The Big Bang Theory was a show about science nerds, and apparently, maintaining that illusion was occasionally tough. Kunal Nayyar confirmed as much in a recent interview, in which he shared a hilarious story that makes me want to revisit "The Adhesive Duck Deficiency" with my HBO Max subscription.

As fans wait for the latest adventure in the TBBT world, Stuart Fails To Save The Universe, to hit the 2026 TV schedule, Nayyar appeared on The Big Bang Theory podcast to talk about his memories of the show. In doing that, he brought up a time in which they removed their shirts to eat brisket and ended up needing to be changed. As far as why, creator Chuck Lorre informed them they were "too fit" to look like nerds:

Anyone who thinks geeks can't be buff has never read an interview with Henry Cavill or heard Terry Crews express his interest in voicing various video game characters. That aside, I totally get where Chuck Lorre was coming from, as it's hard to characterize Leonard and his friends as meek and cowardly if they all look jacked and shredded.

"The Adhesive Duck Deficiency" is a Season 3 episode, and given the context of what Kunal Nayyar gave in the podcast, the scene is hilarious to watch. Leonard, Raj, and Howard are all wearing t-shirts, but also have t-shirts wrapped around their heads as well. My guess is they originally had taken off their shirts to wear on their heads, but then added shirts and decided to keep the shirts on their heads for comedy's sake.

Nayyar mentioned the moment gave him a confidence boost, almost as big as the confidence Raj has to wear his outlandish outfits. He explained the boost was short-lived, however, and noted that was the one time he was asked to put a shirt back on for the rest of The Big Bang Theory:

That could be the case, though, I feel like in the latter seasons of The Big Bang Theory, so much focus was put on their development beyond just being "lab nerds," for lack of a better term. This is especially true for Raj, who went from someone physically terrified to speak to women to having a few girlfriends throughout the series.

Life post-The Big Bang Theory sounds great for Kunal Nayyar, who has made various other appearances in acting and uses his money to secretly pay people's medical bills. That's really cool of him to do, so I'm rooting for his return in Stuart Fails To Save The Universe so he can help more people out with that payday.

The Big Bang Theory is available to stream on HBO Max. Throw the series on today to re-live the experience of one of modern television's most successful shows, and hold onto it for Stuart Fails To Save The Universe on July 23rd.

There have been so many Big Bang Theory stories bandied about in the last five years between book releases, celebrity interviews and the official BBT podcast. You’d think at this point it would be pretty hard to surprise me, but during a recent appearance on the aforementioned podcast, Simon Helberg confirmed a story that I’d either glossed over, never heard or possibly forgotten.

Apparently, when Jessica Radloff published her book The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series, she mentioned in that book that Kevin Sussman had actually auditioned to play Howard when TBBT was coming together. Sussman, as you may already know, ended up on Bang anyway, and now has a brand new series coming when Stuart Fails to Save The Universe hits the 2026 TV schedule. Yet, if things had gone differently, he could have been the one making that incredible Big Bang salary.

He'd auditioned for the role Simon Helberg ultimately won, but he never, ever spoke to Helberg about it, as the actor admitted to Radloff in a recent interview. It's a little surprising, since they were pals on set!

As it turns out though, Sussman had also read for Howard Wolowitz. I guess it could have made interactions a little awkward, so he kept it to himself until the Big Bang Theory book was coming together. It was Radloff who in turn broke the news to Helberg, though he admitted they haven’t yet had the chance to hash it out. Life has simply gotten in the way.

Simon Helberg Says Auditioning For The Big Bang Theory Was Really Weird

Now, Simon Helberg maybe didn’t know TBBT was considering another actor for the role, but looking back, he said that he can see it. The entire experiences of auditioning for the CBS sitcom was a little Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. On the one hand, he had a great time in the room and thought he nailed it. Then, the show ghosted him for a period of time:

Eventually, I’d assume the casting directors settled on Helberg and had to break the news to Sussman, though the two men have not spoken of it. Helberg did share what he believed happened from his perspective:

Who knows what The Big Bang Theory dynamics would have really been like if Sussman had been hired instead? Even Helberg admits if these conversations had gone a different way, "it would have been a different thing." This is particularly true when it came to Howard and Bernadette. In general, though, the actor seems more curious than upset about this secret finally coming to light, and mentions this sort of thing is pretty common as part of any actors' career.

Alls well that ends well. Eventually, the Chuck Lorre sitcom brought Kevin Sussman in as a comic book store owner in Season 2, and he became more of a regular on the series later on. Years later, the latest spinoff got greenlighted, and now Stuart Fails to Save The Universe has been filming and in the works for months now.

As it turns out, Sussman didn’t ultimately need the Howard role, but it’s certainly interesting to consider the alternate timeline, particularly as Stuart will be a series about alternate timelines. It does make me wonder if this bit of fan lore could come back in fiction in some way. We'll have to wait and see, of course.

Welp, possibly the weirdest looking show on the 2026 TV schedule has arrived, and it’s somehow topped the lunacy of Food Network’s Chopped Castaways. I’m talking about The Big Bang Theory’s long-awaited Cooper-free spinoff, the Kevin Sussman-led Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. The first trailer was unveiled, as well as the date when it’ll be available to stream (via HBO Max subscription), and I’m almost too shocked and confused to react properly.

As seen above, the new series looks almost nothing like The Big Bang Theory, as it seemingly eschews the limitations of apartment and comic book shops sets for a far more expansive story. One that could possibly affect the fate of the entire planet. Or at least the parts of the planet that are immediately surrounding our lowly heroes: Sussman’s Stuart, Brian Posehn’s Bert, Lauren Lapkus’ Denise, and John Ross Bowie’s Barry, though the latter seems to be less in hero mode when he first pops up in the….’twailah.” (I couldn’t help myself.)

The series will land on HBO Max on Thursday, July 23, and it's going the primetime route by releasing eps at 9:00 p.m. ET, as opposed to dropping them in the A.M. hours. It makes sense, though, considering Big Bang Theory ruled over Thursday night primetime for years, and then passed that mantle on to its first two spinoffs, Young Sheldon and Georgie and Mandy's First Marriage. If it wasn't set on Thursday night, would it really be a BBT offshoot?

But that's about the only predictable thing to say about the trailer and this show in general. The storyline kicks off with Stuart attempting to fix a complicated device crafted by Sheldon and Leonard, but he accidentally breaks it and unwittingly incites an Armageddon situation throughout the multiverse. The gang will inevitably meet differing versions of themselves, as seen in the promo, which will no doubt complicate their struggles.

That said, it's not entirely clear what those struggles even are, or how the squad is even going to try to save anything. I mean, the title suggests that nothing gets saved, but they're still likely going to TRY to do something positive. But even if this show was just a slapfight between Stuarts, I wouldn't necessarily call it a bad idea.

To his credit, Chuck Lorre has primed us all for this, saying he was sure that fans would either love it or hate it, without much middle ground. And I guess I can see what he's talking about, since this very clearly stands apart from its source material in a way that could be seen as divisive. Plus, Lorre said he worked a lot with CGI for the first time on this project, which should bring about some unique comedic choices.

We've got a post-apocalyptic planet, we've got gnarly flying creatures straight out of The Mist, and we've got bald Stuart in cryogenic sleep goo. There are doorways to nowhere, out of this world weaponry, a giant woman, and even a comic book of the show's adventures. Which is where we get visual cameos for Leonard, Sheldon and Howard.

Will Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons and Simon Helberg actually show up in live-action for the new show? I think the bigger question might be, "How ridiculous will they look when they do?" (I have a feeling this might be the only project that could pull Galecki out of his semi-retirement phase.)

Get your fireball powers in check, and ready yourself for all the timeline-twisting action and mayhem when Stuart Fails to Save the Universe premieres on HBO Max on Thursday, July 23.

I don’t think that, in late 2007, anyone could have guessed that The Big Bang Theory (which had just debuted on CBS) would turn into a mega-hit or eventually become the comedy gift that just keeps on giving nearly 20 years after its premiere. That 12-season series was spun off into another long-running hit, Young Sheldon, as well as that show’s own spinoff, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. Yet another series based in the same universe, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, is set to debut soon and iconic producer Chuck Lorre thinks it’ll either be “revered or reviled.”

Why Chuck Lorre Thinks Stuart Fails To Save The Universe Is A ‘Big Swing’

Chuck Lorre has been turning out hits for so long that it can be hard to remember a time when he didn’t have a beloved comedy on the air. It’s also difficult to imagine a future without at least one of his shows racking up fans, which is hopefully what the upcoming Big Bang Theory spinoff, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, will do when it debuts for those with an HBO Max subscription sometime later on the 2026 TV schedule.

The sitcom creator already previously said that his desire for Stuart was to “do something radical,” but in speaking with People recently he admitted that he’s not sure what TBBT fandom will think of it, and noted:

Those are two very strong and opposing takes, for sure. Why does Lorre feel this way? Well, the new comedy is definitely different from the creator’s other projects in a big way, in that there’s a sci-fi element that’s not usually present.

The story focuses on Kevin Sussman’s recurring TBBT character, Stuart Bloom (along with other returning characters), after he gets his hands on a device made by Sheldon and Leonard and breaks it, which leads to him “accidentally bringing about a multiverse Armageddon.” This means that he has to break out of his comic-book-store comfort zone and put reality as we know it to rights. Lorre continued:

“A big swing” indeed! While comedy has been his bread and butter forever, he’s also never really delivered a show that’s high on the action/adventure scale, so not only will this be a rather radical concept for a comedy without superheroes, but it’s also new for him.

Look, it’s hard to say right now how Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will be received when it debuts. But, with the wild premise of this show, and several actors who helped fill out the world on TBBT returning to their recognizable characters for it, my guess is that it already has a leg up on the competition when it comes to viewers like me being intrigued by it, so know that we can’t wait to see the finished product.

Charlie Sheen has experienced more very public ups and downs in his career than most in the entertainment industry, several of which he experienced during the run of Two and a Half Men. Created by Chuck Lorre, the sitcom launched Sheen into network TV stardom to the point of becoming the highest-paid actor on television. He was ultimately fired from the show in Season 8, and didn't hold back his feelings about Lorre during their feud before they'd eventually collaborate again in 2023. The target of that ire on one occasion? The Big Bang Theory.

Sheen's most recent project was aka Charlie Sheen, a documentary available streaming now with a Netflix subscription, but I only just learned about some comments he dropped about Chuck Lorre and The Big Bang Theory while Jim Parsons' series was still on the air. Speaking with The Guardian at the time, the Major League vet said:

Charlie Sheen did have multiple shows over the course of The Big Bang Theory's twelve-season run from 2007-2019. His time on Two and a Half Men lasted from 2003-2011, and both Chuck Lorre shows were airing on CBS on Thursdays. Anger Management ran for 100 episodes between 2012-2014 as Sheen's follow-up to Two and a Half Men. Sheen actually made a cameo on Big Bang as himself back in 2008, which wasn't quite substantial enough of an appearance to earn him a slot on the list of best Big Bang Theory guest stars.

While Sheen would go on to work with Chuck Lorre again on HBO Max's Bookie (and even participate in a wild Two and a Half Men reunion on the show), the actor didn't mince words about the famed sitcom creator when speaking with The Guardian years ago. Continuing to address The Big Bang Theory, he said:

"A while" didn't last forever, with Charlie Sheen appearing in three episodes of Bookie during its two-season run. While the show was among the disappointing TV cancellations of 2025, both seasons are still available streaming with an HBO Max subscription. Lorre also appeared in the aka Charlie Sheen documentary, as well Sheen's former Two and a Half Men costars Jon Cryer, Angus T. Jones, and Melanie Lynskey.

Sheen and Lorre being on better terms now is certainly an improvement from where they were while The Big Bang Theory was still airing on CBS, but Sheen hasn't gone on the record on whether or not his thoughts on that sitcom have changed by this point in the 2026 TV schedule. You can find Sheen's years on his hit CBS comedy (as well as the four seasons starring Ashton Kutcher opposite Jon Cryer) streaming with a Peacock subscription now.

Lots of big shows are heading to the 2026 TV schedule, but none have quite the same level of anticipation as HBO Max’s Big Bang Theory follow-up Stuart Saves the Universe, which finally started filming in September after a lengthy development process. The spinoff’s core cast has long been set, and sporadic updates have unveiled returning co-stars, with some taking on new characters. But fans have remained in the dark regarding potential returns for TBBT regulars like Kaley Cuoco.

Luckily, Cuoco herself seemed to let the cat out of the bag without ever having to touch the bag or even admit to there being any cats in the area. Speaking with Entertainment Tonight about her latest TV gig, MGM+’s four-ep mystery thriller Vanished, the actress put on the least convincing poker face humanly possible when the topic of reprising Penny was addressed. It’s not what she said so much as the “look at my face instead of listening to my words” way that she delivered the answer. Just look at these eyeballs:

Those eyes are wider and rounder than a tractor's tires. That's not the way an actor reacts when they're about to share disappointing news, or when they're about to throw out a generically hopeful comment about possibly returning if scheduling works out. No, this is the face of someone who 100% either already filmed new scenes, or has signed the dotted line to bring those new scenes to life in the imminent future.

As far as actual words went, the bottom half of Cuoco's face wasn't nearly as telling as the top half, and she even repeated the way Cassie DiLaura called out her reaction.

Ever since the spinoff news surfaced, fans have voiced hopes for the core Big Bang Theory apartment mates to show up. When Vanished was first announced and suggested Cuoco's schedule might be too busy to fit a sitcom reprisal in, fans were still hopeful about Penny's return. That hype was strengthened further when Cuoco reunited with Johnny Galecki in 2025, though that was for a Royal Kingdom ad and not anything TBBT-related.

I think Cuoco's unconvincing reaction may be enough to sate audiences for a while, as it seems like a certainty that Penny will pop up the first season of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. Or some version of Penny, anyway. I don't put it past Stuart to have an AI version of Penny as a personal assistant or something along those lines.

As far as how she currently feels about the character that turned her into a household name, Cuoco said:

Can we possibly expect to see Johnny Galecki making a TV return to reprise Leonard for the Big Bang spinoff? I wouldn't expect Cuoco's eyes to get quite so wide when answering that one.

Filming TV episodes in front of live studio audiences has been a standard for the medium for as long as it’s existed, and while the number of shows keeping that idea alive isn’t nearly as high as it once was, creator and producer Chuck Lorre has remained dedicated to keeping the concept going, with much distaste for manufactured laugh tracks. Lorraine markes his latest, and serves as his first traditional sitcom for fans with Netflix subscriptions.

Fronted by stand-up megastar Leanne Morgan, the new show is a slice-of-life comedy that stems in part from the comedian’s real life and stage act. Though performing comedy for an audience is technically quite different from performing filmed scenes, Morgan was apparently an extremely quick learner, and showrunner Susan McMartin told CinemaBlend the comic’s skills in front of live crowds helped make filming that much easier. In her words:

I think it woulc have been fascinating as a studio audience member to watch a stand-up queen like Leanne Morgan learning the ropes when it comes to blocking scenes and acting opposite her co-stars. It's a completely different world from speaking directly to crowds on a nightly basis, even though many of the skills are shared, as far as timing, facial reactions, vocal projection, and more.

That's not all, of course. While a headlining stand-up act will usually last between 90-120 minutes, it takes many more hours to properly film a 30-minute episode of TV. So that could have been a major hurdle for Leanne Morgan to deal with, but Susan McMartin said it wasn't even a minor issue, and that working with co-star Kristen Johnston definitely helped keep things on track.

Not just from a comedy standpoint, but also from a women-in-power perspective. As she put it:

Despite much of it happening in front of an audience, McMartin said that Leanne Morgan was always willing to take new suggestions and hear advice for how to handle something. To the point where the creative team considered her to be a true actress by the time the show was wrapped.

I can imagine fictional Leanne would have used a black belt to open up a can of whoopass on Ryan Stiles' Bill at one point or twelve others.

Susan McMartin also talked to me about how she, Chuck Lorre and Leanne Morgan crafted the sitcom's central story, and how they used the comedian's stand-up act to inspire the new show without making it the only source material.

It is indeed strange to see a well-known part of a stand-up comedian's act get morphed into a live-action sitcom joke. Granted, it seems to happen far less often than it used to, given how many fewer sitcoms get produced now compared to in the '90s.

Next up for Chuck Lorre on the 2025 TV schedule, beyond a possible second season for Leanne, will be the newest season of Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage hitting CBS, while many fans are also pumped about HBO Max's official Big Bang Theory spinoff Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, which is still in the development phase.

Asking people if they prefer to binge a show or watch it week to week can cause quite heated debates; in fact, I’ve been in them many times. For years now, there’s been a big, passionate discussion about which release strategy is better, and it feels like it only gets more heated as the 2025 TV schedule features a mix of the two release methods. So now, Chuck Lorre, an acclaimed producer and writer who has a hit on Netflix right now and has created shows that were dropped both ways, has weighed in.

As Chuck Lorre’s latest sitcom, Leanne debuts at No. 2 on Netflix’s Top Ten TV Shows in the U.S., he spoke to us about his 2025 Netflix release as well as how TV shows are released these days. When asked by CinemaBlend’s Nick Venable about the weekly episodes vs. binge-all-at-once strategies, he started out by saying each have their own merits:

He’s right, they both have benefits, and you can get major hits with both.

Some of the biggest hits of the last few years came after all their episodes were dropped at once. For example, all four seasons of The Bear have been dropped the binge way for those with a Hulu subscription. Also, some of Netflix’s most binge-worthy shows, like Wednesday and Stranger Things, have found major success this way (even though both will premiere new seasons with Netflix’s largely disliked parts model, where the season is dropped in two or three chunks).

However, the week-to-week schedule also has major benefits, and shows like HBO’s The White Lotus and Apple TV+’s Severance have thrived on it. This model is great because it has the ability to easily keep audiences talking for weeks on end. That’s a point Lorre made to us, too, when discussing the advantages of it, saying:

With a week-to-week model, there’s already a built-in weeks-long timeframe for folks to talk in great detail about what happens on a given show. That's incredibly valuable, and something binge shows can't naturally have. However, as we've seen, if projects dropped all at once can hold on to the public's attention and create mass discourse, they can stick in the zeitgeist for a very, very long time.

Lorre likely personally knows the benefits and pitfalls of both models. Since 2007, he’s had either The Big Bang Theory or one of its two spinoffs airing week-to-week on CBS, and we can’t forget the hit sitcom Two and a Half Men either. Meanwhile, he’s also worked on hits you can stream with a Netflix subscription, like The Kominsky Method.

His new series, Leanne, which stars Leanne Morgan and follows her titular character in the aftermath of her husband leaving her, is also proving to work well. It’s only been out for a few days, and it's trending on Netflix, so clearly, people are tuning in to stream it.

However, there’s something about the week-to-week way that hits different. Lorre continued to make a point about how much deeper conversations about shows can be when you’re only given one episode at a time:

I’ve experienced this water cooler talk Lorre is referring to first-hand. Using examples from only 2025, every week, for months, my friends and I would check in and discuss shows like Severance, Eslbeth and Abbott Elementary in detail before theorizing about what would happen next. Meanwhile, when Season 4 of The Bear dropped, we enjoyed the episodes in one sitting, talked about it for about a week, and then moved on to the next thing.

To me, week-to-week is the way to go; however, you can’t deny that a good binge is nice here and there. And right now, you can do just that with Cuck Lorre’s sitcom, Leanne, which recently dropped all 16 of its episodes on Netflix.

There’s no question about it, Chuck Lorre is an incredibly successful and well-renowned writer, producer and creator. He’s the mastermind behind megahits like Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory and Mom, and now he has a new show on the 2025 TV schedule. So, when CinemaBlend got the chance to chat with the creative team behind this new Netflix series, Leanne, we asked what they’ve taken away from their time working with the super producer.

Ahead of Leanne’s premiere (you can stream it with a Netflix subscription now), CinemaBlend’s Nick Venable sat down to chat with Lorre as well as his fellow executive producers, Nick Bakay and Susan McMartin. He asked them what they’ve learned from working with The Big Bang Theory’s co-creator that they wouldn’t have learned otherwise, and after some joking around – which you can see above – and Lorre humously saying “careful,” Bakay sincerely said:

Nick Bakay has quite the history with Lorre. He wrote here and there on shows like Sabrina the Teenage Witch and King of Queens, and he penned the movie Paul Blart: Mall Cop before he started writing and producing with Lorre on Two and a Half Men in 2013. After that, he became a frequent collaborator of his as he wrote and produced on Mom, The Kominsky Method, Young Sheldon and more before Leanne, which just premiered on Netflix’s 2025 schedule.

All these projects are so different, too, so it sounds like Nick Bakay got to put this knowledge to use in a lot of different ways. However, along with being great sitcoms, they all have a fair dose of heart to go along with the humor, and as the EP explained, knowing how to write something real and emotional is vital, because the funny will always follow.

While he took a writing approach, Susan McMartin’s takeaway was significantly more personal. She’s also a long-time collaborator of Lorre’s, as she’s worked on Two and a Half Men and Mom as a writer and consulting producer. Both those were very long-running shows, and that sustained success gave McMartin, who co-created Leanne with Lorre, a security she’s eternally grateful for, as she explained:

The success of Lorre’s shows cannot be underestimated. Just think about the fact that along with 279 episodes of The Big Bang Theory, he created another wickedly successful show by spinning it off with Young Sheldon, which then inspired another successful spinoff, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, which will continue on CBS’s fall lineup this season. And that’s just one example. Mom also had over 100 episodes. Meanwhile, as those were running, he also worked on series like The Kominsky Method, Bob Hearts Abishola and more.

That kind of success was able to provide job security and opportunities for many people, McMartin included. So, I see why she told us this when we asked about working with Lorre.

Now, let’s hope that Leanne can see the kind of success these other series have found over the years.

The sitcom stars Leanne Morgan and Kristen Johnston, and it follows Morgan’s titular Leanne after her husband of 33 years left her. Like the other comedies these three have worked on, Leanne seems like it's hilarious and full of heart, which speaks right to the points both of these producers and writers made.

The Big Bang Theory franchise has been expanding since the conclusion of its parent show in 2019. In 2023, it was reported that another offshoot was in development and would be available for then-Max/now-HBO Max subscription holders. The title of that TBBT spinoff has since been revealed as Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. Now, the show has officially been ordered to series, with the creative team sharing statements. Among them is a hilariously wildly (and greatly exaggerated) tale about co-creator Chuck Lorre.

HBO Max announced this week that Stuart Fails to Save the Universe received a series order. In a press release shared by the streamer, legendary producer Chuck Lorre explained that the project was born out of his desire to “do something radical.” The witty Lorre also explained that he wanted to concoct a show that the fanboys of Big Bang “would have loved, hated, and argued about.” As funny as those sentiments are, it’s the comments from fellow EP Zak Penn about teaming up with Lorre and co-creator Bill Prady really take the cake:

As a rational human being, I know that this isn’t actually how Zak Penn teamed up with his colleagues on this endeavor. However, I want to believe so badly that it all panned out this way. Those comments shared by Penn – whose credits include Alphas, Ready Player One and Beacon 23 – alone sounds like something out of small-screen comedy. Considering the quirky statement the seasoned scribe shared, I’m already curious as to how that brand of humor will manifest itself in this latest Big Bang show.

The press release also features the official logline for the upcoming series, of which plot details were scarce up to this point. It centers on Stuart Bloom – who’s played by the returning Kevin Sussman – as he must fix the universe after wrecking it with a device constructed by pals Leonard Hofstadter and Sheldon Cooper. As the lowly comic book store owner tries to achieve his goal, he recruits several other familiar faces – his girlfriend, Denise, the awkward yet affable Bert and the snarky Barry Kripke.

Kevin Sussman is joined on the show by fellow Big Bang Theory alums Lauren Lapkus, John Ross Bowie and Brian Posehn, who reprise their roles as Denise, Kripke and Bert, respectively. The logline also teases that alternate versions (or variants) of other fan-favorite characters will appear in this multiversal tale. So maybe that opens up the possibility for the likes of Johnny Galecki, Mayim Bialik or Kaley Cuoco to return in their TBBT roles. There’s plenty to speculate about in regard to who could show up.

After the reveal of the show’s synopsis, the comments that Chuck Lorre made about the show earlier this summer make a lot more sense. Lorre noted that the series would utilize “a lot of CGI,” which he has “no experience with.” It’s understandable that visual effects would be necessary for a show that involves the multiverse. I’m not completely sure what this will all look like, but I’m intrigued. Also, I’m not sure I’m ever going to forget Zak Penn’s funny fable about teaming up with Chuck Lorre and co.

HBO Max has yet to announce an official release date for Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. In the meantime though, fans can use a membership for that service to stream all 12 seasons of The Big Bang Theory and all seven seasons of spinoff series Young Sheldon.

It's only fitting that as Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage prepares for its Season 2 return on the 2025 TV schedule, actor Montana Jordan gets his own married life underway. After announcing his engagement in January, the couple tied the knot recently, and it's so great that his co-stars were there to celebrate as well.

After welcoming a child with Jenna Weeks in 2024, the couple finally tied the knot in a ceremony that feels fitting of the Texas vibes of Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage. Check out the photos posted by his co-star Emily Osment, in which we see Montana Jordan rocking a white cowboy hat, and his CBS co-stars soaking up the fun:

As seen above, Osment made her way to the ceremony, along with other Georgie & Mandy co-stars Will Sasso, Rachel Bay Jones, Raegan Revord, and Jessie Prez. Other pictures showed that EPs Chuck Lorre and Steve Holland were there as well. I don't see any pictures of Connor actor Dougie Baldwin, unfortunately, so he might've had other plans and couldn't attend. His loss, though, it looks like.

Let's hope Montana Jordan can carry all the lessons he learned from Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage into his new life with Jenna Weeks and his daughter. In the Young Sheldon spinoff, we've seen plenty of reasons why Georgie and Mandy will split up. The show does a good job at mirroring the actual problems that plague newlyweds, so it could be a handy learning tool for how to have a happy marriage.

Aside from the actual plot of the show, it's so great to see just how much of the cast of Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage was present at his wedding. While it's true some of these actors had a carry-over relationship from the final seasons of Young Sheldon, this show has only been on for one season. I think it would've been totally understandable if any one of the main cast wasn't able to make it out for the wedding.

It would be a shame, though, considering they'd also be left out of that trip to Buc-ee's that Emily Osment posted a picture from in the middle of her photo gallery.

This joyous occasion comes before Season 2 of Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, which feels primed to be much more dramatic than Season 1. Georgie purchased the tire store so that his father-in-law could retire, and will now face more pressure than ever to succeed in the tire business. Meanwhile, Mandy is finally in her dream job at the TV station, but she's working for a man she used to date.

We have no idea when the series will finally pull the trigger on these two splitting up. To be honest, there were moments in Season 1 that led me to believe it'd happen in the season finale, but as was the case all season, they were able to work through their issues and get back to a good place. Of course, we know what's on the way thanks to The Big Bang Theory, and can only wait for the shoe to drop as the show continues on.

Expect to see Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage return for Season 2 this fall on CBS. I know it's one of my most anticipated returns for the fall, especially if we're finally going to get an episode where we see Sheldon make his first appearance in the show.

If you don’t really pay attention to the people who work behind the scenes on your favorite television shows, then it’s unlikely that you know the names of many of the creators, producers and writers who craft beloved entries on the 2025 TV schedule. But, even then, it’s incredibly likely that you still recognize the name of Chuck Lorre. The man is behind mega comedy hits like Dharma & Greg, The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, Young Sheldon and a series returning for the 2025-2026 CBS lineup, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage. He just revealed that he only had a short pitch for his first TBBT spinoff, and got only a four-word answer.

What Did Chuck Lorre Say About Pitching Young Sheldon To CBS?

Sitcom producer/writer/creator extraordinaire, Chuck Lorre, has spent much of his life now trying to make sure that people laugh, and he’s not slowing down anytime soon. While he’s currently working on yet another spinoff from The Big Bang Theory (Stuart Fails to Save the Universe, which will rely on CGI) and a new comedy that you’ll be able to watch with your Netflix subscription soon, Leanne, he recently spoke at the Banff World Media Festival (via The Hollywood Reporter) and reflected on the pretty easy pitch he made that led to the seven-season run of Young Sheldon. As he told the crowd:

You may be unaware, but Les Moonves is the former CEO of CBS, the network that’s called many of Lorre’s successful sitcoms (like Mike & Molly, Mom, Bob Hearts Abishola, and his current TBBT universe) home. The process of pitching a new idea to a network executive has always seemed to be one filled with a high potential for anxiety or outright dread, but it’s clear that Lorre had none of that on the day he headed into this bigwig’s office.

Of course, by the time he pitched this spinoff prequel (which directly led to its own, previously mentioned, spinoff, Georgie & Mandy) the uber-producer was already very well-practiced in selling shows and talking to network execs. He also, as we know, had several hit shows under his belt for CBS and other channels by that time. Speaking of his prior success and how it likely played into Moonves’ quick response, Lorre added:

There are good notes and then there are notes that make a really bright lightbulb go off in one’s brain, and I’d say that “you get a greenlight because they think they can make a profit” is one of the latter.

While the creator also said that he only pitches spinoff ideas if he believes it will “make a good show” and “provide laughter,” it’s obvious that he also knows what ideas sound like MONEY to higher ups. Hopefully, the Stuart spinoff (which you can watch with an HBO Max subscription, if it’s eventually ordered to series) will continue his strong winning streak.

As Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage continues to keep the Cooper family grounded at CBS, Big Bang Theory co-creators Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady (along with screenwriter Zak Penn) are taking the franchise into uncharted territory for the in-development spinoff titled Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. It’s a step in a new direction for Lorre, who revealed the streaming series is going heavy on…wait for it…CGI effects, so that it can lean more into its sci-fi comedy inspirations.

Considering the bulk of the CGI used in The Big Bang Theory was utilized in the opening titles and transitions, as opposed to within the lives and narratives of the characters, Lorre and Prady have been busy trying to educate themselves in the process while churning out scripts for the Stuart-centered offshoot, which reunited Kevin Sussman and co-stars for a photo shoot earlier in the year. Speaking to Variety at this year’s Banff World Media Festival, Lorre said:

My imagination is already piqued for what fans might see once Stuart Fails to Save the Universe kicks off, and how it'll separate itself from the brightly lit sitcom aesthetic of Big Bang, the muted tones of Young Sheldon's dramedy, and the warmer hues of Georgie and Mandy. Plus, how will the CGI be utilized in the new show?

Will it be a case where Kevin Sussman's Stuart is given a Bugs Bunny-esque treatment where he's able to pull carrots and giant mallets out of his impossibly deep back pocket? Or will he get into laser blaster battles with John Ross Bowie's Barry, with lots of explosions and destroyed furniture? Or will the digital effects be utilized more for background effects?

For someone who has held strongly to the idea that traditional sitcoms will never die, Chuck Lorre doesn't seem like the kind of TV creator who would be enthused about trying something completely out of his wheelhouse. But it probably helps that Zak Penn is part of the writing team, as he's experienced with scripting effects-heavy fare such as Free Guy, Ready Player One and X2, among others. How amazing would it be to get a legitimate superhero sequence? Especially one set inside the comic book store.

To be sure, HBO Max has yet to officially order the new project, which is still technically just in the development stages,a s opposed to being an imminent part of the 2025 TV schedule. It sprouted up a potential project back in 2023 when G&M's First Marriage was still coming together, and Lorre kept quiet about the details until all the pieces were in place, and it was revealed that Sussman would be teaming back up with Bowie, Lauren Lapkus as Denise, and Brian Posehn as Bert.

So for now, fans should remain hopeful that HBO Max's execs hurry up with the approval process so that Stuart Fails to Save the Universe can get ordered up and put into production post-haste. And if the show wanted to also bring Sara Gilbert back in, now that The Conners is over, that'd be great as well.

There’s always room for surprises on the 2025 TV schedule, or any major release lineup for that matter. And our roster of upcoming Netflix movies and TV shows will see comedian Leanne Morgan contributing her own offering to the fold. What’s more, Morgan's aptly titled sitcom, Leanne, sees her teaming up with Big Bang Theory producer Chuck Lorre, and 3rd Rock from the Sun’s Kristen Johnston. Quite frankly, this sounds like a match in sitcom heaven.

Set to be available for Netflix subscription holders starting July 31st, Leanne is also a reunion between Mom collaborators co-creator Lorre and co-star Johnston. The actress is set to play the role of Carol on the upcoming show, and here’s the official premise for the upcoming sitcom:

Having two collaborators like Kristen Johnston and Chuck Lorre on a project like Leanne makes perfect sense. Both have not only worked together, but also have been a part of shows some would consider to be among the best sitcoms of all time.

Lorre, in particular, seems to have a bit of a magic touch with these sorts of things, especially when you count other network juggernauts like Two and a Half Men among his winning streak. But, of course, the golden goose continues to be The Big Bang Theory, of which there's yet another spinoff program in the works that'll hit HBO Max at some point.

It’s also fitting that Leanne Morgan’s eponymous sitcom would have the actor known for playing Sally Solomon for six seasons on NBC as a supportive figure. Kristen Johnston’s candid revelations about battling substance abuse show that the TV comedy legend knows the experience of building one’s self back up first hand.

As she Kristen Johnston used that skillset amid Mom's eight-season run, she's both a symbol of laughter and resilience. Which, as you've read in the synopsis above, is exactly what this new project calls for.

Given her stellar acting chops, Johnston, along with Morgan, may just introduce the world to its next sitcom obsession. And, with George and Mandy’s First Marriage’s first season finale in the books, Chuck Lorre fans will have something to help kill time until that recent CBS hit makes its way back to TV.

Be sure to tune in when Leanne hits the airwaves on July 31st, only on Netflix. However, if you want to introduce yourself to Morgan’s stand-up, you can catch her special, Leanne Morgan: I'm Every Woman, which is currently streaming on that same platform.

It’s been over 17 years since The Big Bang Theory premiered, and almost six years since it ended, but the CBS sitcom remains one of the best shows streaming on Max, and its universe continues to expand with a new spinoff. Part of the reason is certainly the fans who continue watching, but it’s also the fact that Big Bang's cast and characters were positively perfect, at least over time. Creator Chuck Lorre previously opened up about the mistakes he made with Kaley Cuoco’s Penny before realizing her brilliance.

While initially serving as just Leonard and Sheldon’s neighbor from across the hall, Penny certainly grew into something bigger than that. And not just because she wound up marrying Leonard later in the series. Lorre spoke about the unaired pilot while on The Official Big Bang Theory Podcast and how they really tried to figure out the characters before officially moving ahead, but it took some time for a lightbulb to go off when it came to Penny’s “dumb blonde” personality:

Even though Penny wasn’t intelligent by her friends’ means, she was definitely intelligent in other fields, and she proved to be quite an asset at some points. It also gave Lorre and the writers to really dig deeper into her character and move beyond the “dumb blonde” cliché, proving that she wasn’t inherently dumb at all, just maybe not as smart as others in most areas of educated life.

Which made it all the more fun to see her excel where everyone else couldn’t when it came to pop culture, relationships, or fashion. Plus, she introduced Sheldon, Leonard, and everyone else to a whole new ballgame, even if sports wasn't part of it:

It might have taken a bit for the writers to fully realize what they could do with Penny in the early days — which fans can stream with a Max subscription — but when they started playing to her strengths, it really worked out. As proven by one scene in an episode in which Penny quizzes Sheldon on celebrities and Sheldon quizzes Penny on math and science. Yet another reason why their friendship was certainly underrated, and why Jm Parsons and Cuoco still remain close. But once it was clear that she wasn’t all dumb and not just an aspiring actress, it worked in her favor.

Penny grew into a beloved character and brought the charm and sass when needed, along with the street smarts, and it was all because of Kaley Cuoco. CBS initially hated the original Penny actress, but they knew that there was something special about Penny, all it took was the right actress. Cuoco ended up becoming the show’s secret sauce and it landed her a career-making role, and it’s hard to imagine how different things would be if not only Cuoco didn’t play the part but if Penny continued to be just another dumb blonde.

Whether or not Penny will be making a comeback for the upcoming Big Bang Theory spinoff is unknown, as it would be fun to see her again and see how she’s doing now. At the very least, it’s possible fans will be getting some updates on other characters. For now, though, all seasons of Big Bang are streaming on Max.

Emily Osment may be best known nowadays as the titular leading lady of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, airing in the 2025 TV schedule, but the actress has been in the industry quite a long time. She’s was known early on for the role of Lilly Truscott on Disney’s Hannah Montana, followed by Gabi Diamond on ABC Family/Freeform’s Young & Hungry, to name just two of her many earlier roles. However, she knows she owes a chunk of her success to Georgie & Mandy creator Chuck Lorre.

Throughout her nearly three decades in the industry, Osment’s career has spanned across both film and television. At 32, she's a high-profile sitcom star thanks to her work as Georgie’s older girlfriend-turned-baby mama-turned-wife in the Young Sheldon spinoff. She’s had a pretty steady career with memorable roles, and she told The LA Times that she owes a lot of it to the prolific producer and creator of the Big Bang universe and many other shows:

Considering Lorre has many shows under his belt, and Osment can currently be seen on one of them, it’s not surprising that she would say that. Plus, not only has she been on Young Sheldon and Georgie & Mandy, but she also appeared on a few other shows from Lorre going back over ten years. And as an actor, over ten years can be like a lifetime:

It’s pretty incredible knowing how long Osment has been working with Lorre and how much of an impact he’s had on her career over the years. She's been involved in his projects since she really started to branch out beyond Disney, and that was definitely a good idea since he’d created and produced many, many hit shows.

And of course, she’s now part of the Big Bang Theory family and co-leads her own show with on-screen hubby Montana Jordan. It’s working out pretty well, too, as the show was one of nine CBS series to be renewed for next season. The series has also been bringing on Young Sheldon cast members, and with Lance Barber being the next one to show up despite George Sr.’s long-expected death ahead of the series finale last year. There is no telling who else will come around at this point.

However long Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage lasts, I'm guessing this won’t be the last time Emily Osment works with Chuck Lorre, whether that’s starring in another series or just briefly appearing. But hopefully, that’s still a long time away, especially since Georgie & Mandy doesn’t seem to be ending any time soon.

Whatever happens, though, it seems very fitting that Osment is on Georgie & Mandy, and I can only imagine how she felt when she initially reunited with Lorre for Young Sheldon. Those with a Paramount+ subscription can watch recent episodes of Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage now, with new episodes streaming on Fridays.

It's a foregone conclusion that streaming has changed up the entertainment landscape for TV and, all the while, there are some kinds of shows that don't seem to hit with audiences exactly as they did years ago. For one, there's been talk of whether the traditional sitcom is dead. Some producers are willing to leave it in the past and confined to reruns. However, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos wants to keep the genre going, and he mentioned a major comedy producer while recently making his case.

As he continues to lead his company, Ted Sarandos is banking on trends certain kinds of programming coming back in style, specifically the multi-cam sitcom. While appearing on the What A Joke Podcast With Papa And Fortune, Sarandos mentioned that the mega streamer has a new comedy in the works that's headed up by Chuck Lorre, who created The Big Bang Theory among other famous shows. With that, the exec shared early thoughts on the series:

Netflix’s upcoming show is the latest in a long line of sitcoms that are named after comedians like Roseanne, Seinfeld and George Lopez. This newest show is Leanne, which is named after comedian Leanne Morgan. Her hit Netflix stand up special, I’m Every Woman, inspired the series, and will relate to similar themes such as entering the dating world again as a grandmother going through menopause, according to Tudum.

Multi-cam sitcoms aren't new to the streaming realm, as Netflix alone has produced The Ranch, Mr. Iglesias, That '90s Show and more. Chuck Lorre even produced the Kathy Bates-led Disjointed with the streamer. However, they haven't nearly as successful as the network TV comedies that dropped before the streaming revolution. While single-camera comedies are becoming common place, Ted Sarandos is standing firm in his position, and his viewpoint partially stems from some words of wisdom that were bestowed upon him:

Multi-cam shows have traditionally been filmed in front of a live studio audience and, for many years, there were staples of TV. Some of the best sitcoms of all time were shot this way, and a number of them were created by Chuck Lorre like Dharma & Greg, Two and a Half Men and Cybill. The Big Bang Theory was name-dropped by Ted Sarandos along with a couple of other comedic gems when he made the case for the format:

Those three shows are among the biggest players from the golden age of the modern sitcom, from the ‘90s to the '00s, before single cam shows began to dominate TV. They truly are timeless, and Ted Sarandos could not have picked a better partner in this crusade to revitalize the multi-cam format.

It should be mentioned that Chuck Lorre has dipped his toes into the single-camera format over the years. His Big Bang Theory prequel spinoff, Young Sheldon, was shot that way and ran for seven successful seasons on CBS. Another one of his shows, The Kominsky Method, was also single-camera and aired for three seasons on Netflix. The recently canceled Bookie utilized that motif as well. Most recently, Lorre returned to his roots by employing multiple cameras and a live audience for Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, a spinoff of YS that is currently airing its first season.

Ultimately, Chuck Lorre and creative partner Steve Holland argue that a sitcom sinks or swims based on its ability to make people laugh, not it filming style. Thankfully, this is a talent Lorre seems to carry, which is why his shows have endured for multiple generations. I'm just hopeful that he and Ted Sarandos can ensure that these kinds of shows stick around. On that note, expect Leanne to land on Netflix’s release schedule sometime in 2025.

In the worlds of sports and entertainment, superstitions can often be embraced as soon as success is found, leading to lots of strange behaviors comingling. It’s hard to argue with success, however, especially for someone like mega-producer Chuck Lorre, who has created (or helped create) one hit show after another for most of the 21st century, and that most definitely includes the 2025 TV schedule entries Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage and Bookie.

But it turns out Lorre attributes some of that success to a certain behavioral tic that he’s held fast to over the years, and it’s a superstition that The Big Bang Theory fans will likely find similar to one of Sheldon Cooper’s biggest quirks. Speaking with press at Warner Bros. Television’s winter press panel (via People), Lorre revealed a personal choice he sticks to when it comes to his career. As he put it:

Those kinds of massive achievements are enough to inspire me to also refuse to ever sit in a chair with my name on it, although I suppose I’d have to also write a variety of multicam sitcom scripts in order to truly test whether the superstition worked for me or not.

Not that Lorre’s career has been a 100% smooth ride from start to finish, or lese his quirky behavior might be pushed as mandatory for everyone behind the scenes. It’s likely that no superstition could easily thwart Charlie Sheen’s highly publicized downfall and exit from Two and a Half Men, which sparked a years-long feud with Lorre that was only cleared up ahead of Sheen joining Max’s Bookie for cameo appearances.

And I guess the superstition didn’t stop Netflix from cancelling the stoner sitcom Disjointed, or stop Anna Faris from exiting Mom ahead of its eighth season. But for as disappointing as those instances might have been, I have to think the sprawling success of Big Bang Theory, its prequel Young Sheldon, and that show’s Georgie & Mandy spinoff make it easier to look past setbacks.

Sounds Like Sheldon Cooper's "Spot" Might Come From Chuck Lorre's Superstition

Outside of TV and film executives, chairs with people's names on them aren't exactly the most common, so obvious Lorre's own specific quirk wouldn't necessarily work in a fictionalized setting. But the general idea of having very specific seating preferences can indeed be easily ported from a real person to a TV character.

Which is presumably part of how Jim Parsons' Sheldon Cooper wound up being extremely particular about where he plops down, a behavioral pattern that quickly became shorthanded as "Sheldon's Spot." Not just in the apartment, either, but pretty much wherever he felt the need to be precise, including bathroom urinals. Check out a fun supercut of Sheldon's Spot declarations below.

Will TV audiences ever see the comic-adoring character making someone move from his couch cushion again, perhaps as part of the upcoming spinoff that's in development at Max? Jim Parsons has expressed a lack of interest, while his on-screen wifey Mayim Bialik had the opposite opinion, saying she'd always love to return to the role that reignited her career.

While waiting to see if that happens, and to see Sheldon eventually popping up on Georgie & Mandy, Chuck Lorre's biggest (and bangest?) co-creation can be streamed in full with a Max subscription.

Chuck Lorre is a legendary sitcom creator by this point, with shows including Mom, Two and a Half Men, and of course The Big Bang Theory to his name. In fact, he helped expand the world of Big Bang by co-creating spinoffs Young Sheldon and the ongoing Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage. Anybody who has watched any of these shows before or during the 2025 TV schedule has likely noticed the vanity cards included at the end of each episode, with each including some kind of message or funny anecdote from Lorre. Most recently, he used the vanity card for Georgie & Mandy's winter premiere to show appreciation for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

While it'd be hard to narrow down the best Big Bang Theory vanity cards to just one, the one that Chuck Lorre penned for the January 30 episode of Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage likely will go down as one of the most heartfelt in his long history of creating and producing sitcoms. He wrote:

Lorre ended the vanity card with "Thank you, thank you, thank you" before his name. It's a lovely gesture to credit the heroes of the Los Angeles Fire Department who risked life and limb to fight the fires that raged throughout LA for days early in the new year. He still kept a slight element of humor that one would expect after nearly a thousand vanity cards over the years of his career, though, with the mention of "tears of joy over his chicken parm."

Many, many people lost their homes in the fires, some of whom are celebrities. Eric Christian Olsen of NCIS: LA fame and his family were among those, with the family taken in by his former co-star and real-life sister-in-law Daniela Ruah. Kevin Smith and Mandy Moore opened up about close calls, with the This Is Us star promoting a GoFundMe for her in-laws who did lose their homes.

The television industry was affected as well, with shows like NCIS, Fallout, Grey's Anatomy, The Rookie and more halting production for a time until it would be safe to return. The winter lineup didn't change much, although CBS did pull a rerun of Fire Country from primetime. Winter premieres have since gone on as planned, including Fire Country's first new episode of the year and of course Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage.

If you missed the episode of the Young Sheldon spinoff with Chuck Lorre's touching vanity card, you can find it streaming with a Paramount+ subscription now. As for Young Sheldon and The Big Bang Theory, you'll need a Max subscription to stream those two sitcoms.

We’re nearing the end of the 2024 TV schedule, but that doesn’t mean all of the year’s noteworthy premieres happened already. Case in point: the same night that the Chuck Lorre-produced spinoff Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage aired its first midseason finale, the mega-producer’s streaming comedy Bookie kicked off Season 2 on Max, with viewers once again getting a special appearance or two from Two and a Half Men vet and one-time star Charlie Sheen.

As many area already aware, Lorre and Sheen were engaged in one of pop culture’s wildest feuds, with the actor’s increasingly bizarre behavior sabotaging his stint on Two and a Half Men and causing him to lose that gig. It took years for the two celebs to bury the hatchet, which essentially happened as Bookie’s first season was coming together. And it’s clear that initial reunion was not only comfortable for the duo, but also enjoyable, considering they teamed back up for Season 2 cameos.

Speaking with People, Lorre addressed working with Charlie Sheen again for the streaming comedy alongside stars Sebastian Maniscalco and Omar Dorsey, and had only good things to say. In his words:

To that end, Sheen plays himself on Bookie, or at least a partially fictionalized version of himself. It's definitely not the most flattering role, as the Hot Shots actor is engaging in a bit of self-parody that addresses his impulses and addictions. That said, Lorre spoke ahead of Season 1 about Sheen’s one big request being that he didn’t want to specifically address his past drug addiction, saying that time of his life had already been covered more than enough.

Chuck Lorre talked about how he and Sheen had such a good working relationship for longer than many shows get to stay on the air, and shared kind words for Charlie Sheen’s professional talents, saying:

After watching Season 2 of Bookie, fans will probably hope to see Sheen taking on more of a starring role in an upcoming Chuck Lorre creation, possibly even with former Two and a Half Men co-star Jon Cryer joining in. But we'll have to wait and see if the writer-producer can craft a new story that utilizes the Spin City vet's comedic chops just as well.

Bookie’s Season 2 premiere is currently available to steam with a Max subscription, with new episodes debuting every Thursday until the season wraps up a month into the 2025 TV schedule.

The cast of The Big Bang Theory have been keeping busy since the end of the series in 2019. Of course, a number of them were already busy for years before landing the hit CBS show. For instance, former child star Johnny Galecki starred on Roseanne while eventual Big Bang creator Chuck Lorre was an EP and writer on the series. Years later, Lorre revealed that even though he knew of Galecki's abilities as an actor, he was still shockingly impressed by his audition for TBBT.

Johnny Galecki recurred as David Healy beginning in the fourth season of Roseanne Barr's eponymous sitcom. The veteran actor would remain on the show in that capacity throughout the duration of its nine-season run (and would return for Season 10 in 2018). Galecki's portrayal of the friendly and sensitive young David was excellent. During a interview with Television Academy Foundation, Chuck Lorre recalled meeting Galecki and just how much he’s evolved as an actor when it came time for his audition as Leonard:

It may not be surprising to hear about an actor improving his craft after two decades. However, it’s still cool to know that Mr. Lorre was able to see that evolution with Galecki since time had passed between the end of Roseanne and the start of Big Bang. That reunion must have been something, considering Galecki was only just a kid when Lorre met him, and it sounds like Lorre is certainly in awe of how far he’s come.

Even though Chuck Lorre was the creator of The Big Bang Theory, that wasn’t the reason Johnny Galecki auditioned for Leonard Hofstadter. The actor previously revealed that he was drawn to the role because of his (eventual) character's dynamic with Penny. With the show running for 12 seasons and Galecki putting in great work, it’s hard to imagine anyone else in the role.

While the National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation alum is somewhat from the role of Leonard now, the franchise is pushing on. Lorre is developing a new Big Bang series that will eventually be streamable with a Max subscription. The show reportedly took a step forward earlier this year, as it was revealed that Brian Posehn, Lauren Lapkus and Kevin Sussman were contracted to reprise their roles as Bert Kibbler, Denise, and Stuart Bloom respectively.

It'd be great to see Johnny Galecki and Chuck Lorre team up again for another project. Despite reprising his role as David on the Roseanne spinoff, The Conners, Galecki doesn't work as often as he used to (by choice). Still, I'd hope that if Lorre approached him with the right part, he'd be game to flex his masterful acting muscles again for an audition, if needed.

Those who'd like to see Johnny Galecki's Emmy-nominated work as Leonard on The Big Bang Theory can stream all 12 seasons now on Max. And while you wait to see if he returns for The Conners' final season amid the 2025 TV schedule, stream Roseanne with a Peacock subscription.

Chuck Lorre is known as the King of Sitcoms for good reason, as he created or co-created a long list of shows including Dharma & Greg, Two and a Half Men, Mom, Bob Hearts Abishola (which ended earlier in the 2024 TV schedule), and of course The Big Bang Theory. Most of his series are multi-cam sitcoms with finished episodes that include audience laughter in the audio. Despite what some might think, Lorre doesn't use canned laugh tracks for his shows. Live studio audiences can be tough when a joke doesn't hit, but he also sees a perk out of gags that flop on set.

Lorre spoke with The Wrap about the status of sitcoms, including why he doesn't believe that multi-cams are dying off. He also addressed the use of live studio audiences for multi-cam shows, saying:

It's hard to imagine more immediate feedback to a joke than an audience that's not so much as chuckling, and apparently that can help Lorre address missteps. His shows also aren't the only ones keeping multi-cams with studio audiences alive, as NBC's Lopez vs. Lopez and Extended Family both did the same. In fact, the Lopez vs. Lopez creator went out of the way to set the record straight about not using a laugh track, and Donald Faison raved about switching to a live studio audience for Extended Family after nine seasons of Scrubs. Clearly, the format is not dead for Lorre and others in the industry.

That's not to say that it's without risk, though. Lorre joked that it's a "wonderful guessing game that involves millions of dollars" to not use fake laughter, then explained:

Interestingly, Chuck Lorre has branched out from his usual format with some of his most recent shows. Ahead of Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage, he explained that the importance is finding a way to connect with audiences. The Young Sheldon spinoff will be a multi-cam, whereas Young Sheldon itself was a single cam without a studio audience. Bookie (which is available streaming with a Max subscription) is a single cam as well. Still, if anybody's word can be trusted about what works and doesn't when it comes to comedy on the small screen, I think Lorre more than qualifies after all of his success.

It remains to be seen if Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage will join the ranks of other Chuck Lorre shows to become huge and long-running hits. Big Bang Theory canon suggests that Georgie and Mandy's marriage really shouldn't last all that long, but TBBT continuity may be more guidelines than actual rules after changes that Young Sheldon made.

If you're among the many looking forward to the Georgie and Mandy spinoff when it premieres this fall on CBS, you can always revisit the earlier chapters of Cooper family lore in the meantime. All twelve seasons of The Big Bang Theory and the first six seasons of Young Sheldon are streaming on Max.

Up to and through the 1990s, multi-camera sitcoms with studio audiences were such a standard that even animated series occasionally featured canned laugh tracks. The exact opposite is the case in 2024, where current examples number in the single digits, but the Young Sheldon spinoff Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage will be among them when the Big Bang Theory prequel hits the 2024 TV schedule this fall. And co-creators Chuck Lorre and Steve Holland don’t sound the least bit worried about embracing a sitcom format some consider “dead.”

Speaking at length about CBS’ upcoming comedy for the first time as part of the Television Critics Association’s winter press tour (via Deadline), Holland and Lorre addressed the fact that Georgie & Mandy will return to the live-audience format that CBS has almost single-handedly kept going over the years. Speaking to decades of multi-cam naysayers, Holland said:

Regardless of one’s personal sitcom preferences, it’s hard to deny the logic in Holland’s argument. A show’s success depends almost entirely on how well the cast and storyline can each connect with TV audiences, regardless of the specific way that show is presented. Or else traditional sitcoms would have failed entirely after shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm and The Office helped make single-cam series the norm.

Within this universe specifically, even after The Big Bang Theory became TV’s most watched comedy for years on end, there was much skepticism ahead of Young Sheldon’s premiere due to that series losing the studio audience for its more dramatized tone. But that didn’t stop millions of fans from eagerly watching the teen brainiac family life, and it’s easy to imagine a similar number of viewers will be tuning in to see how Georgie and Mandy handle life as married parents, despite its return to multi-cam.

Chuck Lorre chimed in, saying he continues to make the shows he wants without considering outside opinions. As he put it:

Who wouldn’t love a job that involves making a big crowd of people laugh and enjoy themselves via creativity? I can see why that would be hard to let go of at any point for a showrunner, even if that wasn’t specifically part of the Georgie & Mandy co-creators’ explanation. It’s definitely a bonus.

While we have yet to learn what kind of format the still-gestating Big Bang Theory follow-up will adhere to, fans can look forward to seeing Montana Jordan and Emily Osment evolving their acting chops in front of a studio audience when Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage debuts this fall on CBS Thursdays. Episodes will be available to stream with a Paramount+ subscription the next day.

It’s been less than five years since The Big Bang Theory ended its 12-season run, and reports of a second spinoff being in the works have already started circulating. With the prequel series Young Sheldon coming to an end this year, fans will be able to look forward to more in the Big Bang universe, and not just with the reported Georgie and Mandy-centered show that's on the way. That's because, it was announced last year that creator Chuck Lorre is creating a new TBBT offshoot at Max, and Kunal Nayyar has some thoughts about it.

Chuck Lorre gave an update on the spinoff last November, saying it was “prenatal” but that the project seemed to be slowly moving forward. Plot details are still unknown, and there isn’t any guarantee that any familiar faces will show up. Regardless, Kunal Nayyar, who portrayed the lovable particle astrophysicist Rajesh Koothrappali, tells TVLine that's he's not in the loop when it comes to the production:

While that doesn’t necessarily mean the Trolls alum won’t be involved in some way, it does seem like details on the show are being kept on a need-to-know basis. With that, it's understandable that the actor isn't aware of what's going on. Still, because The Big Bang Theory only ended in 2019, he thinks it’s a little too soon for him to consider any type of revival, reboot or spinoff:

Kunal Nayyar’s thinking does make sense. It hasn’t even been five years yet since the show ended, and already even more plans to expand the franchise. It does sound like he’s not opposed to reprising his role if needed, though. I'm definitely curious to see what Chuck Lorre will come up with. 

Big Bang did end on a pretty perfect note so, if the spinoff were a direct continuation of that, there would be a lot of expectations. It might also be tough to get the OG cast on board, as they've moved on to other projects. Of course, there's also the possibility that this is just another series set in the show’s universe and not necessarily one that involves the fan-favorite crew directly.

Meanwhile, the cast of The Big Bang Theory still remain close to this day, and sometimes even cross paths when working together. Most recently, Kunal Nayyar reunited with Melissa Rauch on Night Court as a guest star. The two co-stars still appear to have love for each other, though I'm not sure if that bond will translate into them returning for the supposed spinoff (if needed). Time will tell how the development process plays out and whether other members of the cast will weigh in as time goes on.

Hopefully, more information on The Big Bang Theory spinoff is revealed soon. In the meantime, you can check out the OG show using a Max subscription.

There has been a lot written over the years about casting for The Big Bang Theory. We know the original roomie across the hall was replaced by Kaley Cuoco’s Penny after the pilot was made. In fact, Chuck Lorre’s called the pilot “a mess” in the past and admitted they didn’t know what they were doing, but there was one now a-lister the show definitely didn’t think would be a good fit due to her age at the time the pilot was coming together.

Who was that a-lister? Brie Larson. And she wasn't the only major name to try out for the role either.

What Brie Larson Said About Auditioning For The Big Bang Theory

In an interview about auditioning, Brie Larson once admitted she’d tried out to star in The Big Bang Theory. Unfortunately, those involved in the casting process thought she was “too young.” Given The Big Bang Theory pilot was filmed ahead of the fall TV season in 2006 and Cuoco was introduced to the cast before the show as we know it hit the TV schedule a year later in 2007, Larson would have only been 17 or 18 years old when the show was coming together. She noted on her YouTube page:

While she admitted the role wasn’t right for her, the sting of “rejection” was clearly still there, as the actress went on in the video to explain why exactly the auditioning process can be so brutal. She also shouted out people everywhere who have undergone the process. 

The Big Bang Theory isn’t the only high-profile role Brie Larson has lost during her career. She’s been open about losing major gigs in the Star Wars franchise and in Terminator Genisys in the past. At this point in her career, she’s also beat out some major contenders for roles, including landing the gig as Captain Marvel in the MCU. While those who auditioned were never confirmed, names like Emily Blunt and Charlize Theron were bandied about, with Blunt later theorizing there are a limited number of female actresses fans can seemingly imagine as these sorts of characters. Given Larson’s acting roots are in comedy, she was a bit of a surprising fit for the MCU role.

The Long Story Behind Kaley Cuoco Landing The Big Bang Theory Role

It’s unclear if Brie Larson auditioned when the original character Katie was being cast or around the time when Kaley Cuoco landed the role. She’s not the only major name to try out for The Big Bang Theory either, as Elizabeth Berkley and others were revealed to have tried out. In fact that entire list is wild and includes other hopefuls like Jodi Lynn O'Keefe.

We do know that Cuoco had also seen both versions of the script that had been written: The original with the “Katie” character (which ultimately went to Amanda Walsh) and the second script with the “Penny” character. 

The only problem? Ken Miller said Kaley Cuoco wasn’t particularly interested in the Penny character when she was pitched it the second time around, having like the "darker" Katie character better. He said in the book The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive Inside Story Of The Epic Hit Series that she actually passed when offered, unlike Larson, who wasn't seen to be the right fit. 

The staff “begged.” In fact, Peter Roth even admitted everything in the second pilot had been “timed to get Kaley to play Penny.” It eventually worked, because the sitcom –with Kaley in the role – went to series and became a ratings juggernaut, lasting on CBS for 10 years and still being revisited by those with a Max subscription today. Cuoco would thank Ken Miller and Nikki Valko at subsequent table reads over the years for “hiring” her. 

Ultimately, while Larson likely would have had the comedic chops to play Penny, it’s hard to imagine a world where anyone but Cuoco portrayed the character. (And it's even wilder to think of Elizabeth Berkley in the role, as she cut back heavily on acting for a time before she recently cropped back up in the Saved By The Bell remake.)

While the Big Bang actress was a known name before Chuck Lorre’s sitcom, without playing Penny, who knows if her career would have led to projects like The Flight Attendant and Based on a True Story? Perhaps it would have gone in a different direction entirely. Plus, Larson probably wouldn’t have even had the bandwidth to sign on for Captain Marvel if she’d landed the gig, either. It would have been a different world. 

Few shows come close to matching the success of CBS’ Two and a Half Men. Chuck Lorre and Lee Aronsohn’s raunchy and hilarious multi-cam romp (which is streamable for Peacock subscribers) brought in strong ratings during its 12-season run. Those first eight years, however, were particularly fruitful due to the comedic prowess of co-leads Jon Cryer and Charlie Sheen. That working relationship dissipated in dramatic fashion in 2011, when Sheen fired and around the time made disparaging remarks about Lorre and Cryer. Sheen and Lorre have since made amends and are now working on the new comedy Bookie. Now, the question is whether Cryer would be willing to reunite with them on the show and, when asked about that, he shared thoughts. 

Few would probably deny that the aforementioned trio made some serious strides together within the world of TV. Still, it goes without saying that there’s a lot of baggage there, given the drama that transpired. Jon Cryer is currently promoting his new sitcom, Extended Family, which is set to debut on NBC. While chatting with TVLine, the veteran actor was asked how open he’d be to collaborating with his fellow Men alums on a future season of Bookie. While the notion does sound somewhat appealing to him, Cryer seems to have a concern: 

The chain of events surrounding Charlie Sheen’s exit from Men coincided with the show’s eighth season, which aired during the 2010 to 2011 broadcast season. In the fall of ‘10, Sheen made headlines for partying with porn stars and prostitutes and eventually entered rehab in ‘11, prompting the producers to put the show on hiatus. At that time, the actor began criticizing Chuck Lorre during interviews and shared sentiments that were largely deemed antisemitic. CBS and Warner Bros. Television eventually ousted Sheen for his conduct. Shortly after, he took a shot at Jon Cryer, calling him a “turncoat, a traitor, a troll.”

With all of that in mind, one can honestly understand why the Pretty in Pink alum would express some hesitation over possibly working with his former co-star again. But it also appears he’s not shutting the door on the idea entirely: 

Based on what’s been reported as of late, Charlie Sheen is in a good place and enjoyed working with Chuck Lorre again. Lorre spoke about the end of their feud, which happened after he reached out to the actor about playing a fictional version of himself on Bookie. Sheen accepted but had one request, which was that his TV counterpart was doing drugs. Lorre agreed and, as a whole, he has referred to the process of working with Sheen again and making amends as “healing.” What’s even sweeter is that Lorre orchestrated a Two and a Half Men reunion on the new show by tapping Angus T. Jones for a cameo.

Considering just how well Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer played off each other, it would be great to see that happen again in some form or fashion. Cryer’s new show, on which he plays a divorced dad dealing with his ex’s new romance, is likely to keep him busy for the immediate future. Hopefully, though, should he feel comfortable enough, he’ll make some more comedy magic with Sheen and Chuck Lorrre. 

New episodes of Bookie drop for Max subscribers on Thursdays. Meanwhile, Extended Family makes its NBC debut on Saturday, December 23 at 8 p.m. ET as part of the 2023 TV schedule.

With his newest TV comedy Bookie currently streaming on Max, Chuck Lorre once again transitioned from traditional multi-camera sitcom duties to the audience-free shenanigans of single-sitcom productions. Unfortunately, the Sebastian Maniscalco series’ arrived around the same time CBS revealed that two of Lorre’s successful co-creations are coming to an end, with Young Sheldon wrapping after Season 7, and Bob (Hearts) Abishola ending with Season 5. That doesn’t mean he’s giving up on the “dying” art of sitcoms, however.

Even though Bookie goes the more modern route in telling the story of Maniscalco’s sports bookie Danny attempting to collect on owed dues, Lorre doesn’t consider multi-camera comedy to be extinct, even if it’s fallen out of favor. In an interview with The Wrap, he credits The Big Bang Theory co-creator Bill Prady with the following bit of entertainment industry wisdom:

That take seems almost too logical to believe anything else, since comedy can happen in everyday life both when zero cameras are involved, or when dozens/hundreds of cell phone cameras are at play. The art is in the writing and the performances, not the way the series is captured or displayed.

Bookie even had some fun with that idea, in a way, for those watching with Max subscriptions. The single-cam comedy features the creator’s long-awaited reunion with Charlie Sheen, who famously starred in Chuck Lorre’s CBS sitcom Two and a Half Men for most of eight seasons before his highly publicized exit. And the Max series even poked fun at that situation, with Danny telling Sheen that co-star Jon Cryer was the true MVP of that show. 

While he can obviously understand that traditional sitcoms’ popularity is waning, even with his frequent successes, Lorre points out that the multi-camera format in front of a live audience is the purest way to test whether or not jokes and lines are working. In his words:

That test scenario obviously isn’t so viable when it comes to single-cam series, which often film on location and with various exterior settings, which aren’t so easy to pull off with audiences in tow. And while it might make a show seem more modern to not have people laughing in the background, it doesn’t necessarily make it funnier.

Considering Young Sheldon transitioned away from multi-cam in order to embrace its dramedy tone, it’ll be interesting to see what Max does with its new-ish take on The Big Bang Theory universe, which was confirmed to be in the works back in April 2023. Big laughs or no laughs, fans are going to watch in droves regardless. 

With Friends, Seinfeld, Full House and other classic sitcoms seemingly as popular as they’ve ever been within the pop culture zeitgeist, I can’t imagine the format will be completely eradicated at any point in the near future. Especially with Chuck Lorre still in the biz. 

New episodes of Bookie stream Thursdays on Max. Head to our 2023 TV schedule to see what other new shows are still set to drop this year.

The 2024 TV season is quickly approaching, with plenty of new content on the way thanks to the ends of the WGA writers strike and SAG-AFTRA actors strike. Unfortunately for fans of Bob Hearts Abishola, the upcoming fifth season premiere will also be the last for the sitcom. CBS broke the news that the Billy Gardell- and Folake Olowofoyeku-led series will wrap after a 13-episode Season 5. Creator Chuck Lorre has shared his thoughts on the cancellation, and I'm 100% on board.

Bob Hearts Abishola is one of two projects from Chuck Lorre that were cancelled this fall, although Young Sheldon – set to end in 2024 as well – was rumored to be concluding with a seventh season before the strikes even began. The other CBS show seems unlikely to come to quite as natural an end as Young Sheldon can, and the creator opened up about Bob Hearts Abishola getting the axe on THR's TV's Top 5 podcast. Lorre said:

I can't disagree with Chuck Lorre about Bob Hearts Abishola having more stories to tell beyond the thirteen episodes of the final season! In fact, the Season 4 finale back in the spring ended on a major cliffhanger that seemed to indicate a soft reboot was on the way, with a new place and new life for Bob and Abishola. Of course, part of that was due to the massive changes to the cast, but giving the main characters a bit of a reset after four full seasons opened the show up to plenty of fresh new stories... if not for the cancellation.

The cast changes were announced back before the Season 4 finale aired, with the news that the number of series regulars was going to be cut from thirteen down to just two: Billy Gardell and Folake Olowofoyeku. The remaining cast members were said to be offered recurring roles in the fifth season, with actor Bayo Akinfemi reacting to the news. Chuck Lorre addressed the major cuts to the cast, clarifying:

It's certainly true that most shows don't necessarily run for five seasons on broadcast television, even accounting for the shorter episode count than usual. With the exception of Season 2, which was produced under COVID restrictions, every season ran for at least 20 episodes. Bob Hearts Abishola ending on a 13-episode final season means that the sitcom will have to move pretty quickly with the story. 

The sitcom also wasn't the only series expected to cut cast member episodes for the 2023-2024 TV season; the One Chicago and Law & Order shows on NBC were reportedly set to feature less of the series regulars to cut costs. Whether that remains true in light of the shortened TV season remains to be seen. 

Bob Hearts Abishola returns for the fifth and final season on Monday, February 12 at 8:30 p.m. ET on CBS, between Season 6 of The Neighborhood and the premiere of NCIS Season 21. You can also revisit every episode so far of the Chuck Lorre show streaming with a Paramount+ subscription now. 

Spoilers below for anyone who hasn't yet watched Chuck Lorre's new Max comedy Bookie, so be warned!

Though Big Bang Theory creator Chuck Lorre's broadcast reign looks to be coming to a close, with recent cancellation news for Bob (Hearts) Abishola somewhat coinciding with Young Sheldon's final season announcement. Thankfully for fans, his newest streaming comedy Bookie has arrived on Max, and I think many will agree the episode gets a 2 1/2 out of 2 1/2 star rating for delivering a totally surprising Two and a Half Men reunion for Charlie Sheen and Angus T. Jones that hearkened back to the very first episode of the hit sitcom. Not to mention a completely separate appearance from one of Charlie's romantic foils on the show. 

Recreating Two And A Half Men's Pilot Poker Game

Bookie stars stand-up comedian Sebastian Maniscalco as a bookie named Danny who's struggling to keep his not-exactly-trustworthy clientele current with their financial responsibilities. One of his tasks in the first episode involves tracking down Charlie Sheen to a luxurious rehab facility, and Danny finds him in the midst of a poker showdown that was no doubt wildly familiar to Two and a Half Men fans, since it involved not just Sheen and former co-star Angus T. Jones, but also the same poker buddies that were settled around the table in that episode. 

It was quite a shock for any TV viewers to see Angus T. Jones on the small screen again, since he more or less bowed out of Hollywood following his controversial exit from the show at the end of Season 10 (which came after Sheen's high-profile exit). Speaking to the challenging way the show's final seasons went, and bringing Jones back into the Hollywood fold, Chuck Lorre told this to TVLine:

Even though Jones didn't get tons of screentime, it was still quite the bonkers treat to see him share the screen with Charlie Sheen again, and as a full-blown adult no less. 

And since a poker game between just two people isn't much fun, that table had to be filled up by others, and Lorre explained how he and Sheen rather quickly arrived at the idea of mirroring the Two and a Half Men pilot episode within the world of Bookie, saying:

The icing on the cake was arguably the moment when Maniscalco's Danny tells Charlie Sheen that Jon Cryer was the true Two and a Half Men MVP. To be sure, Lorre said he respectfully sent Sheen each iteration of the episode's script, and alerted him of line changes, as not to offend the actor with the ribbing. 

That Other Two And A Half Men Callback

Before either Charlie Sheen or Angus T. Jones popped up on the screen, however, another familiar face from Chuck Lorre's CBS sitcom arrived. As Danny and Omar Dorsey's Ray were walking through the rehab facility, they came upon a sobbing woman clearly out of sorts. How out of sorts? She didn't even recognize Sheen's name!

Which might have been a more random exchange if the character wasn't played by Jennifer Taylor, who appeared in Two and a Half Men as three different characters before landing the recurring role of Chelsea Melini, who became Charlie's fiancée for  a spell. Though Chelsea's arc wrapped with the end of Season 7, Taylor reprised the role in Season 9 and again for the series finale, which Sheen famously did not appear in.

With at least one more appearance from Sheen and potentially other Chuck Lorre familiars in the future, stream the first episodes from Bookie with a Max subscription, with new installments releasing on Thursdays.

With the Hollywood strikes now over, a number of new and returning shows are heading back into production. CBS, which unveiled its new schedule, is among the networks with fresh content on the way. One of the returning series is veteran comedy Bob Hearts Abishola, which comes from the comedic mind of Chuck Lorre. The multi-camera sitcom is heading into its fifth season and, now, it would seem that it’ll be the series’ last. The network revealed that today and, if that weren’t unfortunate enough, it would appear that there’s even more bad news for the program. 

The Eye Network officially confirmed the news in a press release, which also contained another key piece of information. What fans also need to know is that the fifth and final season of Bob Hearts Abishola will also be shorter than what they’re accustomed to. The season will only have 13 episodes, which will begin airing in February, as previously announced. Additionally, the series finale is set to air on Monday, May 13. This move marks a significant programming decision for the entertainment conglomerate, as it’ll be losing one of its more relatively consistent comedies in recent years. 

Having debuted in the fall of 2019, the sitcom focused on a successful Detroit businessman named Bob Wheeler (Billy Gardell), who falls in love with a Nigerian nurse, Abishola Adebambo (Folake Olowofoyeku), after suffering a mild heart attack. Though they differ in various aspects of their lives, the two eventually forge a romance and navigate the ups and downs of life. Amy Reisenbach, the president of CBS Entertainment, released a statement about the decision to end the show and showered praise upon it. She noted how it “expertly showcased a family love story and workplace comedy about the immigrant experience with heartfelt humor and emotion.” Series EPs Gina Yashere, Matt Ross and Chuck Lorre also had the following to say: 

The news of the show’s demise may not be such a surprise to some, given behind-the-scenes changes that were previously reported. Around the time the Season 5 renewal dropped, it was revealed that budget cuts were to be instituted. As a result, eleven of the show’s 13 main cast members were downgraded to recurring status. The only two who have main billing this year are Billy Gardell and Folake Olowofoyeku. When fellow cast member Bayo Akinfemi got candid about the pay cuts, he admitted to being “disappointed” but acknowledged that such things happen in the entertainment business.

This actually isn’t the only Chuck Lorre-produced show that’s set to end during the upcoming TV season. Big Bang Theory spinoff Young Sheldon is also set to conclude after a 15-episode seventh season, and the one-hour finale will air on Thursday, May 16. Though he’s bidding farewell to two comedies, Lorre remains busy. His newest single-camera comedy, Bookie, will premiere for Max subscribers on November 30. 

With Bob Hearts Abishola coming to an end, it’ll be interesting to see how Chuck Lorre and co. decide to close the book on the titular characters and their friends and family. The show conveys plenty of humor and a lot of love, so one hopes that the final episode will convey those elements effectively.

You can catch Bob Hearts Abishola when it returns to CBS on Monday February 12 at 8:30 p.m. ET as part of the 2024 TV schedule. You can also stream episodes of the show using a Paramount+ subscription.

The Big Bang Theory debuted back in 2007 and ran for an impressive twelve seasons and 279 episodes before wrapping in 2019. The CBS sitcom was such a hit that a spinoff based on Sheldon Cooper premiered before the original even finished, and Young Sheldon became a huge hit in its own right. Fans of the original will no doubt recall that every episode ended with a vanity card penned by creator Chuck Lorre, and they could range from long stories to brief quips to inside jokes about his shows. So, with the original series available streaming with a Max subscription, let’s take a look at the 32 best Big Bang Theory vanity cards!

"Pilot" – Season 1, Episode 1

Chuck Lorre already had several hit shows to his name by the time he launched The Big Bang Theory, including Dharma & Greg and Two and a Half Men, which also included vanity cards. #182 was for the very first episode of Big Bang, and what better way to launch a new sitcom than by reflecting on past success and cracking a joke about VHS/TiVo? 

"The Platonic Permutation" – Season 9, Episode 9

Running for twelve seasons from 2007-2019 meant that the television landscape changed a great deal over the course of The Big Bang Theory, and that included the launch of the streaming service called CBS All Access, which was to be the home of all new Star Trek series. Fans can actually say “R.I.P. CBS All Access” now, as the streamer was rebranded as Paramount+ for subscribers back in 2021.

"The Matrimonial Momentum" – Season 9, Episode 1

Chuck Lorre was a man of few words in the vanity card for the Season 9 premiere of The Big Bang Theory, but included a photo of the writers table. It includes everything from scripts to coffee cups to even some Nerf guns and Pringles. Considering the show would run for another three seasons after the ninth, Lorre’s “Where the magic happens” caption seems apt!

"The Cushion Saturation" – Season 2, Episode 16

Chuck Lorre already had a long career on television by the time the #242 vanity card ran back in 2009, with nearly two decades since ‘90s network show Grace Under Fire premiered as the very first show he created. His note to his colleagues is undoubtedly fun for fans to read; what those colleagues thought might be different.

"The Citation Negation" – Season 12, Episode 9

The vanity card with the photo of Stan Lee alongside the stars ran on November 15, 2018 as a tribute to one of the greatest Big Bang Theory guest stars, as Lee passed away at the age of 95 just days before. It was a fitting tribute to the comic book legend, who was known for his cameos across plenty of projects, including Big Bang.  

"The Hofstadter Insufficiency" – Season 7, Episode 1

The Big Bang Theory was nominated at the Emmys for Outstanding Comedy Series for four years in a row between 2011-2014, but never won. In the vanity card for the Season 7 premiere, Lorre included a photo of notes for the speech he would have given for an Emmy win, including directions to himself to breathe and not cry, a nod to guest star Bob Newhart, and credit to showrunner/executive producer Steve Molaro. 

"The Dependence Transcendence" – Season 10, Episode 3

Early in Season 10, Chuck Lorre took the time to remind fans that the laughs in The Big Bang Theory are recorded live on set in front of a studio audience, not added in post-production. Spinoff Young Sheldon is not filmed in front of a live studio audience, but also doesn’t use a laugh track. 

"The Colonization Application" – Season 8, Episode 17

The vanity card tribute to the late Star Trek icon Leonard Nimoy aired on March 5, 2015, following the star’s death in late February. It wasn’t the only way that the show honored Nimoy, who was a hero to Jim Parsons’ Sheldon Cooper for his role as Spock. Young Sheldon even mentioned Nimoy in one of its most touching moments. 

"The Celebration Experimentation" – Season 9, Episode 17

The Big Bang Theory aired its 200th episode in early 2016, and the vanity card not only celebrated hitting that impressive milestone over the course of nine years, but ended in the perfect way by dropping Sheldon Cooper’s iconic “Bazinga” line. It was Chuck Lorre’s way to express gratitude to fans for keeping the show going strong. 

"The Proposal Proposal" – Season 11, Episode 1

With just one season left to go, the vanity card for the Season 11 premiere addressed how far the show had come, including the fact that Melissa Rauch (now star of Night Court) and Mayim Bialik (host of Jeopardy) weren’t even part of the original cast. Fittingly, the episode also featured Sheldon and Amy getting engaged.

"The Hesitation Ramification" – Season 7, Episode 12

Chuck Lorre used #436 at the end of the 2014 episode to credit actress Lexi Contursi, as her role had to be cut for time. The creator took the time to compliment her work that wouldn't be seen on CBS. Interestingly, Penny went through the same arc with NCIS in this episode. 

"The Isolation Permutation" – Season 5, Episode 8

There’s no shortage of challenges in producing 20+ episodes per season on network television; for “The Isolation Permutation” in late 2011, that included members of the Big Bang Theory office staff assembling the Lego Death Star. It may not have resulted in raises, but at least they got the vanity card tribute!

"The Bachelor Party Corrosion" – Season 9, Episode 3

Richard Feynman was a real-life theoretical physicist, which The Big Bang Theory established made him a favorite with Sheldon Cooper. The van that the characters used for a trip to Mexico once belonged to the real Feynman, who died in 1988, and the show avoided doing any damage to it. 

"The Herb Garden Germination" – Season 4, Episode 20

For some episodes, Chuck Lorre penned long and complicated vanity cards. For others, like the one that aired in 2011, he went for a single sentence. That doesn’t make it any less funny, though!

"The Junior Professor Solution" – Season 8, Episode 2

This 2014 episode revealed that “Rhombicosidodecahedron” is the answer to the question of “Which Archimedean solid has 20 regular triangular faces, 30 square faces, 12 pentagonal faces, 60 vertices, and 120 edges?” Chuck Lorre’s vanity card revealed just what that shape actually looks like.

"The Recombination Hypothesis" – Season 5, Episode 13

The Big Bang Theory hit 100 episodes with this installment on January 19, 2012, and Chuck Lorre celebrated by noting how much happened and changed by the time the sitcom hit triple digits. He even included a shout-out to co-creator Bill Prady and his food journey. 

"The Consummation Deviation" – Season 12, Episode 8

Chuck Lorre hit the milestone of 600 vanity cards on November 8, 2018, and he celebrated by posting a behind-the-scenes image of Jim Parsons with Kathy Bates, the latter of whom appeared in the episode as Amy Farrah Fowler’s mom. 

"The 43 Peculiarity" – Season 6, Episode 8

Even the creator of multiple hit TV shows can come up empty on a task or two, and that was evidently the case for Chuck Lorre for the November 15, 2012 episode of The Big Bang Theory. In a fun fact from chucklorre.com, this vanity card aired a total of nine times across Big Bang, Two and a Half Men, Mike & Molly, and Mom. 

"The Cooper Extraction" – Season 7, Episode 11

“Don’t bite the hand that feeds you” can be a useful mantra in real life, but Chuck Lorre’s dog in December 2013 evidently never got the message. At least Lorre got the material for a fun vanity card!

"The Convention Conundrum" – Season 7, Episode 14

The Big Bang Theory was nominated for Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy for the 2014 Golden Globes, and Chuck Lorre was ready with notes for a speech that would express gratitude and that the sitcom isn’t about geeks or nerds. The Golden Globe went to Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Lorre never delivered that speech. 

"The Thespian Catalyst" – Season 4, Episode 14

Chuck Lorre wrote a long vanity card in early 2011 with humorous predictions about future technology, complete with a punchline about the end of scripted entertainment. He couldn’t have possibly known about the role AI would play in the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes circa 2023 at the time, but the prediction reads a little differently now than it did more than ten years ago!

"The Jerusalem Duality" – Season 1, Episode 12

One of the earliest Big Bang Theory vanity cards tied back to a true story from Chuck Lorre’s life that inspired Sheldon's story in the 2008 episode. The creator's musical dreams were crushed after a performance by Pat Metheny, leading him to a very successful career in television. 

"The Commitment Determination" – Season 8, Episode 24

The Big Bang Theory creator hit another milestone with “The Commitment Determination” in 2015 with his 500th vanity card. He used it to humorously commend himself for writing so many of them over the course of his career, and then ended it with an equation that plenty of people probably also would need help to solve. 

"The Bitcoin Entanglement" – Season 11, Episode 9

The vanity cards play very quickly at the end of episodes, and Chuck Lorre used #573 to note that viewers need to hit pause if they want to read his weekly messages. The message starts out seriously, before ending on a joke about him providing a “prime time meditation break.”

"The Stockholm Syndrome" – Season 12, Episode 24

The series finale of The Big Bang Theory aired on CBS on May 16, 2019, and Chuck Lorre chose a very short and sweet message for the vanity card. It was also a bit of a joke, as the card for the penultimate episode that aired before “The Stockholm Syndrome” read “Almost the End.”

"The Clean Room Infiltration" – Season 8, Episode 11

Back in late 2014, Chuck Lorre established that he intended to stop writing vanity cards and trying something new. While the message didn’t come across as a joke at the time, it’s certainly funny in hindsight, as the creator continued writing them and his total is now above 700. 

"The Countdown Reflection" – Season 5, Episode 24

Production on the Season 5 finale of The Big Bang Theory was an emotional time for Chuck Lorre. The episode was emotional for the characters as well, as they held hands and watched Howard begin his journey into outer space. 

"The Locomotion Interruption" – Season 8, Episode 1

The Season 8 premiere ended with a brief vanity card, establishing that Chuck Lorre had months to come up with the right message. Fans can probably cut him some slack, given all the work that undoubtedly went into launching the new season, and it’s still funny. 

"The Deception Verification" – Season 7, Episode 2

The second episode of Season 7 aired just weeks after the 2013 Emmy Awards, where The Big Bang Theory actually picked up the Outstanding Lead Actor trophy for Jim Parsons and Outstanding Guest Actor for Bob Newhart, although Chuck Lorre missed out on Outstanding Comedy Series again. For the vanity card, Lorre simply reflected on the very expensive tuxedo he bought for the occasion. 

"The Planetarium Collision" – Season 12, Episode 5

Chuck Lorre celebrated his 66th birthday in October 2018, and wished a happy day and another two decades for himself in the vanity card. The card also aired at the end of episodes of Young Sheldon and Mom that were released on the same night as “The Planetarium Collision.”

"The Romance Resonance" – Season 7, Episode 6

Age comes for all, and that realization evidently hit Chuck Lorre hard in 2013 when he went to see a movie. He may have wanted to sulk after getting the senior discount with no question at the theater, but at least he got a deal - if “somewhat dubious” – on his ticket! 

"The First Pitch Insufficiency" – Season 8, Episode 3

Chuck Lorre shared that he loved to watch The Honeymooners as a kid and went on to “steal from classic scenes” from that sitcom. The vanity card's punchline comes with speculating that The Honeymooners probably took it from Laurel and Hardy before them, and Laurel and Hardy probably took it from Greek playwright Euripides more than two millennia ago. 

You can revisit all of these vanity cards and more with every episode of The Big Bang Theory streaming with a Max subscription, as well as every season of Young Sheldon so far.

Two and a Half Men was one of the most successful shows on TV during its 12-season run, but it did experience a few behind-the-scenes hiccups. The biggest of them was the highly publicized exit of its lead star, Charlie Sheen, who was fired by Warner Bros. TV and CBS in 2011 after making disparaging remarks about series co-creator Chuck Lorre. Thankfully, Sheen and Lorre resolved their feud just recently and are reuniting for his new show (which will be available to Max subscribers). Ahead of its release, Lorre has been discussing his relationship with Sheen, and he recently recalled their “dark and difficult” falling-out. 

Before the two were on the outs, they’d worked well together, which should be evident due to the fact that their show had been a hit for a little over eight years up to that point. As he conveyed during his interview with ET, Chuck Lorre wants people to be aware that he and his colleague and their share of good times while working on Men. He fondly shared some sweet thoughts when speaking about that early period in his and the Charlie Harper actor’s partnership: 

They did indeed push the envelope, as the sitcom (which is streamable with a Paramount+ subscription) was one of the edgier sitcoms of the 2000s. And at the time, viewers flocked to it. It goes without saying that Charlie Sheen’s exit from Two and a Half Men was far from beneficial for the creative team. Sheen, who’d just finished up a voluntary stay in rehab at the time, made disparaging remarks against Chuck Lorre, with some of those comments being deemed antisemitic. Later in his recent interview, the Bob Hearts Abishola EP reflected on the emotions he felt at the time: 

The Big Bang Theory producer previously spoke about not being able to watch Men reruns for years, and that’s honestly understandable given the magnitude of the drama at the time. It seemed, at one point, that the show might be done. However, former CBS chairwoman Nina Tassler helped Two and A Half Men turn things around by orchestrating the hiring of Ashton Kutcher as the new co-lead. The show ended up running four more years before ending in 2015, but there was still the matter of the unresolved issues between the co-creator and his star.

Apparently, Chuck Lorre was the one to extend the olive branch, as he wanted Charlie Sheen to play a fictionalized version of himself on his new comedy, Bookie. The actor was receptive to the idea, though Sheen did have just one request. The Anger Management veteran’s fictional counterpart was originally written as being a patient in the rehab he was renting out for gambling events. However, Sheen asked if they could move away from the “drug-addled Charlie” and instead not make him a resident at the facility. Lorre stated that he and his team easily obliged when it came to that change.

Their collaboration on the new show has reportedly been rock solid since they decided to join forces again. While it sounds like there was a lot of pain to get past, I’m happy the two were able to work out their differences. And of course, I also hope their latest comedy yields humorous results. 

Bookie is set to hit Max on November 30 as part of the 2023 TV schedule.

For all that the Hollywood strikes have thrown the industry into upheaval throughout the back half of 2023, quite a few fully finished high-profile projects are still on the horizon, such as prolific TV producer Chuck Lorre’s latest streaming show Bookie, which reteams him with Charlie Sheen many years after Sheen’s Two and a Half Men exit. With Lorre now gearing up for his newest comedy, it’s only natural that at least once conversation would turn to the topic of The Big Bang Theory, specifically the spinoff project that was formally announced by Max in April 2023. And while he didn’t have any massive updates to share, we’ll make do with any port in a storm.

While Young Sheldon is still holding strong on CBS, with Season 7 potentially its last, the Ian Armitage dramedy scratches a completely different TV itch from the broad and nerdy fun at the heart of Big Bang Theory, which is a big reason why the fandom was pumped to hear news of a third entry in the franchise. It sounds like patience will be key, though, as Chuck Lorre told TVLine the project is still in the incubation stages, saying: 

To be clear, the project he’s referring to in completely non-specific terminology was reported as being part of the Big Bang Theory universe, though without any guarantees that any familiar characters would be involved. To that end, Lorre and co-creator Bill Prady have directly addressed the hard-to-imagine concept of a revival, which would be all but impossible to put together at this point given the ensemble’s busy schedules. And so the challenge becomes finding a way to focus on a different set of equally fun and interesting characters within this heightened reality.

Unfortunately, Chuck Lorre doesn’t make it sound like they’ve cracked the nut, as it were, to landing on a slam dunk approach. But that doesn’t necessarily mean anything slightly negative, considering he’s been busy bringing Bookie to life with star Sebastian Maniscalco, which presumably hasn’t left a ton of spare time for brainstorming other projects. Now that his newest show will be debuting at the end of the month, it could allow for more Big Bang theorizing, so here’s hoping another major update is coming in early 2024.

Even if the new spinoff won’t be a full-blown revival centered on Sheldon, Amy, Penny and the rest of the gang, former co-star Melissa Rauch addressed a possible return to the role of Bernadette, as inspired by her expanded sitcom pedigree as part of the Night Court continuation series. But in her mind, that would be something to consider many years from now, and not an offer she’d accept so soon after the well-received series finale in 2019.

Check out Bookie with a Max subscription when it debuts on Thursday, November 30. In the meantime, all episodes of The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon are available to stream as well. 

The entertainment industry has seen some major reunions as of late, but there’s one I’m not sure many had on their 2023 bingo cards. Charlie Sheen joined forces with mega producer Chuck Lorre for a new comedy years after his highly publicized firing from CBS’ Two and a Half Men. While the development was certainly surprising, it was likely a welcome turn of events for those who are fans of the two collaborators’ work. Lorre recently took some time to shed light on how he finally squashed his beef with Sheen. And while doing so, the writer/EP also explained one request the actor had after he signed on for his latest show. 

Chuck Lorre and Charlie Sheen are teaming up for the single-camera comedy How to Be a Bookie. The 2023 TV schedule entry, which will be available to Max subscription holders, will star Sebastian Maniscalco as a bookmaker named Danny, who attempts to adapt to changes within the world of sports gambling. Sheen is set to play a fictionalized version of himself who has dealings with Maniscalco’s character. Part of Sheen’s on-screen arc involves him holding a poker game in a rehab facility on the down low. The original idea for the show was that the Anger Management veteran was also staying there as well. However, Lorre – who wanted to cast Sheen due to his knowledge of the gambling world – revealed that the actor asked if an alteration could be made: 

That’s a very considerate narrative change, and you can imagine that the veteran actor really appreciated it. Aside from being a key change for the show, it also signifies that the star is seemingly looking to move past the personal struggles he dealt with long ago. At this point, it’s been several years since the Spin City alum has acted. However, it seems like there he didn’t need to shake off any rust when he started work on How to Be a Bookie. Chuck Lorre went on to tell Variety that the star “proceeded to kill it at the table read” and that “his chops were just so finely tuned.” Series co-writer and EP Nick Bakay agreed with Lorre’s assessment while discussing that particular day of work: 

I don’t know about any of you, but I never would’ve thought the two comedy vets would reach such another period of creative bliss, considering the timeline of Charlie Sheen’s exit from Men. Sheen entered rehab amid production on the hit CBS sitcom’s eighth season, which coincided with the 2010-2011 TV season. In the spring of the latter year, the star made disparaging remarks about Chuck Lorre (the co-creator, co-writer and EP), including some comments deemed antisemitic. It was in March 2011 that Sheen was fired by Warner Bros. TV and the Eye Network. Thanks to a turnaround by a CBS exec, the show was able to tap Ashton Kutcher as his replacement and air for four more seasons. 

There was actually a time after the drama that Chuck Lorre couldn’t even watch Two and a Half Men reruns due to what went down. However, that changed shortly before he mended fences with his former lead actor. It’s simply wonderful that Lorre and Charlie Sheen were able to move past their differences and get on good terms again. With the creatives working in harmony, their latest collaboration will hopefully become one of the best original Max shows to stream. I’m curious to see what Sheen manages to bring to the proceedings as, thanks to that request, portrays a clean and sober (yet likely still-eccentric) version of himself.

How to Be a Bookie is set to hit Max on November 30. In the meantime, those who are feeling nostalgic for Two and a Half Men can stream the entire series using a Peacock subscription.

Charlie Sheen’s exit from Two and a Half Men put a sour taste in many people's mouths. After he entered a rehab program in 2011 for substance abuse, he made some crude remarks about creator Chuck Lorre and co-star Jon Cryer. Soon after, Warner Bros. fired him, and former CBS head honcho Nina Tassler turned things around when Ashton Kutcher joined the show. Sheen and Lorre had a major falling out. Earlier this year, however, the two were announced to be working on a new show together, and now it seems their feud has finally come to an end. 

Sheen and Lorre are reuniting for the new Max comedy series Bookie. While Sebastian Maniscalco is portraying the Los Angeles sports betting bookie, he does come across some pretty big stars, including Sheen. Now, Lorre has told Variety that when it came to casting the show, he only had one person in mind. However, it seemed like it was going to be tricky, considering he and Sheen hadn’t talked in over a decade:

Even though Chuck Lorre says “it was too painful” to watch reruns of Two and a Half Men following Charlie Sheen’s departure, a lot has changed over the last 10 years. He looks back at his time working with the actor on the CBS sitcom as nothing but good memories. Lorre noted he loved working with Sheen on Two and a Half Men, and he had a good time for the most part. Now, with all of the time that has passed, both of them were evidently ready to move past their squabble:

A lot can change in a decade. Even though the fallout between Chuck Lorre and Charlie Sheen was pretty big, it sounds like the two have gotten over it and are better for it. It was a pretty big surprise when their partnership was announced for Bookie, and of course, it wasn’t as easy as one would hope. However, the fact that both of them were ready to move on proves they have learned a lot.

Since the feud is over, could fans look forward to a potential Two and a Half Men reunion? Melanie Lynskey shared her thoughts on a possible reunion, noting that she has been in touch with Sheen over the years. She mentioned how much fun she had on Two and a Half Men, and she said she would be down to do a guest spot on Bookie if given the chance. Maybe there could be a full-blown reunion, a la Friends or Fresh Prince, in the future. 

For now, there will still be one Two and a Half Men reunion that will happen, and that’s through Chuck Lorre and Charlie Sheen's collaboration on this new Max comedy. Bookie is set to premiere on the 2023 TV schedule on November 30, and it will be available through a Max subscription. So fans will want to sign up to see this long-awaited reunion happen.

It’s fair to say Two and a Half Men is one of the most successful TV shows to ever hit the airwaves. Chuck Lorre and Lee Aronsohn’s raunchy comedy notched strong ratings and landed a few Primetime Emmys during its 12-season run. However, while there were certainly peaks along the way, there were also valleys. The biggest hurdle the sitcom faced was the disastrous exit of lead actor Charlie Sheen in 2011. Ultimately though, the series rebounded and ran for another several years. Some may think they know the entire story of how production bounced back, but they may not be aware of the instrumental role former CBS Entertainment chairwoman Nina Tassler played in the show ultimately turning around.

The hit series’ outlook appeared quite grim following the actor’s firing, which came after he’d been on the show for eight seasons. Most probably know by now that he was ultimately replaced by Ashton Kutcher, who joined Jon Cryer, Angus T. Jones and the rest of the cast as a new character. Of course, that switch-up didn’t happen overnight, as a number of moving pieces had to come together. And in the grand scheme of things, it’s great that Nina Tassler was around during that time.

What Happened When Charlie Sheen Exited Two And A Half Men

To better understand the seriousness of the situation, we first need to discuss the reasons why Charlie Sheen left Two and a Half Men. Sheen was actually intent on living in the spring of 2010 but changed his tune after agreeing to a hefty new contract. Months after finalizing his deal, which stipulated that he receive $2 million per episode, he began making headlines for wild partying and reported cocaine use. By early 2011, Sheen entered rehab and the show went on hiatus in the interim. It seemed the Major League star was nearly ready to return to work but, eventually, he began making inflammatory comments about Chuck Lorre. At least one of those was deemed antisemitic as well. 

There was subsequently much speculation regarding the star’s future on the show and, ultimately, he was officially fired by CBS and Warner Bros. Television in March 2011. The actor eventually filed a $100 million lawsuit against WBTV and Chuck Lorre and claimed he was filing on behalf of TAAHM’s cast and crew, though he was listed as the only plaintiff. The Charlie Harper actor made the legal move in the hopes of gaining some of the cash he’d lost from the Season 8 episodes that were left unproduced since the series shut down production due to his departure. 

Needless to say, the situation wasn’t looking all that pretty, and some even theorized that Two and a Half Men might just end following that ordeal. But there was a light at the end of the tunnel, and Nina Tassler was instrumental in guiding that train.

How Nina Tassler Ultimately Saved The Day At CBS

The veteran exec apparently didn’t back down when it came to the situation that befell Two and a Half Men. She, Chuck Lorre and co. eventually went to work trying to find another suitable co-lead for the show. They ultimately landed on That ‘70s Show alum Ashton Kutcher, and it turns out Tassler had a key professional connection that helped make it happen. Apparently, she had long been friendly with Kutcher’s lawyer, Robert Offer, and that relationship helped get the wheels moving, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 

In that same piece, the exec was praised for the way in which she handled the situation. Ex-CBS Corporation CEO Les Moonves praised her at the time, saying that the company “turned disaster into success, and she had a lot to do with it.” During the fall of 2011, Men scored high ratings and continued to perform well throughout its ninth season. The network head would ultimately step down from her post in 2015, which is ironically the same year the sitcom concluded.

It takes a village to make a high-profile TV show work but, in this case, a considerable amount of credit should go to Nina Tassler, who seemingly kept the situation moving when a path forward seemed uncertain. So anyone who’s glad the comedy didn’t bow out in 2011 due to Charlie Sheen’s exit might want to tip their hat to Tassler. 

All 12 seasons of Two and a Half Men are streamable with a Peacock subscription.

Charlie Sheen has starred in a number of notable movies and TV shows over the course of his lengthy (and somewhat unpredictable) career. Platoon, Wall Street, Major League and The Three Musketeers are just a few of the credits under his belt. Of course, one of the productions that he’ll arguably remain synonymous with for years to come is Two and a Half Men. Sheen’s tenure on the Chuck Lorre-produced CBS sitcom was eventful and ultimately ended with him exiting after eight seasons. There was a lot of drama surrounding the situation at that time and, in case you’re unaware of the timeline of events, we’re going to fill you in on why he left.

The show enjoyed a fruitful run ahead of the highly publicized controversy. Premiering in 2003, Men served as a prime TV vehicle for the comedic actor following his stint on Spin City. He and Chuck Lorre, who had more than a few hits under his belt at the point, seemingly worked well together. That’s probably part of the reason why Lorre reunited with the actor for Max’s How to Be a Bookie. Fans are likely pleased that the two teamed up again, and it’s honestly amazing they did, considering everything that went down over a decade ago. So, on that note, let’s take a stroll down memory lane and detail what led to the polarizing performer’s departure. 

After Entering Rehab, Charlie Sheen Quits Two And A Half Men In 2010 Amid Contract Negotiations

Even those who are generally well-versed in this matter may not even remember that Charlie Sheen actually left the series a year before he filmed his true final episode. His contract was up for renegotiation at the end of the seventh season in the spring of 2010 and, at the time, it was said that the network was confident he’d re-sign. However, sources claimed Sheen was intent on leaving, as he was ready to move on from the series. Other insiders also suggested that the star was unhappy with a $1 million per episode offer he received. All of this news came only months after it was confirmed that he was entering rehab as a “preventative measure.” 

The situation looked dire for a little while but, in May 2010, the actor inked a new contract that would keep him on the show for two additional seasons. He made out with quite a bit of cash, too, as the contract reportedly stipulated that he’d earn nearly $2 million an episode. And that’s saying a lot, considering the fact that several years earlier, he’d already become the highest paid comic actor on the small screen. After agreeing to the terms, the Emmy nominee released a statement, saying that he was “looking forward to returning” to work. In time, of course, his tone would change dramatically.

The CBS Veteran Makes Headlines In The Fall Of 2010 Due To Reports Of Wild Parties

Chuck Lorre’s half-hour comedy returned for its eighth season in September 2010 and earned strong ratings early on. By November of that year though, less-than-glowing reports began to swirl around the co-lead. Sources claimed that in his spare time, Sheen had been engaging in excessive partying and drug use. Around this time, he’d been hospitalized in New York after hanging out with porn star Capri Anderson. It was said that while living it up with Anderson, Sheen allegedly drank heavily and used cocaine. 

That was only the first half of the phase of the controversy, as the actor allegedly went on a bender in Los Angeles only days after leaving the Big Apple. Insiders alleged that the Ferris Bueller’s Day Off alum resumed his cocaine use and welcomed prostitutes to his abode several nights in a row. At that time, concerns for the actor’s well-being grew significantly, and he’d eventually take a positive step forward in the new year.

Charlie Sheen Returns To Rehab In Early 2011 Amid Production On Two And A Half Men Season 8

In January 2011, the sitcom star elected to enter a rehabilitation center again, marking his third stay in a facility in 12 months. CBS released a statement that confirmed his decision and also revealed that the show would go on hiatus while he was in rehab. The company stated that it was “profoundly concerned for his health and well-being, and support his decision.” 

The then-45-year-old leading man appeared on The Dan Patrick Show in February, where he said that he was ready to get back to work. However, he also asserted that the network itself wasn’t prepared restart production, saying that “nobody is there.” Later in the conversation, the actor also told Patrick that he fulfilled his obligation, which was to get help, and revealed that even he was surprised at how fast he’d gotten clean. While the Money Talks alum seemed gun-ho at this point, that quickly changed. 

As Spring 2011 Approaches, Charlie Sheen Makes Inflammatory Statements About Chuck Lorre During Interviews

Sheen turned heads in late February 2011 when he did interviews with media personality Alex Jones, along with news outlets, during which he shared blunt thoughts on Lorre and more.

TMZ

While talking to TMZ, he referred to Lorre as a “pussy punk” and “piece of shit.” Sheen also challenged the super producer to a fight and said that if he himself were to emerge victorious, Lorre would have to “leave my show!” He also referred to Lorre as Chaim Levine, which is a combination of the Hebrew version of the EP’s first name and his birth surname:

He later appeared on NBC’s The Today Show and ABC’s Good Morning America, where he shared more thoughts. These chats earned him a considerable amount of attention. 

Good Morning America

While speaking to GMA (for a segment jointly produced for 20/20), he pondered how the public could interpret his comment about his boss as being antisemitic. He posed the question that “anytime someone calls me Carlos Estevez, I can claim they are anti-Latino?” The star also said: 

He also didn’t hesitate to discuss his drug use and lifestyle, even going as far as to say that he’s different due to having “tiger blood.” Around this time, production on his sitcom halted production for the remainder of the season. Faced with the myriad of brutally honest sentiments, the Eye Network and Warner Bros. TV eventually took action. 

Charlie Sheen’s Contract With CBS And Warner Bros. Television Is Terminated In March 2011 And He Later Tries To Sue

Following much speculation, Charlie Sheen was officially fired by both CBS and Warner Bros. Television in early March. The joint statement released by the entertainment entities clarified that he had been ousted “effective immediately” on the grounds of “moral turpitude.” This turn of events prompted Sheen to take legal action against his former employers. 

Just a few days after being sacked, he filed a $100 million lawsuit against WBTV and Chuck Lorre in an attempt to recoup the money he didn’t earn for the eight unproduced TAAHM Season 8 episodes. What was most interesting is that the Golden Globe winner claimed to be filing on behalf of the show’s cast and crew, but he was the sole plaintiff named in the suit. Ultimately, his efforts proved to be unsuccessful. 

Charlie Sheen Calls Out Former Co-Star Jon Cryer During Interview

That same week, a number of Sheen’s former co-stars, Holland Taylor and Marin Hinkle, shared thoughts on his abrupt exit from the high-rated comedy and reached out to him. They expressed sadness over the state of the actor’s health while also addressing the prospect of the show ending. However, one person who notably remained silent was his on-screen brother, Jon Cryer. For that reason, he called out Cryer amid an interview and referred to him with several unflattering descriptors: 

It should be noted that the Alan Harper actor actually hadn’t commented at that point. His co-star also later apologized and retracted his “troll” statement.

Two And A Half Men Opts To Move On With A New Lead In May 2011

After the high-profile firing, future plans for Two and a Half Men weren’t immediately announced. Soon enough, though, it was confirmed that the show would go on and pair Cryer with a new actor in the lead. It was reported in May 2011 that Ashton Kutcher had been cast and, later that fall, he was revealed to be playing Walden Schmidt, a brokenhearted billionaire who befriends Alan. Charlie Harper, on the other hand, was killed off, and Walden purchased his home, with Alan and son Jake continuing to live there. 

The sitcom ran for another four seasons and seemingly maintained a solid fanbase. After Season 8 ended in 2012, Cryer notably won his second Emmy but in the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series category as opposed to Supporting Actor as he did the first time around. The show would ultimately wrap after 12 seasons in 2015, with a two-part finale that revived Charlie Harper, without Sheen actually appearing in the role.

Charlie Sheen Lands New Sitcom In July 2011

Only a few months would pass before Charlie Sheen would land a new full-time TV gig. In July 2011, it was announced that he’d star in FX’s sitcom, Anger Management, which was loosely based on the 2003 comedy film of the same name. On the show, Sheen played the role of Charlie Goodson, a former baseball player now practicing as an anger management therapist.

After an initial 10-episode run, FX picked up the show for an additional 90 episodes, and it concluded in 2014. One could argue that the show was a modest success, but it didn’t leave a cultural dent nearly as significant as Men’s.

It would be an understatement to say that this was a long and winding road. Despite all the drama though, Sheen and Lorre seem to have buried the hatchet, based on the fact that they’ve reunited for How to Be a Bookie. 

Two and a Half Men is currently available to stream in its entirety with a Paramount+ subscription.

There are times when life can surprise you and, just a few weeks ago, TV aficionados caught wind of a pretty unexpected, yet exciting, development. It was reported that after 12 years, Charlie Sheen is set to reunite with Two and a Half Men co-creator Chuck Lorre for a brand new comedy. This is honestly kind of shocking due to the public fallout the two had during the CBS sitcom’s run back in 2011, which led to Sheen being fired. It seems like they've patched things up, though and, on the heels of that news, fellow series alum Melanie Lynskey shared her thoughts on the possibility of a reunion for the long-running sitcom.

The Yellowjackets star, who portrayed the kooky Rose throughout the show's 12-season run, admitted to Variety that she was unaware of the latest collaboration between Charlie Sheen and Chuck Lorre. She didn’t say how long it’s been since she last spoke to her former Two and a Half Men co-star, but the actress did confirm that she was in touch with him at some point:

So it sounds like Melanie Lynskey is still on good terms with Charlie Sheen and, quite frankly, that's wonderful to hear. So with that and the renewed working relationship between her two former collaborators, you can't help but wonder if this would be the perfect time for a reunion. When asked whether she'd be game for such a thing, Lynskey provided thoughts that could make fans very happy:

Fans did indeed enjoy the show, and it's because of that devotion that TAAHM was one of the most popular programs on network TV for a large part of its run. I'm sure viewers would love to see characters like Rose and Charlie cross paths again somehow -- even if the 2015 series finale showed the latter getting crushed by a piano.

At this point, it’s unknown if a reunion will actually happen but, at the very least, fans will definitely be able to look forward to How to Be a Bookie, which has already been ordered to series. The single-camera comedy centers on an aging bookie who attempts to balance his responsibilities at home with his work and wild clients. Charlie Sheen is set to recur on the show, and details on his role are currently being kept under wraps. As of this writing, HBO Max (which is soon to be Max) has yet to announce a premiere date for the eight-episode season.

Even though the notion of a Two and a Half Men reunion special of sorts is exciting, the chances of it happening are pretty slim. Chuck Lorre, after all, is a busy man who tends to charge through with new projects. There's also the fact that Melanie Lynskey's star is steadily growing, thanks to her stunning work in the likes of Yellowjackets and The Last of Us. Still, I'll hold out hope that we get to see her and Charlie Sheen on screen together as their dysfunctional characters once more.

Those who'd like to check out Two and a Half Men can stream all 12 seasons using a Peacock subscription. You'll also want to keep an eye on the 2023 TV schedule in the event that How to Be a Bookie finds a place on it. And of course, grab an HBO Max subscription so that you can tune in whenever it arrives.

Chuck Lorre is easily one of the biggest names in TV and, in recent years, he’s been aiming to make his mark in the streaming world with comedies like The Kominsky Method and Disjointed. Back in October, Lorre also landed his first HBO Max show – a comedy called How to Be a Bookie. The super producer has assembled a cast that’s led by Sebastian Maniscalco and, now, he’s added another familiar face. In a very surprising turn of events, Lorre is reteaming with Charlie Sheen for the sitcom, and it marks a major return to TV for the actor. Said development also comes 12 years after that widely publicized Two and a Half Men hullabaloo. 

The Wall Street star, who is set to serve as a recurring character on this latest offering from HBO Max, which is officially being rebranded as Max this coming May. Variety didn’t reveal any specifics in regard to the actor’s role but, based on the series creator’s knack for creating funny and flawed characters, I’d bet that he has something truly comical in mind.

If I’m being completely honest, I certainly wouldn’t have seen this coming, especially considering what happened over a decade ago. The star began playing devil-may-care jingle writer Charlie Harper on Two and a Half Men in 2003. After the show became a hit, Charlie Sheen would become the highest paid comic actor on TV. Things hit a snag in early 2011 amid the eighth season, however, when the Major League alum entered a rehabilitation program for substance abuse. During that time, Sheen proceeded to make disparaging remarks about Chuck Lorre as well as co-star Jon Cryer, and he was soon fired by Warner Bros. TV and CBS. Alleged details on Sheen’s explosive last day on set have also been leaked in the time since.

The highly paid entertainer would go on to have a public meltdown and, amid that period, he’d mention during interviews that he was “winning” and possessed “tiger blood.” All the while, Two and a Half Men moved forward without him and eventually cast Ashton Kutcher to replace him as a new character. Despite everything, Chuck Lorre and co. did approach their former leading man about returning for the final episode in 2015. However, Charlie Sheen ultimately didn’t appear in the finale because he disagreed with the direction of the story. Sheen subsequently called out the apparent diss that happened in the closing moments, which saw a piano get dropped on him along with Lorre.

Keeping all of this in mind, it seemed very unlikely that the two former collaborators would ever reunite. But as Jeff Goldblum’s Ian Malcolm once ominously said, “Life, uh… finds a way.” (Or in this case, I suppose it was cash and creativity that found a way.) Regardless of why they opted to join forces again, I’m just glad that it’s happening.

How to Be a Bookie, which received an eight-episode order from HBO Max, sees Sebastian Maniscalco play a longtime bookmaker named Danny. Viewers will catch up with him as he attempts to adapt in a world where sports gambling is becoming legal in most spaces. The Los Angeles resident will also have to contend with clients while balancing his work and home lives. Also part of the cast are Vanessa Ferlito, Jorge Garcia, Omar J. Dorsey and Andrea Anders.

Chuck Lorre has an excellent track record, so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt when it comes to the quality of this latest show. One can’t help but wonder if his relationship with Charlie Sheen will hold steady this time around. But it may be fair to assume that the two men have learned from their past working relationship. Plus, both must’ve really felt passionate about this role and project if they were willing to work together again. Let’s hope they’re able to generate plenty of laughs.

Make sure that you have a Max, or for now, HBO Max subscription so that you can watch How to Be a Bookie when it premieres. You can also stream all 12 seasons of Two and a Half Men using a Peacock subscription.

Jim Parsons spent over a decade playing Sheldon Cooper on The Big Bang Theory before his surprising decision to exit the CBS show. During his time on the hit sitcom, he worked closely with series co-creator and EP Chuck Lorre for 12 seasons. With that, the prolific TV producer and Parsons seemed to forge a pretty firm working relationship as well as a personal one. Now, a few years after the end of the show, Parsons is dishing on a key creative takeaway from working with Lorre.

It's not too surprising that Jim Parsons observed his boss while he worked on The Big Bang Theory as well as other hit TV properties like Mom and Mike and Molly. The working relationship was so fruitful that Parsons even ended up producing the hit Big Bang spinoff Young Sheldon. Looking back at his experience with Lorre, the Hollywood actor told THR that he was quite impressed with the producer's ability to run some many productions in harmony:

It's interesting that Jim Parsons would equate the 70-year-old producer's prolific output to a good pop song, though that analogy is fitting when you think about it. It goes without saying that the man has the magic touch when it comes to the sitcom genre. He's worked within the industry since the 1980s when he served as a writer on shows like Charles in Charge and My Two Dads. But he truly mastered his comedy musicality through '90s and 2000s sitcoms like Grace Under Fire, Cybill, Dharma & Greg, and Two and a Half Men, which he can now watch again. In short, he's overseen hundreds of episodes of TV and provided a record number of vanity card gags. 

Jim Parsons has since found his own success with multiple project over the last few years. But the TV and film actor’s producing streak wasn’t planned, as he's explained. Parsons fell into producing accidentally during renegotiations of his Big Bang Theory contract. From that new deal spawned Parsons' own production company. The 49-year-old actor-producer was skittish, as he wasn’t familiar with the Hollywood machine. In short, didn’t want the “headache” that producing would bring. 

Unfortunately, his first film project, A Kid Like Jake, proved him right, and he said that the indie film wasn’t “an encouraging experience.” The Normal Heart star attributed the less-than-stellar experience to the small budget and the fact that working both in front of and behind the camera was “really challenging” for him. However, seems to be getting the hang of it now.

Along with Young Sheldon, Jim Parsons produced the Netflix series Special and Hollywood alongside another prolific producer, Ryan Murphy. Parsons produces the Fox sitcom Call Me Kate starring fellow Big Bang alum Mayim Bialik. In addition, he developed the recently released emotional rom-com Spoiler Alert (which is based on a true story). Parsons definitely has a lot to be thankful for career-wise, and one would think that he'll always be grateful to Chuck Lorre for setting an example.

You can check out our 2023 TV schedule to see when Call Me Kate and Young Sheldon are returning, and you can also stream past episodes of The Big Bang Theory using an HBO Max subscription.

Although The Big Bang Theory only ended a few years ago, we're now 15 years removed from the pilot's first airing on CBS, and rarely discussed details are still somehow being revealed to this day. In this instance, a new book about the sitcom's history shined a light on a scene from the pilot about Sheldon's money-making attempts being subsequently cut from future airings, and Jim Parsons shared his response to co-creator Chuck Lorre's choice.

In the original pilot, Sheldon and Leonard go to a high IQ sperm bank in the hopes of donating their specimen to create intelligent offspring, but more importantly to earn some quick money. While filling out the forms, the two slowly change their minds and leave, never to really be talked about again. The new oral history The Big Bang Theory: The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series by Jessica Radloff (via TVLine) tapped into all kinds of details about the episode, including that creator Chuck Lorre made sure that the scene was eventually cut out of the syndicated version of the pilot, noting that the show didn’t truly begin until Leonard and Sheldon awkwardly said hi to Penny while she was unpacking her boxes.

Although Jim Parsons defended the scene in a vacuum for the time-frame, he does agree with Chuck Lorre's reasoning overall, admitting that the episode works much better without it:

For a first episode, the scene is understandable enough for its nerdily risqué nature, and probably isn't as cringey as it could have been, but it's likely no one ever directly mourned its absence from TV reruns. Except perhaps maybe high IQ sperm bank employees who finally felt seen. The fact that the establishment and their potential offspring never came up again made it easier to snip out, I'm sure. 

The Big Bang Theory had some questionable storylines, but that sperm bank one is definitely at the top, considering how Sheldon's relationship with all things sexual expanded over time. Perhaps if it had been pitched later in the series, it would have been crafted in a way that paid off more with whatever storylines were happening at the time. Maybe if there’s a Big Bang Theory reunion or reboot in the future, we can find out what happened to those deposits. 

Meanwhile, the oral history book also revealed that Kaley Cuoco was up against three others for the role of Penny, who was then a somewhat different character named Katie. Marisa Tomei, Tara Reid, and Elizabeth Berkley were all in the running to play Sheldon and Leonard’s neighbor, but obviously, Cuoco ended up winning the role, and I can’t imagine it going to anyone else.

Even though the scene is cut from any future airings, it is still part of the first episode that's available to stream with an HBO Max subscription, so you can watch it there to make your own case and see if it was worth cutting or not. And then check out the best shows to stream on HBO Max once you’ve finished your hundredth binge of The Big Bang Theory.

Chuck Lorre has built a mini-industry on the small screen based almost entirely on the traditional sitcom model, from The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, and Mom to the currently airing Bob (Hearts) Abishola. He occasionally changes up the mold for such projects as Netflix’s Emmy-winning The Kominsky Method (which reunited Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner) and CBS’ drama-tinged prequel Young Sheldon. Now, it sounds like he’ll be tapping into the latter vibe for his newest co-creation How to Be a Bookie, which marks his first original series directly for HBO Max, which serves as Big Bang’s current streaming home. 

HBO Max ordered up eight episodes of the single-camera comedy, which will pair Chuck Lorre with a familiar colleague in Nick Bakay, a writer and producer on most of the aforementioned comedies, as well as voicing the cat Salem in the TGIF hit Sabrina the Teenage Witch. They’ll be co-writing the new series, as well as sharing executive producing duties along with the show’s central star, stand-up comedian Sebastian Maniscalco.

For How to Be a Bookie, Maniscalco will portray a longtime bookie in Los Angeles who deals with a wave of new struggles tied to the legalization of sports gambling across the country, on top of the same old struggles that come with disagreeable clients, family members, and co-workers. But it’s not as if he can sit around feeling sorry for himself, as the job takes him from one end of L.A. to the other, from penthouses to projects. 

Sebastian Maniscalco and Chuck Lorre can both boast this being their first HBO Max series, and it’ll be the comedian’s first regular scripted TV role overall. He did take the lead for a project based somewhat on his own life back in 2016, with Tony Danza co-starring, but while that project never came to light as a series, it was morphed into a movie titled About My Father, with Robetrt De Niro taking on the role previously played by Danza. 

Outside of his on-stage work, the entertainer has led his own streaming series in the form of Discovery+’s Well Done with Sebastian Maniscalco, which delivered its first season in 2021. On the feature side of things, he’ll appeared in Tag, Green Book, The Irishman, and Somewhere in Queens in recent years, with future projects including The Super Mario Bros. Film (in which he’ll play the Koopaling Spike), the biopic Spinning Gold, and the previously mentioned De Niro pic, which is currently in post-production.

With Young Sheldon now in its sixth season at CBS, Chuck Lorre is obviously as dependable a TV creator as there can be, when it comes to shows that stand the test of time, viewership-wise. While things have definitely been questionably up and down over at HBO Max thanks to behind-the-scenes changes affected by the Discovery merger, with quite a few projects getting cancelled and jettisoned off of the service, How to Be a Bookie is probably just the kind of lower-stakes, lower-budget project execs are looking for to balance all the DC superhero fare.

It’s not known just yet when How to Be a Bookie will be available for those with HBO Max subscriptions, but when it hits, it’ll be joining a lot of great comedies that are already streaming on the platform. Head to our 2022 TV premiere schedule to see what big shows are still coming up in the next few months. 

Toss a handful of pebbles out, and you’re bound to strike one of several current projects that involve The Big Bang Theory’s former cast members, from Kaley Cuoco’s quirky rom-com Meet Cute to Mayim Bialik’s Call Me Kat (which will actually feature a Big Bang reunion in Season 3) and beyond. Suffice to say, the CBS sitcom’s massive popularity only helped to explode its stars’ careers, and it certainly didn’t hurt those of co-creators Bill Prady and Chuck Lorre. While they’d certainly love to return to that creative playground in the future, the alums’ busy schedules aren’t even the first hurdle to a potential revival.

The start of Fall TV 2022 coincides with the 15th anniversary of The Big Bang Theory’s premiere episode, which aired on CBS back in 2007. The creator duo spoke with EW about the show’s somewhat humble beginnings and its historic end, and explained what makes a future revival all the more difficult to consider from a writer’s perspective. According to Bill Prady:

Considering the episodic nature of sitcoms like The Big Bang Theory, in which character traits are more serialized than storylines, it would be kind of strange for everyone to get back together for a new season that offered the same old, same old material. Granted, the show’s active fandom likely wouldn’t hold any grudges, and nor would any studio heads. But it would make the justification that much harder to achieve when it comes to wooing stars like Jim Parsons and Johnny Galecki back, since Parsons was the one who sparked the show’s conclusion, while Galecki has largely put producer duties over acting as of late.

Also, to Prady’s point, because The Big Bang Theory’s creative team put the finale together knowing it would likely be the last episode ever, they made it an installment full of surprises and fan-pleasing moments, without any immediate concerns that they’d need to one day have to follow it up. It would be quite the challenge to figure out a way back into the story years down the line, even though Young Sheldon has laid out some breadcrumbs in that respect via its voiceovers.

Chuck Lorre said as much with his take, saying:

Bill Prady went so far as to say he gets a little teary thinking about getting the gang back together on the soundstage that’s since been dedicated to the CBS ratings monster. So the all-around idea is something that he’d love to experience, but it seems fairly unlikely that it’ll ever come together, at least in a scripted sense. Given the success of Friends: The Reunion, a similar approach for Big Bang feels as inevitable as Sheldon’s third knock. 

The Big Bang Theory is currently available to stream in full with an HBO Max subscription, and one can imagine it won’t be too long before the platform will start waving reunion/revival offers in front of everyone. Before that happens, though, check out everything still yet to hit the 2022 TV premiere schedule.

When it comes to sitcom controversies, it’s hard to think of a more suitable and unique example than the latter years of Two and a Half Men’s twelve-season run on CBS, largely as they relate to the ousted star Charlie Sheen, his stints in rehab, his firing, and his public responses to it all. But as hectic as it all was at the time, we’re now more than eleven years beyond Sheen’s erratic exit, which has helped to give the sitcom’s creator Chuck Lorre enough time and distance to feel comfortable watching the show again without the negative memories and emotions of that clash.

Following the glut of major cancellations and noteworthy TV finales, Chuck Lorre spoke with Variety about his lengthy and successful career on the small screen, and after he brought up rewatching older episodes of Two and a Half Men, the Big Bang Theory creator was asked if all things Charlie Sheen played into how he currently feels about the show as a whole. Admitting there was a point when it wouldn’t have been enjoyable, Lorre said:

Thankfully, Chuck Lorre has been able to get around the more uncomfortable and negative emotions in order to still view Two and a Half Men from a more objective perspective. It’ll likely be impossible to completely remove all Sheen-related memories from the creator’s brain, but so long as he feels okay about taking in reruns from the earlier seasons, good on him. I know I have a couple of far more dumpy jobs from my own early life that I don’t like to think of due to troublesome co-workers, so I can imagine it takes some mental tap-dancing to get to a more content place. 

Clearly the work stands for itself with or without Charlie Sheen’s personal life mucking things up. After all, the show’s fanbase hasn’t exactly dissipated, with reruns available to stream with a Peacock subscription, and that’s in part to how the cast works as a full ensemble, as opposed to everything relying just on Sheen’s performances. Nobody can deny Jon Cryer’s talents, nor that of the late Chonchata Ferrell and others, so someone who might not be aware of Sheen’s issues over the years wouldn’t be taken out of the narrative at all.

Given that the show debuted back in 2003, and that Chuck Lorre has created or helped develop roughly 1,000 TV series in the meantime, it tracks that he wouldn’t have every single episode’s story beats committed to memory. And he reflected on that notion by saying his and the creative team’s goal was to create a show that stood the test of time, as opposed to a flash in the pan. In his words:

For his part, Charlie Sheen hasn't exactly been quite as cool and calculated over the years when it comes to everything that went down on Two and a Half Men, and I doubt we'll be seeing him co-starring with Ashton Kutcher anytime soon. (Even though Jon Cryer has a fantastic idea for a reunion project with Sheen that seems super-timely.) In 2021, he seemed to offer up some regret over how he handled things, shedding a negative light on his "#Winning" approach. But only a few years earlier in 2017, he shared some particularly rabid thoughts about Chuck Lorre, calling him “the most talentless fucking sack of shit of fucking stupid this side of La Brea.” So it’s obviously hard to know where his head is at now.

As much as fans might want to see more from the Two and a Half Men-verse, it's safe to say we'd all be better off just watching already existing eps. But it does look like Jon Cryer has another network comedy on the horizon, as he's been tapped to star in a pilot created by Heels' Mick O'Malley. 

Spoilers for The Kominsky Method Season 3 premiere -- “Chapter 17. In all the old familiar places” -- lie ahead.

The Kominsky Method recently debuted its humorous and heartfelt final season, and it's ultimately a worthy send-off for the Chuck Lorre-produced show. The final six episodes are filled with memorable moments for Michael Douglas’ Sandy Kominsky and those in his orbit. But of course, the season starts out on a somewhat grim but hilarious note with the funeral of Sandy’s best friend, Norman Newlander, who was played by Alan Arkin in the first two seasons. While the sequence is played out well, it turns out Douglas was actually “nervous” about this aspect of the Netflix Season 3 premiere.

Alan Arkin’s Norman Newlander was an important part of the show, so it was only fitting that he got a proper farewell. But the funeral didn't go all that smoothly, as some of the speakers made some remarks that were “less than appropriate” for the occasion. When I recently spoke with Michael Douglas about Season 3 of The Kominsky Method, he revealed that he had reservations about the funeral scene and recalled talking it out with Chuck Lorre:

During the scene, several of Norman’s loved ones provide some honest thoughts that border on sincere and inappropriate. Norman’s ex-Scientologist grandson Robby refers to his remains as a “meat body,” while his girlfriend Madelyn goes into intense detail when discussing how the two of them got intimate. So all, this sounds pretty on-brand for a funeral written by Chuck Lorre.

This sort of funeral scene wasn’t exactly something Michael Douglas was accustomed to, especially for a comedy but, ultimately, the actor seems to have enjoyed it. The scene had plenty of laughs, yet it also had its share of heart, which was particularly evident in Sandy’s speech. In our interview, he went on to praise Chuck Lorre’s handling of the sequence:

Shooting the scene had to be somewhat bittersweet for the cast, as it marked their goodbye to Norman. The character’s untimely death likely came as a surprise to fans but, with Alan Arkin opting not to return for Season 3, having the character pass on made sense.

Even though Norman Newlander was missed during the final season of The Kominsky Method, it was nice to see the show pay tribute to the character (and by extension Alan Arkin). And if you’ve seen the season, you know that Norman still has an impact on one of the season’s biggest developments.

All three seasons of The Kominsky Method are available to stream on Netflix.

The Kominsky Method is coming to a close, as the Netflix dramedy is preparing to sign off with a third and final season. The new season brings a number of changes to the Michael Douglas-led show, such as the death of Sandy Kominsky’s agent and best friend, Norman Newlander, and the impending nuptials of Kominsky’s daughter, Mindy, and boyfriend Martin. And it’s the latter development that leads to the return of Norman’s ex-wife, Roz Volander, played by the incomparable Kathleen Turner. Roz and Sandy have a complex relationship, to say the least, but it’s one that Turner finds to be quite “lovely.”

There’s a bit of animosity between Kathleen Turner’s Roz and Michael Douglas’ Sandy, as their marriage didn’t quite end amicably. Turner originally made a guest appearance as Roz in Season 2, during which she spoke with Sandy over the phone about Mindy’s love life. The sharp exchanges seemed to paint a certain picture of their relationship, but Season 3 manages to flesh it out much more. I recently had the opportunity to speak with Ms. Turner about the new season and, during our chat, she explained how she found out she would upgraded to a series regular and why she loves Sandy and Roz’s relationship:

What Kathleen Turner loved about Sandy and Roz’s relationship in Season 3 is that the two find themselves reconnecting in a natural way, despite the circumstances that drove them apart. They also manage to find common ground through what initially attracted them to each other and their shared love for their child. So while the two definitely aren’t in love anymore, they do still care for each other deeply.

Although writer and producer Chuck Lorre handles the characters well, one of the biggest reasons the relationship works so well is that Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner are great in the roles. The legendary co-stars still have the sharp chemistry they’ve showcased in films like Romancing the Stone and The War of the Roses. While their two characters can keep the one-liners flying, the two performers manage to keep their characters authentic.

Sandy and Roz are really going to need each other this season, as they contend with the changes in their lives, especially their daughter’s upcoming wedding. And as they prepare for the event, you can bet the ex-spouses will have some sweet scenes along the way.

The Kominsky Method Season 3 arrives Friday, May 28 on Netflix.

Mom’s abrupt cancellation shocked many, including series star Allison Janney. Since wrapping on the show, the actress has set her sights on moving on to other projects. But as with any television production, Janney managed to get her hands on some key items. Just recently, the Oscar winner revealed the props she snagged from the set of the hit CBS sitcom after she wrapped.

Allison Janney is one of the luckiest people in Hollywood to have two beloved series under her belt. Having gone through a hit series ending before, the star knew how to proceed when it came to taking props and wasted no time grabbing a few mementos after Mom wrapped up its final season. The actress said on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon:

With her work on Mom now finished, it was fitting that Allison Janney took some things from the set. I mean it’s a Hollywood tradition to take a memento or two once production has wrapped. Plus, the items she mentioned can be used in her daily life as well. Who doesn't love a few good pairs of sweatpants? But the big news was that not even the producers know the Oscar winner had been wearing a wig since the beginning of the series. I guess being busy with the daily operations of a sitcom doesn’t give you time to notice the smaller things. Though it's funny that it took her colleagues eight seasons to actually figure it out.

Just like Mom fans, Allison Janney has been honest regarding her thoughts on the series’ cancellation. Whether it be through social media or through television interviews, the Mom star has been open about her feelings about the sudden cancellation. While she mostly seems to be at peace with it, her past comments do seem to indicate that she was indeed shocked at the show's cancellation.

Still, the actress is charging on. During her Tonight Show appearance, Allison Janney also revealed that she's preparing for her next project – an action thriller. The Oscar winner talked about preparing two hours a day with a trainer to become a female assassin for the upcoming film. Janney appears to be thrilled about the next phase of her career. As she pointed out in the interview, she always manages to switch things up after a major project, and that’s the one thing viewers can always count on from her.

Knowing Allison Janney snatched up some props makes Mom’s cancellation sting a little less. Look at it this way, fans could see Janney sporting either the wig or sweatpants in a photo (or in public) someday. Viewers will get to say goodbye to the actress and the cast when the sitcom's final episode airs May 13 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.

Chuck Lorre has been a constant fixture in the realm of TV for years now, having produced series like Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, Mike and Molly and Mom. His latest sitcom, United States of Al, is set to hit CBS next month but, ahead of its premiere the show is already facing backlash. These negative reactions stem from the casting and handling of the show’s central character.

United States of Al stars Adhir Kalyan as Awalmir, an interpreter from Afghanistan who arrives in America to start a new life and reconnects with his Marine veteran friend. Following the release of the first trailer, critics have taken issue with a few things. One of these is the casting of Kalyan, who is a native of South Africa and was born to an Indian South African family. In a Twitter post, journalist and host Dean Obeidallah named this as the show’s “most glaring” issue:

Broadway star Pia Glenn offered up some honest thoughts on United States of Al in a series of tweets. One message took aim at a past tweet from BoomGen Studios (one of the companies behind the show), which announced the casting of Adhir Kalyan in the lead role:

The show has also received criticism for its premise. Actress and writer Rekha Shankar also took to social media to express her displeasure with the show’s concept:

At the time of this writing, Chuck Lorre has yet to directly respond to the controversy, though United States of Al producer Reza Aslan has spoken out through tweets. Aslan argued that fans “can’t judge a show by a 30 sec trailer.” He also provided thoughts on the casting Adhir Kalyan:

As Hollywood attempts to move into an era of diversity and inclusion, many have made an effort to encourage accuracy in casting roles. We’ll keep you updated on the situation ahead of United States of Al’s CBS premiere on April 1.

Mom's cancellation was a shock for so many viewers as well as the show’s cast and crew, and it would seem series star Allison Janney was surprised by the news as well. Since the news was initially announced, Janney hasn't said that much about the untimely cancellation. But that changed recently, as Janney recently opened up about the show ending and why she believes it was cancelled.

Allison Janney is moving right along with the final season of Mom and, during her appearance on The Late, Late Show with James Corden, she confirmed that she's nearly finished with filming. So the actress couldn't help but reflect on the final stretch and how she wished things would have panned out for a final season of the show:

After giving her thoughts for Mom’s ending, Allison Janney also shared a key tidbit regarding the series finale. She talked about more about her experience on the show, comparing it to her work on The West Wing:

Given the closeness between her and the Mom cast and crew, it's understandable that Allison Janney would be emotional about such a huge part of her life. Janney’s comments are also a testament to the truly unpredictable nature of Hollywood, which can even see a highly popular show get cancelled. It is worth mentioning that the show was going through some obvious changes, though it's unclear if that played a role. These things happen in Hollywood, but it still had to have been an awkward experience for Janney. You can check out her full Late Late Show appearance below:

Before this recent interview, Allison Janney had only spoken once about Mom's cancellation. The actress took to Instagram last month to express her gratitude for being able to star on Mom for these past eight years. In the same post, she expressed her love and appreciation for series creator and producer Chuck Lorre as well as the cast, crew and fans. It's definitely sad that Mom is leaving us sooner than expected but, hopefully, Lorre and his collaborators are able to give it a send-off worth of the show's hilarious and heartfelt legacy.

Mom airs new episodes on Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.

After twelve seasons that drew millions upon millions of viewers to CBS, The Big Bang Theory and its ensemble cast are pretty much set in stone in fans' memories, and it would be difficult to envision any major switch-ups happening within the hit sitcom during its early years. However, as strange as it may be to believe, the standout character Sheldon Cooper could have easily been portrayed by a completely different actor if co-creator Chuck Lorre had been solely in charge of handling all the casting choices.

The Big Bang Theory obviously had more going for it than just Sheldon's high-functioning behavior – from Kaley Cuoco's adorable woman-next-door appeal to Kunal Nayyar's often anti-suave approach to Raj's bachelorhood – but it's safe to say the show would have felt wildly different with another actor beyond Jim Parsons portraying the brainy physicist. But that scenario is one that fans might have seen play out had co-creator Bill Prady not been alongside Chuck Lorre during the audition process. Here's how Prady explained that process to the podcast The Creative Coalition:

To be sure, it doesn't sound like Chuck Lorre was totally put off by Jim Parsons' audition, and he likely didn't think poorly of the actor's talents. However, Lorre apparently thought that Parsons didn't have the performance stamina to keep his Sheldon portrayal tuned into that particular frequency for the long haul. Thankfully for fans, Bill Prady was pretty confident in Parsons' chops, and he claims this is perhaps the one time in their working relationship where his opinion successfully overrode Lorre's stance. He continued:

Even Jim Parsons has shared that when he attempted to audition for Greg Daniels' U.S. adaptation of The Office, he didn't quite get what the appeal was. But that clearly wasn't the case with The Big Bang Theory, since he nailed his audition (twice) with flying colors.

Chuck Lorre and others have previously discussed that the Big Bang Theory's original pilot was vastly different from what fans are familiar with, with Kaley Cuoco taking on a slightly darker version of Penny who handled Leonard and Sheldon in completely different ways. So maybe the Sheldon role would have been molded and morphed to match up with whatever other actor might have secured the part in Parsons' wake. But would the show have still lasted a dozen years on the air?

Jim Parsons definitely maintained the success that was earned through his many years on The Big Bang Theory, having recently earned a Golden Globe nomination for his work on Ryan Murphy's Netflix drama Hollywood. He's also serving as an executive producer on the first-year Fox sitcom Call Me Kat, which reteamed him with former co-star Mayim Bialik, and is still lending his voiceover talents to CBS' Young Sheldon, now in its fourth season.