The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced today that executive producer/writer Chuck Lorre — the creative force behind the Warner Bros. Television hit broadcast comedies “The Big Bang Theory,” “Mom,” “Mike & Molly” and “Two and a Half Men” for CBS — will be inducted into the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame at the 2016 NAB Show Television Luncheon on Monday, April 18, in Las Vegas.
As a writer, creator and executive producer, Lorre has been the driving force behind some of the top comedies on television. He is co-creator/executive producer of the blockbuster hit “The Big Bang Theory,” TV’s #1 entertainment series among Total Viewers and #1 comedy among Adults 18–49, as well as the critically acclaimed “Mom,” starring Anna Faris and Allison Janney, which was honored as a recipient at the Television Academy Honors in 2014.
Lorre is also executive producer of “Mike & Molly,” starring Billy Gardell and Melissa McCarthy, which completes its six-year run this spring, and he was previously co-creator/executive producer of the hit “Two and a Half Men,” which aired for twelve seasons and was one of TV’s longest-running comedies. Before that, Lorre created hits such as “Cybill,” “Dharma & Greg” and “Grace Under Fire,” and he also served as co-executive producer on “Roseanne.”
“An artist in the prime of his career, Chuck Lorre is a legendary television writer and producer,” said NAB Executive Vice President of Television Marcellus Alexander. “His biting wit and memorable characters have become a part of our culture and defined an era of scripted comedies for Warner Bros. Television and CBS – comedies that remind us, on a weekly basis, of the scale and power of broadcast television.”
In 2015, Lorre harnessed that power by spearheading the establishment of “The Big Bang Theory” Scholarship Endowment at UCLA to support undergraduate students in need of financial aid who are pursuing their higher education in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). The endowment has raised more than $4 million and supports a class of 20 scholars for the 2015–16 academic year, with an additional five scholars to be added in each future year — in perpetuity.
Throughout his career, Lorre has become known for expressing his thoughts and views through personal messages in the split-second vanity cards which appear at the end of episodes of his shows. Select cards were compiled into a book, released in 2012, titled “What Doesn’t Kill Us Makes Us Bitter.” All of Lorre’s proceeds from the sale of the book benefit many health care–related charities and educational efforts.
Lorre got his start as a guitarist/singer, touring the country and writing pop songs, including Debbie Harry’s Top 40 hit “French Kissin’ in the USA,” before turning his attention to television. He wrote animation scripts for DIC and Marvel Productions, then wrote and produced themes and scores for several animated series, including “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.” A spec primetime script soon led to freelance work on the syndicated comedy “Charles in Charge” and, eventually, a staff job on “My Two Dads.”
In recognition of his career accomplishments, Lorre has received numerous industry accolades, including the NATPE Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award, Television Showman of the Year at the 46th Annual ICG Publicists Awards Ceremony and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2012, he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.
