Chuck Lorre has been compared to TV legendary comedic creators Norman Lear and Gary Marshall, and rightfully so.
He currently has the two most-watched comedies on television in "Two and a Half Men" and "The Big Bang Theory," both on CBS, and next season will add a third sitcom to that CBS lineup with "Mike & Molly."
His past hits include "Grace Under Fire," "Cybill" and "Dharma & Greg," plus a stint writing on "Roseanne." And all of that came after age 35. Prior to that, he was into music and writing songs.
Long known for being outspoken about the injustices of the TV industry, including the annual snubbing of "Two and a Half Men" around awards time, Lorre told TheWrap that his new motto is to "shut up and be grateful" for the successes that his hard work has brought him.
And while he'd like to see "Men" and "Big Bang" rewarded with Emmys this year, if they're not, he'll just be glad to have three shows on the air — no small accomplishment in today's TV landscape.
You are executive producer of three shows on television. How would you describe what you do?
My job is about eating turkey and swiss on rye and trying to write good scripts each week.
How have you juggled your time working on two, and now with "Mike & Molly" for next season, three sitcoms at the same time?
I take it one day at a time. I do the best I can. I have three shows and I'm deeply and emotionally enmeshed in each. I try to keep each one on the right track. As long as I'm doing this, I want to be as involved as I can. I have a lot of talented people on all three shows. I share a great deal of responsibility with the other writers but I never give up writing myself. This job is about writing. Especially in this (comedy) genre. If I'm not involved in the first draft of a script, I will be in on the second. I stay involved in the process for all shows.
How do you compare writing a TV sitcom with a TV drama?
What we do is different than writers for dramas. We put on a play each week in front of live audiences. We are constantly writing and rehearsing and rewriting. We have four and a half days to get a script right and put it out there and perform before a live studio audience. It's a different mindset than making a movie or shooting a TV drama.
How does it feel to be the creator of a show and then get fired when an actor or actress comes along that has a different vision?
I quit "Grace Under Fire" when it was the second highest-rated show on television, and I was fired from "Cybill" after five episodes. It's frustrating, but it happens. That's the road you're on. But then I created "Dharma & Greg" and had a lot of fun doing it. You could always sit at home in your underwear and be bitter. But you always have to start writing again.
It seems like many shows are starting to use guest stars as a way to draw more viewers.
When you have a great cast, that's what you want to lead with. You don't really need guest stars. You already have the elements to put on a good show. If you get the opportunity and it fits the show, and serves your characters, then it's worth doing. We had Carl Reiner on "Two and a Half Men" last season. It was like Santa Claus came to visit. An opportunity like that is great, but that's not why the show is working.
There's been a lot going on in Charlie Sheen's personal life. Has that effected the inner workings of the show at all?
Charlie is a complete pro. He has been a great partner for seven years. Last season we did some of our best work when he was having all of his personal problems. I'm very proud of it, and of him.
You have a couple of long-term partners in Lee Aronsohn, executive producer with you on "Men," and Bill Prady, executive producer with you on "Big Bang," who you have worked with on shows throughout your career. How important are they to you?
They are critical to my success. We've been together for 15 or 20 years. It's a communal activity. They are people I admire and respect. We fight and argue over creative differences. There is a great deal of volatillity in cranking out scripts. But the end results are better than what any of us would be able to do individually.
"Men" has averaged around 15 million viewers per week and for the past few years has been the most-watched comedy on television. Yet the show has never won an Emmy.
I try to stay graceful about what we have. We are putting on a great show that we love. It's been a good journey. And we just signed a deal that will allow us to do it for a few more years. That has to be our focus. We have a lot to be thankful for. I was really glad to see John Cryer win (for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy). It's always nice when the show is acknowledged. It's wonderful. But Emmys are something you receive on a Sunday night and then you have to go back to work again on Monday morning. I am just grateful to have these shows on the air. It's so difficult to even get a greenlight for one pilot and I have three show.
My new motto now is "shut up and be grateful." I have not always done that and have not always been so gracious. But I'm making progress.
