Chuck Lorre Calls Exploiting IP in Comedy “Bullshit”

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Chuck Lorre, the master of comedy, has drawn from the world of “The Big Bang Theory” to create spin-off shows such as “Young Sheldon” and “George & Mandy’s First Marriage.

However, Lorre is unlikely to promote the benefits of leveraging intellectual property for extra earnings, a role usually filled by major studios like his frequent collaborator Warner Bros. Television. Instead, he expressed his disinterest in such practices during a keynote speech at the Banff World Media Festival on Monday: “I don’t want to be involved in exploiting IP. That’s nonsense. It’s just trying to make money, something I’ve managed quite successfully.

Lorre aims to create an entertaining and enjoyable show, something that’s thrilling to work on and brings laughter. He remembers the importance of comedy spinoffs, a lesson he learned during a conversation with former CBS chairman and CEO Les Moonves, before Moonves was banned from Hollywood.

A while back, I’m not sure if it’s still appropriate to mention his name, but I remember walking into Les Moonves’ office approximately 10 years ago and presenting an idea for a show featuring Sheldon as a 10-year-old in East Texas. His response was simply, ‘Go ahead and do it.’ And so, I did.” Lorre explained this, implying that the big studios were primarily motivated by profit.

“You never receive a ‘go ahead’ signal due to its depth; instead, you get the signal because they believe they can earn a profit,” Lorre stated. The comedy legend was back at Banff to accept the Sir Peter Ustinov Comedy Award, having first attended the Canadian Rockies retreat in 2012.

Since 1999, Chuck Lorre has been a fixture at Warner Bros. Television, where he has created numerous comedy series including Bookie, The Kominsky Method, Mom, Mike & Molly, and Two and a Half Men. Prior to this, his producing credits include Cybill, Dharma & Greg, Grace Under Fire, as well as co-executive producing Roseanne.

In his Banff speech, Lorre expressed that he’s always steered clear of conventional comedy rules when it comes to choosing between single or multi-camera setup for sitcoms. He believes the audience isn’t concerned about the number of cameras used, rather they want to connect with the characters and genuinely find humor in the comedy presented. This is why Lorre varies his sitcom styles to meet audience expectations.

It’s essential for an audience to laugh when working at the Warner Bros studio lot, according to Lorre. “If a joke falls flat, you can almost hear the traffic on the 134 freeway nearby,” he explained.

With a long-standing deal at Warner Bros. spanning approximately 25 years behind him, the sitcom veteran casually dismissed Warner Bros. Discovery’s recent announcement about plans to split into two companies. This comes after previous iterations as Time Warner and Discovery. Lorre compared this situation to growing up with a mother who dates different partners, stating, “It can be confusing; it’s tough,” he added that Warner Bros. Television had consistently been supportive of his comedic endeavors throughout the years.

Lorre also mentioned his approach to not deviate much from fulfilling audience expectations, focusing solely on crafting the finest comedy. “I don’t claim to know everyone’s tastes. All I can say is, after three decades of performing before a live audience, the spectators are always present in my mind. I can’t help but consider them,” he emphasized.

Lorre further discussed the genesis of the forthcoming multi-camera sitcom starring Leanne Morgan, a well-known comedian, whom they co-created for Netflix. “I watched her stand-up act,” he reminisced, “and I thought, wow, this is a unique voice!”

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Lorre elaborated on the beginnings of the upcoming multi-camera comedy series starring Leanne Morgan, a renowned comedian, and which they co-created for Netflix. “I caught her stand-up performance,” he said, “and I was struck by the fact that this is a distinct voice!

Lorre mentioned that creating 16 episodes for Netflix without any initial airings is quite challenging. “Writing and filming 16 TV episodes before anyone has a chance to watch them makes it a bit nerve-racking,” he clarified, “as there’s no initial feedback.

Lorre stated that you’re questioning if what you’re doing is effective based on your gut feelings.”

“According to Lorre, you’re doubting whether what you’re doing is successful by relying on your intuition.

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2025-06-10 01:55