Home / Arts and Entertainment / Lorre Fought for McCarthy's 'Mike & Molly' Role
Lorre Fought for McCarthy's 'Mike & Molly' Role
13 Oct
Summary
- CBS executives initially opposed Melissa McCarthy's casting.
- A female executive suggested casting a more attractive actress.
- Chuck Lorre insisted on McCarthy for the role of Molly Flynn.
In his recently released memoir, 'Sitcom,' Chuck Lorre shared details about the casting of his 2010 show 'Mike & Molly.' Lorre recounted that CBS executives strongly opposed the casting of Melissa McCarthy in the titular role.
Specifically, Lorre noted that the network desired a conventionally attractive actress for a character dealing with weight struggles. One female executive even proposed casting a thinner actress and placing her in a fat suit.
However, Lorre, by then an established creator, refused to back down. He defended his choice, asserting that McCarthy was his ideal Molly and that he could proceed despite the network's displeasure.