People never know who is the creator behind a sitcom. While creators of drama and fantasy series like Breaking Bad or Supernatural are easily known by the fanbase, the same isn’t the case for comedy show. The one exception to this is Chuck Lorre.
Lorre has produced some classics in the sitcom genre, making him a legend in this regard and the most widely known name in the comedy landscape. His shows have also ranged in style and premise, giving Chuck a rich record to be proud of. While they’re all great shows to watch, we’ve ranked them here from least to best so you can plan your viewing experience.
Frannie’s Turn (1992)
We can’t really place a show that only aired for 6 episodes too high, can we? Featuring a very talented and funny lead in Miriam Margolyes, the show didn’t go anywhere, although it has the distinction of being Chuck Lorre’s first-ever show created.
The setting was of a culture clash in Frannie’s household, which was probably a very played out premise for it to stand out among the competition in the TV landscape at the time.
Grace Under Fire (1993-98)
This show could have been known as a far better show than it is today, but the lead actress’s erratic behavior means Grace Under Fire burns low in memory. The premise too was quite heavy handed, as the main character was shown to cope from a divorce to an abusive husband.
The series also couldn’t decide whether it wanted to be wholly serious or a sitcom as it was meant to be, leading to an uneven feel it couldn’t shake off. It wasn’t bad, but it lacked that specific flavor later Chuck Lorre shows carried.
Disjointed (2017-18)
Speaking of flavor, this one was meant to carry loads as Disjointed looked into a woman who carried a cannabis dispensary business. With Kathy Bates in the lead role, you’d think nothing could go wrong, but Disjointed fell out of place with the thousands of other choices on Netflix.
Having a talented lead can only get you so far, as the show’s jokes fell too much on the side of cheesy multi-camera tropes that the Netflix viewing audience isn’t easily pleased with. It’s a good watch to find on a plane ride or to pass the time, though.
Cybill (1995-98)
It’s too bad the show wasn’t made during the days we live in now, as Cybill’s forward thinking tendencies got it cancelled too soon in the 1990s. The story saw the lead character, an actress, navigating through issues such as ageism and fall from popularity.
It was a good enough series with many awards and nominations to go with it, but the audience of the time weren’t so crazy about its extreme pro-feminist views and it was cancelled before resolving a cliffhanger in place. Still, the tenure it did enjoy is fun to go back and watch.
Mike & Molly (2010-16)
It started out as a gimmick based show about two overweight people who became a couple and the tribulations that came with it, and yet Mike & Molly ended up staying on for six whole years.
The show’s best quality was its ability to keep the main characters a couple that didn’t have any kind of awful baggage, and their relationship only grew as the seasons progressed. While the supporting characters were rather weak, the leads did a great job at keeping us invested in them.
The Kominsky Method (2018-present)
This one kind of seems like the modern version of Cybill, as the premise follows a formerly successful actor now craving for relevance in his older age. The Kominsky Method has so far been a huge hit for Chuck Lorre and company, and time will tell if it stays here for long.
The only problem is its lack of content, as we’ve only had a handful of episodes and it seems like it will remain that way. The show is unique and, being a single-camera offering, it is something out of the usual Lorre trope, but we need lots more to watch for the series to rank higher. So far so good, though.
Mom (2013-present)
After Chuck Lorre started being known for being responsible for quite a lot of raunch and slapstick comedy, Mom premiered to give us a surprisingly real and at times very serious viewpoint in a sitcom show.
With its premise comprising of a recovering alcoholic who has a bad relationship with her mother and daughter, Mom was a breath of fresh air from Lorre, and is still running. Its representation of real life issues is superb, along with the performances of the cast; but it is very heavy at times, making it a little lacking in the laughs department.
Young Sheldon (2017-present)
Now here’s a spin-off done right for once, and with its jokes being very reminiscent of what we see in laugh-track sitcoms. Young Sheldon follows the earlier adventures of Sheldon Cooper, but avoids the tired trend of being the same show in miniature form.
Instead, Young Sheldon gives us a well fleshed out family who we genuinely care about, and the series gives a well intentioned meaning of holding on to your family when you feel out of place in the world. Even multi-camera fans will get a kick out of Young Sheldon, whose comedy aspect is a hybrid between laugh-track and single-camera sitcoms.
Two And A Half Men (2003-15)
It’s a shame Charlie Sheen had to go out and become crazy, because Two and a Half Men was a riot up to the eighth season until Charlie Harper was there. There on out, the quality fell hard and the ending was a total parody instead of a heartfelt farewell.
Regardless, the original format of the show was awesome, as we had the best of three worlds in the playboy that was Charlie Harper, the sensitive but cheap Alan Harper, and the dimwitted but cute Jake Harper. It has an amazing replay value, and you could still enjoy Ashton Kutcher’s Walden Schmidt from time to time.
Dharma & Greg (1997-02)
The power of having strong and entertaining supporting characters can never be better illustrated than by Dharma & Greg, which was bolstered because of its hilarious cast. The story was a treat to watch too, as two lovestruck strangers marry the first day they meet as hilarity ensues for years to come due to their vastly different personalities and backgrounds.
Making Dharma & Greg so good are the rest of the cast, all of whom have distinct characterizations of their own and easily hold up the show even when the two main leads aren’t the focus of an episode. The first three seasons in particular are among the funniest offerings of a Chuck Lorre show.
The Big Bang Theory (2007-19)
Of course, the legend that was The Big Bang Theory can’t be overlooked, as it bowed out earlier this year as the last iconic multi-camera sitcom. The show had an evergreen quality that would never have made it seem dull even if it had gone on for decades, as it reached a tried-and-tested formula where the geekiness was supplemented by couple-focused shenanigans.
It is credited as the show that made smart people look cool, and for twelve years we had hundreds of pop culture references, science-y moments, and eccentric characters that we loved to watch for endless binge-ing hours. Every character, be it the brilliant but crazy Sheldon Cooper or the beautiful but ditzy Penny, had their charm; this gives The Big Bang Theory the honor of being the best creation that Chuck Lorre has come up with.
