experience acute feelings of low self-esteem. My rst
wife was the one who suggested I change my
name to remedy the situation. In fact, it was she
who came up with the name Lorre, complete
with the fancy spelling. I thought it sounded
great. Chuck Lorre. Finally a name that did
not make me squirm. It didn't occur to me
that in England my new name translated into
Chuck Truck. But most interestingly, I had
completely forgotten that when I was around
eight years old my fathers business began to
fail, forcing my mother to nd work in a clothing store called... Lories. Pretty creepy, huh?
Did I abandon my fathers name only to unconsciously name myself after a place associated with my mothers abandonment of me?

Dharma & Greg was the next show Lorre created, which
premiered one year before the end of Cybill in 1997.[3]
The show starred Jenna Elfman and Thomas Gibson
as the title characters, whose personalities were complete opposites: Dharmas world view being more spiritual, 'free spirit' type instilled by hippie parents, contrasted with Gregs world view of structure, social status requirements, and white collar duty instilled by
his generations of auent parents/ancestors. Like the
yin/yang symbol in every episode, each represents
one of the 'polar opposites that would seem to repel,
but somehow strongly attract to create the most harmonious whole.[13] This comedy shows through metaphor
in light daily living struggles, the deeper challenges of
life/existence for which every human has struggled for
generations. The show earned eight Golden Globe nominations, six Emmy Award nominations, and six Satellite
Awards nominations.[14] Elfman earned a Golden Globe
1

4 SELECTED CREDITS

in 1999 for Best Actress.[13]

Following that, Lorre created Two and a Half Men with
co-creator Lee Aronsohn. The show focuses on two
Harper brothers, Charlie and Alan (Charlie Sheen and
Jon Cryer). Charlie is a rich, successful Hollywood composer/producer and womanizer who owns a beach house
in Malibu. When Alan gets a divorce, he is forced to
move into Charlies house. Alan also has a growing son,
Jake (Angus T. Jones), the half who comes to visit
Charlie and Alan on weekends. The show premiered
on CBS in 2003 and has become the highest-rated sitcom in America.[3][8] However, CBS briey canceled the
show up until its eighth season following several incidents
of production shutdowns allegedly due to Sheens serious problems related to drug and alcohol abuse, which
culminated in his verbal attacks directed at Lorre during a radio interview.[15][16] Sheen was ocially red
from the show, and later led a $100 million lawsuit
against Lorre and Warner Bros. Television for wrongful
termination.[17][18] Afterwards, CBS and Warner Bros.
hired Ashton Kutcher as Sheens replacement, and the
show continued for four more seasons up until its nale
in 2015.

Lorre in 2007

site. CBS has censored Lorres vanity cards on several

occasions;[25] Lorre posts both the censored and uncensored versions of the cards.

During Charlie Sheen's controversial departure from Two

and a Half Man in 2011, Lorre referenced Sheen in several cards. [24] Lorre used the vanity card for the series
nale, "Of Course Hes Dead", to address the circumLorres next show was The Big Bang Theory with co- stances of Sheens absence from the episode.[26]
creator Bill Prady. The show follows two physicists with
genius IQs and very low social skills who befriend their Lorre published a compilation of his vanity cards in a cofKill Us Makes Us Bitter,
neighbor, an attractive, outgoing young woman with an fee table book titled What Doesn't
[27]
released
on
October
16,
2012.
The book takes its title
average IQ and no college education. Each episode usufrom
Vanity
Card
#1,
which
rst
aired
following the rst
ally focuses on the daily lives of the men and two of their
[28]
episode
of
Dharma
&
Greg.
equally socially challenged yet highly brilliant friends,
with a dose of absurdity from the relationship with their During The Big Bang Theory episode titled The Hookuneducated, but socially brilliant, neighbor. The two Up Reverberation Vanity card #463 was displayed. Vanmain protagonists, Sheldon and Leonard, are named af- ity card #463 discussed Chucks lost or matured angst
ter the actor and television producer Sheldon Leonard.[19] along with the news that he will stop writing the vanity
The show premiered on CBS in 2007 and is the highest cards. Vanity card #464 was displayed in the next episode
rated comedy series in the United States.[8]
stating it was his last and that he felt like they would not
be missed. However, he resumed his cards; Vanity card
[20]
Mike & Molly premiered on CBS in September 2010.
His seventh show, Mom premiered on CBS on September #493 on March 5, 2015, featured a tribute to the late
23, 2013.[21] On March 13, 2014, CBS announced the Leonard Nimoy, who had guest starred on the show[29]as
the voice of Sheldons conscience three years before.
second season renewal of Mom.[22]

Vanity cards

The unique vanity cards for Chuck Lorre Productions

have become a trademark for Lorre.[23][24] On the end
of nearly every episode of his productions, Lorre includes
a dierent 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 cannot be read unless recorded and
paused, although Lorre now posts the cards on his web-

4 Selected credits
Roseanne, 19901992, (writer, co-executive producer, supervising producer)
Frannies Turn, 1992 (creator, writer, executive producer)
Grace Under Fire, 19931998 (creator, writer, coexecutive producer, supervising producer)
Cybill, 19951998 (creator, writer, executive producer)
Dharma & Greg, 19972002 (creator, writer, executive producer)

3
in various episodes of Two and a Half Men. In the eighth
episode of the fth season of Two and a Half Men, Is
There a Mrs. Waes?", Charlie watches an episode of
Dharma & Greg after watching the rst commercial for
his CD. In the rst episode of the ninth season, after
Charlie Sheen got red from the show, Dharma & Greg
were one of the couples looking over Charlies house,
which was for sale. Cryer also appeared in the series premiere episode of Mom.
In the season 6 Big Bang Theory episode The Holographic Excitation, Sheldon and Amy are ghting over
which couple to go as to a Halloween party. Among her
suggestions seen on a whiteboard are Blossom & Joey
(Blossom and Amy both being played by Mayim Bialik)
and Dharma & Greg.
Katy Mixon, who plays Victoria on Mike & Molly, also
had a recurring role as the character, Betsy, on Two and
a Half Men.[34][35]

Lorre in September 2008

6 Awards and recognition

Two and a Half Men, 20032015 (creator, writer,

Lorre won BMI Television Music Awards in 2004,[36]
executive producer)
2005,[37] 2008[38] and 2009[39] for Two and a Half Men.
The Big Bang Theory, 2007present (creator, writer,
On March 12, 2009, Lorre received a star on the
executive producer)
Hollywood Walk of Fame, located at 7021 Hollywood
[40]
Mike & Molly, 2010present (writer, executive pro- Boulevard.
ducer)
Three months later, Lorre received an honorary degree
from the State University of New York at Potsdam and
Mom, 2013present (creator, writer, executive progave a keynote address at the graduation.[41]
ducer)
Lorre was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of
Fame in March 2012.[42][43]

Show crossovers

Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory are both
taped at the Warner Brothers lot, in adjacent stages;
the shows share several writers and technical crews.[30]
The Big Bang Theory has cast a number of alumni from
Lorres past series, starting with Johnny Galecki from
Roseanne (he was Darlenes boyfriend and later husband). Sara Gilbert, who played Darlene on Roseanne,
was Leslie Winkle on The Big Bang Theory. Laurie
Metcalf, who played Jackie in Roseanne, plays Sheldons
mother Mary.[31] Christine Baranski, an alumna of Cybill,
was cast as Leonards mother Beverly.[32]

7 Personal life
Lorre was rst married to his business partner, Paula
Smith, in 1979. The business partnership and marriage
were dissolved after 13 years and the birth of their two
children.[44]
Lorre was married to actress and former Playboy Playmate Karen Witter for 10 years prior to their divorce in
July 2010.[6][45]

He also has publicly admitted his decades of struggle

with the autoimmune disease ulcerative colitis, and other
mild health struggles with depression, worry, anger/rage.
Lorre stated in an interview: Put me in paradise and I
will focus on the one thing that will make me angry.
As he told Entertainment Weekly: I am wired on some
deep level to seek out something to be worried and ob[46]
Jon Cryer of Two and a Half Men appeared in one sess about.
episode of Dharma & Greg.[33] Jenna Elfman, Susan Sul- Lorre is a recovering alcoholic, which Jon Cryer referlivan, and Joel Murray of Dharma & Greg also appeared ences in his autobiography.[47]
Also, on The Big Bang Theory, Sheldon, Leonard, and
Penny are seen watching Oshikuru: Demon Samurai. Oshikuru was the show for which the character Charlie
Harper wrote the theme song on Two and a Half Men.
Charlie Sheen made a cameo appearance in the Big Bang
Theory episode The Grin Equivalency.

References

[1] O'Connor, Clare (18 May 2011). How Charlie Sheen

Made More Money This Year Than Ever Before.
forbes.com. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
[2] CHUCK LEVINE PRODUCTIONS, #119. May 17,
2004. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
[3] Rice, Lynette (December 8, 2006). It Hurts to Laugh.
Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 24, 2009.
[4] Pilkington, Ed (25 February 2011). Two and a Half Men
axed after rant leaves Sheen looking a proper Charlie.
The Guardian. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
[5] Hibberd, James (25 February 2011). Charlie Sheen
decoded:
Where 'Chaim Levine' comes from.
Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
[6] Rice, Lynette (January 8, 2007). Why is Chuck Lorre so
angry?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 10,
2015.
[7] E! All You Need To Know About Charlie Sheens Nemesis. Retrieved 5 February 2013.

REFERENCES

[21] Chuck Lorres CBS pilot 'Mom' to get series order. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
[22] 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). Retrieved
March 13, 2014.
[23] Lesley Goldberg (October 7, 2014). Is Chuck Lorre
Done With Vanity Cards? Maybe Not. The Hollywood
Reporter. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
[24] Paige Feigenbaum (February 28, 2011). EXCLUSIVE:
Charlie Sheen: Lawyers Examining Chuck Lorres Vanity Cards As Legal Fight Looms, Tells 'Men' Creator
'Oops!'". Radar Online. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
[25] Malcolm, Shawna (10 March 2009). Vanity cards let
Lorre sound o. Variety. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
[26] Paige Feigenbaum (February 20, 2015). "'Two And A
Half Men' Charlie Episode: Chuck Lorres Vanity Card
Explains Alls. Access Hollywood. Retrieved March 10,
2015.

[8] Bissell, Tom. A Simple Medium. The New Yorker (December 6, 2010): 3441. Retrieved February 26, 2011.

[27] What Doesn't Kill Us Makes Us Bitter: Chuck Lorre:

9781451679755: Amazon.com: Books. Amazon.com.
2012-10-16. Retrieved 2014-08-22.

[9] Vanity Card #165. chucklorre.com. Retrieved 200804-19.

[28] CLP - Vanity Card #01. Chucklorre.com. 2007-09-24.

Retrieved 2014-08-22.

[10] Vanity Card #243. chucklorre.com. Retrieved 200805-13.

[29] Patrick Kevin Day (March 6, 2015). "'The Big Bang Theorys' Leonard Nimoy tribute was in the cards. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 10, 2015.

[11] Chuck Lorre. MUSIC - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Retrieved 2010-05-19.
[12] Frannies Turn - Full Cast and Credits - 1992. Hollywood.com. Retrieved 3 August 2015.
[13] IMDB Dharma & Greg. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
[14] Keveney, Bill (2013-03-07). The 'Big Bang' boom propels hit sitcom. USA Today. Retrieved March 11, 2013.
[15] Hinckley, David (February 28, 2011). Charlie Sheen,
Stan Roseneld cut ties: Long-time publicist quits amid
actors public meltdown. New York Daily News. Retrieved March 11, 2011.
[16] Carr, David (February 28, 2011). Insulting Chuck Lorre,
Not Abuse, Gets Sheen Sidelined. The New York Times.
Retrieved March 8, 2011.

[30] Wyatt, Edward (October 4, 2009). The Big Surprise of

Big Bang: The Bigger Audience. The New York Times.
Retrieved 2011-02-25.
[31] The Big Bang Theory: Season 2, Episode 4: The Grin
Equivalency (13 Oct. 2008)". IMDb. IMDb.com, Inc.
Retrieved May 18, 2013.
[32] Cybill (1995-1998)". IMDb. IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved
May 18, 2013.
[33] Jon Cryer. IMDb. IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved May 18,
2013.
[34] Mike & Molly: Katy Mixon. CBS: Shows. CBS Interactive. Retrieved May 20, 2013.

[17] Charlie Sheen red from Two and a Half Men TV show.
BBC Online. March 7, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.

[35] Stringer, D.; Comedy Central News (March 11, 2011).

Mike & Molly star defends Sheen and Lorre. Comedy
Central UK: News. Comedy Central UK. Retrieved May
20, 2013.

[18] Sacked star Charlie Sheen sues sitcom makers. BBC Online. March 11, 2011. Retrieved March 11, 2011.

[36] 2004 BMI Film/TV Awards. bmi.com. 12 May 2004.

Retrieved 25 July 2012.

[19] The Big Bang Theorys Sheldon and Leonard By on.

American Prole. July 12, 2011. Retrieved February 10,
2015.

[37] 2005 BMI Film/TV Awards. bmi.com. 18 May 2005.

Retrieved 25 July 2012.

[20] Mike and Molly. Metacritic. Retrieved March 8, 2011.

[38] 2008 BMI Film/TV Awards. bmi.com. 21 May 2008.

Retrieved 25 July 2012.

[39] 2009 BMI Film & Television Music Awards Winners.

bmi.com. 21 May 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
[40] Chuck Lorre receives star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Variety. 14 March 2009. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
[41] ""Two and a Half Men creator Chuck Lorre to speak at
SUNY undergrad commencement. The State University
of New York at Potsdam. 12 Feb 2009. Retrieved 200905-15.
[42] Television Academy to Induct New Hall of Fame Honorees March 1. emmys.com. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
[43] TV Academy Adds Nine To Hall Of Fame.
Deadline.com. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 25
July 2012.
[44] How to Create a Hit Sitcom. chucklorre.com. Retrieved
June 9, 2012.
[45] All You Need to Know About Charlie Sheen Nemesis
Chuck Lorre. E!. March 11, 2011. Retrieved May 30,
2012.
[46] Entertainment Weekly. All you Need To Know About C.
Sheens Nemesis. Retrieved 5 February 2013.
[47] Cryer, Jon (18 March 2015). Jon Cryer Reveals the Inside, Insane Account of Charlie Sheens Infamous Meltdown. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 18 March
2015.

External links
Chuck Lorre Productions
Chuck Lorre at the Internet Movie Database
The New Yorker prole of Chuck Lorre (December
2010)
Chuck Lorre interview video at the Archive of
American Television

10

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10.1

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File:Chuck_Lorre.jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Chuck_Lorre.jpg License: CC-BY-SA-3.0 Contributors: Chuck Lorre, Creator, Two and a Half Men Original artist: Kempton
File:Chuck_Lorre_(1).jpg Source: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Chuck_Lorre_%281%29.jpg License: CC
BY-SA 2.0 Contributors: Chuck Lorre, Exec Producer of Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory Original artist: watchwithkristin
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