Chuck Lorre memoir says CBS resisted Melissa McCarthy as Molly in Mike & Molly
In his memoir Sitcom, Chuck Lorre says CBS executives opposed casting Melissa McCarthy in Mike & Molly and wanted a more conventionally attractive actress. He says he refused. CBS has not been quoted in the coverage.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Chuck Lorre, creator of Mike & Molly, Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory, says in his memoir Sitcom that getting CBS to approve Melissa McCarthy as the show's lead was a "torturous journey". DeadlineN “Lorre described the “torturous journey” of getting the network to approve the Gilmore Girls alum as its lead star.” Read at Deadline ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “convincing the network executives to cast Melissa McCarthy as Molly was a “torturous journey,” per Deadline” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Mixed · 2Lorre writes that his casting director, Nikki Valko, brought in McCarthy and that "once again, CBS hated her", a comparison he draws with the network's opposition to Jon Cryer's casting in Two and a Half Men. DeadlineN ““Once again, my brilliant casting director, Nikki Valko, brought in a comic genius. Melissa McCarthy. And once again, CBS hated her,” Lorre said in his memoir” Read at Deadline ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “reportedly likening the situation to the opposition to Jon Cryer’s casting on Two And A Half Men” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Mixed · 2According to Lorre, the network wanted "a hot young woman to play a woman struggling with her weight", and one executive, a woman, suggested he cast a more attractive actress and put her in a fat suit. DeadlineN ““It was even suggested by one exec — a female exec — that I consider casting a more attractive actress and put her in a fat suit.”” Read at Deadline ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “they wanted a hot young woman to play a woman struggling with her weight” Read at The A.V. Club ↗
Centre · 1Lorre says he held his ground: "I was no longer an origami showrunner, ready to fold at first push. Melissa was going to be my Molly. End of discussion." DeadlineN ““I was no longer an origami showrunner, ready to fold at first push. Melissa was going to be my Molly. End of discussion.”” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2The sitcom, which premiered in 2010 and ran six seasons, starred Billy Gardell as Mike and McCarthy as Molly, a couple who meet at an Overeaters Anonymous group; McCarthy won an Emmy for it in 2011 and was Oscar-nominated for Bridesmaids. DeadlineN “The comedy series ran for six seasons and earned McCarthy an Emmy in 2011.” Read at Deadline ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “followed a police officer named Mike Biggs (Billy Gardell) and an elementary school teacher named Molly Flynn (McCarthy), who meet at a Chicago Overeaters Anonymous group” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Mixed · 2Lorre writes that he felt "pretty god-damn smart" when Bridesmaids came out and, in his words, was "a little smug" about it. DeadlineN ““Forgive me for being a little smug, but when Bridesmaids came out, I felt pretty god-damn smart,” Lorre said.” Read at Deadline ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “he admittedly felt “a little smug” and vindicated when Bridesmaids came out in 2011” Read at The A.V. Club ↗
Left · 1The coverage relies on Lorre's own account in the memoir. It includes no response from CBS or McCarthy, and the A.V. Club's account is based on Deadline's report. The A.V. ClubLC “per Deadline” Read at The A.V. Club ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- Follows Deadline's report but adds editorial comment, criticising the network's stance as ridiculous and tying it to industry beauty standards.
- Emphasis
- The fat-suit suggestion and wider industry bias against actors judged not conventionally attractive.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No CBS response; adds a plot summary of the show but no independent reporting.
- Charged language
- “particularly ridiculous stance”“not holding back any details”
- For example
-
“It’s a particularly ridiculous stance, but not entirely surprising, given how many actors have been passed over for roles because industry or conventional standards deem them not attractive enough.” — The A.V. Club
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- Straight entertainment-news report built around Lorre's quotes from the memoir, led by the claim that CBS "hated" McCarthy's casting.
- Emphasis
- Lorre's quotes, the casting-director credit, and McCarthy's later success in Bridesmaids.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No CBS response; little commentary on the body-image implications.
- Charged language
- “Hated”“hot young woman”
- For example
-
“Chuck Lorre Says CBS “Hated” Melissa McCarthy Casting In ‘Mike & Molly’: “They Wanted A Hot Young Woman”” — Deadline
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Lorre's memoir Sitcom says CBS opposed casting McCarthy in Mike & Molly.
- A female executive reportedly suggested a more attractive actress in a fat suit.
- Lorre refused and cast McCarthy; the show ran six seasons.
- McCarthy won an Emmy for the show in 2011.
Where accounts differ
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Timing of Bridesmaids relative to the Emmy
- Left
- The A.V. Club dates Bridesmaids to 2011 and says McCarthy won her Emmy that same year.
- Centre
- Deadline says Mike & Molly premiered in 2010 and McCarthy then went on to star in Bridesmaids, and dates her Emmy to 2011.
Chuck Lorre person
Presents himself as having trusted his instincts and refused to yield to the network, and as vindicated by McCarthy's later success.
“Melissa was going to be my Molly. End of discussion.” — Deadline
CBS organisation
No response from CBS is quoted; its position is described only through Lorre's account that it opposed McCarthy and wanted a more conventionally attractive lead.
““Believe it or not, they wanted a hot young woman to play a woman struggling with her weight,” Lorre said” — Deadline
Melissa McCarthy person
No comment from McCarthy is quoted. She is described as the casting director's find, the last cast in the show, and later an Emmy winner and Oscar nominee.
“McCarthy was the last one to be cast in Mike & Molly opposite Billy Gardell” — Deadline
Left1 article
-
CBS pitched an actor in a fat suit over Melissa McCarthy for Mike & Molly, says Chuck Lorre
Critical Repackages Deadline's report and criticises CBS's alleged stance as part of a wider industry beauty bias.
Centre1 article
-
Neutral Reports Lorre's memoir account of CBS resistance with extensive direct quotes and no editorialising.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 14 Oct 16:35 First DeadlineN Chuck Lorre Says CBS “Hated” Melissa McCarthy Casting In ‘Mike & Molly’: “They Wanted A Hot Young Woman”
- 14 Oct 18:34 +1h 59m The A.V. ClubLC CBS pitched an actor in a fat suit over Melissa McCarthy for Mike & Molly, says Chuck Lorre
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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