In the world of sitcoms, Chuck Lorre is known for his comedic genius, but behind the scenes, he’s also a fierce advocate for his cast. When one Big Bang Theory actor faced an unjust firing, Lorre took it upon himself to right this wrong. Despite the studio’s inexplicable decision to cut ties with the actor, Lorre’s personal mission was to reinstate them.
This behind-the-scenes drama reveals the lengths to which some showrunners will go to protect their team and the moral fortitude required to stand up against industry injustices.
Creator Chuck Lorre’s Battle to Keep Kunal Nayyar in The Big Bang Theory
Imagine celebrating your new hit show, only to find out a key cast member got fired…without you even knowing. That’s exactly what happened to the beloved American sitcom The Big Bang Theory’s creator, Chuck Lorre.
Kunal Nayyar, who played the endearingly awkward Raj in the TV show, learned he’d been axed via a news article by Deadline (via TV Line). While he wasn’t even aware that he was fired, his co-stars were whisked off to fancy network shindigs.
Chuck Lorre, upon landing in New York for meetings, received this shocking update. The creator revealed during the TV Line interview,
While I was flying across the country, a CBS executive determined — unilaterally — that Kunal wasn’t right for the role [of Raj] and we would recast that part. Well, I did not respond well.
Apparently, Kunal Nayyar hadn’t gotten much screen time in the pilot. But Lorre knew the potential was there. He called Nayyar, assuring him that he would be in the show and his character wouldn’t be taken away. Lorre wasn’t about to let a network exec mess with his vision, as he alluded,
I called the execs at CBS and said, ‘You can’t fire him. I cast him, I believe in him, I’ll take responsibility for this decision. He’s my guy.’
Thankfully, Lorre’s crusade worked. Nayyar was reinstated just in time for filming. And, let’s face it, Kunal Nayyar indeed proved him right.
Chuck Lorre says “f— ‘em” to the TV industry, rejecting Hollywood trends
Sitcom king Chuck Lorre flipped the bird to Hollywood! Lorre, the mastermind behind hits like The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men, ain’t mincing words about the industry’s supposed lack of interest in sitcoms. When asked about it at a recent press tour, his response was a blunt “F— ’em.”
Lorre isn’t interested in chasing trends. “What the industry perceives… that’s none of my business,” he said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly. He’s focused on creating shows he and the audiences can love and adore. This philosophy has served him well—his sitcoms have dominated the airwaves for decades. Now, he’s back with Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, a spinoff from The Big Bang Theory universe.
The series follows the first marriage of Georgie Cooper (younger brother to Sheldon) and Mandy McAllister. Expect teenage blunders, not happily-ever-afters, and a whole lot of mess-ups. The TV show Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage premieres this October.
Watch The Big Bang Theory on Amazon Prime and Netflix.
