Chuck Lorre is a hugely successful comedy writer and producer who’s been creating popular sitcoms since the 1990s. He’s most famous for The Big Bang Theory, and that world continues with shows like Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage and a new sci-fi spin-off called Stuart Fails to Save the Universe.
Chuck Lorre’s most successful shows are surprisingly layered and meaningful when you consider them as a whole. His earlier sitcoms, such as Grace Under Fire and Cybill, featured complex female characters, and shows he created during The Big Bang Theory’s run tackled difficult topics like addiction, as seen in Mom and Mike & Molly. Here are ten of the best sitcoms Chuck Lorre has created.
10. Grace Under Fire
ABC (1993–1998)
Grace Under Fire was one of the first sitcoms created by Chuck Lorre. It featured Brett Butler as Grace Kelly, a single mom trying to raise three children while also dealing with her recovery from alcoholism and escaping an abusive marriage. The show was notable for successfully combining funny, lighthearted moments with realistic and emotional storylines – a style Lorre would revisit in later shows.
The show Grace Under Fire bravely addressed difficult issues like alcoholism, domestic violence, and the challenges of raising a child alone. Importantly, it also proved creator Chuck Lorre could center a comedy around a strong, unconventional female character – a talent he would later use to great effect with Cybill.
Initially, Grace Under Fire was a huge hit for ABC, becoming one of their most popular comedies. However, problems behind the scenes and changes to the cast ultimately led to its cancellation in 1998 after five seasons.
9. Cybill
CBS (1995–1998)
The show Cybill featured Cybill Shepherd playing a character very much like herself – a witty, middle-aged actress dealing with the ups and downs of Hollywood, getting older, and her own insecurities, all while being completely honest and unfiltered. The show’s sarcastic humor quickly made it a popular success for CBS.
Christine Baranski gained early recognition for her memorable role in Cybill as the witty friend of the main character. The show also featured Alicia DeWitt and Dedee Pfeiffer (sister of Michelle Pfeiffer) as Cybill’s daughters. While Cybill won several Emmy Awards, its creator, Chuck Lorre, decided to move away from structuring sitcoms around a central personality after this success.
The show often started with a mini-scene where Cybill Sheridan played different roles she had in movies or TV shows. Overall, the series felt like a more story-focused and female-led version of Seinfeld.
8. Dharma & Greg
ABC (1997–2002)
With Dharma & Greg, creator Chuck Lorre shifted towards a more classic sitcom style. The show featured Jenna Elfman as the carefree Dharma and Thomas Gibson as the uptight lawyer Greg, a newly married couple whose differing beliefs provided plenty of laughs. The strongest episodes were reminiscent of romantic comedies, exploring the humor found in their contrasting backgrounds and families.
Dharma was a refreshing change of pace for creator Chuck Lorre – she was optimistic, spontaneous, and wore her heart on her sleeve, unlike his usual sarcastic or jaded characters. The show quickly became very popular, and it paved the way for Lorre’s future comedies that focused on the humor found in clashing personalities.
7. Leanne
Netflix (2025-Present)
Credit: Patrick McElhenney / ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection
Leanne is Netflix and Chuck Lorre’s most straightforward effort yet to create a sitcom in the style of traditional network television, but for streaming audiences. The show features comedian Leanne Morgan playing a fictionalized version of herself – a woman whose life is turned upside down when her husband unexpectedly leaves her after 33 years for someone else.
The show centers around Morgan’s relatable and humorous personality, and deliberately evokes a sense of nostalgia with a traditional sitcom style – think big feelings and a comfortable, familiar pace. While reviews for Leanne were mixed – some viewers found its honesty charming, while others weren’t convinced by its classic approach – it was successful enough to earn a second season.
6. Mike & Molly
CBS (2010–2016)
Originally created by Mark Roberts, Mike & Molly quickly became known as a classic sitcom from Chuck Lorre, who co-ran the show with Roberts and Al Higgins. The CBS series stars Billy Gardell and Melissa McCarthy as two people from Chicago who meet, fall in love, and support each other through their journeys of self-acceptance and emotional honesty, all while attending Overeaters Anonymous.
I found the show consistently funny, but what really struck me was how genuinely it handled things like recovery and the importance of support networks – something you don’t often see in a traditional sitcom. Looking back, I think it was a real stepping stone for Chuck Lorre. It clearly laid the groundwork for his later, more in-depth look at addiction and recovery that became a core part of Mom, even while Mike & Molly was still on the air.
The show consistently attracted viewers for six seasons, until Mike & Molly ended. The sitcom played a key role in establishing Melissa McCarthy as a popular television comedian before she became famous in movies.
5. Young Sheldon
CBS (2017–2024)
Sonja Flemming / ©CBS / Courtesy Everett Collection
Young Sheldon achieved something rare: it created a successful prequel that isn’t just a copy of the original show. Instead of relying on the fast-paced jokes of The Big Bang Theory, it went back to Sheldon Cooper’s childhood in Texas and focused on a more heartfelt and emotional story.
As a viewer, I found Jim Parsons’ voiceover to be a really smart move. It instantly connected this series to the Sheldon we already knew and loved from ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ but it also gave the show room to breathe and become its own story – a surprisingly heartfelt dramedy about family, faith, and the challenges of being different. It ran for several seasons, and I have to say, the writers took a huge risk ending things with the sudden passing of Sheldon’s father. It was a bold choice for a network comedy, and honestly, it really stuck with me.
I’m still hooked on the Cooper family! After The Big Bang Theory, the story didn’t stop with Young Sheldon. Now, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage is taking things in a fun, new direction – it’s a bit more of a romantic comedy with some heat! Honestly, I’m amazed by Chuck Lorre’s talent. He can keep these characters and this world fresh and interesting, even after so many seasons, and that’s really rare.
4. Mom
CBS (2013–2021)
The sitcom Mom really showcased Chuck Lorre’s increasing focus on the topic of recovery. The show, starring Anna Faris and Allison Janney as mother and daughter Christy and Bonnie Plunkett, centers around their journey to stay sober and overcome family cycles of addiction.
The show Mom realistically portrayed addiction as an ongoing struggle, not just a source of jokes, and received a lot of praise for its writing and acting, particularly from Janney. It took a while to find its footing, but eventually became a series focused on the characters’ relationships within their Alcoholics Anonymous group.
The show was able to tackle difficult issues like relapse, teen pregnancy, addiction, homelessness, cancer, disability, and death with a remarkable level of detail. The well-developed characters on Mom were so compelling that the show remained successful even after Anna Faris left, proving its lasting emotional impact.
3. The Kominsky Method
Netflix (2018–2021)
With The Kominsky Method, Chuck Lorre began working with Netflix, exploring a more serious style than he was known for with traditional network sitcoms. The show features Michael Douglas as Sandy Kominsky, a former actor who now works as a Hollywood acting coach after having a brief moment of fame years before.
Alongside his friend and business partner Norman Newlander (Alan Arkin), the show offers a funny and heartfelt look at getting older. It’s a dramedy that tackles big topics like aging, death, loss, and the challenges of relationships with family and friends.
The show also thoughtfully explores themes of career, life’s impact, and leaving a lasting impression – fitting for a creator in his sixties when the series began. It reveals how decisions made in the past continue to affect the present. With a clever sense of humor and sincere emotion, The Kominsky Method proves Michael Lorre’s skill as a storyteller, creating narratives that are both heartwarming and hilarious.
2. Two And A Half Men
CBS (2003–2015)
Two and a Half Men is a hugely popular comedy created by Lorre. It originally featured Charlie Sheen as Charlie Harper, a fun-loving songwriter whose life changes when his more serious brother, Alan (played by Jon Cryer), and Alan’s son, Jake (Angus T. Jones), come to live with him.
The show became incredibly popular thanks to Charlie Sheen’s wild humor, suggestive situations, and the funny dynamic between his over-the-top character and Alan’s anxious personality. The best episodes of Two and a Half Men skillfully combined silly jokes with stories that focused on the characters themselves, which is why it was a ratings hit for so long.
When Charlie Sheen left the show, Ashton Kutcher stepped in and helped keep Two and a Half Men popular, though the show’s style did change. The series is still a great example of how creator Chuck Lorre can combine edgy comedy with broad audience appeal.
1. The Big Bang Theory
CBS (2007–2019)
CBS via MovieStillsDB
The Big Bang Theory is arguably Chuck Lorre’s most successful show, largely because of the natural connection between its characters. It’s rare to see a traditional sitcom, filmed with multiple cameras and a laugh track, that has consistently received both positive reviews and high ratings.
It took a while for The Big Bang Theory to find its footing with characters and relationships that viewers really connected with in its best episodes. The show’s earlier seasons relied a lot on overused and now somewhat outdated character tropes, which some might find offensive today.
As the show went on, it developed more complex characters, richer stories, and a better mix of funny and moving moments. Creator Chuck Lorre was skilled at combining clever, geeky humor with genuine relationships and believable character development, creating something that felt both comforting and new.
It’s tough for streaming services to create popular, multi-camera sitcoms like those from the past – capturing that special, successful formula is rare. The Big Bang Theory is a prime example of Chuck Lorre’s skill in creating classic sitcoms that audiences continue to love.
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2026-01-09 21:14