10 Best Chuck Lorre TV Shows, Ranked

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As single-camera comedies have made the mu-lti-cam sitcom all but obsolete, famed TV producer Chuck Lorre has almost singlehandedly kept the format alive. Dubbed the "King of the Sitcoms," Lorre has built a television empire spanning traditional broadcast TV and streaming. Starting out as a musician, Lorre eventually found his way into animation, writing for "Heathcliff" and penning the title tune to "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." Before long, he was writing and producing "Roseanne," honing his craft before creating his first sitcom, "Frannie's Turn." Although that show lasted only five weeks, it nevertheless kickstarted a career that encompassed hits such as "Cybill," "Two and a Half Men," "The Big Bang Theory," and "Young Sheldon," to name a few.

Although he's best known for traditional comedies, Lorre has experimented with mature storylines not often explored in sitcoms. His series "Mom" dealt seriously with addiction and relapse, drawing from his own experiences with recovery, while "The Kominsky Method" took an honest and humorous look at aging and death. Throughout it all, Lorre has never forgotten the hippocratic oath of comedy: First, be funny.

• Cast: Brett Butler, Dave Thomas, Julie White
• Creator: Chuck Lorre
• Rating: TV-PG
• Number of episodes: 112
• Where to watch: FuboTV

Although the first sitcom Chuck Lorre created, "Frannie's Turn," lasted only five weeks, his next, "Grace Under Fire," aired for five seasons. It starred Brett Butler as Grace Burdette-Kelly, a single mom and recovering alcoholic raising her kids on her own after leaving her abusive husband (Geoff Pierson). The series was produced by Marcy Carsey and Tom Werner, whose production outfit, The Carsey-Werner Company, struck gold with "Roseanne" and "The Cosby Show." Like those series, "Grace Under Fire" was created as a vehicle for a stand-up comedian, geared towards bringing their unique stage personas to households across America. A top 10 hit in its first two seasons, the series earned Golden Globe nominations for best comedy series and best comedy actress for Butler, as well as Emmy bids for guest stars Diane Ladd and Jean Stapleton.

"Grace Under Fire" was cancelled following declining ratings and a string of behind-the-scenes struggles. Although Lorre's time on the series was brief, departing after its 1st season, his imprint is unmistakable. The show's attempts to deal with serious issues like addiction, domestic violence, and single motherhood within the sitcom format foreshadows his later triumph with "Mom," highlighting his longterm goal of mining comedy from real life.

• Cast: Montana Jordan, Emily Osment, Rachel Bay Jones
• Creators: Chuck Lorre, Steven Molaro, & Steve Holland
• Rating: TV-PG
• Number of episodes: 35
• Where to watch: Paramount+, Prime Video

Chuck Lorre's most famous show, "The Big Bang Theory," proved so popular that it spawned a prequel spinoff, "Young Sheldon," which explored Sheldon Cooper's upbringing in small town Texas. The success of that coming-of-age series led to its own spinoff, "Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage," the 1st season of which proves why the Coopers' marriage is doomed (albeit with a lot of laughter). It centers on Sheldon's older brother, auto mechanic Georgie Cooper (Montana Jordan), and his wife, Mandy McAllister (Emily Osment), who's 11 years his senior. The two navigate married life while living with Mandy's parents, Audrey (Rachel Bay Jones) and Jim (Will Sasso), who help raise their infant daughter, CeeCee.

Now in its 2nd season, "Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage" proves the well hasn't yet run dry on the "Big Bang Theory" pump. (That's good news considering another spinoff, "Stuart Fails to Save the Universe," is coming soon to HBO Max). Whereas "Young Sheldon" was a rare Lorre single camera comedy, "Georgie & Mandy" is a return to his multi-cam roots, as well as the relatable middle class themes that defined his early work on "Roseanne." Although the format might be growing stale, Lorre's commitment to comedy based in truth keeps the laughs fresh.

• Cast: Sebastian Maniscalco, Omar Dorsey, Andrea Anders
• Creators: Chuck Lorre and Nick Bakay
• Rating: TV-MA
• Number of episodes: 16
• Where to watch: HBO Max, Hulu, Prime Video

Chuck Lorre has stretched himself in recent years, breaking free not just from the multi-cam format, but from the comedy that built his TV empire. Perhaps no other show in his canon feels less like a Chuck Lorre production than "Bookie," which ran for two seasons on HBO Max. It stars Sebastian Maniscalco as Danny Colavito, a veteran bookie whose livelihood is threatened with the legalization of sports gambling in Los Angeles. With the help of his colleague Ray (Omar J. Dorsey), sister Lorraine (Vanessa Ferlito), and pal Hector (Jorge Garcia), Danny navigates an increasingly unpredictable client list to make ends meet. 

Much like he did with Brett Butler in "Grace Under Fire," Lorrie builds "Bookie" around the unique talents of a stand-up comedian-turned-actor. Brash and street-smart, Maniscalco makes a compelling lead in a dark comedy that has more in common with something like "Barry" than "Two and a Half Men" (although it does feature multiple cameos by Charlie Sheen, proving that he and Chuck Lorre had fixed their bitter feud). At its heart, the show is a workplace comedy, albeit one with life or death stakes. It's too bad HBO Max didn't place more of a bet on "Bookie," because it should've run for more than two seasons.

• Cast: Jenna Elfman, Thomas Gibson, Susan Sullivan
• Creators: Dottie Dartland Zicklin and Chuck Lorre
• Rating: TV-PG
• Number of episodes: 119
• Where to watch: Prime Video

Chuck Lorre's best shows often focus on dynamics between conflicting personalities, and that serves as the premise of "Dharma & Greg." Two people from completely different backgrounds meet, fall in love, and get married after their first date. The man is Greg Montgomery (Thomas Gibson), a strait-laced attorney who was born into prominence and graduated from the Ivy League. The woman is Dharma Finkelstein (Jenna Elfman), a yoga instructor and dog trainer whose parents raised her as a hippie. As the saying goes, opposites attract, and each finds in the other what was lacking in their lives before they met.

Despite their differences, Dharma and Greg's relationship sustained itself over five seasons. Lorre's rich supporting cast included Susan Sullivan as Greg's snobby mother, Kitty, and Mimi Kennedy as Dharma's free-spirited momma, Abby (both became frequent presences in the Chuck Lorre universe). Yet at its core, "Dharma & Greg" succeeded on the chemistry between Elfman and Gibson, who brought truth and nuance to what could have been broadly-written sitcom caricatures. Throughout its run, the show earned six Emmy nominations and won Elfman a Golden Globe for best TV comedy actress.

• Cast: Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, Angus T. Jones
• Creators: Chuck Lorre and Lee Aronsohn
• Rating: TV-14
• Number of episodes: 262
• Where to watch: Peacock, Prime Video

Although he'd had hits in the past, those paled in comparison to what Chuck Lorre experienced with "Two and a Half Men." The ratings juggernaut was centered on the exploits of jingle writer Charlie Harper (Charlie Sheen), who lives a hedonistic lifestyle in his Malibu beach house until his divorced brother, Alan (Jon Cryer), moves in with his son, Jake (Angus T. Jones). At its peak, "Two and a Half Men" earned CBS a whopping $155 million in ad revenue per season, making it one of the most profitable TV shows in history. It was also a critical success and won nine Emmy awards. 

Yet "Two and a Half Men" ground to a halt in its 8th season after Sheen was fired after his struggles with substance abuse led to a bitter feud with Lorre. His character was killed off and replaced with tech billionaire Walden Schmidt (Ashton Kutcher), who buys Charlie's house and allows Alan and Jake to stay. Despite running for another four seasons, it never recaptured the bawdy, bracing, and ultimately lovable spirit that Sheen and Cryer's chemistry brought to the show and its most rewatchable episodes.

• Cast: Cybill Shepherd, Christine Baranski, Alicia Witt
• Creator: Chuck Lorre
• Rating: TV-PG
• Number of episodes: 87
• Where to watch: FuboTV

After departing "Grace Under Fire," Chuck Lorre set his sights upon a different exploration of single motherhood with "Cybill." A starring vehicle for Cybill Shepherd, it centered on the exploits of a middle-aged actress who suddenly finds herself relegated to character roles in an industry that values youth and beauty above all else. Twice-divorced and raising two daughters (Alicia Witt and Dedee Pfeiffer), Cybill finds solace with her hard-drinking best friend, fellow divorcée Maryann Thorpe (Christine Baranski) while grappling with what the rest of her life will look like as a grandmother in her 40s.

Lorre's tenure at "Cybill" didn't last long, as he was fired over creative disagreements with Shepherd during its 2nd season. Yet as was the case with "Grace Under Fire," Lorre's fingerprints are all over "Cybill." Its stories were grounded and relatable, eschewing typical network sitcom contrivances. It was also radically ahead of its time, focusing on two divorced women who find companionship with each other as they navigate aging, beauty standards, and unfulfilling careers. The series won several prizes throughout its run, including Golden Globes for best TV comedy series and best TV comedy actress for Shepherd, plus an Emmy and SAG Actor Award for Baranski.

• Cast: Anna Faris, Allison Janney, Mimi Kennedy
• Creators: Chuck Lorre, Eddie Gorodetsky, Gemma Baker
• Rating: TV-14
• Number of episodes: 170
• Where to watch: Netflix, Prime Video

It's unlikely Chuck Lorre could've gotten "Mom" on network television were it not for the successes of "Two and a Half Men" and "The Big Bang Theory," yet being the King of Sitcoms affords you certain artistic privileges. "Mom" is about as radical as multi-cam comedy gets, centering on Bonnie (Allison Janney) and Christy Plunkett (Anna Faris), a mother and daughter who have long been estranged due to their respective struggles with addiction. With the support of each other and the women in their Alcoholics Anonymous group, Christy and Bonnie walk the rocky road towards recovery.

"Mom" employed many techniques more common in single camera comedies, including serialized narratives as opposed to isolated episode arcs. Yet what's most groundbreaking was its handling of the dark realities of addiction. That's most evident in the Season 3 episode "Diabetic Lesbians and a Blushing Bride," which starts with the girls at a raucous bachelorette party and ends with them reeling from the overdose death of a teenage addict (Emily Osment). You wouldn't expect a series with a laugh track to feature such a grim plot twist, yet it's in keeping with Lorre's maxim that stories be based in real life, with all its tragedy. That he mined comedy from it is evidence of his magic touch.

• Cast: Iain Armitage, Zoe Perry, Lance Barber
• Creators: Chuck Lorre and Steven Molaro
• Rating: TV-PG
• Number of episodes: 141
• Where to watch: HBO Max, Netflix, Hulu, Prime Video

No TV mogul builds an empire without a spinoff or two, and Chuck Lorre created one of the most successful with "Young Sheldon." A prequel to "The Big Bang Theory," the series looks at the upbringing of Sheldon Cooper (Iain Armitage), a child prodigy whose mastery of science and mathematics lands him in high school before his 10th birthday. While Sheldon is the oddball of his middle class Texas family, they love and accept him, especially his mother, Mary (Zoe Cooper), and his Meemaw (Annie Potts).

Unlike the multi-cam "Big Bang Theory," "Young Sheldon" finds Lorre branching out into single camera comedy, giving it the nostalgic feel of something like "The Wonder Years" (complete with voice-over by adult Sheldon). Surprisingly sweet and sincere, the show succeeds in large part due to its ensemble cast, and every "Young Sheldon" character is more rich and nuanced than what's typically found on network television. Yet its true superpower is Armitage, who perfectly captures the eccentricities of Parsons' portrayal while sanding off the rougher edges of adulthood. Grown-up Sheldon might be hard to stomach sometimes, but it's hard not to love his younger iteration. 

• Cast: Michael Douglas, Alan Arkin, Sarah Baker
• Creator: Chuck Lorre
  
• Rating: TV-MA
  
• Number of episodes: 22
  
• Where to watch: Netflix
  

Chuck Lorre's deal with Netflix allowed him to create traditional multi-camera comedies without the restrictions imposed by network TV. It's also led to one of his greatest artistic triumphs: "The Kominsky Method." Michael Douglas plays Sandy Kominsky, a once successful actor now working as a teacher for students young enough to be his grandkids. Alan Arkin plays Norman Newlander, Sandy's agent and best friend, who's suddenly faced with life on his own after the death of his wife (Susan Sullivan).

Another rare single camera comedy from Lorre, "The Kominsky Method" doesn't rely on big punchlines. In fact, there are stretches without attempts at laughter, opting instead for an honest and poignant view of aging and death. In many ways, it feels like the culmination of everything Lorre has worked towards, crafting comedy based in truth. At its best, the series was a showcase for Douglas and Arkin, who brought humor and complexity to this pair of grumpy old men. The show earned 12 Emmy nominations throughout its three seasons, and won Golden Globes for best TV comedy series and best TV comedy actor for Douglas.

• Cast: Johnny Galecki, Jim Parsons, Kaley Cuoco
• Creators: Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady
  
• Rating: TV-PG
• Number of episodes: 279
  
• Where to watch: HBO Max, Hulu, Prime Video
  

Of the many TV shows Chuck Lorre has created, none have had as lasting an impact as "The Big Bang Theory." There's nary a person alive who hasn't seen at least one episode, let alone its spinoffs "Young Sheldon" and "Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage." Following a pair of nerdy roommates — misanthropic genius Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and his best friend, Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki) — whose lives are upended by the arrival of new neighbor Penny (Kaley Cuoco), the series evolved across its 279 episodes to encompass stories of marriage, parenthood, and personal growth. And audiences went along for the ride, with over 23 million viewers tuning into the series finale.

What made "The Big Bang Theory" so endearing, and why viewers continue to watch thanks to syndication and streaming, was how classic it felt. One of the last great examples of the traditional multi-cam comedy, "The Big Bang Theory" harkens back to the best sitcoms of all time, with its most rewatchable episodes offering the same comfort as re-runs of "Cheers," "Seinfeld," or "Friends." The show won 10 Emmys, including four for Parsons, whose performance as Sheldon Cooper ranks among the best TV comedy portrayals.